There’s a familiar frustration that haunts every budget-conscious PC builder and casual gamer. You’ve allocated your funds to the core components—the GPU, the CPU, the RAM—and now you’re left staring at the peripherals, the crucial points of contact between you and your digital world. The market is flooded with two extremes: high-end mechanical keyboards that cost a small fortune, and mushy, uninspired membrane keyboards that feel like typing on wet cardboard. For years, I believed that a satisfying, responsive, and visually appealing keyboard was a luxury item. My old office keyboard was functional but joyless, and the thought of spending over a hundred dollars just to get a decent typing feel and some backlighting for late-night sessions seemed excessive. This is the exact predicament where a product like the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard enters the conversation, promising a “mechanical feeling” and vibrant lighting without the premium price tag. The question is, can it truly deliver a premium experience on a shoestring budget?
- Rii Wired Multimedia Gaming KeyboardProfessional Mechanical feeling backlit gaming keyboard,Ideal for desktop and PC; Can be used for gaming and office,not the real mechanical keyboard,,but it worth...
- Support Win10, Win8, Win7, Linux, Vista, IBM PC Laptop Pad Google Android TV Box HTPC IPTV Smart TV Mac OS Raspberry Pi ,Chrome OS and Linux OS
What to Consider Before Buying a Gaming Keyboard
A gaming keyboard is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for enhancing your interaction with both games and daily tasks. It’s the bridge between your intent and the action on screen. A quality keyboard provides tactile feedback that can improve typing speed and accuracy, durability to withstand millions of keystrokes, and features like backlighting and multimedia shortcuts that add both aesthetic appeal and practical convenience. For gamers, it can mean the difference between a missed command and a clutch victory. For office workers, it can transform a monotonous day of typing into a more comfortable and enjoyable experience. It solves the problem of imprecise, uncomfortable, and feature-barren input devices that can lead to fatigue and frustration.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the challenge of a limited budget but unwilling to compromise completely on performance and features. This includes entry-level gamers building their first rig, students who need a reliable keyboard for both assignments and leisure, or home office users who want an upgrade from a standard-issue flat keyboard without a significant investment. It’s for the pragmatist who wants the look and feel of a gaming peripheral without the associated cost. However, it might not be suitable for those who are competitive esports professionals requiring the absolute lowest latency and customizable actuation points, or for keyboard enthusiasts who demand true mechanical switches, extensive RGB customization, and premium materials like aluminum. These users should look towards higher-end, specialized alternatives.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: The Rii RK100+ is a full-size, 105-key keyboard. This means it includes a dedicated number pad, which is essential for data entry and can be useful for extra keybinds in some games. However, at 17.1 inches long, it requires significant desk real estate. If you have a small desk or prefer to have more space for wide mouse movements, a tenkeyless (TKL) or 75% layout might be a better choice.
- Capacity/Performance: This keyboard is advertised with a “mechanical feeling,” which is an important distinction from being truly mechanical. It uses a membrane base with specially designed key plungers to mimic the tactile bump of a mechanical switch. While it offers a more satisfying feel than a standard membrane, it won’t have the same actuation consistency or low latency of true mechanical or optical switches. For casual gaming and typing it’s excellent, but elite gamers may notice a difference.
- Materials & Durability: The enclosure is made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic. This makes the keyboard lightweight and affordable. The trade-off is that ABS can be less resilient than more premium materials and, as some user feedback suggests, the keycap legends (the letters and symbols) may wear off over time with heavy use, a common issue on many budget backlit keyboards.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: As a USB wired device, the Rii RK100+ is the definition of plug-and-play. There is no software to install; all lighting and multimedia controls are handled directly on the keyboard. The raised, “floating” keycap design not only looks modern but also makes cleaning significantly easier, as dust and debris can be blown out without having to remove every single keycap.
While the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard is an excellent choice for its category, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- The compact tenkeyless design is the most popular form factor used by the pros, allowing you to position the keyboard for comfort and to maximize in-game performance.
- 【65% Compact Design】GEODMAER Wired gaming keyboard compact mini design, save space on the desktop, novel black & silver gray keycap color matching, separate arrow keys, No numpad, both gaming and...
