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Solid Performance!
Review Summary
XPG’s SUMMONER keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches offers style and performance. It’s perfect for gamers and typists who love audible clicks, featuring RGB lighting, 100% Anti-Ghosting, and a comfy wristrest. However, the price on marketplaces may deter budget-conscious buyers, and it lack dedicated multimedia controls. Despite this, my experience has been excellent, and with a more competitive price, it could be a top gaming keyboard choice.
Hours Tested: 5-6
Overall
-
Design - 8/10
8/10
-
Build Quality - 8/10
8/10
-
Features - 9/10
9/10
-
Software - 9/10
9/10
Pros
- Stylish gunmetal gray aluminum frame with Cherry MX RGB switches.
- Customizable RGB lighting with 7 preset modes.
- Magnetic wrist rest for comfort during long gaming sessions.
- 100% Anti-Ghosting and 6-key Rollover for precise inputs.
- Convenient USB pass-through port.
- Includes 9 red keycaps for customization.
- XPG PRIME software for extra features.
Cons
- High price.
- Limited RGB customization.
- No dedicated multimedia controls
XPG has sent us a couple of products to review before the launch of their gaming products as a part of the marketing campaign. Some are the XPG XL Gaming Mouse Pad, XPG Primer, XPG Spectrix D50, and many more. And now they sent for XPG Summoner Keyboard Review.
Key Takeaways
- The XPG SUMMONER keyboard is a premium gaming peripheral featuring Cherry MX Blue switches, offering an audible and clicky typing experience.
- Ideal for gaming enthusiasts and typists who appreciate the tactile feedback of Cherry MX Blue switches. The keyboard’s 100% Anti-Ghosting, Gaming Mode, and adjustable RGB lighting make it well-suited for immersive gaming experiences.
- Those on a tight budget may consider the XPG SUMMONER’s price point, a limiting factor.
- Why you can trust Tech4Gamers: Our reviews are based on dedicated hands-on testing by our team of experienced hardware experts. Find out more about how we test.
Overview
The product I have started with is their premium gaming keyboard named SUMMONER. The XPG SUMMONER is a Mechanical Gaming Keyboard having a stylish and beautiful sandblasted aluminum frame in a gunmetal gray color. The keyboard uses Cherry MX RGB switches to deliver outstanding performance without compromise. Here are the salient features of the keyboard:
- Compatible with XPG PRIME
- CHERRY MX RGB Key Switches
- 7 Pre-Defined RGB Modes
- Magnetic Ergonomic Wrist Rest
- Media Control Key
- Macro Keys
- 100% Anti-Ghosting Keys
- Sandblasted Aluminum Frame Design
- USB Passthrough
- 9 Replaceable Red Keycaps
Here are its specifications:
Packaging and Unboxing
The keyboard is shipped inside a cardboard box finished in XPG standard red and black color theme. The packing box is all about the presentation, and this is where I would like to see how much critical information has been printed for the on-the-go buyers, plus the sturdiness. This is the criteria, I evaluate the packing boxes.
Box Contents
The following are included in the box:
- 1x Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
- 1x Warranty Policy
- 1x User Guide
- 1x Sticker Sheet
- 1x Key puller
- 9x Red Color keycaps
- 1x Wrist Rest
Here is an unboxing video of the keyboard:
Closer Look
The XPG SUMMONER became my gaming weapon of choice with its CHERRY MX switches and Per-Key RGB backlighting. The gunmetal gray aluminum frame added to its durability and gave it a stylish edge. Weighing in at 951gm and boasting a slim design, this keyboard felt sleek and comfortable during my sessions.
The RGB lighting bouncing off the frame created a pleasant aura without being overdone. The 7 preset RGB backlight modes made every gaming session a visual spectacle. The magnetic, detachable cushioned wrist rest was a game-changer for those marathon gaming nights. With its 1000Hz polling rate, the XPG SUMMONER truly brought stability, tactile feedback, and precision to my gaming experience.
