A Closer Look
The keyboard looks pretty stunning, especially given it’s designed to be quite affordable. It’s quite lightweight and is mostly plastic construction, but it’s already obvious that Cougar is using the budget for lighting and hopefully performance vs build quality here.
The keyboard chassis is plastic but comes with a really nice effect that mimics black brushed aluminium, but obviously it’s not, especially at this price range. In terms of aesthetics though, it scores very highly and it certainly looks desirable and unique.
On the top row, you’ll find Fn-Shift accessible multimedia controls. These are great for tweaking your audio while you’re working or gaming.
Multimedia controls here, ideal for skipping tracks without taking your hands off the keyboard.
A couple of basic program shortcuts, as well as a Windows key lock, which is perfect for gaming.
A full-size number pad is always a welcome addition, and around that you’ll see that the keyboard has a slim bezel around the edges, with a little bit of frosted plastic trim running around the entire edge of the keyboard. This edge is to allow for edge LED lighting and we can’t wait to see that in action.
With the left-handed gamer in mind, the arrow keys are also labelled WASD, a nice little touch for those who need it.
The keys are mounted on plunger stems, giving them a mechanical feel despite being membrane switches.
They’re nice quality and they’re slightly raised above the chassis, which should allow for some nice under-lighting effects.
On the underside, there are six small rubber grips which help keep the keyboard firmly in place on your desk. The added grip is certainly welcome too, as the keyboard is fairly light and every bit of traction helps.
Now onto the mouse, which features a fairly common design and is shaped to suit right-hand use, with a single set of side buttons on the left side.
There’s some hard-wearing grip on the left, as well as a nice ergonomic shape that lends well to multiple grip types, including the use of a lift-off technique.
More grip on the right side, nothing too complex, but otherwise a pleasant design overall.
Up two, the LMB and RMB are mounted on separate panels for reliable control, with an extra button in the top center. The scroll wheel is nice and responsive, with a light tactile bump when turned, and it’s clickable too, giving us six buttons in total.
The mouse and keyboard are plug and play ready, and all the settings can be controlled directly on each device. This is especially clear on the mouse, which features manual switches on the base for polling and DPI adjustments. From the underside, you can also see that clear strip that runs around the sides and rear of the mouse, perfect for under-lighting effects.
