When looking for a new keyboard and mouse I’ve never had a list of ‘must haves’. All I’ve ever really wanted is a keyboard that’s responsive without sounding like a hail of bullets, and a mouse that’s comfortable for my tiny hands. After testing the Turtle Beach Vulcan II TKL Keyboard and Pro Burst II Air mouse, I’ve also discovered some new features I never knew I needed.
This keyboard and mouse pairing is clearly aimed at a very specific market of TKTK. The peripheral designs and the packaging are sleek, shiny, modern, and compact. Clean lines, RGB, and a minimalist key design I haven’t seen on other keyboards are the order of the day. Yet, somehow, despite me being the exact opposite of all of that demographic, I was won over by Turtle Beach’s offering.
A Flexible Choice
If you want a minimalist keyboard, then the Vulcan II is a great choice. After using it for a few weeks I still miss my num pad, but I’m healing. Despite the small size, it still has plenty of features. There are six macro keys, media buttons, including a push to mute volume dial, and even shortcuts to a couple of handy tools such as screen snipping. It also comes with a small but comfortable wrist rest that eases my wrist strain when using a keyboard all day.
I was unsure if the keys could live up to the hype, since the description sounds overly technical and promises a lot. However, after fiddling around with the software I discovered that it’s very easy to change how responsive the keys are. You can even set the responsiveness per key if you really want, presumably for those of us who have a muscle memory of smashing specific keys after years of button bashing gaming on an ancient keyboard.
This isn’t your traditional red, blue, brown system but somehow it seems to combine them all into one, giving you flexibility but without the excessive clicking noise that makes my brain itch.
Minimalist is again the name of the game with the Burst II mouse. While there are a couple of buttons on the side, you won’t find a tonne of extras here. What you will find is a very lightweight mouse with a matte finish that sits nicely in your hand and is super easy to move around.
This matte finish is present on the keyboard as well and is comfortable to the touch. I am very sensitive to textures and this particular key feel ended up being one of my favourite things about the set. It sounds bizarre but the keys don’t feel slippery or weird like some keyboards I’ve had, and the mouse is easy to grip without making my hand feel sweaty.
The mouse feels responsive, whatever I’m using it for, and I’ve not had fatigue or sore wrists from using it all day. I am often skeptical about wireless but I’ve had no delays or issues with lag and don’t notice a difference between using it wirelessly or having it plugged in. It also connects via bluetooth or wifi, as well as having a usb transmitter for complete flexibility. The battery runs for around a week or so, after using it all week for work and plenty of times off work too, then I simply move the cable from the transmitter to the mouse and use it wired for a couple of hours while it charges.
The Dirt Dilemma
One of my biggest concerns with the keyboard was the minimalist key design. The keycaps are very thin, and the switches partly visible underneath. I worried that this design would essentially remove the parts of my keys that hide all the dust and crumbs that build up on your peripherals. However, the exact opposite appears to be true.
I’m not saying this keyboard won’t get dirty or dusty - it still will, especially if you share my bad habit of eating at your desk, but it’s far easier to clean than my last one was. With no bottoms on the keys things don’t get trapped beneath them as you type, and it’s easier to sweep off any rogue crumbs. If you do want to do a full clean then the small keycap design also makes them much easier to remove and replace.
The Verdict
Despite my apprehension that Turtle Beach’s Vulcan II keyboard and Pro Burst Air II mouse combination looked far too unique to be practical, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. It’s responsive, easy to customise, feels nice to the touch, and doesn’t give me wrist pain or fatigue. I’ve used it for long periods of time without finding faults, and have had no issues with lag on the wireless mouse.
While there aren’t as many buttons or options as some peripherals offer, all the essentials are included. I’ve also quickly gotten used to living without a num pad, happily trading it for the increased desk space and a mouse that feels so light I can’t believe it’s not one of those fake ones with no insides you find in IKEA.
