Tecware Phantom TKL 87-key Mechanical Keyboard Review

[djdestiny]

Whenever I find a bargain I always have the temptation to hop on it and ... end up with 2 of them.

It was SO cheap when I bought the tecware phantom! It is 59$ as of currently
(EDIT : The super low price must have been a pricing mistake)

But... I already have 3 mechanical keyboards, can I buy this and actually enjoy the purchase or regret?

Buyer's remorse? Hm?

HOOT ONLY. REGRET LATER

This isn't an advertisement

I ended up with two of them, yeah. Kill me.

Will I be full of regret for hopping on 2 of them or will I be replacing my CM Storm MECH which has been my benchmark for general key switch feel and solidity?

Although it is now back at ordinary MSRP of 59$ it is still a good deal. You might be wondering WHAT sort of switches it uses and how can I feel a better switch than original cherry MX Blues with a very thick backplate?

Yes, it actually doesn't use through hole LEDs. Apparently they live longer and they are less susceptible to UV degrading the lenses of through hole LEDs and if that isn't good enough it is easier to produce keyboards with SMD LEDs. For comparison my old CM Storm MECH had a MSRP of over 200.

Those were the days.

Oh I forgot, you can swap switches with this keyboard! Included in the box is a metal pincer to remove switches.
Dead switches? No problem. Don't like the feel of certain switches? No problem.
Apparently you can swap any MX compatible switch including gaterons, kalihs ( no idea why would you do that ), cherrys (obviously)

 

[djdestiny]

Goes without saying that this keyboard manages to be substantially cheaper because it doesn't have the cool reactive features that the CM MasterKeys have for example or RGB... which I don't really need on a keyboard.

Do I need that though? Nope. My QFR-i might have epic features since it's launch (they added more features) but all my keyboards that I use have a single mode that I use... On or Off. Don't want anymore.
However, tecware missed out a WASD and arrow cluster lighting mode on the phantom as far as I can tell!

It's also cheaper because they are using outemu switches... But it's not a bad one! Not even close.

The switches feel punchy and consistent even though they a tad wobbly on the horizontal plane.

That said, some Cherry MX often are wobblier than these switches.

One more thing about the keyboard is that the metal plate is VERY strong. I cannot really measurably flex the keyboard at all.
Forget all you think of solid keyboards, this one is hard enough to break a skull!

There is also an integrated keycap remover holder on the back! Talk about versatility. The keyboards I've had before usually come with the keycap remover... Somewhere.

It lacks a removable cable but that's fine by me. It has a braided cable even at this price point .
Those cutouts are probably there for style to add a bit of a flair to it.
Why? I have no idea

Outemu blue MX switches.
They are slightly more tock rather than click compared to 2013-2014 MX Blues found on the CM Storm MECH. Sometimes feel and sound is dependent on keyboard design.

 

[djdestiny]

No LEDs on the switch itself!

Just enjoy.

The SMD LEDs.

Conclusion :

Guess what I'm using now? Yes it's this keyboard! It's managed to make me feel happy using it and the chamfered edges on the plastic bits of the outer end of the keyboard makes it less ardous to use compared to my QFR-i which was rather painful when you rest your hand on the case.

Oh lastly they are 59$ on lazada (Buy from Tech-Dynamic Lazada to ensure you don't get shafted just in case. )
(EDIT : Previous pricing must have been due to a error in pricing)

Even at 59$ it's still a very good keyboard. Sure, it doesn't have RGB but if that's what you really want... I may have news coming on them.

If you need a new mechanical keyboard, buy it. You won't be disappointed.
Of course, it isn't 104 key but I rarely used my numpad which only served to take up space on my table.

Another thing, it doesn't have a wristrest but most keyboards don't have either and it's height makes it reasonable enough to not need a wristrest.
I have been typing on this keyboard for this review and I find it comfortable as I do when I am gaming

Recommended!

Follow me on www.twitch.tv/yuukiharuto

 

[poooooo]

Keyboardphiles

 

[koroshiya8]

Hoot from where ah ???

 

[poooooo]

Yea man sic where to hoot, if cant post here pm me. Always wanted a tkl to swap when playing game haha. This looks like a epic bargain.

 

[FlipGor]

Wa Jio plz, i wanna replace my failing cm storm QFR. For 29 bucks, no warranty also worth. But for 60...eeyer..i can get a keycool or ikbc at youknowwhere instead lor

 

[djdestiny]

Wa Jio plz, i wanna replace my failing cm storm QFR. For 29 bucks, no warranty also worth. But for 60...eeyer..i can get a keycool or ikbc at youknowwhere instead lor

Local distributor with warranty leh. Plus the switches are great.
I think the 29$ was a pricing mistake however

 

[djdestiny]

Hoot from where ah ???

Lazada. 59$ there are blue and brown variants with white or red led

 

[FlipGor]

Local distributor with warranty leh. Plus the switches are great.
I think the 29$ was a pricing mistake however

But i dun really need the warranty since i know how to repair/service mechs and soldered multiple custom 60keys mkb before riao...30 dollars more abit bo hua thanks for the share

 

[djdestiny]

But i dun really need the warranty since i know how to repair/service mechs and soldered multiple custom 60keys mkb before riao...30 dollars more abit bo hua thanks for the share

If you want to buy taobao keyboards and repair, by all means

I can repair myself but this is different as the backplate is stiff. Bought the keycools some are even pcb mounted... a lot of flex.

 

[MaoZeDuo]

Also want to know where to hoot. Pm pls!

 

[Phen8210]

these bezel-less design keep popping out after i got my k70 rgb =(

 

[ferocity]

Selling on qoo10 for the same listed price of $59 but you can use coupon and qpoints to bring the price down to as low as $44. Sellers are SLS shops techdeals and best bargain with the option to collect from shop.

 

[yusoffb01]

outemu is good. im using on armageddon (2017 version) keyboard which cost like $35 from tech dynamic. removeable switches too. hmm instead of tecware you should have bought armageddon

 

[djdestiny]

outemu is good. im using on armageddon (2017 version) keyboard which cost like $35 from tech dynamic. removeable switches too. hmm instead of tecware you should have bought armageddon

Er...

Armageddon is a company under LeapFrog Global. To my knowledge they are distributed by LeapFrog SG themselves.

Not distributed by Tech Dynamic. Please go check again before commenting.

Also, I went to lazada and I can only find it for 59$

 

[djdestiny]

Hi everyone, the thread is back again. Thank you for your support thus far.
And thank you for the mod who brought it back

 

[Elijahonli]

got the armageddon mka-3c 2017 edition at 35.50 from shopee with 2 year distro warranty, but of course now u cant find this price

 

[djdestiny]

got the armageddon mka-3c 2017 edition at 35.50 from shopee with 2 year distro warranty, but of course now u cant find this price

That's why cannot compare. If you can't get that price anymore cannot compare. But this has many nice touches that make it better than most at least, first is that it has nice switch feel even compared to cherries and the keyboard is very solid.

So is the stuff like built in keycap remover.

 

[batniss]

Any good and cheap keyboard that has removable switches? Also where to buy those switches? Armageddon i also see but it only comes with blue keys for the removable switches model