One of the latest trends in premium keyboard design is the inclusion of a tiny screen somewhere on the frame, used to display anything from basic information like a clock, to a specialized set of icons showing the keyboard's status. Among this screen-adorned keyboard set is the Gamakay LK75, a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard with an LCD readout that doubles as a rotary knob, as well as a unique set of key legends with shortcuts for photo editing software. At $129.99, the LK75 is at the cheaper end of this growing market segment. It does makes some concessions in the name of price, but they don't limit the screen's functionality. The Asus ROG Azoth is still our Editors' Choice pick for keyboards with built-in displays, but the LK75 could be worth the attention of digital photo editors in particular.
The Design: More Than Meets the Eye
The Gamakay LK75 is slightly larger than the average TKL keyboard. (TKL refers to boards that don't have a dedicated number pad on the right-hand side.) It measures 1.9 by 13.8 by 5.6 inches, bigger than the all-metal-framed OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro. Although the frame on the LK75 is plastic, the chassis still has considerable heft thanks to a metal backplate on the bottom of the keyboard, emblazoned with the Gamakay logo.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Along with the keyboard, the box includes four extra accent keycaps to replace any keys on the board for added flair, a combo keycap/switch puller, and a rubberized USB-C-to-USB-A cable for charging and connecting the keyboard. The USB dongle for connecting the keyboard via 2.4GHz wireless is stored at the top of the keyboard in a compartment with a magnet to hold it in place. Many other keyboard manufacturers opt to hide the dongle below the keyboard or off the top edge, which requires flipping the keyboard to access. A more easily accessible dongle could help anyone who needs to move the keyboard to different stations.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Our review unit comes equipped with Gamakay Pegasus switches, which are of the tactile, silent variety. Typing is indeed silent, a testament to the key switch design. If you aren’t a fan of tactile switches, the company offers the LK75 with any option of key switch the company makes, such as the Phoenix switch, which is linear and offers no resistance while typing. Hot-swapping is also an option, so you can pull the switches off the board and replace them yourself with any compatible aftermarket switches.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The additional weight of the backplate adds a considerable amount of stability to the keyboard, and the angled feet offer an additional two typing angles from a strictly flat orientation. Although stable, the plastic frame has considerable flex to it and lacks the rigidity we expect from a premium keyboard manufacturer.
A simple typing test on Monkeytype gave an average of 52 words per minute with 98% accuracy. Your experience may vary, but this score didn’t stray too far from my usual daily average.
The Key Legends: Tailor-Made for Adobe Photoshop
The LK75 seems personally marketed to the creator community based on the keycap set it comes with. Along with the alphanumeric legend standard on most keyboards, there's an additional set of legends printed in blue and orange. The blue set of legends are for Adobe Photoshop shortcuts. The Y key selects the Brush tool, for instance, so there's a brush icon on it. The orange set of legends are for shortcuts tied to the Control key (think Control+C to copy and Control+V to paste). Artists who are already accustomed to Photoshop shortcuts might have all these memorized, but the unique legends on the LK75 are a boon for beginner artists just getting started with photo editing software.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)As for more complex digital artistry workflows, a drawing tablet like the Wacom One Creative Pen Display might make more sense than a keyboard. And while it's true that many of the tools listed on the legends of the LK75 can be accessed with a mouse or a digital pen, they are often hidden behind multiple menus, making key combos the most efficient way to activate them. Sleeker and more expensive artist keyboards like the Logitech Craft lack these legends entirely, although the Craft's rotary knob is implemented better for certain Photoshop tasks than the LK75's is.
The keyboard features per-key LEDs that shine past the edges of each keycap. Note that those LEDs are south-facing, if you elect to get some aftermarket keycaps that have shine-through legends like those on the Corsair K70 RGB Pro Mini Wireless. The LEDs are fairly bright and can be adjusted through keyboard shortcuts or with the Gamakay utility (more on that below). The LEDs are so bright that they can actually be seen through the plastic housing of the LK75’s frame. We wonder if a different color choice would’ve helped, but alas the keyboard is only sold in this frame.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Keyboards with built-in screens usually command a premium, like the Asus ROG Azoth at $249. Gamakay is likely able to keep the LK75's price down by opting for a TFT LCD display instead of a higher-resolution OLED one like the Azoth's. The LK75's screen is bright and colorful, but it is tiny, fitted into the rotary knob to hide the LCD internal components. By default, the screen displays a digital clock and other basic information, such as the connectivity method the keyboard is currently using or its battery level, but like the backlighting, it too can be modified with the Gamakay utility.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The rotary knob is also fully configurable, and is set to control volume by default. Turning the knob gives an audibly satisfying click reminiscent of a ratcheting mechanism. Satisfying as it may be, we have concerns about the longevity of the plastic used to make the clicking sound, especially since the inclusion of the display makes getting a replacement knob a much more difficult task. The Gamakay website lists a one-year warranty for all keyboards, and the company also offers DIY repair kits just in case any damage does occur.
There are three different options for connecting the keyboard. For the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless options, the keyboard has a 5,000mAh battery, although Gamakay doesn't offer an estimated battery life for either wireless connection option. For wired connections, a small blue LED is seated inside the USB-C end of the included cable, and lights up when connected to the keyboard. The cable itself is about 6 feet long, and while it isn’t the most premium-feeling cable in the world (we’re fans of braided cables, as they’re more durable and should last longer than rubberized cables) it still features a leather cable tie and metallic housings for each end.
Customizing the LK75: In Living Color
To fully appreciate the novelty of a mini display on the LK75, you need to be able to tinker with it. The Gamakay website has a downloads list, where you can acquire the Gamakay Driver utility necessary to adjust the keyboard’s settings.
(Credit: Gamakay)Through Gamakay Driver, you can adjust RGB effects, set up key macros for your favorite programs, and of course, adjust the LCD readout. The software will allow you to draw your design in the program itself, or you can elect to upload your own images or even GIFs. If you create an account with Gamakay, you can upload your art and keyboard profile to its community servers and even download others.
(Credit: Gamakay)Navigating the software takes some getting used to. However, if you’re brave enough to fiddle around with the program and don’t mind the occasional factory reset, it should be simple to adjust LK75 settings. Uploading art to the display takes about three mouse clicks once you’ve found the right image. GIFs are also easy to upload, although a bit less so. Once uploaded, the images or GIFs remain in the system memory of the utility and can be used again through a list. Any art downloaded to the keyboard is stored in its internal memory, so it'll display regardless of whatever computer you switch to.
Verdict: Perk Up if Photoshop's Your Passion
There aren’t many keyboards with built-in screens out in the wild, and even fewer at this price. While the Gamakay LK75 is a decently quiet keyboard with a helpful keycap legend for photo editing, it does seem to try a bit too hard to keep its price down. The plastic frame feels flimsy, and the fact you can see the RGB lighting through the bottom frame looks less than premium.
The novelty of the rotary knob/display combination is fun and catches your attention, but its limited customization keeps it as more of an aesthetic gimmick than a useful tool like the Logitech Craft's dial. While the Gamakay LK75 is a decent TKL keyboard, ultimately it lags behind both the more-expensive Asus ROG Azoth and its OLED display, and the similarly priced but screen-less Corsair K70 RGB Pro Mini. Just consider giving it a second look if the Photoshop hints will help your day-to-day, and the LCD dial tickles your fancy.
