I have recently covered a couple of Gamdias gaming hardware accessories. I reviewed the Nyx P2 wireless charging mouse pad and the Hebes gaming headset and so far, so good. Gamdias delivers some great gaming accessories at some really competitive prices.
My last two devices are the Gamdias Hermes P2 and Hermes M3 gaming keyboards. Instead of doing two separate reviews for the two keyboards, I wanted to compile them into one comprehensive review and comparison.
Check out our video review of all the Gamdias accessories we have reviewed below
[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/tpBEzR0cNyE”]
The Gamdias Hermes P2 is a full-sized mechanical keyboard that features some great RGB backlit keys, a volume controller and optical switches. The Hermes M3 is a smaller keyboard with low-profile switches and the same great RGB features. In short, one is for those who can’t live without a number pad, and one is for those who can. After two weeks with both of them, my favourite is no doubt the Hermes P2, mainly because of the sheer size of it compared to the Hermes M3.
Both keyboards come in very similar packages. Inside the Hermes P2 box, you will get the keyboard and a keycap puller and inside the Hermes M3 box, you will find the same thing. Although the keycap puller is plastic instead of metal.
The keyboards come with no manuals at all. I kept looking for one but the box was empty. You have to go to the website to read about your new purchase and download the Hera software which powers all the keyboard’s RGB presets and macro pre-sets.
Gamdias Hermes P2
The bigger of the two keyboards if the Gamdias Hermes P2. This full-sized keyboard packs quite an aggressive design with vent-like cutouts at the back as if someone put a gaming laptop and a keyboard together. This includes a media control dial which is a great feature. You can scroll it to turn the volume up and click it in to mute.
Underneath that, you will find the LED indicators and the number pad. The entire top casing of the keyboard has a gunmetal coating with a grey shade that acts as a nice colour for the contrasting darker keys. Underneath the keyboard, you will find a pretty simple design with two kickstands and rubber feet for extra grip.
The cable cannot be removed, unlike the Hermes M3 which has a micro-USB cable that you plug in and out of the keyboard. As for the keys themselves, they are made from thin plastic and can be removed quite easily. The thin plastic also means they are prone to light leak which you can see if you look carefully. The thinness also means the plastic will wear quite fast. My P2 already lost its coating on the space bar and started to look shiny.
I reviewed the brown optical switch model which was quieter and delivered a decent click. I type on a keyboard all day so I needed something without a loud click which the P2 delivered. The optical switches also mean the key response time is much faster than other keyboards. Although the average gamer will not know the difference. Optical switches also mean there’s less going on underneath the keys and wear tear is a lot limited for a longer lifespan. The 2mm travel distance means typing and daily use is fast and tactile. I could also remove the keys and place them back at ease even without using the keycap remover. I removed the space bar and put it back with a simple click by applying pressure on the bar.
As for customization, the Gamdias Hermes P2 is run by the Hera software and customization is quite advanced. You can reassign the entire keyboard if you wish using the software, manage any macros or create your own profiles and of course, edit your RGB to your heart’s content. Again, the Hera software needs a revamp. It is dated and clunky but the overall user experience is simple enough to wrap your head around.
Overall, the Hermes P2’s optical mechanics keys, the great design and fantastic performance delivered a superb keyboard experience. It only retails for R799 which is a very competitive price point. Playing games, typing my daily content and even editing a few videos using the keyboard, was enjoyable. It is quiet and responsive and it is my new preferred desktop gaming keyboard.
The Gamdias Hermes P2 is available at Evetech for R799
Gamdias Hermes M3
The baby of the two is the Hermes M3. While the device is smaller, it is a little bit more pricey than the P2 coming it at R849. Its “small” factor is what I enjoyed about it. Spacing in-between the keys is a lot smaller, there is no number pad and even the keys are thinner. It boasts a low-profile design and on my desk, it took up less space and looked a lot better than the P2 thanks to its simplistic design aesthetic.
Unlike the P2, you need to plug this keyboard into the USB cable that comes in the box. It is not a proprietary cable at least, rather just a simple Micro-USB cable.
The keys on the M3 are mechanical Kailh Choc Low Profile Switches. This design is a new one on the market and when you pull off the key you can see a rectangle block with two holes for the keys to slide into. The idea of these new switches is to allow for mechanical keys to be put into smaller spaces, hence the smaller design of the M3 keyboard. Like the P2, the M3 model I received was a Brown switch which meant less noise and more tactical responses.
Typing on the keyboard was a dream and it was the closest I got to a laptop typing experience on a gaming keyboard. Not even the Razer Deathstalker delivered such a fluid and responsive experience. Total travel distance on the device 3mm, a tad longer than the 2mm in the Hermes P2.
Of course, the keyboard is powered by the same Hera software where you can go and edit all sorts of settings, change your RGB and even which key does what. Setting this up is quick and easy and once you get past the clunky UI, things will be simple to understand.
Daily use of the Hermes M3 delivered a satisfying experience. Although the lack of a number pad got to me at times, the overall size of the keyboard meant I could place it neatly next to the giant Nyx P2 mouse pad. It does not have a wrist rest like the P2 but I could live without it.
Overall, the Gamdias Hermes M3 is a fantastic keyboard. The design is sleek, the keys feel great and the customization options mean you can really go to town with it. For R849, it is a fraction of the cost of a Razer with the same features and something you should consider if you are on a tight budget.
The Gamdias Hermes M3 is available at Evetech for R849
