Tesoro Excalibur Illuminated Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

Introduction, Specifications and Pricing

If this were six months ago, then the Tesoro company would still have been a company we knew very little about, but in that time, they have been very forthcoming in delivering samples of their products for us to review. As a result, we have now developed sort of a profile of what we expect to see in their products, and more specifically, their keyboards.

When we got our hands-on the Lobera, we saw that Tesoro wasn't afraid to attempt shaping the frame away from the typical rectangle. While they used odd patterns and design elements, at the Lobera's base there were great components and a high level of attention to detail. When it came to the Tizona, we found a more typical design and layout, but we still found the same level of components, and the great attention to the small details, even if most users will never see them.

So, as we now get to take a look at our third mechanical keyboard from Tesoro, we do have some pretty high expectations of what this product should deliver. First, we expect Kailh switches, as the previous two were based upon them. We also expect that when it comes down to it, everything about this keyboard will be designed with a purpose, and there will be less thrills and frills that the more oddly shaped keyboards would offer. This time, because the design is more straightforward, we don't expect much in coatings or design elements with altered textures. Most of all, we expect to see an illuminated keyboard that does very well on its own, and from what we have seen of their configuration software, this should be a great solution for gamers and typists alike.

If you haven't yet figured it out, today we will be looking at Tesoro's latest, the Excalibur Illuminated mechanical keyboard. With a basic rectangular design, and touches that make this keyboard distinctly Tesoro, we feel that sometimes simplicity is best. As long as Tesoro does not fail to meet our expectations and stay the course we have seen them following with previous models, we feel the Tesoro Excalibur may very well be the keyboard to get, especially if you are looking for the features we have seen before, just in a more sleek and elegant packaging. If none of the above has raised your pulse thus far, then the amazing price of the Excalibur just might.

When it comes to provided specifications, we get very little from Tesoro, but this compact list pretty much sums it all up. Under the rendering of the front profile of the Excalibur, we see the keyboard is 450mm in width, 145mm in length/depth, and it stands 24mm tall with the feet tucked into the bottom of the keyboard. As for the rest of the construction, it is comprised of a two-piece plastic frame that surrounds the steel plate and PCB to give the keyboard its structure, and hopefully eliminate potential flex and twist. The switches in this model are blue backlit Kailh switches, and in our case, we have blue Kailh switches. The last thing we have to consider are the cylindrical key caps that are molded in white, and then painted with the iconography left blank for the light to shine through.

The smaller print at the bottom shows us that this keyboard offers 512KB of onboard memory for profile and Macro storage. There are five total profiles, the Macros can be tied to any key, and with software involved, keys can also be disabled or reassigned. There are four levels of illumination, and that covers three levels of full illumination (one is a breathing mode), and one level where only twenty specific keys illuminate. Continuing on, we see the fifty-million click lifespan of the Kailh switches, and we find that there are no multimedia switches included. The Excalibur connects via USB on the end of a 1.55 meter cable, and there is no USB hub, or extra audio ports in this design.

Price tags of $100 or more tend to keep most of the potential clientele away from mechanical keyboards. Tesoro, like a few other companies, has seen the light, and are taking on the more budget friendly end of the market. This means that even while you get a sleek product, very comprehensive software, and the ability to store and go with profiles and Macros, you don't have to shell out $100 or more to get it. With that angle of attack, the $69.99 pricing we are seeing most everywhere just got even more reasonable. Tesoro may not have been the first keyboard to release at this price, but they are giving it all they have got to deliver a budget friendly keyboard that offers slightly more than the competition.

PRICING: You can find the Tesoro Excalibur for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing, but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: The Tesoro Excalibur (BLUE switches) retails for $69.99 at Amazon, the Tesoro Excalibur (BROWN switches) retails for $69.99 at Amazon, the Tesoro Excalibur (RED switches) retails for $69.99 at Amazon, and the Tesoro Excalibur (BLACK switches) retails for $69.99 at Amazon.