- Dynamic RGB Backlighting: Light up your desktop with six onboard lighting effects, assign a color to each lighting zone, or program your own vibrant lighting effects across five RGB lighting zones...
First Impressions: A Surprising Amount of Keyboard for the Money
Unboxing the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard is a straightforward affair, as expected at this price point. There are no lavish extras, just the keyboard itself, securely packaged. The first thing we noticed upon lifting it out was its surprising sturdiness. While constructed entirely of ABS plastic, it has a decent weight and minimal flex, avoiding the flimsy, hollow feel that plagues many of its budget competitors. Plugging it in via the standard USB-A cable immediately brings the keyboard to life with a vibrant, static rainbow glow. The colors are zoned—a section of green keys, followed by blue, purple, red, and so on—they don’t shift or cycle, but they are bright, clear, and make the legends perfectly visible in a dark room. The keycaps have a comfortable, slightly concave shape, and the “mechanical feeling” is immediately apparent on the first press. It’s a significant, satisfying step up from any standard office keyboard.
What We Like
- Exceptional value for the price point
- Satisfying and quiet “mechanical feeling” keys
- Bright, clear rainbow backlighting for low-light use
- Convenient plug-and-play setup with useful multimedia shortcuts
Limitations
- Keycap legends are prone to fading with extended use
- Backlighting is static and not customizable (not true RGB)
Performance Deep Dive: Putting the Rii RK100+ to the Test
A keyboard’s true worth is only revealed through hours of use, across marathon gaming sessions and long days of typing. We put the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard through its paces, using it as our daily driver for work and our go-to for evening gaming. Here’s our in-depth breakdown of how it performed.
Typing Experience and “Mechanical Feeling” Demystified
The headline feature of the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard is its “mechanical feeling.” Let’s be perfectly clear: this is not a true mechanical keyboard. It does not use individual mechanical switches for each key. Instead, it’s a very well-engineered membrane keyboard designed to replicate the tactile experience of one. And in that mission, it succeeds brilliantly. The keys have a deep travel distance and a noticeable tactile bump about halfway through the press, providing the kind of affirmative feedback that is often missing from flat, chiclet-style keyboards. This was confirmed by multiple users, one of whom described it as a “nice typewriter-style feedback,” while another praised how “smooth the keys are when you press them.”
During our testing, we found typing on the RK100+ to be remarkably comfortable and accurate. The full-size layout and standard spacing meant there was no learning curve. We were able to reach our normal typing speeds almost immediately. A major advantage we discovered, which was echoed in user feedback, is how quiet it is. One user, a self-proclaimed “Razer fanboy,” was shocked, stating, “This thing is mechanical and is quiet, let me repeat that…. Quiet!” This makes it a fantastic hybrid device. You get the satisfying tactile feel for gaming and personal use, but it’s quiet enough not to annoy colleagues in an office or family members in a shared space. While a hardcore gamer noted the response time wasn’t esports-grade, for the vast majority of users and for “primer gaming” as the product description suggests, the performance is more than adequate. It feels responsive, consistent, and is a world away from the mushiness of a generic pack-in keyboard.
Aesthetics and Illumination: The Rainbow Connection
The visual centerpiece of the Rii RK100+ is its rainbow LED backlighting. The moment you plug it in, your desk is illuminated with a vibrant, multi-colored glow. It’s crucial to understand how this lighting works, as it’s a point of confusion for some. This is not per-key RGB lighting. The keyboard is divided into several vertical color zones, and the keys within that zone will always be that color. The ‘Q’, ‘A’, and ‘Z’ keys will always be green, while the ‘P’, ‘L’, and ‘;’ keys will always be red. You cannot change a key’s color. One user expressed disappointment, noting they “thought the colors would run through the entire keyboard.” This is a key expectation to manage: it’s static, zoned backlighting. However, what it does, it does well. The light shines through the legends cleanly, making every key perfectly legible in pitch-black conditions. This was a critical feature for a work-from-home user who starts early in a dark office, stating “It lights up beautifully so I can finally position my hands on it even when is dark.”
