- About the XANOVA Magnetar XK700...
- Keyboard and Utility Impressions
- End-User Experience and Conclusion
- Online Purchase Links
Disclosure: The Magnetar RGB XK700 keyboard is loaned by XANOVA, a peripheral sub-brand for GALAX.
The unit that I’ve been provided with is a pre-retail unit and the reps have notified that the problems shouldn’t exist in the retail variants. XANOVA assured that they will loan me the retail version of the keyboard to make the necessary alterations in this review. Therefore consider the cons as ‘face value’ until we make the changes.
About the XANOVA Magnetar XK700…
XANOVA is a peripheral sub-brand for GALAX. This is the XANOVA Magnetar XK700 mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switch offerings. This is a full-set keyboard with the usual RGB offerings and a volume rocker buttons. As said in the earlier review, the peripheral market is overcrowded but it also seems to sell through whatever space any brands can get. Even with GALAX’s branding, XANOVA needs to stand out on its own, something that certain brand new offerings from established PC component makers were not able to establish. Remember when G Skills tried its hand with peripherals?
First, we need to know: How good is the Magnetar?
Packaging and Contents
The XANOVA Magnetar RGB comes in a thicc box. The packaging is missing an instruction manual and maybe a cover over the keyboard (or its meant not to have any). You get memory foam with rubber base with the keyboard.
In the back of the box, notice that there’s a typo- ‘weist’ instead of ‘wrist’.
Specification/ Features
| Outlook Color | Silver – Grey |
| Panel Material | Aluminium |
| Switches | Cherry MX |
| Key | 107 |
| Layout | English (US) |
| Key Cap Color | Black |
| Key Cap Type | ABS |
| LED illuminated | Yes |
| LED Color | 16.8m colour RGB |
| Input | 1x USB 2.0 (Support 2.0/1.0) |
| N-Key Rollover | Yes |
| OS Support | Windows 7 32 Bit, Windows 7 64 Bit, Windows 8, Windows 10, Mac OS 10.0-10.9 |
| Programmable keys (Macro) | Yes (With Software) |
| Dimensions (Keyboard) | 465.8(L)mm*127.7(W)mm*44.5(H)mm |
| Dimensions (Palm rest) | 447(L)mm*68(W)mm*19.8(H)mm |
| Weight (Keyboard) | 938g |
| Weight (Palm rest) | 80g |
| Product Code | XK714C3RGABK2BBRG |
| EAN | 4895147130071 |
This keyboard with the wrist rest shares similar weight as the Masterkeys Pro L. The Pro L has a metal frame internally to reinforce itself from bending in the mid-section, typically happening with full-size keyboards with pop-out feet. The keyboard doesn’t seem to have visible gaming nomenclature anywhere (atleast visibly). The design and the integration of the grey/matte finish black colour combination are welcoming to the eyes.
Design Overview
XANOVA Magnetar RGB is Cherry MX only mechanical keyboards. It is a full-size keyboard with a soft wrist rest made of memory foam, fixed cable and RGB backlit effects with floating key design. The base of the keyboard is aluminium with branding on the ‘winged’ side skirts (typical aftermarket parts for cars) with rounded edges around the Z-Axis.
I am not sure why do we have fixed cables on mechanical keyboards, but to be fair the only full-sized Cherry MX keyboard to have removable cable is the Masterkeys Pro L. The cable has a paracord.
