What causes the? best wireless keyboard depends a lot on what you do with it and how often you travel. But Cooler Master is making a solid effort with the Cooler Master SK622, a sleek and solid-feeling 60% mechanical clacker that makes big strides over its predecessor, the SK621thanks to more traditionally shaped keys and flip-up feet that lift the back for a more traditional mechanical feel.
If you’re looking for a very compact, travel-friendly mechanism that can work over both Bluetooth and USB, this is a solid option. But if you’ve got that little bit more room in your bag and don’t fancy the SK622’s oddly placed delete key and its slight shift to the right, Keychron’s K3 75% keyboard is also worth considering. That’s especially true, since the K3 sells for $84 with RGB lighting, while the SK622 sells for between $99 and $117depending on the type of switch and where you buy it.
Cooler Master SK622 Specifications:
| Switches | TTC low profile Red (tested), Blue or Brown |
| Relief | RGB per key |
| Storage on board | 512KB |
| media keys | with Fn |
| Connectivity | USB Type-A |
| Cables | 5.91 feet (1.8 m), braided |
| Additional ports | New |
| to test | ABS plastic |
| Software | Cooler Master MasterPlus+ |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 11.5 x 4.1 x 1.2 in (293 x 103 x 30mm) |
| Weight | 0.98 lb (446 g) |
Design of the Cooler Master SK622
The SK622’s shell looks identical to the previous SK621, which is good because it’s compact (1.5 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches) and light (0.98 pounds), yet feels solid. We tested the “space gray” color scheme, (which actually looks black and silver), but it is available in “silver white” also.
Beneath the keys is a beautiful brushed metal plate that adds rigidity and attractiveness, while no doubt helping to reflect the light from the RGB switches back to your eyeballs. Beneath the metal plate is a light ring that wraps around the keyboard, adding a bit more RGB goodness.
But the company has also made some significant improvements. With a pair of flip-up feet, you can raise the back of the keyboard to an angle that feels more comfortable and familiar to my wrists and fingers personally. And gone are the very flat keys that gave the SK621 an almost laptop-like typing feel.
Aside from the metal plate and flip-up feet on the bottom, the SK622’s case is quite devoid of any features or other design elements, giving the keyboard a fairly sleek look. There is a wireless/wired switch on the left and a USB-C port in the center back. Cooler Master includes a nice 5.91 foot braided cable in the box, along with a tool to pull the keycaps (not that it’s really needed). You also get a velvet carrying case in the box. It’s nothing fancy but appreciated considering Keychron charges $25 for his pretty pouchI
Typing experience on the Cooler Master SK622
The keycaps here are much more similar to keycaps found on traditional mechanical keyboards than the flat keycaps on the SK621. And that’s despite the fact that the SK622 uses low-profile mechanical switches. Our test model came with red (linear) TTC switches, but there are also blue (clicking) and brown (tactile but non-clicking) variants available. Cooler Master does not list any details for these low profile TTC switches, but a list for: the switches on Aliexpress claims they have a total travel of 3.2mm, an activation point of about 1.2mm and an activation force of 45g (plus or minus 10).
This is my first experience with TTC switches, but the Reds feel very close Cherry MX Reds† And indeed they are the same power as MX Reds, with an overall length just 0.8mm shorter than standard (non-low profile) MX Red switches. The keycaps also feel decent, but are ABS plastic rather than more premium PBT. So expect them to become shiny and smoother after months and years of use.
While linear switches are far from my favorite for typing, with the feet on the back folded up, my fingers usually felt instantly comfortable typing on the SK622, which is more than I can say for the SK62 with flat keys. The caps here don’t wiggle around on their stems, and the build quality as a whole makes for a solid typing feel, despite the keyboard weighing less than a pound.
