The G-Lab Keyz Elite 400 WG Review: Ambitious Keyboard Under €100!

The gaming keyboard, The G-Lab Keyz Elite 400 WG, adopts a 96% layout (retaining the numeric keypad but omitting the directional arrow keys area). It features a substantial two-tone plastic chassis and includes a volume control dial.

What’s more, it benefits from a meticulously crafted internal design with a gasket mount assembly to enhance the typing experience and its cushioning. This focus on the typing experience also involves the use of factory-lubricated KTT Wine Red linear mechanical switches topped with PBT plastic keycaps. Not to forget, it features customizable RGB lighting.

To top it all off, the Keyz Elite 400 WG is generous with its connectivity options as it supports both wired and wireless modes. It can connect via its dedicated USB dongle, as well as Bluetooth for complete compatibility with all devices.

With such features, one might have expected a much higher price than the 100 euros charged by The G-Lab for the Keyz Elite 400 WG. If it’s as good as its specs suggest, it could well become a real benchmark in the mid-range gaming keyboard market.

Technical Specifications

Elegance in Black and White

Unpacking the Keyz Elite 400 WG, it reminds us of various models from Designed by GG that we’ve previously reviewed. This impression is mainly due to the thick, two-tone plastic chassis of The G-Lab’s keyboard. The base and the top are white and encircled by a black frame, which also includes an RGB lighting zone on the sides of the keyboard. The overall construction seems solid, although the chassis is quite flexible and somewhat prone to twisting.

This visually pleasing two-tone aspect is enhanced by the PBT plastic keys that blend white, gray, and black, adding even more style to the whole. While the Keyz Elite 400 WG indeed incorporates RGB lighting, it only illuminates the outlines of the keys, not the symbols. So, don’t expect to see the letters glowing in the dark.

With its 96% layout, the Keyz Elite 400 WG thus retains the numeric keypad but omits the central area where only the directional arrows are kept (the rest of the functions being accessible via the Fn key). It is here that the brand has installed the LED indicator for status and battery. The G-Lab has also added a volume control dial at the top right, which also mutes the system volume with a simple press.

The connectivity switches and ports are relegated to the back left of the chassis. In addition to choosing between 2.4 GHz mode and Bluetooth connection, it is also possible to configure the keyboard for Windows or Mac/iOS. This feature is increasingly common on gaming keyboards.

In terms of ergonomics, the keyboard has retractable pads that allow for adjusting the tilt at three levels. The default tilt is, in our opinion, the most comfortable, although the height of the chassis makes us miss the absence of a wrist rest in the box.

Triple Connectivity, with Just Adequate Battery Life

The Keyz Elite 400 WG boasts generous connectivity options, functioning both in wired and wireless modes. The 2.4 GHz wireless connection is provided by a dedicated USB dongle, but it can also connect via Bluetooth to all compatible devices. During our testing, both connections proved reliable without any disconnections or latency issues.

The G-Lab promises a decent battery life of about 80 hours with the integrated 4,000 mAh battery. This duration seems achievable only in Bluetooth mode and with the RGB lighting turned off. For us, with the RGB lighting on and using the 2.4 GHz wireless mode, we were able to enjoy the keyboard for a week before needing to recharge it.

A Premium Typing Experience

Beyond its attractive design and careful construction, it was particularly the typing experience where the Keyz Elite 400 WG was expected to shine. The G-Lab has done a remarkable job with an internal design featuring a suspended PCB (gasket mount) in 5 layers. The aim here is to enhance the overall feel of the switches and to minimize noise during typing as much as possible.

This elaborate internal construction is complemented by linear KTT Wine Red switches. These switches, lubricated at the factory, offer a total travel of 4 mm, with an actuation point set at 2 mm and an activation force of 45 g. They are also hot-swappable, not being soldered to the PCB.

Once under the fingers, the typing experience is indeed very convincing. The switches are smooth, keystrokes are seamless, and the sound output has a muted, premium quality that is very pleasing. The G-Lab has succeeded in creating a keyboard that is truly enjoyable to use, both for typing and gaming.

In gaming, the Keyz Elite 400 WG also performs very well. Although its switches aren’t the most responsive on the market and don’t feature rapid trigger or other trendy advanced features, it is perfectly suited for all genres. Competitive players will obviously prefer more responsive models from competitors, but it’s an excellent multipurpose keyboard.

A Subpar Driver

With a sleek design and convincing typing experience, all that was missing was a good application experience to wrap up. Unfortunately, this is where it falls short… The G-Lab is still behind by imposing a different application for each of its products. The interface of the application is disappointing with outdated design, inconsistent translations, and obscure features. The driver of the Keyz Elite 400 WG is frankly not up to par.

The various keys can logically be reassigned, with the bonus of being able to create two additional configurations thanks to the Fn keys. A mysterious “Type” layer is also present, without us really knowing what it actually corresponds to… The choice is vast in key settings, and it is also possible to select macros that have been previously created with the dedicated menu.

In addition to a dynamic lighting mode supposed to react according to the system (supposedly, as it was non-functional during our test), the driver of the Keyz Elite 400 WG allows for rather fine customization of its illumination. Several preconfigured effects are present, but each key can be customized as desired. However, there does not seem to be an option to adjust the side lighting of the chassis, which is a pity.

There are no global profiles to save settings. Only the management of key assignments allows saving multiple configurations, without offering the possibility to switch automatically upon launching an application or a game.

Price and Availability of The G-Lab Keyz Elite 400 WG Keyboard

The G-Lab Keyz Elite 400 WG keyboard is offered at a recommended price of 100 euros.