Roccat Skeltr Smart RGB Gaming Keyboard Review

By Tom Jaskulka

Manufacturer: ROCCAT GmbH
Product Name: Skeltr Smart Communication RGB Gaming Keyboard
Model Number: ROC-12-231-WE-AM
UPC: 4250288188556
Price As Tested: $159.99 (Amazon | NewEgg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by ROCCAT.

Imagine the following scenario: your team is about to make the final push into the enemy lines. It’s the last opportunity to scrape out a win, and you’ll need to put everything on the line to make it happen. It’ll take every second of your concentration. The stakes are high, you’re in the zone, tensions are mounting… Right before the critical moment your phone rings, and you have a choice to make: return to the real world, or stay in the zone? Either way, the moment’s been compromised… Or has it? What if you could do both?

What if a device could keep you connected in both worlds, simultaneously – or at least allow you to seamlessly switch between the two with the press of a button? That’s what Roccat hopes to accomplish with their new Skeltr Smart Communication RGB Gaming Keyboard. Bluetooth connectivity and on-board switches to flip between your computer and mobile device allow a user to respond to messages and answer calls at the press of a button.

Complimented by the usual multi-zone RGB controls and accented by Roccat features like EasyShift[+] and the ability to talk to other Roccat devices, the Roccat Skeltr offers a heaping of features designed to keep modern gamers connected. Benchmark Reviews has an opportunity to “Master Worlds” with a Roccat Skeltr – let’s take a look.

Over the next few pages, we’ll take an in-depth look at the unique features the Roccat Skeltr brings to the gaming peripheral category and see if Roccat is able to truly “Master Worlds” and unite your gaming PC with your mobile devices.

Roccat Skeltr Features

• UNIVERSAL DEVICE DOCKING SLOT
  holds all smartphones/tablets + charge via USB
• MANAGE AUDIO
  quickly toggle between mobile device and PC audio
• CALL BUTTON
  take smartphone calls through connected headset
• TYPE TO DEVICE
  toggle between PC & device typing via Bluetooth
• RGB ILLUMINATION
  five configurable illumination zones in 16.8m colors
• ROCCAT® SWARM + APP
  control Skeltr; monitor APM, CPU, GPU, RAM etc.
• POWER-GRID™ + COMPANION APP
  ideal for use with computer & game companion apps
• DETACHABLE WRIST REST
  easy to add/remove, suits all gaming styles
• TALK® FX + ALIENFX™ SUPPORT
  lighting effects for your favorite games
• SILENT & PRECISE TYPING
  with improved rubber dome technology
• 20-KEY EASY-SHIFT[+]™ ZONE
  for easy key duplication

Roccat Skeltr Overview

First let’s take a quick glance at what you receive with the Roccat Skeltr.

The Skeltr ships in fairly typical packaging. A sleeve protects the keyboard from scrapes and scuffs and the cardboard insert keeps the detached wrist rest and other accessories safe.

Benchmark Reviews received the white version for testing. The Skeltr is also available in black and grey.

A braided cord, quick start guide/manual/warranty information/stickers, the detachable wrist rest and two short cables (3.5mm audio and USB micro B) for connecting mobile devices are safely tucked away under the Skeltr.

Really, Roccat’s new keyboard makes a great impression overall. The white is a very matte finish, although the texture used practically guarantees fingerprints won’t be a problem on any of the colors. If the Kova mouse is any indication (the Skeltr seems to use the exact finish/coating that the Kova uses) it should resist fading/yellowing and dirt very well.

Attaching the wrist rest adds some support but increases the desktop real-estate used by the Skeltr by quite a bit. This is a keyboard that belongs on top of a desk though, not in a drawer – and with the mobile device integration, you’ll want to leave it in the open anyway.

Roccat Skeltr Detailed Features

Now we’ll dig into some of the detailed features of the Roccat Skeltr.

The included wrist rest attaches to the keyboard by two plastic clips. They seem durable enough, given that most users will decide once to leave the wrist rest attached or detached and leave it at that.

The rest clips into the bottom of the keyboard while still allowing for movement if the keyboard is elevated. Rubber non-slip pads are scattered throughout the bottom of the Skeltr which serve to keep it solidly planted – indeed, I didn’t encounter any issues with the Skeltr moving around on the desk surface during frantic gameplay.