That said, the half right shift key caused me to slow down every now and then to make sure I hit that smaller target. And every time I had to use the delete key, I had to pause before remembering the strange placement above the right arrow key. But at least those arrow keys are there, which is not always the case with such small keyboards. Overall, I think Cooler Master did just as well with the key layout here as it did with something so small. That said, Keychron’s K3 is just over 0.5 inches wider and taller, and the 75% layout feels much closer to full size.
It’s also worth noting that the limited key space means there is no dedicated function row, and a large number of other functions and keys have been relegated to a secondary state, requiring a combination of the Fn key (which has been replaced by the outline of a cooler Master logo) and another key or keys to activate. This can be confusing – and it will remain so unless it’s the only keyboard you use for the most part. And while it’s a good thing that the company puts all these secondary functions on the keycaps so you don’t have to memorize them, it also makes the top of the keyboard look quite busy. In other words, there are a lot of compromises in usability and design, when you could instead opt for a 75% layout in a keyboard that’s barely bigger. You really have to want the 60% layout here.
Gaming experience on the Cooler Master SK622
I use the Cooler Master SK622 for a few hours of gameplay, both in FPS titles and Eternal doom and Borderland 3as well as my current RTS go-to titles, castle and Ancestors Legacy† Here the keyboard felt much more in its element. The odd placement of a few keys that are occasionally important for typing was no problem at all while gaming. And the 60% compact layout made it easy to angle the keyboard for perfect gaming comfort, even on my small desk. For gamers on the go, the SK622 is arguably ideal, apart from the fact that there are many similar-sized options that sell for less.
Another thing to note is that serious gamers will probably want to keep the keyboard plugged in via the included USB cable. Cooler Master says it has keyboard N-key rollover in wired mode. But to save battery life, you only get 6-key rollover when connected via Bluetooth.
The company also makes no explicit claims about battery life. But the fact that it has the same 4000 mAh battery spec as the previous model means that plug-free life should be decent, especially if you keep the lights off or low on the go. Since I’ve tested the keyboard in a combination of wired and wireless scenarios, it never failed. But as a raw analog, Keychron’s slightly larger 75% K2 also has a 4000 mAh battery and lasts up to 240 hours on a charge (with the backlight off). If you’ve got the SK622’s backlight on and set it high, I’d expect to charge the battery every few days with heavy use.
Software for the Cooler Master SK622
There are plenty of cheap, compact mechanical keyboards available from the likes of Royal Kludge, Redragon, and even Dierya. But most don’t have software – and honestly, would you want to install Dierya software anyway? But Cooler Master has its MasterPlus+ software, should you want to use it for per-key RGB controls and programming complex macros.
As the company is quick to point out, the software isn’t entirely necessary, as you can change the lighting and perform many other tasks via keyboard combinations. But installing it also means regular checks for firmware updates. And tasks like macro shooting and preset jugging are much easier to perform on a big screen and software, rather than studying a small paper manual to get the most important combos right. MasterPlus+ is simply laid out and was stable during my use. It’s there when you need it, just like Sarah’s friends at the end of LabyrinthI
Bottom Line
The Cooler Master SK622 is a solid, compact travel-friendly clacker that is a major improvement over its predecessor. And thanks to simple yet sophisticated software and a mostly minimal design, it looks and feels more polished than most small keyboards from lesser-known brands. That partially makes up for the $119 MSRP, but there are plenty of very good compact keyboards out there for less. Also keep in mind that the price may vary depending on your choice of switch. For example, when I wrote this, the Red Switch model sold for: $117but the version with blue switches was more reasonable $100I
If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard for gaming on the go that feels familiar and built for frequent travel, the Cooler Master SK622 is a good option, especially if you want to avoid the nameless models that can sell for less than price. half. But for most, especially those who regularly type and game and don’t need such a long battery life, the Keychron K3 is a better option at $84 with hot-swappable switches. If you can live with white backlighting instead of RGB, the K3 starts at just $74† It doesn’t feel as stiff as the SK622, but the slightly larger frame and 75% layout is much friendlier to blind typists, without taking up much more space on a desk or in your bag.