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If you're looking for a 'quiet' gaming keyboard that is actually quiet, Be Quiet!'s Light Mount is a truly excellent gaming keyboard (and one we gave it 93% in our review last year). However, if that one is simply too big to fit comfortably on your desk, the gaming brand is putting out a TKL model this year.
Announced at Computex, the Be Quiet! Light Mount TKL is like the normal one, but, well, smaller. We're told it's expected to launch at some point in August this year, but we don't yet have a price point. TKLs tend to be a little cheaper than their full-length counterparts—though that isn't always the case and sometimes they even cost more—so I'm hoping it's tens of dollars cheaper than the $170 full-sized keeb.
If you are unfamiliar, the Be Quiet! Light Mount employs three layers of sound-dampening foam and factory-lubricated switches. In her review of the original, our Jess said, "though by no means silent, I'm definitely a fan of the sound-dampened clacks on Be Quiet's Light Mount. It lives up to its name in more ways than one, too, boasting vibrant, head-turning per-key RGB lighting—even the software offers few reasons to complain!"
It's a gaming keyboard that's impressive for more than just its sound, too. It comes with hot swappable 5-pin switch support, per-key RGB, and a neat media wheel. There's not a huge pile to complain about, as you'll see from our review.
Alongside this, Be Quiet! Has also announced the Mousepad XL, which is a 900 x 500 m mousepad designed to accommodate your mouse and gaming keyboard. It also comes with a 3 mm anti-slip rubber base to ensure it doesn't move while gaming. Be Quiet! says the "Optimised soft and smooth fabric ensures precise tracking, effortless glide and lasting comfort for both mouse and wrists"
But, alas, many mousepads are pretty similar in approach, so it will have to win in feel or price to stand out. We know neither of these two just yet.
On the show floor, we also got our eyes on the Pure Base 803, which is a huge Be Quiet! Case with support for back-connect motherboards, up to 7 HDDs (assuming you can afford them), up to 3 x 420 mm radiators and 2 x 140 rear fans.
There seem to be no gaming mouse updates to go with the mousepad and gaming keyboard at Computex. That's a shame, as I got to test the Be Quiet! Dark Perk Ergo a few months ago and think it's good enough to make me excited for what it's got cooking next, but not quite good enough for me to actually recommend at its price.
1. Best overall:
Wooting 80HE
2. Best budget:
Gamakay x Naughshark NS68
3. Best 60%:
Wooting 60HE v2
4. Best 75%:
Keychron K2 HE
5. Best mechanical:
Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless
6. Best silent:
Be Quiet! Light Mount
7. Best ergonomic:
Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB
8. Best membrane:
Glorious GMBK 75%