The XPG SUMMONER comes with 100% Cherry MX RGB switches available in three choices:
- Speed Silver
- Red
- Blue
Key Switches
Our sample comes with Cherry MX RGB Blue switches, well-known for their clicky and audible action. If you prefer linear and silent operation, consider Speed Silver and Red switches.
The following picture summarizes the switches. These switches are rated for 50 Million strokes. Let’s start with the numpad. We have a full-size numpad on this keyboard. Keycaps are slim and in ABS shot material.
A few keys have double markings, which means that in addition to the regular function of the key, additional functions could be activated using the combination of the Shift key/Fn and the corresponding key on the num pad.
Right Keyboard Division
The top section of the num lock has a mute/unmute button. There is a volume roller in the center which adds to the overall good looks of the keyboard. I took time to get used to it as it is implemented differently than the other keyboards I tested.
In other offerings, the roller is suspended in the keyboard frame, but on the XPG SUMMONER Keyboard review, it is on the edge of the frame with a cutout insert. Your finger can slip past it. There are LED indicators on the far right side. The top is for the gaming mode, the middle is for the number lock, and the lowest is for the Caps lock.
They are in static white color. This keyboard has no dedicated multimedia keys except the volume roller and mute/unmute. Track-related options are implemented using a combination of the Fn key and F10-F12 keys. The bottom part of the keyboard right before the Num Pad has standard 4 arrow keys for navigation.
There are three rows of the keys on the upper side of the navigation arrow keys. The top row has three buttons in it. We have a Print Screen key on the left side, followed by the Scroll Lock and Pause keys.
Next is a group of 6 keys in two rows. We have Insert, Home, PgUp (Page Up) keys on the first row and Delete, End, PgDn (Page Down) keys on the second. There is a silver color XPG brand logo pasted. The lighting reflection from this logo looks cool.
Function Keys
The topmost row of the keyboard is the standard function keys, starting from the F1 key and going up to the F12 key. Some of these keys have dual functionality for which the combination of the Fn key is needed with the function keys.
The keys are organized in a group of 4 per row. The F1 to F5 keys have PF1 to PF5 printed on them. The XPG SUMMONER Keyboard review has onboard memory to store the user’s settings and macros.
There are 5 profile buttons to record the macros. This functionality can be accessed using the Fn and PF# keys combination. F10 to F12 keys have dual functionality as well. These are the multimedia keys (not dedicated). Use the Fn key and either of the F10-F12 keys to achieve the corresponding multimedia operation.
The main section of the keyboard has a standard layout. We have the ESC key in the top left-most row, followed by the function keys from F1 to F12 grouped in 4 keys per column, as mentioned above. The backspace and the Enter keys are identical except that the Enter key has a bit more length.
Left Keyboard Division
Some people prefer the larger size of the Enter key. This is, of course, dependent upon the keyboard layout/localization. We have a Windows key on the left side of the spacebar key, whereas the Function key and Properties key are on the right side.
The main section of the keyboard does not have any key that requires a combination with the Fn key. The left and right sides of the keyboard are identical. The top plate is distinguishable from the rest of the frame, which is in black. The keyboard has an overall slim design. The top sandblasted aluminum plate extends over the sides.
Front Keyboard Side
This is the side to which the cushioned wristrest is attached. This angle shows the suspended floating design of the keycaps. The overall finishing is top-notch and well-symmetrized.
The USB pass-through port is located on the front side of the keyboard. This port allows the user to connect USB devices like flash drives to the keyboard conveniently and gets full functionality. To use this port, connect both USB cables of the keyboard to the PC.
Accessories
The XPG SUMMONER has a thick braided cable measuring 1.8m in length approximately. It has two cables at the terminating end. All have gold-plated contact points. One is the main keyboard cable, and the other (EXT) is for the USB pass-through functionality. The interface is USB 2.0 Type-A.
The XPG SUMMONER has a detachable magnetic wristrest. It is cushioned, which allows for longer gaming sessions at convenience. Its dimension is 445x88x19mm (LxWxH). It has 8 rubber paddings on the backside to avoid scratching on the surface where the keyboard will be placed. There is a brand logo in the middle. The weight of the wrist rest is 191gm.