The retractable feet raise the back of the Skeltr by approximately 5/8″ (about 16mm), with the wrist rest pivoting to accommodate the new angle.

The feet are rubber coated in both their raised and lowered positions.

The Skeltr will take up two USB ports on your system; one for the keyboard itself and one to pass through to the USB port located on the back of the keyboard.

That pass-through port is located here, to the right (facing the keyboard) of the braided cable. It could be used for a mouse or other accessory, but a short USB to Micro USB (type B) is included to use this port to charge your choice of mobile device. The 3.5mm jack here is also for a mobile device, used to route audio through the Skeltr to a headset (or any device connected to the keyboard).

A set of headphone/microphone jacks are located on the upper left corner of the Skeltr. You’ll need to use these ports if you want to take advantage of the mobile device integration (the ability to take/answer calls on your phone), since the switch to answer calls or switch to mobile audio will reroute any audio signal to the peripheral that is plugged in here.

Roccat’s thumb modifier switches are placed within easy reach of the space bar. Placing macro/programmable keys here makes a lot of sense; I find them to be more usable in-game than the line of keys off to the left of the WASD cluster.

The usual set of five macro keys are available in that location as well along the left edge of the Roccat Skeltr.

Finally, Roccat’s five zone RGB LED lighting allows for some interesting effects (although not all features shown in the Swarm software – such as gradients – are usable on the Skeltr). The entire set of keys is one zone, and the light bars on the sides are split into two LED zones each. The entire spectrum is represented well – white, reds, orange, yellow, greens, teal, blues, purple, pink all seem vivid and accurate.

Roccat Skeltr Mobile Integration

Now let’s take a look at some of the unique features of the Skeltr. This section will focus on the mobile device integration capabilities offered and how they contribute to the gaming experience.

Instead of a folding stand or other flimsy bracket, Roccat opted for a near full-length rubber coated slot that runs the width of the keyboard. It’s wide enough that any modern device should fit securely.

My current phone (a Droid Turbo) is a little thicker than many phones on the market and has a curved edge that tapers to a thinner point. Still, the Skeltr’s mobile device tray has no problem accommodating it. Thankfully this orientation places the volume/power buttons along the top edge of the phone – other devices may need to be flipped for access, and not necessarily just for the buttons.

You’ll need to consider the port locations of power/audio connections too. The Skeltr ships with a short 3.5mm audio cable with a 90-degree connector and a USB micro B cable which should fit most devices. Naturally, you would be able to use whatever cable shipped with your device as long as it has a regular type A connector on one end to connect to the Skeltr’s rear USB port. Since this is mainly used to provide a trickle of current to keep your device charged, it could always be skipped entirely if you have a spare outlet handy. The audio connection will be necessary if you want to use the Skeltr (and a connected headset) to take calls.

With all cables connected, your mobile device of choice should stay powered and even receive a bit of a charge from the trickle of current provided by the Skeltr’s USB port.

Even larger devices (like this Nexus 7) fit without a problem, and might be even more suitable for those users that want to keep a second screen handy for monitoring Twitch streams (or other social media) or the various PC-monitoring apps such as NZXT’s CAM, Logitech’s Arx or Roccat’s very own Swarm app.

There are two dedicated buttons on the upper-left corner used to control the audio source (PC or mobile), and a quick “answer phone” button that switches the audio as well. Each of these buttons will flip the audio between your current PC playback device and whatever is plugged into the Skeltr’s headphone/microphone jack.

Two more buttons on the upper-right corner switch between using the Skeltr to type on your mobile device and your PC. This change happens near instantly, as far as I can tell – letting you switch, respond to a text, and switch back to your PC in far less time than it would take to use your thumbs. The button on the far right is solely dedicated to opening Roccat’s Swarm driver application (but won’t bring it to the foreground if it is already open which seems like a missed opportunity). Let’s take a look at the Skeltr within the Swarm configuration software on the next page.

Roccat Swarm Configuration Software

Roccat’s Swarm driver powers most of their new peripherals. Overall, as far as driver suites go, I’ve been impressed with Swarm in the past. No silly cloud profiles required (although they can be enabled for additional features that require a network connection, which is the right way to go about this rather than forcing another always-on user profile that wouldn’t otherwise be necessary to allow a user to configure a device). Roccat’s products still save profiles on-board, so you can configure your settings once and take them with you (or uninstall the driver if you don’t plan on making further changes), which is a feature I still look for and appreciate. With all that being said, let’s dive in to the Swarm application.

