Trust GXT 867 Acira 60 Mini Gaming Keyboard – Hardware Review
It’s only been a few days since we took a closer look at Trust’s GXT 866 Torix Premium Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, which proved to be a great mechanical keyboard for a budget-friendly price. We enjoyed working with the fairly silent Torix model, but we understand that different gamers have different needs. For our next review, we’ll be taking a closer look at the GXT 867 Acira 60 Mini Gaming Keyboard, which is only 60% the size of a traditional keyboard. While it did take us some time to get used to some of the keyboard’s shortcut functions, we still very much enjoyed gaming with this tiny yet powerful gaming peripheral.
Design
It’s strange to say it, but this is actually a rather ‘cute’ keyboard, and that’s probably mainly because of its size and the overall colorful LED lights. As this is a device that is also only 60% of the size of a regular keyboard, there aren’t too many bells and whistles. You’ll hardly notice any framework, and all the available keys hardly have any additional spacing. There is no numpad, no regular arrow keys, and no additional keys such as your DEL, END, PRT SCRN, and so on. All the aforementioned buttons are added as additional functions for some of the other keys in combination with the FN key. As the keys are high-rise keys, you’ll see the additional functions on the front side of the keys. Even though these additional functions are not mentioned on the top of the keys, they are still very clearly visible from the front.
As mentioned above, the Acira has very colorful LED lights. You’ll quickly notice all the different colors of the rainbow the moment you plug in the device, and with some customization, you can truly make this device suitable for every type of gaming setup. Acira users are treated to premium-quality LED lights that we haven’t often seen in budget-priced gaming keyboards. Most other low-priced models have faded LED lights or are very limited when it comes to different color options.
Comfort
In terms of comfort, the GXT 987 Acira is a delight to work with. Don’t get us wrong, however, we were fumbling with the key shortcuts at the very beginning, as we were so used to working and gaming with a full-sized mechanical keyboard. It took us a while to adjust, but after that, we enjoyed the additional desk space, the small frame, and the decent build quality. Like the Torix, the Acira has an FN key, allowing you to access other keys’ second functions.
When it comes to upkeep, the device is also quite easy to clean. The keys don’t show fingerprints or greasy fingers quickly, and if they do, it’s easy to wipe everything off. The keys can be removed to clean everything underneath. We would have appreciated it if Trust included a keycap puller for their mechanical gaming keyboards.
Overview
Just like its full-sized sibling we discussed a few days ago, the Acira is a simple plug-and-play device. You just connect the device to the system you wish to use it on, and you’re basically good to go. From here on out, all main functions are accessible, and you can start customizing your experience. Like with the Torix, you can of course download the official software for more advanced features. As this keyboard is only 60% the size of a regular keyboard, some keys were omitted from the design. Their functions, however, have been assigned to other keys. These functions can then be accessed by pressing the FN key in combination with one of the aforementioned keys. It does take you a while to get used to this change if you have always used full-sized keyboards, but after you know where everything is, using the shortcuts will come naturally.
Underneath the high-rise keys, you’ll find Outemu switches. These switches have a bit more resistance to them, and you can also slightly hear the spring-like noise when typing or playing games. The overall responsiveness is great, and we performed well in shooters and other reaction-based games. Compared to the Torix, the keys perhaps felt a bit more premium, and more akin to traditional mechanical keyboards. Of course, the latter is also our personal preference.
Conclusion
Trust’s GXT 867 Acira 60 Mini Gaming Keyboard was a surprisingly agile and great gaming companion. While it did take us some time to get used to the button shortcuts and some of the missing keys, we were treated to an extremely comfortable gaming experience for a fraction of the price of other similar products. The responsive keys proved to be perfect for reaction-based games, and it was also quite nice to have so much extra desk space. If you’re looking for a compact mechanical gaming keyboard, this one is certainly worth checking out.
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