Thermaltake X1 RGB Cherry MX Silver Keyboard Review

By Meng Vang

Manufacturer: Thermaltake (USA) Technologies Co., Ltd.
Product Name: Tt Premium X1 RGB Cherry MX Silver Keyboard
Model Number: KB-TPX-SSBRUS-01
UPC: 841163001233
Price As Tested: $128.05 (Newegg | Amazon)

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

As a Thermaltake Premium product, the X1 RGB combines outstanding build quality with the ability to synchronize lighting effects across a variety of Tt RGB Sync compatible hardware. Not only does it come with a desktop gaming software for customization, the X1 RGB has an iOS app with voice controlled AI for changing lighting effects and macro settings from a smartphone or tablet. With the iOS app, it also features a patented designed Virtual Game Controller (VGC), which turns the smartphone/tablet into a wireless gaming controller. The X1 RGB keyboard comes in two variants: the slightly less expensive model with Cherry MX Blue switches, and the pricier model with Cherry MX Speed RGB Silver mechanical key switches. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will take a look at the X1 RGB with MX Speed RGB Silver switches, model KB-TPX-SSBRUS-01.

As for performance, the X1 RGB performs very well with its Cherry MX Speed switches. They respond well and sound great as expected, but could be a bit sensitive to users who are coming from Cherry MX Blue or Black switches. If MX Speed switches are not your type, there is a Cherry MX Blue switch version of the X1 RGB at a slightly cheaper price.

Modern mechanical gaming keyboards are looking very similar to each other with a simple body design with simple keycap fonts. I do like the minimalist approach to these keyboards, and the X1 RGB follows that same trend without anything looking too out of place, except for the somewhat large company logo at the top-left of the keyboard.

The Cherry MX Speed switches are very well built and have a 50 million click life cycle. This is pretty standard among mechanical gaming keyboards, so they should last until your next upgrade. The body construction is very solid with no flexing of the body even though the exterior is plastic. Since the X1 RGB is a rather large keyboard, there is also a good amount of weight on it to prevent it from sliding around the table.

Functionality wise, the X1 RGB works well with both the desktop software and the mobile iOS app. The desktop app did have a few bugs and glitches trying to select a group of keys to color, but that was pretty much it. As for the mobile app, I think the voice control and VGC are unique and fun to play around with. I just don’t see it as an essential part for competitive gaming.

As of April 2018, the Tt Premium X1 RGB keyboard with Cherry MX Speed Switches sells online for $128.05 (Newegg | Amazon). This is right around the same price as the Corsair K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE keyboard. In terms of price, you do get more features with the X1 RGB. This keyboard does make more sense to gamers who already own a bunch of Tt RGB Sync compatible devices and want to sync the lighting effects across the entire system. But even if you do not plan to do this, the X1 RGB does make a good alternative keyboard to the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE.
+ Great build quality
+ Tt RGB Sync enabled
+ Unique mobile app for iOS devices
+ USB 2.0 and audio pass-through port
+ On-the-fly macro and lighting recording
– Mobile app may not serve any useful purpose to some competitive games

• Performance: 9.75
• Appearance: 9.50
• Construction: 9.25
• Functionality: 8.75
• Value: 8.75

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.