GravaStar Mercury K1 Pro review

Keyboard Builders' Digest / Review

GravaStar Mercury K1 Pro review

GravaStar is launching the breathtaking Mercury K1 Pro and other members of their new family of wireless gaming keyboards – with recurring sci-fi motifs, great typing experience, and a lot more!

KBD.news
Published August 29, 2024

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Holy guacamole! Okay folks, hold on to your hats, fasten your seatbelts, because this is something really exciting. Available starting today, this very moment (8AM EST) to be precise, GravaStar is ~~opening the gates of hell~~ launching a whole new family of kick-ass 75% keyboards with a unique sci-fi appearance – namely the premium Mercury K1 Pro, mid-range Mercury K1, and the budget version K1 Lite.

I usually avoid big words like this, but the gaming keyboard scene has just been redefined by GravaStar creating a keyboard with a distinctive look closer to enthusiast level typing experience than any other device in this genre I've ever tried.

TLDR;

Pre-built, wireless, hotswap, 75%. The main feature to highlight is obviously the design language with the hallmark skeleton frame and alien legs of the Mercury K1 Pro. However, the incredible attention to detail is evident in every aspect of these keyboards: an excellent out-of-the-box typing experience, the organic design of the aluminum alloy frame, a set of custom switches designed and manufactured in collaboration with Kailh, a stylistically faithful plate motif and PCB silkscreen, and even the grain particles of the double-shot "concrete" keycaps – the K1 Pro is a true masterpiece. (My only concern is the software, which is not open source and lacks useful layer functions for keymap wizards.)

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Forgive my excitement, but the Mercury K1 Pro is not simply another 75% wireless gaming keyboard, it's carefully designed to the smallest details, which is pretty incredible for a first keyboard model by a company known for speakers, mice, and wireless chargers – no matter how unique and well-crafted they are.

GravaStar

It's been 6 years since Yong Huang – sci-fi lover, hardcore Starcraft gamer, industrial designer, and GravaStar CEO and founder – started sketching and exploring possibilities to merge sci-fi with everyday life, blending futuristic aesthetics with functional design.

GravaStar began with a simple question: what if we could turn our world into a sci-fi wonderland? – Yong Huang.

Since the success of their first speaker, the Mars, GravaStar has released over 50 products, including award-winning mice. And today they kick the door open by launching their first keyboards: the Mercury with 3 variants and 7 cool colorways/themes.

Today's review unit, a concrete gray Mercury K1 Pro, is part of this new GravaStar product family.

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Disclaimer

As always: I received the review unit for free which may introduce all kinds of bias – both negative and positive in my experience.

Variants

The Mercury K1 Pro, K1, and K1 Lite variants are the premium, mid-range and entry level versions, respectively. However, all of these levels offer double-shot or pudding caps, 5 sound dampening foam layers and backlight, so if you're lucky, you fancy the theme of a cheaper option – starting at the incredible price of ~~$90~~ $77 by the way.

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The alien legs are unique to the K1 Pro, but the K1 come with the aluminum alloy case as well. The Lite version is plastic, has an extra key instead of the fancy three-way switch, lacks per-key RGB, and has 4000mAh battery instead of 8000mAh. Otherwise its specs are pretty much the same.

The premium K1 Pro has the aluminum frame with alien legs, FR4 plate, and beneath the concrete grey color is available in the mouth-watering Cyberpunk and Porcelain Blue special editions.
The mid-range K1 comes in gradient black and gradient white colorways, in alu case without legs, but with per-key RGB, PC plate and the same control knob as the K1 Pro.
The K1 Lite, starting at ~~$90~~ $77, comes in transparent black or white colorways. PVC frame, PC plate, 80 keys (no knob), and only backlight.

Unboxing & Contents

The Mercury K1 Pro came in a nice cardboard box, actually two boxes:

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Pre-built keyboard with switches and caps mounted, funky dust cover to accommodate the legs ;), basic cable, combined tool to remove keycaps and switches, quickstart guide, and some spare switches.

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There will be other accessories available, e.g. wrist rest and a more serious switch puller, a GravaStar branded version of the latest Gateron switch puller.

