The ROCCAT Pyro keyboard is excellent for gaming, especially considering its price point. It has low latency, media hotkeys, and customizable RGB backlighting. You can set macros through the ROCCAT Swarm software but can only set them to the alphanumerical keys on the left of the board, including 5, T, G, and B. It has an Easy-Shift[+] function, which lets you unlock a second layer of macros to these same keys for as long as you hold it. While the other keys can't have macros, you can still remap the keys. The linear TTC Red switches it comes with feel very light and responsive, although the pre-travel distance is longer than some other linear switches. Unfortunately, while it feels well-built, its plastic chassis exhibits some flex. Also, it uses ABS keycaps, which feel slippery and are prone to develop shine from finger oils.
Our Verdict
The ROCCAT Pyro is excellent for gaming. It has low latency, RGB backlighting, a Game Mode, and an Easy-Shift[+] function. You can set macros, but you can only set them on the alphanumerical keys on the left, including 5, T, G, and B. The linear TTC Red switches feel very light and responsive, although the pre-travel distance is a little higher than on some other linear switches. It has a straight, flat profile with a detachable plastic wrist rest and one incline setting, and it feels well built despite some flex.
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Low latency.
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Customizable RGB backlighting.
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Good build quality.
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Lots of customizations available through software.
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Only a certain set of keys are macro-programmable.
The ROCCAT Pyro is a wired board and isn't for use with a mobile device or tablet.
The ROCCAT Pyro is good for office use. The linear TTC Red switches are very light and quiet, so they shouldn't bother anyone around you in an office. The board feels well-built, but the ABS keycaps feel slippery. It has one incline setting and comes with a detachable plastic wrist rest.
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Good build quality.
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Lots of customizations available through software.
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Wired-only.
The ROCCAT Pyro is good for programming. The TTC Red switches feel very light and responsive and help provide a great typing experience. It has RGB backlighting, and you can set macros, but you can only set them on the alphanumerical keys on the left, including 5, T, G, and B. It feels well-built, but there's only one incline setting, and the wrist rest isn't plushy. Unfortunately, you can't use it wirelessly, and you can't pair it with other devices simultaneously.
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Customizable RGB backlighting.
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Good build quality.
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Lots of customizations available through software.
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Only a certain set of keys are macro-programmable.
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Wired-only.
The ROCCAT Pyro is inadequate for a home theater setup. It's a wired board, so you need to have a cable running from the board to the computer. Also, since it doesn't have a built-in trackpad, you need a mouse to navigate the interface. On the bright side, it has backlighting, media hotkeys, and a volume control wheel.
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Customizable RGB backlighting.
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Good build quality.
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Lots of customizations available through software.
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Wired-only.
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No built-in trackpad.
- 8.8 Gaming
- 3.0 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.9 Office
- 7.7 Programming
- 5.4 Entertainment / HTPC
- Updated Mar 02, 2023: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed ROCCAT Vulcan II Max/Mini in the Backlighting section of this review.
- Updated Jun 25, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jun 21, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The ROCCAT Pyro keyboard is only available in black and with linear TTC Red switches. You can see our unit's label here.
Compared To Other Keyboards
The ROCCAT Pyro is an excellent gaming keyboard, especially considering its price point. It provides similar performance to many other gaming models, offering customizable RGB backlighting, low latency, and macro-programmable keys. However, you can only set macros to certain keys instead of any key like on most higher-end models. Also, the build quality is lacking due to its ABS keycaps and plastic chassis that exhibits some flex.
For other options, see our recommendations for the best mechanical keyboards, the best gaming keyboards, and, if you're on a budget, the best cheap mechanical keyboards.
The ROCCAT Magma and the ROCCAT Pyro are similar wired gaming boards, but the Pyro is a mechanical board while the Magma isn't. The Pyro has a dedicated volume knob and comes with linear TTC Red switches. On the other hand, the Magma has rubber dome switches, and it has a semi-transparent base plate that lets RGB light through. Both boards have very low latency. You can set macros to the alphanumerical keys on the left side of each board. Also, both have an Easy-Shift[+] function that lets you set a second layer of macros to certain keys for as long as you hold it.
The ROCCAT Vulcan 120 AIMO and the ROCCAT Pyro are very similar full-size gaming keyboards, but the Pyro has slightly lower latency. Otherwise, both boards have an Easy-Shift[+] function, which lets you set a second layer of macros to certain keys for as long as you hold it. Each comes with a removable plastic wrist rest and one incline setting.
The Razer Huntsman Mini and the ROCCAT Pyro are wired gaming keyboards, but the Razer has a much lower latency. Otherwise, the Razer is a better choice if you like compact boards that give you more room on your desk to move your mouse. All of its keys are macro-programmable, it has PBT keycaps, and it's available with Razer Clicky Optical or Razer Linear Optical switches. On the other hand, the ROCCAT is a better choice if you prefer a full-size board that comes with a wrist rest and a volume control knob. It's available with linear TTC Red switches, and you can set two macro layers to the alphanumerical key on the left side of the board.
The ROCCAT Vulcan Pro and the ROCCAT Pyro are similar wired gaming keyboards, but the Vulcan Pro has a significantly lower latency. The Vulcan Pro is available with proprietary Titan Linear optical switches, while the Pyro has linear TTC Red switches. Both have an Easy-Shift[+] function, which lets you set a second layer of macros to the alphanumerical keys on the left side of the board for as long as you hold it.
