Turtle Beach Vulcan II TKL Pro Review

On paper, the Turtle Beach Vulcan II TKL Pro has a lot going for it. Hall-effect, magnetic switches might be the main attraction here, but that highlighted feature is complemented by a unique floating keycap design combined with excellent RGB lighting. Easy-Shift [+] is also here, allowing users to go beyond the limits of other tenkeyless keyboards. It appears well-priced, too, for what’s on offer. How has it fared during my testing? Here is my review.

Hall-effect switches are a win

If “Analog Switches” are the most talked about tech in keyboards right now, “Hall-Effect Switches” are a close second. The first big advantage of this type of swhich is the extended longevity, with Turtle Beach claiming a lifespan of 150 million clicks.

The second big advantage is the adjustable actuation points, ranging from 0.1 mm to 4 mm. This means users can fine-tune when the keyboard starts and stops recognizing an input. This makes the keyboard more consistent, especially during fast-paced games involving lots of strafing around.

Smooth typing

The typing experience is smooth and responsive, just as you’d hope for with a keyboard primarily targeted at gamers. The five onboard profiles are crucial for changing settings between games or programs, especially for those who use a lot of shortcuts and/or macros.

Diving into the Swarm II software reveals additional features bolstered by the hall-effect switches. For example, users can select Rapid Trigger mode or emulate how a controller behaves. Users can even fine-tune multi-point actuation across all keys. You can get super deep into customization here, which those looking to optimize every part of the game will no doubt enjoy.

RGB, activate!

While that part of the software is mostly for advanced users, the RGB lighting screen is for everyone. The Vulcan II TKL Pro takes advantage of Turtle Beach’s “AIMO intelligent” RGB lighting. What does this mean? Well, the light effects refresh at double the rate of other keyboards, making for smoother effects that can be synced with other AIMO-enabled peripherals. It’s impressive!

Other features worthy of highlighting include the overall great build quality, with the aluminum top plate certain to last the test of time. I’m also a big fan of the volume knob, which you don’t always see on TKL keyboards, as well as the included palm rest.

Shortcomings

When it comes to downsides, my main gripe stems from the material used for the keycaps. ABS keycaps, especially in black, become shiny very quickly, no matter how routinely you wash your hands. In just a few months of regular use, ABS keycaps can turn hideously shiny. PBT plastic, on the other hand, resists the shine for much longer.

My second criticism targets the included palm rest. While it’s nice to get it in the box, it’s fairly basic and feels cheap, especially when compared to the keyboard that it’s being paired with. Perhaps I’m being nitpicky, but I felt it worth mentioning.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Turtle Beach.