The Masterkeys Pro L RGB Review
Reviewed by Phil Griffiths
Today we are reviewing the MasterKeys Pro L RGB
by Cooler Master
This is what Cooler Master has to say about the Keyboard
Elevate your game with the MasterKeys line of gaming keyboards and focus on what really matters: no-nonsense performance in a straightforward package. Get the most out of your skills and don’t get distracted by bright lights and flashing logos. Choose accuracy, precision, and performance like the pros.
With Hassle free software or on the fly adjustments, adjust the keyboard to your needs however you choose. All this rounded up in a quality and solid frame featuring Cherry MX Brown switches with RGB lighting to take your gaming to the next level.
About Cooler Master;
Cooler Masters mission is to deliver high-performance products built for today’s gamer. Our gaming cases and peripherals are designed for optimum precision, strength and control to give you the competitive edge you need.
MasterKeys Range is available from (at time of Posting, depending on stock and availability)
Recommend Retail Price
CoolerMaster Recommends you Retail this Product at £129.99
Basic Tech Specs
Switch Type CHERRY MX Brown, Material Plastic / Metal
Color Black
LED Colour RGB 16.7 Million Colours
Response Rate 1ms
On board Memory 512KB
On-the-fly system Macro Record and Lighting
CableDetachable with Micro-USB
Connector CableUSB 2.0
Cable Length1.5 Meters
Dimensions 439.23 x 130.32 x 41.95 mm
Product Weight (without cable)1090 g
Warranty 2 years
The Packaging
The packaging of the product has a small footprint. It's only slightly bigger than the product and may make the product look smaller than it is. The packaging is mostly dark grey and white writing, with a picture of the keyboard doing a wave/rainbow effect. It tells you 90% of what you need to know on the front of the box. **including layout type (UK/US/EU) and the type of switches the keys have.
In basics, it stands out without taking up much room and looks like a premium product.
The Unboxing and Extras.
When opening the packaging, you will find the keyboard in a black protective bag/sleeve, the basic manual, a braided USB cable which you have to plug it into the keyboard and device you want to use, and a key remover. The keyboard in the sleeve is a nice touch, it makes one feel as though they are getting quality straight away. The braided USB cable is also a very nice touch, considering most just do a plastic coated wire from the keyboard. I'm not sure why a key remover was needed, as you have no replacement keys included (even though Universal ones are available (see below)). I found this part to be a little misleading. There is also no wrist rest nor dedicated macro keys to the left of the keyboard.
Statement from CoolerMaster Regarding Key Remover
"Most Cherry Keyboards will have this included in the box (or should have it) as Cherry keycaps are to some extent universal. This allows people to buy custom keycaps for their keyboards and our key removal tool helps in the process. Our keyboards all have a standard layout so pretty much any set of custom keycaps will work."
View it on Youtube
The Features
The lack of "extra" features extends to the overall key setup. You'll find the normal range of QWERTY keys, arrow keys, a number pad, and not much else. Much like a laptop keyboard, the MasterKeys Pro L utilises the function key (Cooler Master logo on the key) to access media controls on the fly. Volume control, for example, is manipulated by tapping the Home/Page Up/Page Down key array. But the other function keys are where the MasterKeys Pro L becomes useful in terms of RGB lighting and customisation.
Holding the Function key and F1 through F3, for example, you can change the red, blue, and green colour range and intensity of those colours for the LEDs that live under the board's switches. Pressing F5 in the same manner cycles through a number of lighting modes, including static colours, wave animations, and ripple effects. It is easier to control if downloading the keyboard software from Coolermaster's website.
You can also record macros through the function keys and the P1-P4 Keys on the keyboard. There is no dedicated macro keys on the side of the keyboard like a lot do at this price range.
The keyboard is one of the strongest built keyboards we have ever seen. I can see this product not having to be replaced anytime soon due to excessive gaming because of its durability. One thing that Coolermaster seems to do right with all its products is the build quality.
The Software
The software has to be downloaded from Coolermaster, it's a 13mb download and easy to install. It automatically installed the latest firmware version for the keyboard but neglected to say what it had changed in the new version.
The software does not scale well with resolutions above HD. The software does all the main things you need to do but like changing the RGB modes and setting up some basic profiles. But it does not excel. It's as if a hardware programmer designed this instead of a software programmer.
Gaming
Cherry MX Brown switches are excellent for gaming, and this is one area where the Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L stands out. It's a very well-functioning mechanical keyboard. The keys felt very responsive during gaming The key caps and switches feel great with shooters, and while the MasterKeys Pro L is a full-size keyboard, its key spacing feels fast and efficient. The lack of a wrist-rest is a bit of an annoyance, but it's possible to alleviate that with an aftermarket purchase.
The Conclusion
Overall, the MasterKeys Pro L RGB is an amazing keyboard to use but is let down with the lack of extras. If you're the type of gamer who is just looking for a super simple Cherry MX keyboard and don't want to hassle with software, this is the keyboard for you. You will not be disappointed. The keys are pretty great overall and the build quality is among the best.
Stand out Point
Build quality--Very Strong.
The Pros
16.7 Million RGB Colours
Vivid lighting
Proper mechanical cherry keys
Cable length
Top-class performance
....
The Cons
Software leaves a little to be desired
No USB or Audio passthrough
The Annoyances
Extras, No Wrist/palm rest or extra keys
Would we Recommend it = Yes
If all you want is a fast, responsive keyboard and are not bothered about extras, then this keyboard is for you!
We award the MasterKeys Pro L RGB our GOLD Award