The keyboard offers simple lighting controls via a dedicated key (marked with a sun icon). A single press turns the lights on or off, while holding FN and pressing the key cycles through a “breathing” mode. It’s simple, effective, and requires no software. We did find, as one user pointed out, that the light key’s placement near the right Ctrl key can lead to accidental presses with the palm of the hand. It’s a minor ergonomic quirk but one worth noting. Ultimately, the lighting serves its primary purpose beautifully: it looks cool and enhances visibility, which, for a keyboard at this jaw-droppingly low price, is a massive win.
Build Quality and Long-Term Durability: Managing Expectations
When you’re evaluating a product that costs less than a couple of pizzas, durability is the primary concern. The Rii RK100+ is constructed from ABS plastic, which keeps it light and affordable. For the most part, the build feels solid enough for daily use. We found no creaking or significant chassis flex during intense typing or gaming. Several long-term users have had very positive experiences, with one noting they used the exact same model for years before it got too dirty and simply bought a new one, stating the old one had “nothing wrong with it mechanically.” Another individual, who uses the keyboard daily due to a spine injury affecting finger sensitivity, has relied on one for “at least a couple of years” and highly recommends it.
However, the budget price point does reveal itself in potential long-term wear and occasional quality control issues. The most frequently cited problem is the durability of the keycap legends. One user reported that the silkscreen on their ‘WASD’ keys began “wearing off after ONLY 2.5 months,” which is disappointingly fast. This is a common weakness in budget backlit keyboards where the letters are painted on rather than being made of double-shot plastic. We also saw isolated reports of components like the rear kickstand legs breaking or keys arriving damaged. These seem to be exceptions rather than the rule, but they are a reminder that this is a value-oriented product. For the price, the durability is generally acceptable and even impressive, but if you’re a particularly heavy-handed user, the longevity of the keycaps is a factor to consider. You can see its full specifications and build details online before making a final decision.
Functionality and Everyday Use: Beyond the Basics
Beyond the core typing experience, the Rii RK100+ packs in some genuinely useful features that enhance its versatility. The inclusion of 11 multimedia key combinations, accessed by holding the ‘Fn’ key and pressing one of the F1-F12 keys, is a standout. As one user discovered, “When you combine it with the F1 to F12 keys, you can control music, open your email, use the calculator, skip tracks, mute the sound, and more. It just makes everything quicker.” We found ourselves using these shortcuts constantly to pause music or adjust volume without having to tab out of a game or application. It’s a quality-of-life feature often found on more expensive keyboards and is incredibly welcome here.
The keyboard is also designed for convenience. Its wide compatibility with everything from Windows and Mac OS to Linux and even a Raspberry Pi makes it a versatile tool for any number of projects or setups. The smart power management, which puts the backlighting to sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity and wakes it instantly with any key press, is a thoughtful touch that saves a tiny bit of power and reduces unnecessary light in a dark room. The simple, driverless, plug-and-play nature means you can have it up and running in seconds on virtually any machine. This combination of useful shortcuts, broad compatibility, and user-friendly design makes the Rii RK100+ an incredibly practical device for both its intended gaming and office purposes.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across hundreds of reviews, a clear consensus emerges: the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard offers astonishing value. The most common sentiment is one of pleasant surprise. One user summed it up perfectly, saying, “The price for this keyboard is astonishing. It’s better than some 20-30$ keyboards I have.” Many praise the tactile, yet quiet, key-feel, which makes it suitable for a variety of environments. The bright backlighting is another frequently lauded feature, especially by those who work or play in low-light conditions.
However, the feedback isn’t universally perfect, and the negative points are just as consistent. The most significant and widespread complaint revolves around the durability of the keycap lettering. A user documented how their keys were fading after just over two months, stating, “I’ve never seen anything wear so quickly.” The other main point of criticism is the static nature of the lighting. Users expecting customizable RGB effects were disappointed to find the color zones are fixed. These critiques are valid and important, painting a picture of a keyboard that excels in initial feel and function for its price, but may show its budget origins in long-term cosmetic wear.
How Does the Rii RK100+ Compare to the Alternatives?