The SteelSeries Apex 5 and the ROCCAT Pyro are wired full-size gaming boards with customizable RGB backlighting. The SteelSeries has a dedicated media button, and all of its keys are macro-programmable. It also has an OLED screen that you can set to display almost anything. On the other hand, the ROCCAT has much lower latency than the SteelSeries. While the ROCCAT can also have macros, you can only set them on certain keys.
The Redragon K582 SURARA RGB and the ROCCAT Pyro are full-size mechanical gaming keyboards, but the ROCCAT has much lower latency, so it'll feel more responsive while gaming. Also, it comes with a wrist rest, and there's a volume control knob to quickly adjust your audio. On the other hand, the Redragon is hot-swappable, so you aren't limited to the stock switches. Also, you can set macros to any key on the board, unlike the ROCCAT that only lets you set macros to the left half of the board.
The Keychron K6 is a 65% compact wireless office board, while the ROCCAT Pyro is a full-size wired gaming keyboard. The ROCCAT has an included wrist rest, a volume control knob, a Windows Key lock button. Also, you can set macros to all the alphanumerical keys on the left side of the board, and its latency is much lower than the Keychron's. However, the ROCCAT is only available with linear TTC Red switches. On the other hand, the Keychron is available with Gateron Red, Blue, and Brown switches. You can use it wirelessly via Bluetooth, and you can pair it with up to three devices at once.
The Razer BlackWidow and the ROCCAT Pyro are both full-size gaming keyboards, but all of the keys on the Razer are macro-programmable. Also, the Razer has lower latency, and its customization software is easier to use and lets you create and save more profiles. On the other hand, the ROCCAT comes with a removable wrist rest, and it has a volume control wheel.
The Logitech G513 and the ROCCAT Pyro are wired gaming keyboards, but the Logitech has significantly lower latency. Also, the Logitech G HUB software is easier to use and is available on macOS. The Logitech is available with Romer-G Red, Blue, or Brown switches. On the other hand, the Pyro has onboard memory, but the ROCCAT Swarm software is only available on Windows. The ROCCAT is available with linear TTC Red switches.
Test Results
The ROCCAT Pyro feels well-built, but there are a few shortcomings due to its price point. It has a plastic chassis with some flex, but the brushed aluminum base plate helps give a bit more rigidity. The doubleshot ABS keycaps feel smooth, but they're also slippery and may eventually develop shine from finger oils. The keys feel stable with very little wobble, and the larger keys also actuate evenly. There are six large rubber pads on the underside that keep it from slipping on your desk, and the incline feet also have rubber edges that help keep the board in place.
The ROCCAT Pyro keyboard has good ergonomics. It's a straight and flat board that has a fairly low profile and one incline setting. It comes with a plastic detachable wrist rest that has a horizontal lined texture to it. While the wrist rest isn't very plushy, it does add some comfort to the typing experience.
It has customizable RGB backlighting with individually lit keys. It's good at color mixing, though there's a slight blue tint between keys when the lighting is set to white. However, this tint might be caused by the light's reflection on the grey, brushed aluminum base plate. If you're interested in a similar ROCCAT keyboard with low-profile keycaps that allow more light to shine out from the switch housings, check out the ROCCAT Vulcan II Max/Mini.
It has a standard rubber cord that isn't detachable.
The ROCCAT Pyro has a few extra features, like media hotkeys and a volume control knob. You can activate Game Mode by pressing FN+Scroll Lock, which disables the Windows key, so you don't accidentally minimize your game. You can set macros to the alphanumerical keys on the left, including 5, T, G, and B, which are activated only when in Game Mode. Also, there's an Easy-Shift[+] function that lets you unlock a second layer of macros to these same keys for as long as you hold it. The keys to the right of these Easy-Shift[+] keys can't have macros set to them, but you can remap the keys by using the ROCCAT Swarm software.
The ROCCAT Pyro has linear TTC Red switches, which feel very light and fairly responsive, although the pre-travel distance is longer than some other linear switches. The board is only available with these linear switches.
The ROCCAT Pyro provides a great typing experience. The keys feel stable with only a bit of wobble, but it shouldn't be too noticeable while typing. The linear TTC Red switches feel very light and responsive, with no audible or tactile feedback. Thanks to the standard shape and spacing of the keys, you shouldn't feel much fatigue while typing on this board.
The ROCCAT Pyro is quiet and shouldn't bother those around you.
The ROCCAT Pyro has very low latency and should feel responsive enough for most gamers.
The ROCCAT Swarm software offers many customization options, including saving up to five profiles, remapping key assignments, customizing the RGB, and setting character repeats. It also allows you to program keypress sounds, and you can choose from a list of presets or use your own audio file. You can set macros for specific games and applications, but you can only set them to the alphanumerical keys on the left, including 5, T, G, and B. Like the ROCCAT Vulcan TKL and the ROCCAT Vulcan 120 AIMO, it features the AIMO lighting engine, which reacts to your behavior and makes changes based on your setup, the apps you use, and other ROCCAT devices you connect.
The ROCCAT Pyro is fully compatible with Windows. The Pause/Break, Scroll Lock, Print Screen, Fn, and Menu keys don't work in macOS, and NumLock registers as Clear and Insert as Help. Unfortunately, there's no software for either macOS or Linux, but all of the keys work in Linux.