Let’s take a look at the backside of the Keyboard. There is a sticker pasted in the middle. It has the model of the keyboard printed on it. The keyboard takes 5V DC. The backside has four rubber paddings to avoid scratching on the surface.
There are two surface raisers on the top side. The XPG has bundled 9 red-colored keycaps with SUMMONER to customize the keyboard. These keycaps are for the arrow keys, W, A, S, D, and ESC keys. A key puller tool is included to take off the keycaps conveniently.
The picture below walks you through how to record Macros. You have only 20 seconds to record the action.
Key RGB Lighting
It is time to look at the stellar feature of this keyboard, which is backlighting (not 16.8 Million RGB colors) with predefined 7 color effects. To control the lighting effect on this keyboard, the user has two options.
Either use the combination of the Fn and arrow keys and F1-F5 or use the software called XPG PRIME. However, I would like to highlight that there is no control over customizing the lighting effects in 16.8M colors, a common feature of competitive offerings.
The user can adjust the brightness using the combination of the Fn key and up/down arrow keys. The user has the option to turn off the LED lights altogether.
Software
XPG PRIME is the name of the software. The software can be downloaded from their website, or click here to download the PRIME. PRIME is unnecessary to control the lighting effect as key combinations already provide this functionality.
As mentioned above, there is no control for RGB lighting customization. But PRIME is handy as it has a Canvas feature, allowing the synced XPG devices to have the same lighting effect.
Should You Buy It?
Now that I have reviewed the product completely, everyone must be thinking, for whom is this keyboard an ideal choice?
Buy It If
✅ You want a serious Gaming Keyboard: The XPG Summoner keyboard switches provide clicky feedback, making it a satisfying choice for gamers who prefer tactile switches.
✅ You love Competitive Gaming: The inclusion of 100% Anti-Ghosting and 6-key Rollover enhances responsiveness, catering to the needs of competitive gamers.
✅ Durable Build: Individuals who value comfort during extended gaming or typing sessions will appreciate the magnetic wristrest.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You have a tight budget: Individuals with budget constraints may find the XPG Summoner’s pricing relatively high.
❌ You need dedicated multimedia controls: Those relying heavily on dedicated multimedia controls might find the XPG Summoner’s non-dedicated approach (using Fn and F10-F12 keys) less intuitive.
Conclusion
XPG has evolved from SSD and DRAM manufacturing to a leading gaming brand under ADATA. We explored their premium mechanical gaming keyboard, the SUMMONER, featuring my favorite Cherry MX RGB switches, with our sample having Blue switches.
I took the XPG SUMMONER for a spin, and it’s become my top pick with those Cherry MX Blue switches. The slim design and gunmetal gray aluminum frame give it a cool vibe. Though limited to preset colors, the RGB lighting is a visual treat. Gaming-wise, I had no hiccups with the 100% Anti-Ghosting and 6-key Rollover.
The magnetic wrist rest? A game-changer for those marathon sessions. However, with RAZER, ASUS, and CORSAIR in the game, more customization options and dedicated multimedia keys would be the cherry on top in my opinion. The warranty is a decent 2 years. Overall, I loved the experience!
Recent Updates
- December 20, 2023: A few text changes to improve readability. Also added image galleries.
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[Hardware Reviewer & Editor]
Meet Nauman Siddique, a highly experienced computer science graduate with more than 15 years of knowledge in technology. Nauman is an expert in the field known for his deep understanding of computer hardware.
As a tech tester, insightful reviewer, and skilled hardware editor, Nauman carefully breaks down important parts like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, CPU coolers, and more.
- 15+ years of PC Building Experience
- 10+ years of first-hand knowledge of technology
- 7+ years of doing in-depth testing of PC Hardware
- A motivated individual with a keen interest in tech testing from multiple angles.
- I majored in Computer Science with a Masters in Marketing
- Previously worked at eXputer, EnosTech, and Appuals.
- Completed Course in Computer Systems Specialization From Illinois Tech
Get In Touch: nauman@tech4gamers.com
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