Roccat Vulcan II Max Review : Specifications And Price

 Introduction

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The Vulcan II Max is the bigger version of the Vulcan II Mini that just came out. It has lots of cool stuff like Roccat’s Titan II optical switches (in Red for smooth typing or Brown for a little bump), 24 smart dual-LED switches, a strong aluminum top, and Roccat’s special Aimo lighting. It even has a see-through wrist rest that lights up with the keyboard, which looks really cool.

But, like the Vulcan II Mini, it’s not perfect. Some problems it had before are still there, but because it’s bigger, they aren’t as bad. But hey, if Roccat was trying to get my attention with all those lights, it totally worked!

You can get the Vulcan II Max right now in black or white (the white one looks nicer with the wrist rest) for $230.

Specifications

Keyboard Type: Roccat Titan II Optical (Red or Brown) switches

Lights: Each key has its own color (RGB)

Storage: Can save 5 different user setups

Special Keys: 3 media buttons and a volume dial

Gaming Mode: Yes, for uninterrupted gaming

Connection: Wired (1.8 meters long, uses 2 USB-A ports)

Keys: Made of ABS material

Build: Mostly plastic with a tough top made of anodized aluminum

Size: 18.23 x 6.0625 x 1.32 inches (463 x 154 x 33.5 mm)

Weight: 2.29 pounds (1040 grams) without extra parts

Pros & Cons

Advantages:

• The wrist rest's bright, nice lighting is eye-catching.
• You can choose between smooth or bumpy switches.
• Special keys for media and extra functions are built-in.

Disadvantages:

• The cable is stuck and has two USB plugs.
• The software can be bothersome.
• The keycaps made of ABS are slippery.

Design

The Vulcan II Max is a big wired keyboard with a slim, light plastic body and a tough aluminum top. It's about 18.23 x 6.0625 inches (463 x 154mm) in size and has a detachable wrist rest that's around 3.25 inches (82.6mm) long. If you're short on space, this might not be the best pick. The one we checked out was white all over, with a shiny silver border around the top.

In the top left corner, the Vulcan II Max has three keys for controlling media (rewind, play/pause, fast forward) and a volume dial. The dial clicks and has little bumps when you turn it, and it can mute/unmute too. You can't change what these keys do, though.

Even though it's not heavy, this keyboard stays put with anti-slip strips on the back. It also has two sets of flip-out feet with anti-slip bits for adjusting the angle in three ways.

This keyboard comes with a wrist rest that you can take off. It's about the same length as the keyboard and feels kind of smooth. It's not super high, but it gives alright support to your hand and wrist.

The wrist rest is clear and has lines on it, and it attaches to the keyboard with little tabs made of the same stuff. There are 16 tabs, and some of them have little notches to keep the wrist rest in place. The lights on the keyboard look really nice, especially with Roccat's Aimo lighting.

It's a wired keyboard and has a cable that's six feet long (1.8m) with two USB-A plugs at the end. There aren't any extra ports on it; the two plugs are there so the keyboard gets enough power for its lights. Roccat says it should work fine plugged into a USB 3.0 port, but some of the fancy light stuff might not work right if you use just a USB 2.0 port.

It makes sense since lots of keys on this keyboard have two little lights, but I'm not super excited about it needing two USB ports. But when I tried it with just one USB 2.0 port, everything seemed fine.

Typing and Gaming Experience

    The Vulcan II Max has Roccat’s Titan II optical switches available in Red (smooth) or Brown (tactile). Our test model had the smooth switches, offering a consistent keypress without a bump or click sound.

These optical switches work through light, not physical force. Although they lack the tactile feel typists often prefer, they're easier to press, faster, and more durable than traditional mechanical switches. Roccat’s Titan II switches can endure 100 million keypresses, double that of standard mechanical switches and equivalent to competitors’ optical switches.

Featuring thin ABS keycaps, the Vulcan II Max exposes its switches. While the keycaps are slightly concave, they are quite flat and slippery, which might not suit individuals prone to sweating or those accustomed to more tactile feedback. However, the Titan II optical switches support third-party keycaps, offering the option to replace them.

Typing on the Vulcan II Max felt quite similar to the Vulcan II Mini due to the linear optical switches and lightweight keycaps. While my typing speed and accuracy weren't significantly affected, the overall typing experience was average. Nevertheless, since the Vulcan II Max primarily serves as a gaming keyboard, this aspect isn't a major concern.

Primarily designed for gaming, the Vulcan II Max excels with its smooth, fast linear optical switches. The slippery keycaps allowed for swift finger movement across the keyboard, but they might be too slippery for those who sweat more. Speed matters, but accuracy is just as crucial.

 Features & Software

The Vulcan II Max comes with Roccat’s Titan II optical switches available in Red (smooth) or Brown (with a slight bump). Our test unit had the linear switches, which provide a consistent keypress without a noticeable bump or click. 

Optical switches use light instead of physical force, making them easier to press and more durable than traditional mechanical switches. While they lack the tactile feel, Roccat’s Titan II switches last for 100 million keypresses, doubling the lifespan of mechanical switches and matching competitors’ optical switches. 

The keyboard has thin ABS keycaps that reveal the switches underneath. These keycaps, though slightly concave, are rather flat and smooth, which might not suit sweaty hands or those accustomed to more tactile feedback. However, you can replace them with compatible third-party keycaps if needed. 

Typing on the Vulcan II Max felt similar to the Vulcan II Mini due to the linear optical switches and the slippery keycaps. While it didn’t notably affect speed or accuracy, the typing experience was average. Yet, considering it’s primarily a gaming keyboard, this doesn’t pose a significant issue. 

The Vulcan II Max excels more in gaming than typing, thanks to its swift linear optical switches. The smooth keycaps facilitate quick finger movement but might be too slippery for those prone to sweating. Speed matters, but so does precision.

Conclusion 

The Roccat Vulcan II Max looks stunning. If you want a keyboard that puts on a vibrant, eye-catching light display, this one does just that — every aspect seems crafted to captivate with lights, from the exposed switches under the keycaps to the dual-LED switches and even the silicone wrist rest it comes with. Beyond its visual appeal, the Vulcan II Max also delivers decent performance — while it might not be the top choice for typing (linear optical switches rarely are), it excels as a gaming keyboard due to its quick optical activation and built-in extra functions.

But if dazzling lights aren't your thing, this might not be your ideal keyboard. Firstly, the lighting effects could take up two USB 2.0 ports, depending on your chosen effects. Plus, while the Vulcan II Max’s preset extra functions are handy, setting up any personalized ones is a hassle due to Roccat’s complicated approach and difficult-to-navigate software.