MSI has launched a new variant of its famous GK71 SONIC keyboard, the Vigor GK71 Sonic mechanical keyboard with blue switches.
The GK71 SONIC keyboard is a multimedia keyboard that allows users to access MSI’s features, such as support for Mystic Light. Mystic Light offers a wide variety of customization options through the MSI Center application, enabling users to select from nine lighting modes for their keyboard. Such as the Ambient Light feature adapts the keyboard’s lighting to a variety of popular games like Watch Dogs: Legion, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Far Cry 6, making it a versatile and engaging experience.
This new variant of GK71 SONIC Blue keyboard boasts the same features as its red counterpart, which entails a full keyboard and diverse multimedia functions. In addition to the usual Play/Pause buttons, the GK71 SONIC Blue keyboard features a scroll wheel that allows users to adjust the volume with ease and can be quickly pressed to mute the audio when necessary. This attribute furnishes users with swift and convenient audio control options.
The GK71 SONIC Blue keyboard includes a function key that allows users to manage various keyboard functions. Using the function key, users can easily adjust the brightness of the keyboard lights, change the speed of the lighting effects, and switch between different color schemes.
The function key also provides direct access to MSI Afterburner, assuming it has already been installed. If the user has an MSI Graphics card, Afterburner is likely running in the background, primarily for monitoring purposes.
The GK71 SONIC Blue keyboard is highly versatile, with the ability to use up to 30 macros and three profiles. Users can easily switch between these profiles using the function key. Each profile can be customized with unique macros, lighting effects, and settings via the MSI Center application.
Unlike the ROCCAT Vulcan II Max, this keyboard does not require any additional components and only needs a single USB-A connection. Although it may lack some visually appealing features, such as keycap monitors for RAM/CPU/GPU or multi-layered RGB lighting, the keyboard’s primary advantage is its functionality.
The blue version of the MSI GK71 SONIC keyboard delivers a pleasant typing experience thanks to its 45g actuation force, which produces an audible click sound. Although the difference in sound and actuation force may seem small compared to the red version, which has a quieter sound and requires 35g of force, it has practical advantages.
Comparing it with its red variant, MSI GK71 SONIC Blue has a higher actuation force, providing a clicky feel that eliminates the sensitivity problem of the Red variant. However, this higher actuation force can come at the cost of performance, as it may cause delays between keypresses, especially during multiple-word typing or competitive gaming.
Despite this, the Blue variant has a more concise keypress due to its shorter total travel distance. The blue variant of the MSI GK71 SONIC keyboard has a clicky sound, which may be bothersome for users who prefer quieter keypresses, unlike the red variant. Ultimately, choosing between the two will depend on personal preferences.
Overall, the MSI GK71 SONIC Blue keyboard offers many of the same positive qualities as the red variant but with the added advantage of increased accuracy.
The keyboard’s unique design elements are also worth noting. The cross-shaped indentations at the bottom make cable management easier, prevent cables from stretching, and keep the desktop tidy. These features make the MSI GK71 SONIC Blue a solid option for gamers and everyday users.