14 DAY TRIAL // Most of the gaming keyboards released nowadays, or at least the ones that their makers raise a clamor for, have mechanical key switches of some type or other. There are still exceptions though, like the Challenger line form Tt eSports, which just got updated.
There are certain advantages to Mechanical Switches. For one thing, each single switch serves individual keys, instead of there being a single membrane for them all.
For another, mechanical switches usually provide a better tactile feedback, as well as softer key pressing sound.
They should also be much more durable than membranes, capable of lasting for many millions of individual presses each.
Still, Tt eSports wanted to keep selling high-end keyboards with membranes. The Challenfer Prime is the latest such product to leave its design labs.
Tt eSports Challenger Prime membrane gaming keyboard
You can tell just from the shape that this isn't your normal peripheral. It's made to look solid, rugged and awesome.
There are several extra key sets besides the regular ones. You have shortcut and multimedia keys at the top, and a set of six dedicated macro keys on the left. Whether or not they make you press the wrong things instead of CTRL, Shift and tab during gameplay is up to you. The macro keys are numbered T1 to T6.
In addition to all the above, Challenger Prime boasts dedicated profile switch keys on the top left (M1, M2 and M3).
In the end, it all boils down to the ability to do everything from controlling a media player while in-game to adjusting repeat rate and poll rate, re-map keys as you see fit, or even adjust the brightness of the backlighting.
And yes, the newcomer definitely possesses backlighting technology, like any self-respecting hardcore gaming equipment. You can select one of three colors: red, blue and purple. The dial at the center top is what you spin to determine the intensity of the light.
Availability and pricing
The Tt eSports Challenger Prime gaming keyboard should be up for pre-order for the price of $30 / €30. Shipments ought to begin in a matter of weeks. If you can't find it anywhere, it's because only NewEgg stores will sell it at first, and they might not have set it up yet.
In case you were wondering, the newcomer is spill-proof, meaning that it won't suffer too much if you knock over your glass of coffee or cola while flailing about for whatever reason.
