Thin mechanical keyboards like this new MSI Vigor GK50 are a bit of a surprise. That's because low-profile mechanical keyboards like this new MSI Vigor GK50 are a bit of a find. But some of the best full-size low-profile boards can be quite pricey, which is why the $99 GK50 is a really attractive option. My favorite board, the Roccat Vulcan 120 AIMO, is at least 50% more expensive, and the OG Logitech G915 is twice that; there are cheaper options from manufacturers like Keychron, but MSI has the advantage of being a much bigger brand.

But why do we need low-profile mechanical keyboards? Traditional mechanical keyboards are rather chunky, with thick enclosures and blocky keycaps designed to provide satisfactory long travel. At its tallest point, it was 50 mm, requiring the user to brace their wrists.

The GK50 is only 34 mm at its highest point, with a gentle slope that allows you to work in a comfortable position without straining your hands. Yes, it is comfortable. Of course, by shaving off the height, you lose the classic depth and satisfaction of typing on a traditional board. That said, the GK50's low-profile Kailh switches are surprisingly comfortable to press. The keys are sharp and clicky, as only a low-profile can be, but they are louder than expected, so you may want to think twice before purchasing one for your shared office.

The switches are tactile, with a respectable 1.5mm of pre-travel and 3mm of total travel, with a slight shock during operation. They are also fairly fast, though not as smooth as linear switches. We did not encounter any problems during gaming, but it will take a bit of an adjustment period to get used to the slightly stiffer keys; the Kailhs are topped with octagonal matte caps with clear legends that are perfect for RGB.

The caps are about half the height of regular keycaps, so they can be kept very low. The matte coating is supposed to keep fingerprints and smudges off, but as of this writing, my board has a nasty collection of smudges. Thankfully, it's still grippy and the recessed caps are comfortable to use; MSI also includes a keycap puller in the box, so in theory, you could buy aftermarket low-profile caps and adapt them to your liking.

Besides, no one can see your smudges in the darkness of the gaming cave as you bask in the glow of the Mystic Light RGB. Fresh off the press, MSI has added all the controls on board to swap out lighting profiles; use the MSI keys (read Fn keys) to cycle through presets and adjust speed and brightness. No need to dive into the recommended MSI Center software. This new universal app surprisingly lacks many keyboard customization features, including RGB. Oddly enough, there is always the alternative MSI Dragon Center software, which offers far superior control.

As a full-sized board, the GK50 has a large number of keys that can be controlled, allowing for many features without having to dive into the software. There are media controls, game modes, and even a special key feature that activates MSI Afterburner, which monitors the hardware.

As for appearance, the GK50 doesn't impress much with its drab utilitarian aesthetic; even with its octagonal keys and matte metal deck, the GK50 is just a little too wild. The upper right corner of the board is wasted space that could have been used for a volume dial instead of LEDs on the caps and Numrock.

The GK50 uses a single USB 2.0 cable, but it is not removable, which is a bit inconvenient if you want to use a custom cable. The board also has a flip stand for tilting. The board was stable on my desk, so desperate gamers need not worry.

Above, the $99 MSI Vigor GK50 is a reasonably low-profile mechanical keyboard that sticks to the basics, though the overall package is uninspiring; the Kailh switches have a great feel, but gamers will want something smoother, and the GK50 is a good choice for a low-profile keyboard. It's worth noting that this board is often marked down and is down to just over $41 on Amazon right now.