Worth the £140 price tag?

I am a creature of habit and hate changing the tools I use every day. Anyone who spends hours on a PC knows that replacing a keyboard means a few awkward days of mistyped keys and fighting back muscle memory. That's why, when I finally make the switch, it should be worth it and why it's important to choose the keyboard that best suits your needs.

I'm set on my way. For example, I definitely have to have a number pad. It's ingrained in me, and not having one there to use would feel very strange and unfamiliar. Fortunately, the Turtle Beach Command Series KB5 offers exactly that and a few extras.

Innovation or core function?

The first thing you immediately notice about the KB5 is the touch display. It's one of those distinctive eye-catching features that sounds like a bit of a novelty, but is undeniably cool nonetheless. Do I need a small touch screen? No, but after using the keyboard for a few weeks, can I imagine not having my little touch screen anymore? Also no.

The 2.4″ touchscreen display features programmable buttons, which you set up through the Turtle Beach Swarm II program. It lets you set up different profiles for different uses, from shortcuts to macros, OBS systems, monitoring system stats or media controls; it's all at your fingertips. My first time using shortcuts was on this website and all the websites I've used. Just to screen test, I find myself using it constantly, and it's become a part of how I use my keyboard. is

There are five dedicated macro keys on the left side of the keyboard, fully customizable per-key RGB lighting, and it also comes with optional high-texture WASD keys (and a keycap puller so you can install them). Overall, KB5 feels built to create a highly personalized user experience.

It's not just about the bells and whistles though. When it comes to something we use every day, function is just as important as features. And when it comes to keyboards, feel is important too. The Titan low-profile mechanical switches offer a softer, quieter touch than I'm used to, while the double-shot PBT keycaps feel sturdy and premium at the fingertips. As an added bonus, the quiet switches have earned me fewer complaints from my family, who usually hate the loud typing that echoes through my office.

The KB5 features an 8K polling rate and ultra-low 0.125ms latency, reportedly making it 8× faster than standard keyboards, which makes all the difference when you're in the middle of a game and need instant response and precision. To really test its capabilities, I enjoyed an evening of dungeons and trial runs in Final Fantasy 14 to see if the KB5 helped or hindered me in fast-paced battles, where timing and reaction time were essential. It performed as I expected, with the keyboard being consistently responsive and with no noticeable input lag or issues.

A winner for the right audience

I have a few niggles with the keyboard. The touchscreen became unresponsive a couple of times, but I quickly realized it was because it needed an update to the Swarm II. It was added to the frustration that when you update your keyboard, you can't use it. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes. Also, you'll need to reapply your custom template to your screen, so be sure to save it to make post-updates easier.

For a £140 keyboard fitted with premium double-shot PBT keycaps, I'd expect the secondary stories to be as durable as the primary ones. However, only the main story in each key is backlit; It is printed on the secondary surface only. This not only makes it difficult to see in low light, but also makes it more susceptible to wear. After a few weeks of use, my colon key is already barely legible, and the @ symbol isn't far behind.

Turtle Beach's Command Series KB5 is a solid choice for the right type of user. If you just want a keyboard for general use, you won't use or appreciate the extra features it offers to make it worth your time. However, if you're a competitive gamer who enjoys custom macros, or a streamer or content creator who appreciates a built-in touch screen to make streaming easier, this is a great keyboard for £139.99.