The Turtle Beach Command Series KB7 Gaming Keyboard, part of the new Command Series, is designed to be an all-in-one control center for gaming, streaming, productivity and media management. Featuring a 4.3-inch full-colour touch screen, low-profile Titan Hall-Effect Switches, and the new action bar, the KB7 looks impressive. When paired with the KP7, Turtle Beach’s new modular hall-effect RGB Gaming Keypad, it should be a powerhouse keyboard system. However, shoddy software implementation quickly turns what should be an impressive offering into an abysmal user experience.
Out of the box, the KB7 and its counterpart, the KP7 (sold separately), look and feel amazing. Turtle Beach has stepped up its design game with the release of these two pieces. Featuring a beautiful and subtly stylized aluminum top plate, the KB7 is a sharp-looking keyboard. Along with the low-profile Titan Hall Effect Switches, Turtle Beach has added two notable features: a quick-access Action Bar that controls media and key features such as lighting and mic control, and a new 4.3-inch full-colour, programmable touch display.
Each side of the keyboard features a slide lock system that allows the KP7 to connect, leaving its positioning up to gamers. As a lefty, I’ve appreciated being able to position the keypad to the left of the KB7. Like its counterpart, the KP7 carries the same aesthetic charm in its style and design.
“Out of the box, the KB7 and its counterpart, the KP7, look and feel amazing.”
A soft detachable palm rest adorns the bottom of both peripherals, each supporting full illumination via the SWARM II software. While conceptually it’s a fun addition, I actually find it too thin for long-term typing, as it often leaves my wrists sore from the position. Flipping the board over reveals sturdy adjustable kickstands and a USB-A passthrough. This allows easy access to a USB-A memory stick without reaching for your PC. From a design perspective, the company has nailed it. The KB7 is a slick-looking keyboard.
Turtle Beach has even pulled out all the stops with the hardware here, with the aforementioned lower-profile Titan Hall Effect switches present in both peripherals. They provide custom activation, rapid trigger response, macro recording, react-tap, and even key remapping, all of which work well at the hardware level. The switch response is smooth and consistent, and can be incredibly sensitive.
The inclusion of both rapid trigger response and react-tap is gaming gold, helping elevate the user experience to premium levels. While I appreciate so much of the hardware design and even its mechanical functionality, the unfortunate reality is that this keyboard is severely hamstrung by the SWARM II software.
“The KB7 is hampered too much by its software support to justify its $279 price tag.”
Everything good about the KB7 is tainted by poor software support. The beautiful 4.3-inch programmable touch screen, which is responsive, vibrant, and a smart addition to the KB7, is utterly useless if you wish to customize any of the three preset command pages. In the past few weeks of testing, I’ve yet to successfully program any of it on the first try, and the latest update has made it impossible to customize the touchscreen at all. What should be the crowning jewel of the KB7 is, quite literally, the throne in the user experience.
While the hardware itself is a step up for Turtle Beach, the software support feels as if it’s regressed since I reviewed the solid Vulcan II TKL last year. Even lighting controls, which have historically been great, feel as if they have regressed, with per-key lighting often failing to stay dialled into my presets.
Actually, on that note, I’ve noticed a distinct brightness difference between the KB7 and KP7, which is unfortunate, as the former is notably dimmer despite all brightness settings being set to full. The result, when viewed side by side, is an inconsistent visual experience that detracts from the otherwise impressive aesthetics of the keyboard.
“I wanted to love the KB7.”
This is all a bit frustrating, as the concept of the Command Series and the KB7 in particular is a great one. The idea of a customizable touchscreen could be a game-changer for gamers, reducing clutter on their desks by providing an all-in-one controller for their setup. On that note, another frustration with the current SWARM II support is that key customization is somewhat limited. Unlike a Stream Deck, which offers endless programming options, the KB7, at least as far as I’ve been able to test the software, is limited to its preset functions.
I wanted to love the KB7. From a design perspective, it does so many things right. Solid hardware, beautiful design and the interchangeable KP7 mounting are all wins. However, when a company aims to implement programmable technology, everything hinges on the software experience. In the case of the KB7, it has become its downfall.
The Command Series KB7 should be a win for Turtle Beach, and I do hope that with some software updates, it still can be. However, at present, despite some smart and slick hardware and design choices, the KB7 is hampered too much by its software support to justify its $279 price tag.
