Because of their visually stunning design and distinctive aesthetic, Roccat’s gaming keyboards have become well-known over the past few years. The full-size keyboard on the Roccat Vulcan II Max is equipped with seriously impressive RGB lighting, making it no different. However, this keyboard’s aesthetic appeal is not all that it offers. It has been thoughtfully designed for comfort and usability, and it includes TITAN II optical switches and strong tools like Easy-Shift that make it a useful addition to any gamer’s toolkit. To see how the keyboard compares to the competition, we put it through its paces with a range of tasks, from work to gaming.

The Vulcan II Max might not impress you at first when you first take it out of the box compared to other keyboards in its price range. It’s by no means a cheap or disappointing product, though. Without being plugged in, the keyboard doesn’t seem like much. However, things really start to get interesting once you attach the distinctive, jelly-like wrist rest and plug it in. The wrist rest fits into the keyboard’s bottom edge so that light can pass through its opaque body and illuminate your desk with lovely RGB lighting. It’s important to remember that the Vulcan II Max needs two USB-A connections in order to operate properly, so make sure you have enough free ports before making a purchase. This not only turns on the RGB lighting but also makes other keyboard features available.

A clear emphasis on its RGB design can be seen in the Roccat Vulcan II Max. Its raised switch housing and low-profile keycaps make it possible to see the RGB lighting easily from a variety of angles. In addition, cleaning the keyboard without removing the keycaps is made simpler by the slight distance between each switch. The keycaps’ ABS plastic construction, as opposed to PBT doubleshot, may disappoint some users, but it allows more light to pass through. A nice curve is present on the keycaps as well, giving the fingers a cozy feel.

The ABS plastic keycaps on the Roccat Vulcan II Max have an impressive design, but they can be a little slick to the touch. This might be a problem if you sweat a lot or have oily fingers, but we had no issues. The switches, however, are compatible with Cherry MX style crosshatch keycaps if you prefer a different type of keycap. Extremely bright RGB lighting on the keyboard can be annoying in dimly lit areas. Fortunately, you can change the lighting mode and brightness using the Roccat Swarm software or hardware controls (FN arrow keys). Other useful features of the software include the ability to customize each key’s illumination and its various profiles. The default AIMO intelligent lighting is adequate and doesn’t need to be significantly adjusted.

The Glorious gaming mouse has long been the industry leader in portability. They have released a number of wired and wireless variations, including the original Model O, the Model D, and the Model I. The Glorious Model O2, their most recent product, is an improved and updated version of the acclaimed Model O. The multiple perforations on the mouse’s surface show that the Model O2 has improved sensors, redesigned buttons, and programmable switches despite its lightweight design. When we first opened the box, we noticed that the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless, which also has a comparable weight, and this mouse’s size and shape are strikingly similar.

The Model O2 glides across the desk without effort thanks to its lightweight construction and 100% PTFE feet. While the Aerox 3 boasts RGB lighting, the Model O2 stands out for its hidden features. Glorious has improved the internals of the Model O2 to give it a higher maximum DPI, faster tracking, and longer battery life. Additionally, a new sensor in this updated version provides improved tracking and greater accuracy. A new hinge system and subtle grooves have been added to the main switches to improve comfort when using the mouse. The switches on the Glorious Model O2, including the side thumb buttons, deliver crisp responses and satisfying clicks. The mouse wheel responds in a pleasantly quiet manner and has a subtle tactile feel. Overall, the Model O2 wireless checks a lot of boxes, making it a great option for gamers.

The Model O2 has a 2.4GHz dongle for lag-free wireless gaming and can switch to Bluetooth mode by flicking a switch on the underside. It is advised to maintain the mouse’s low-RGB brightness mode, which is the default setting for battery conservation, as higher brightness levels will cause the battery to discharge more quickly. We discovered during our testing that the Model O2 required charging more frequently than we had anticipated, though this will vary depending on individual usage. When the battery is getting low, the RGB lighting serves as a helpful indicator by flashing red. The Model O2 includes a detachable USB-C cable that can be used to simultaneously charge the mouse and the game, but oddly, it can only be plugged in one way, which can be a little frustrating if you’re in a hurry. The Model O2, however, proved to be responsive and accurate throughout lengthy gaming sessions. We didn’t experience any signal issues. Overall, it’s a great option for wireless gaming.