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Taking everything into account, Patriot has an impressive mid-range keyboard in the V730 that helps cement its Viper gaming line-up across multiple markets.
Often, mechanical keyboards around the £70/$80-mark compromise by removing the numpad or forgoing features that have come to be expected in gaming line-ups. Of course, the V730 has compromises of its own such as its immovable wrist rest, but retaining features such as on-board lighting profiles and media keys helps place it above most contenders in its price bracket.
The main faults surrounding the keyboard lie with the lack of variety in key switches or lighting colours other than Viper’s signature red. The former is actually a problem across most models of Patriot keyboards, though more lighting options can be found in the higher end V760 and V770 keyboards which each sport RGB for a premium on the V730’s price tag.
But it’s these savings that make the V730 a true bargain, as for every sacrifice Patriot has made, it offers a lot more in return.
It might not be as glamorous as its bigger brothers, but the Viper V730 is perfect for casual gamers or those just starting to embrace their first mechanical keyboard. It offers solid aluminium casing, packed with features to boost aesthetics and functionality that go above what would be expected at its price point, all while making minimal compromises to the overall design.
Patriot’s Viper V730 mechanical keyboard can be found on the official website for $79.99 in the US. UK residents can get their hands on one from eBuyer for a cool £69.99.
Pros
- Pricing
- Great build quality.
- Mechanical switches.
- Wrist rest.
- Media keys.
- LEDs with on-board control.
Cons
- Just one type of mechanical switch.
- Wrist rest isn’t detachable.
- Function-based media keys can be fiddly to use.
KitGuru Says: While I believe there are better keyboards out there, particularly for those with a focus on typing, the Viper V730 is a great keyboard that handles anything – at a competitive price point. Its extra features not only help it stand out from the crowd, but make it worth considering for gaming and relaxing with some music/video in the background.
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