First impressions, design language

As you may notice, I'm quite blown away by the design. Something tells me you'll also start by playing with the legs. They are not just a fancy design element but a functional part of the keyboard: you can set the typing angle with them. And they feel freakin' heavy duty, not flimsy or wobbly at all.

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In addition, despite being quite immune to RGB lights, I have to admit that the lighting, especially the underglow, is spot on. More on this later.

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The design language draws inspiration from popular sci-fi themes, like H. R. Giger's work and the iconic movie Alien, but also steel craft and liquid metal as the Mercury name implies, and now we've arrived at T-1000 of the Terminator frenchise.

Specs

Layout: 75%, 79 keys + three-way toggle button (+/- volume, mute)
Typing angle: 5.5 degrees
Material: cast aluminum alloy skeleton case (Lite: PVC), plastic bottom
Mount: plate gasket-mounted with FR4 (Pro) or PC plate
PCB: hotswap, south-facing per-key RGB, lots of flex cuts
270 degrees backlight
Polling rate: Wired 1000Hz, Tri-mode (1000HZ in 2.4G and wired, 125HZ in bluetooth)
Software support: proprietary, closed source

Layout

The layout is 75%, but not the cramped one. The arrow cluster is slightly offset and easy to locate when touch typing. This is a result of the extra column on the right having only three keys, and to the right of the spacebar there are only two modifiers too, plus a gap – so you don't get lost when changing between the home row and arrows.

75% means no numpad and no full navigation cluster either.

In addition, the K1 and K1 Pro versions have a three-way switch in the top right corner, something similar to the Hexgears Immersion A3, reviewed earlier this week. The Lite variant has a regular key in this place.

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Only ANSI, however, the PCB has cutouts for ISO keys too.

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Build quality, structure, case

The unique outer frame is like an exoskeleton for the board. Attached to its inside, there are plastic pieces which together act as a giant 270-degree diffuser, giving particular meaning to the backlighting.

FYI, the frame looks absolutely fingerprint-resistant. It's thick where needed and refined where structural stability allows.

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The build quality is stunning. As already mentioned, the whole thing is lighter than you'd expect from an aluminum keyboard, but everything feels heavy duty. The legs have integrated backlight too, which makes their sturdiness even more commendable.

Typing angle: 5.5 degrees, or about 10 degrees with the legs closed (Pro only). The non-Pro versions have the common double-stage legs I guess, I'm not sure about those angles.

Structure & Mounting

Plate gasket mounting. The plate has silicone gaskets, which sit in what looks like acrylic holders attached to the outer frame. As you probably know, this design allows for some flex and cushioning, which can result in a softer typing experience.

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Plate

FR4 for the K1 Pro, PC for the other two variants.

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The FR4 one has been shredded by flex cuts. GravaStar did not spare with this, there are row cuts and per-key vertical cuts too.

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And it has a nice organic pattern via the exposed copper layer parts of the FR4.

Plate-mount stabilizers, Leobog to be exact.

PCB

Most of you won't get this far in disassembling the board, it doesn't make much sense, but here it is anyway. Since the PCB is sandwiched between thick layers of foam, you don't see it even if you replace your switches. However, GravaStar still put a lot of effort into the design.

Again, lots of flex cuts, and it is MX compatible with hotswap sockets. The silk screen's pattern follows the organic and extra-terrestrial concept.

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Per-key RGB (K1 Pro and K1) and backlighting (all three variants), plus the decoration piece with the GravaStar logo, located above the right arrow, has RGB backlight too.

Switch

This is a hotswap PCB, so feel free to use your favorite switches if you have strong preferences, however, the stock offers are very interesting too. In collab with Kailh, GravaStar designed five switches for the Mercury series. These are MX compatible models with unique characteristics:

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All relatively light linear switches, 40-45gf. Some of them are speed switches with shorter travel, aimed for gaming, but there are also more classic ones.

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At the time of writing this, the material of the switches hasn't been published yet. The 45gf linear Speedy Mint, coming with the concrete grey K1 Pro review unit, is one of the speed switches, with 1.2mm pre-travel. It doesn't have the light diffuser piece depicted in the data sheet above, but is very nice anyway. Feels like all-POM.