The Swarm driver accommodates most of Roccat’s newer devices. It arrives as a “barebone” framework where each device detected will download its own driver as needed – you’ll receive a message as such when plugging in the Skeltr for the first time.

A tutorial is available with video links to help users make the most of their new device. The Swarm application is scattered with tool tips and bits of information so it’s isn’t difficult to find your way around.

First up is the Settings tab, where various feedback elements (audio/visual indications of profile switching or other events) and keyboard settings can be configured. Curiously, the LED feedback section didn’t contain the ability to turn the “sleep effect” completely off; you can only set a timer from one minute to thirty. This lead to a bit of frustration, as you’d commonly return to a keyboard in a dark room that had either changed colors on you or turned off completely – many times it wouldn’t return to its previous state without selecting a different color or loading a different profile in the Swarm application. This is something I’d definitely look forward to a software fix on (the version tested was v1.90 Swarm / v1.22 Skeltr driver).

The Key Assignment tab is exactly what it sounds like – each key on the Skeltr can be remapped or programmed for a custom function. The Caps Lock tab is set to activate Roccat’s EasyShift[+] function by default – if you use Caps Lock often, this may take some time to get used to. Sure, one could easily remap this key, but the EasyShift[+] ability is one of the best features available on Roccat devices in my opinion.

The thumb keys have their own set of functions they can perform – anything from profile changes (default) to opening applications or folders. The Caps Lock key is relocated here in the Skeltr’s default profile (to the left thumb button when “EasyShifted”).

The List View of the Key Assignment tab allows the user to scroll through a list of all available programmable keys. Simply drag and drop the chosen function on the left to the appropriate key on the right.

The Key Illumination tab controls the lighting settings for all five zones on the Skeltr. Zones can be selected by clicking on them (the entire set of keys is one zone, with four others on the side LEDs). Those zones that have focus will apply the chosen effects upon clicking “Apply.” An Auto Apply option will – unsurprisingly enough – apply changes instantly.

There are various presets – steady/fully lit, blinking, breathing (the typical fade in/out), pulsing (a rapid “on” then a fade to off), heartbeat (a double pulse). The live heatmap and fade FX presets don’t seem to apply to the Skeltr.

Macro functionality is on par with most products in this category. Intervals can be recorded or fixed.

The sequence of keys for each macro can be displayed in a list or grid format. Either way, it’s pretty simple to edit individual portions of a recorded macro which is always convenient. With our look at the configuration software complete, let’s put the Skeltr through its paces and see what it can do.

Testing & Results

Testing Methodology

I like to test keyboards by simply using them daily for all typical gaming PC activities and noting any irregularities or irritants. Of course, for gathering data points and comparisons certain tools can be useful. Microsoft’s Applied Sciences anti-ghosting page is an “oldie-but-goodie”, containing one of the best explanations of N-key rollover and keyboard ghosting along with a quick .aspx testing utility that anyone can use. We’ve used Aqua’S Key Test in the past as well. I like to brush up on my typing skills with typeracer.com, and I’ve taken the opportunity to race a few rounds with the Roccat Skeltr. Let’s take a look.

Test System

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI
• System Memory: 2×4 GB Samsung DDR3 1866
• Processor: Intel Core i5-4690K @ 4.6GHz
• Audio: On-board
• Video: Gigabyte GTX-970 Xtreme Gaming
• Disk Drive 1: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD
• Disk Drive 2: Samsung 1TB 7200 RPM 3.5″ HDD
• Enclosure: Corsair 380T
• PSU: Fractal Design Integra M 450W Modular
• Monitor: Acer 24″ 1920×1080 144Hz LCD
• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

Results

First up, it’s always good to know on a gaming keyboard if the keys you press will register. Many games require some pretty extensive finger gymnastics to press combinations of keys, so making sure your keyboard of choice will register your input accurately is the task of our first testing suite.

The above photo is a capture of the keyboard ghosting demo available on Microsoft’s Applied Sciences anti-ghosting page, using the Roccat Skeltr. Generally, I’ll just lay a palm across the keyboard and try to press as many keys as possible to see if they all register.

