Tesoro Durandal G1NL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and  Bundle3. The Tesoro Durandal G1NL4. Software and Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

Today we are going to look at a mechanical gaming keyboard from a company called Tesoro, the Durandal G1NL.  Tesoro are looking to compete with the more established players in the market such as Corsair and Razer who are very popular among the gaming audience.  We are excited to see what the Tesoro's Durandal G1 NL has to offer.

You would be forgiven for not having heard of Tesoro, after all they are a relatively new player in the market.  Founded in 2011, the US-based company aims to design unique products which are specifically targeted at gamers.  With the intense level of competition in the gaming peripheral space, we are interested to see how Tesoro fare against the stiff competition.

Features

• USB Full N-Key Rollover.
• Cherry MX Key Switch.
• Gaming grade 50 million key actuations.
• Game Mode for Windows key disable.
• Instant 5 profiles shift keys.
• 128KB onboard memory.
• User friendly UI for macro setup: 5 profiles,50 programmable macro keys.
• 4 levels LED backlight & dimming control.
• F/W and application on-line update.
• Gold-plated USB connector.
• Embedded multimedia keys.
• 2 High speed USB 2.0 ports.
• Audio headphone and microphone jacks.
• Comfortable palm rest.
• Anti-slip design rubberized bottom stand.
• Compatible with Windows XP / Vista / 7.

The Durandal G1NL is supplied in a fairly large cardboard box, featuring a small plastic window in the front which gives us a glimpse of the keyboard laying within.  The box sports a rather unique purple livery which includes a large stylised ‘Durandal' logo which looks like something out of Harry Potter.

Turning the box over reveals a large image of the keyboard within which is used to illustrate various features.  We also find details of the features of the keyboard here which are repeated in a number of different languages.

Within the box, the only accessories that are included are a detachable palm rest and a small wallet with various user guides inside.

It is quite clear from the design of the Durandal G1NL that it is targeted at gamers, with various angular design cues and LED backlighting. While the finish of the keyboard may initially appear like brushed aluminium, it is actually just textured plastic.  This looks a little cheap when compared to aluminium offerings from the likes of Corsair and CM Storm.

Although we could not describe the build quality of the Durandal G1NL as bad, it does not have the same quality feel as a number of competing models which are finished in metal.  The keyboard is pretty weighty, though, and is resistant to flexing under pressure so we would not be surprised if there were some kind of metal skeleton inside the plastic casing.

Like all high-end gaming keyboards these days, the Durandal G1NL features LED backlighting.  We are restricted to red lighting with this model which is sure to appeal to a wide audience of gamers. The ‘8' and ‘2' key on the number pad have a second function of adjusting the brightness of the LED backlighting. There is also a ‘breathing' mode which we are not particularly fond of but may appeal to some users.

Along the top edge of the keyboard we find the F1 – F12 buttons in the usual place.  These all have second functions attributed to them – with F1 to F6 representing multimedia functions, F7 to F11 representing hot keys to switch between macro profiles and F12 enabling gaming mode (disabling the Windows button).

As we mentioned earlier, the Durandal G1NL is supplied with a palm rest which clips on to the front of the unit.  They key bed rests quite high above the surface of the desk, so we found it more comfortable to use the keyboard with this palm rest in place.

We find a two port USB2.0 hub on the back edge of the keyboard, alongside headphone and microphone pass through 3.5mm jacks.

Tesoro have chosen to braid the cable, which reflects the premium nature of this model.  The cable itself breaks out into a USB connector and two 3.5 mm connectors at the end.  The USB connector supports the inbuilt hub as well as the keyboard functionality, with the two 3.5mm connections simply acting as pass-throughs to the jacks in the keyboard.

The included software package is fairly basic in terms of functionality and has an unintuitive interface.  The interface is not exactly easy on the eye, either.

Unlike competing software packages, its functionality does not extend any further than macro configuration.  There are a number of different macro functions available, including an inbuilt macro recorder.

In terms of performance, the Durandal G1NL does not disappoint.  This is predominantly thanks to the excellent Cherry MX Red switches which Tesoro have chosen to use in this particular model.  For those that prefer other flavours of Cherry, the same keyboard is also available with Black, Blue and Brown switches.

Each type of Cherry MX switch has a different feel and action. Black switches and the Red switches found on our test sample do not offer tactile feedback like blue and brown switches.  These have a distinct click when they are depressed.  The difference between Black and Red switches is similar to the difference between Brown and Blue switches, with the former of both groups having a heavier action, requiring more force to depress.

There is not really a superior colour of Cherry MX switch, as all offer very similar performance characteristics – it is much more down to personal preference.  The Red flavour in our test sample is my preferred, offering a smooth action without requiring much effort to depress.  We would definitely recommend trying all the different types of switch available before making a purchase if at all possible.

Overall we have mixed feelings about the Tesoro Durandal G1NL mechanical gaming keyboard. Starting with the positive aspects of the keyboard, it offers excellent gaming performance thanks to the renowned Cherry MX switches that are employed within.  The fact that the keyboard is available with all four flavours of Cherry MX switch is sure to sweeten the deal for those who prefer a specific colour.

While the build quality of the keyboard is not as good as the competing models from Corsair, it can hardly be described as bad.  We are not particularly fond of the fake brushed aluminium finish though, as it cheapens the look and feel of the keyboard.

The included software application is rather disappointing.  Although it offers quite a lot of options in terms of macro configuration functionality, the user interface is not intuitive and it does not offer much further functionality.

We have searched extensively online and have only been able to find the Tesoro Durandal G1NL available with Cherry MX Brown Switches for around £82 from Amazon.  At this price, we would probably fork out an extra £8 and opt for a Corsair K70 instead.  Although this does not offer LED backlighting, the build quality and aesthetic design are much better, and the software package is more comprehensive.

Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE.

Pros

• Great performance
• Should offer a choice of switches when availability improves.
• LED backlighting.
• Plenty of macro options.

Cons

• Build quality is average.
• Software is unintuitive.

KitGuru says: An interesting keyboard from Tesoro but it cant quite offer the same quality as the competition.

Become a Patron!