Keycaps

The Mercury K1 variants, colorways and special editions each come with their own matching keycaps: PBT or PC, double-shot ones, dye-sub caps, or in the pudding style.

With regards to keycap compatibity, the 75% layout should be widely supported if you opt for your own keycap set.

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Weight

The bottom of the Mercury K1 is plastic, with intricate pattern and weight. A magnetic compartment accommodates the wireless dongle.

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Sound dampening

Plenty of foam, 5 layers to be exact: thick switch foam + two thin ones which are 0.5mm IXPE plus a transparent PET one + hotswap poron + a thick thing in the bottom filling up all the empty space which feels like silicone.

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Lights

I'm not a big fan of per-key RGB in general, but the backlight works really well with the huge diffuser, skeleton frame. The legs have built-in leds too, which is another nice touch:

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Decoration piece

The decoration piece is a perfect mirror by default, and is illuminated with 3 leds from the back, showing the GravaStar logo, when the board is turned on. It cycles through a range of colors, but you can't set its effect or hue.

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Toggle button

Called "knob" on the product page, this is a three-way tactile switch, so don't confuse it with a rotary encoder.

The button controls volume increase/decrease and mute. To my understanding, its function cannot be reprogrammed in the firmware.

Software

Software support: no QMK/VIA/Vial support, you have to download GravaStar's proprietary software.

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SpaceFN test? Failed, as it is often the case with gaming or prebuilt boards with closed-source firmware in general.

If you are serious about your keymap and rely on layers, the Mercury will give you some hard time to replicate all the functions with some third-party tools. On Windows, I use the age-old TouchCursor to set up SpaceFN and create an additional logical layer activated when I hold the spacebar.

This single layer can be a real game-changer, putting arrows, navigation and numbers under your fingertips.

Wireless

According to specs, the K1 is a three-mode wireless board (Bluetooth5.0 / 2.4GHz / USB Type-C) with 8,000mAh (K1 Pro + K1) or 4,000mAh battery (K1 Lite).

Portability

The Mercury will be the centerpiece of your desk, and excels as a stationary device. However, given it is wireless, it's apparently portable too. If mobility is your main concern, you may opt for the K1 variant, since the legs of the K1 Pro may be in the way when packing up and hitting the road.

All in all, there are smaller and lighter keyboards for sure, but the Mercury easily fits in my backpack, so works too – especially if you need a more classic layout with arrows, function keys and number row.

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Ergonomics

This is a classic layout with standard row stagger, in a relatively high case with positive typing angle. If you are serious about ergonomics, you should probably look for a split and columnar alternative. The Mercury K1 is just as ergonomic as its competitors in the same genre and form factor, or maybe a bit more: thanks to the slightly offset arrow cluster, light switches, and softer typing experience due to the gasket mounting and all the flex cuts.

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Conclusion

GravaStar's first keyboard, in particular the flagship Mercury K1 Pro variant, is an insanely good-looking 75% wireless gaming keyboard with excellent out-of-the-box typing experience. The sci-fi-inspired design language with the alien legs make it stand out of the crowd for sure. It's a very well built 75% board with hotswap PCB, per-key RGB and the even better 270 degree backlight.

Unfortunately, the software may limit your options if you rock a custom keymap, but given all the variants and themes, most gamers and keyboard enthusiasts will find their preferred setup. I, for one, am definitely in for the jaw-dropping Cyberpunk edition as soon as there is VIA/Vial support.

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Turning destop spaces into futuristic worlds – GravaStar.

Pros

Design language, build quality, all the little details.

Cons

Software limitations

Price & Availability

The Mercury K1 Lite, Mercury K1 and Mercury K1 Pro are available from 29th August, starting at ~~$90~~ $77, ~~$130~~ $111 and ~~$150~~ $128, respectively. Don't forget to use the KBDNEWS coupon code for 15% off! If you fancy the "special edition" models, like I do, they will set you back at ~~$180~~ $153.

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Published on Thu 29th Aug 2024. Featured in KBD #173.

Tags: review 75%wireless gaming art

Keyboard Builders' Digest / Review