While the Rii RK100+ dominates the ultra-budget space, it’s important to see what spending a bit more can get you. Here’s how it stacks up against three distinct alternatives in different price brackets.
1. Womier S-K80 75% Mechanical Keyboard
- Vibrant Color Multimedia Screen: The DIY multimedia display screen design in the upper right corner of the keyboard allows you to visualize in custom gif image, caps lock, connection mode, WIN/MAC,...
- Black Theme Style 75% Gasket Mounted Mechanical Keyboard: The keyboard adopts the classic keycap cherry profile art theme keycaps. Experience maximum comfort while gaming with the S-K80's gasket mount...
The Womier S-K80 represents a significant step up for enthusiasts. It features a compact 75% layout, saving considerable desk space compared to the full-size Rii. The biggest difference is its use of true, hot-swappable mechanical switches, allowing users to easily change out switches to customize the feel and sound without soldering. It also boasts a gasket-mount design for a softer typing experience, full per-key RGB lighting, and even a small multimedia display. This keyboard is for the user who wants to delve into the world of custom mechanical keyboards and prioritizes a premium typing feel and aesthetic customization over having the lowest possible price.
2. AULA F99 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Tri-Mode Hot Swappable
- Multi-Device Connection: AULA F99 wireless mechanical keyboard provides three connection methods, including BT5.0, 2.4GHz wireless mode, and USB wired mode. It can be connected to up to five devices...
- Hot-swappable Custom Keyboard: The switches and keycaps can be freely replaced(keycap/switch puller are included in the package).This customizable keyboard with hot-swap PCB allows users to replace 3...
The AULA F99 targets users who crave freedom from wires. Its key feature is tri-mode connectivity, offering the choice of a low-latency 2.4GHz wireless connection for gaming, Bluetooth for versatility with tablets or laptops, and a wired USB-C option. Like the Womier, it is a true mechanical keyboard with pre-lubed linear switches and hot-swappability, delivering a smooth, high-performance typing experience out of the box. While more expensive than the Rii RK100+, the AULA F99 is the clear choice for someone who values a clean, wireless setup and a legitimate mechanical feel without ascending to the highest price tiers.
3. Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Esports Analog Optical Gaming Keyboard
- CHOSEN BY PRO’S FOR ADVANCED FPS MOVEMENT — With Rapid Trigger, Adjustable Actuation and Razer Snap Tap, the Huntsman V3 Pro offers lightning-fast, precise movements that provides gamers an...
- RAZER SNAP TAP — Prioritize the latest input between two selected keys without having to release the previous one, and enjoy more responsive inputs for near-instant directional changes in FPS games...
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro exists in a completely different league, designed for one thing: competitive gaming performance. It trades value for cutting-edge technology, featuring Razer’s Analog Optical Switches. These allow for an adjustable actuation range and a “Rapid Trigger” mode for impossibly fast repeated keystrokes, giving a measurable advantage in esports titles. With premium PBT keycaps, a dedicated media dial, and a plush wrist rest, it’s built for serious gamers who demand the absolute best performance and are willing to pay for it. It’s the polar opposite of the Rii RK100+—where the Rii prioritizes value, the Razer prioritizes uncompromising speed.
Our Final Verdict: Is the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard Worth It?
After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is resounding: the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard is an absolute triumph of value. It successfully bridges the gap between cheap, unsatisfying membrane keyboards and expensive mechanical ones. It delivers a surprisingly good typing experience, effective backlighting, and useful multimedia features for a price that is almost unbelievable. It’s not perfect—the non-customizable lighting and the potential for the keycaps to fade over time are real drawbacks. This is not the keyboard for an esports professional or a dedicated hobbyist seeking ultimate customization.
However, for its target audience—the budget builder, the student, the casual gamer, or the office worker looking for an upgrade—it’s an outstanding choice. It proves that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a keyboard that feels good, looks great, and performs reliably for everyday tasks and entry-level gaming. If you’re on a tight budget and need a keyboard that punches far above its weight class, we can recommend it without hesitation. For an unbeatable combination of features and affordability, you should definitely check the latest price on the Rii RK100+ Gaming Keyboard today.
Last update on 2025-11-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API