I mean, my hands aren’t huge, but I’m quite certain I can cover more than five keys with my palm. After capturing the above screenshot (and finding it difficult to believe a gaming keyboard stopped registering keys after ~4-5 presses or so), I went back to Roccat’s marketing page for the Skeltr and double-checked the specifications. Sure enough, no mention of N-key rollover or even any anti-ghosting capabilities anywhere.

Performing the test again to see exactly where keys were dropped, I simply started on home row. Pressing and holding A, S, D, and F, I wasn’t able to register a key press for G or any other letter on that side of the keyboard – however, J K L and ; registered (again, with no further letters on that side registering). It seems Roccat split the Skeltr into clusters, which should avoid any problems with fast typers. Sure, I’ve never played a game that required a full palm to be placed on the keyboard. However, for those games that use WASD for movement (…which is pretty much all of them), adding another function while crouching/sneaking and moving at an angle could run into limitations, which is completely unacceptable for a keyboard in this category in my opinion. Especially when keyboards half the price don’t experience the same issue. For reference, here are some more tests from past keyboards I’ve reviewed:

Aqua’S Key Test application verified my findings – the Roccat Skeltr simply can’t keep up with simultaneous keypresses like almost every other gaming keyboard in this price bracket.

Now, it’s not that much of an issue in actual use. I didn’t notice it – wouldn’t have guessed that it was a problem, even – while playing games on the Skeltr, and that’s the main area where a gaming keyboard should perform exactly as expected. I just feel people should know, for those that care about this capability, that it is absent from this particular gaming keyboard – I could imagine they may feel slighted, as it should be a safe assumption that a $160 keyboard has the ability to register more than four keys + a modifier.

Let’s take a moment to talk about the membrane keys. The Skeltr is expensive for a membrane keyboard; Roccat is hoping that the typing experience is good enough to give it a pass. I’m not sure “improved rubber dome technology” is enough to do it, but you don’t know until you try, right?

While I’m not sure the market is ready to pay mechanical switch prices for membrane keys, the typing experience on the Skeltr is surprisingly good. It certainly didn’t feel as “premium” as a mechanical switch, but after a short learning period typing on the Skeltr felt pretty good.

Good enough to surprise myself in a few rounds on typeracer.com. My first race sent me just over the 100wpm mark (102), where I immediately had to prove I wasn’t a robot. That’s a good start. Even better was passing the typing test at 99% accuracy and 118 words per minute… Keep in mind, I hover around 85-90 words per minute normally, and that’s with a mechanical keyboard (generally on Cherry MX Brown switches).

I thought it was a bit of a fluke, so I figured I’d better do one more race.

Perhaps I was more familiar with the quote than I thought – either way, 128 wpm seemed to solidify the trend. Part of the extra speed (for me) came from the improved accuracy. Since the Skeltr registered button presses at the bottom of the stroke I didn’t make as many errors by brushing lightly weighted keys.

I suppose it’s just the way I type (I bottom out mechanical switches too) – either way, the membrane keys on the Skeltr don’t seem to hold back a typist of my skill at least. I’m not sure it’s enough to completely forgive the potential for ghosting keys, but it’s a bit of a redeeming quality for the Skeltr.

Smart Keyboard Final Thoughts

I’ve said it before – the features users want in a peripheral can vary wildly from person to person, and the entire thing can be a terribly subjective experience. Some balk at the idea of spending anywhere close to $50 on a keyboard, let alone three times that. I personally feel that spending up on quality peripherals can drastically change your experience at a computer for the better – after all, it’s the only part that you actually interact with during use.

Peripherals are notoriously subjective and many reasons to choose one over the other fall to personal preference. If staying connected while gaming at your PC is important to you, the Skeltr has quite a bit to offer.

If you look at it from a pure “gaming keyboard” perspective, the Roccat Skeltr is priced to compete against the likes of – well, every RGB mechanical gaming keyboard on the market. The mobile device integration is unique and unmatched among other devices, but…the Skeltr falls short almost everywhere else when compared to gaming keyboards in the same price bracket. It isn’t a bad keyboard, by any means. A few frustrating experiences deter what would be an otherwise solid offering – well, at the typical membrane gaming keyboard price point. I’m just not sure it delivers an experience that can match its price tag.

Roccat Skeltr Conclusion

I’ll try and summarize my experience with the Roccat Skeltr in terms of Performance, Appearance, Construction, Functionality and Value categories, but as always I feel like I should add a disclaimer. You must understand that my own preferences and uses for gaming peripherals differ from most; while I try to view each keyboard as objectively as I can, I probably can’t avoid my own bias from affecting my conclusion in some manner. I implore you to think in depth of your OWN uses and preferences, and use my reviews as a guide or simply as another perspective.

The Skeltr, overall, was a solid performer. The potential for ghosting and missing key presses in certain combinations was worrisome, but it didn’t appear to be an issue while actually using the keyboard normally. The membrane keys were responsive and tactile, if a bit “cheap” feeling (when compared to mechanical switches). However, that didn’t mean the Skeltr couldn’t hold its own – I was able to type faster and more consistently on the Roccat Skeltr than any other keyboard I’ve tested in recent memory.

I quite liked the appearance of the Roccat Skeltr. It helps that it follows the same design language as the new Roccat Kova (which I rated highly in appearance as well). It’s interesting to look at yet manages to be relatively conservative despite the flowing, sculpted style. I’m not sure I’d want to explain its presence on my desk in a professional environment, but the Skeltr is right at home among other gaming peripherals.

I didn’t run into any issues with the construction of the Roccat Skeltr. It is primarily – well, entirely – made of plastic, although it feels quite solid overall and the matte surfaces especially are pleasant to the touch. It’s perfectly adequate for a membrane keyboard. Unfortunately, most of the competition in this category will be using steel backplates and aluminum construction; adequate doesn’t really cut it.

Functionality is where this keyboard shines. Some more control over color gradients and per-key illumination would help it among the similarly-priced (or cheaper) mechanical RGB competition, but AlienFX integration and Roccat EasyShift[+] functions are features you won’t find anywhere else. That’s before the Bluetooth integration and mobile device audio/input aspects are considered. Simply put, there is nothing else like it on the market right now that so seamlessly blends gaming with mobile devices. Still, it’s up to you if you’re willing to spend ~$50 to avoid taking off your headset to pick up a phone…

I didn’t know what price the Skeltr was going to retail for when I received it. The Bluetooth integration is great, and the mobile audio/input focus is unique and quite useful. Still, the (membrane) construction/appearance/gaming functionality is about par with gaming keyboards in the $80-$100 range – generally I’m pleasantly surprised by the features that Roccat packs into their devices and the price they manage to do so, but the Skeltr surprised me. $159.99 (Amazon | NewEgg) for a membrane keyboard? I’m not convinced most gamers will pass up the Corsair K70 RGB / Razer Blackwidow Chromas / G.Skill KM780 / MasterKeys Pro Ls of the world and trade mechanical switches for easier, convenient communication with the outside world. However, if that’s a feature you’re looking for, you can’t find it anywhere else than the Roccat Skeltr.

It’s really too bad. The idea is sound – I personally hate typing on mobile devices or any variation of an on-screen keyboard. A device like the Skeltr is perfect for someone like me – I just don’t think I’d be willing to pass up almost every other gaming keyboard on the market for the capability to answer phone calls or type from my keyboard to a mobile device. The Skeltr without the Bluetooth integration fits right in among $80-$100 competition, and I’d be absolutely tempted to pick one up to match the style of one of my favorite and highest-value mice of all time (the new Roccat Kova) at that price. For the extra $60 over that? I’ll just continue to pick up my phone when it rings…and I think most other gamers would too.

Pros:

+ Great looks
+ Multi-color lighting is brilliant, even and well done
+ Extensive macro/modifier abilities with the thumb keys and EasyShift[+]
+ Surprisingly responsive membrane keys
+ Mobile device integration features are unique, surprisingly useful and well done
+ Only device on the market that allows you to switch to your gaming headset to take phone calls

Cons:

– Expensive, especially for a membrane keyboard
– Missing features of gaming keyboards in lower price brackets
– Can’t disable “sleep” feature for lighting
– Limited anti-ghosting capabilities
– White version has (minor) backlight bleed-through on certain areas of the frame

Ratings:

• Performance: 8.00
• Appearance: 8.50
• Construction: 7.00
• Functionality: 8.75
• Value: 5.75

Final Score: 7.60 out of 10.

COMMENT QUESTION: What would you have rated the Roccat Skeltr Smart Keyboard?