Be Quiet! Light Mount TKL review

My prime PC gaming hours tend to be when the rest of my household is already in bed. As such, the fantastically clicky-clacky key presses of a mechanical gaming keyboard echoing through our halls isn’t really ideal. It’s just as well then that Be Quiet! is back with a welcome update to the very nearly silent keyboard I loved last year, the Light Mount.

As someone with a perennially messy desk, the Light Mount TKL’s 80% size is just right; I have room to swish my mouse, and I find I’m not forever accidentally hitting the capslock key as with other cut-down keebs. This TKL update offers more than just a smaller form factor, though, introducing the next generation of Be Quiet!’s Silent switches in Linear and Tactile flavours.

This TKL update also addresses one of the key problems I had with the original Light Mount by introducing new gaming features. This includes Quick Tap (SOCD), which will be sweet percussion to the ears of shooter fans—and at best eyebrow raising for the esports sickos. For those unfamiliar, SOCD stands for ‘Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions’. Features falling under this umbrella, like Razer’s Snap Tap and now Be Quiet!’s Quick Tap, prioritises your most recent directional input, making for strafing so efficient that Valve banned it from Counter-Strike 2.

Alongside Quick Tap, there’s also more options for macros, and a few fresh customisation options within the IO center software. While I appreciate these additions and expansions, the TKL still isn’t the most feature-packed gaming keyboard you’ll find.

I still love the even-quieter switches, though. Coupled with the TKL’s sturdy construction, this makes for another smart-looking package. However, it’s rocking up to the rowdy PC gaming party as the quiet kid in the corner—that is to say, while some will definitely appreciate its charms, it can’t compete with the louder, more popular keeb crowd.

Features

The Light Mount TKL is an 80% keyboard that enjoys the latest generation of Be Quiet!’s Silent switches. Tactile switches are available, but my review unit came with the Silent Linear V2s (though if you’re craving clicky-ness, the media knob in the keyboard’s top left corner has got you covered). According to Be Quiet!, the new V2s feature thicker gold contact points for the copper lever inside, as well as ‘optimised lubrication for quieter operation and improved responsiveness’—well, I’ll be the judge of that.

The V1 switches were already astonishingly understated on the full-sized board, making the most of the original Light Mount’s internal layers of sound dampening. The V2 switches on the TKL are somehow even quieter.

Though the new switches feel a bit on the firm side right out of the box, they soon actuate just as cleanly as the V1s. Before, I described typing on the Tactile V1s as a controlled descent onto solid ground, but the Linear V2s have a little more pleasing texture underhand. It’s not like stepping on a discordantly crunchy leaf, it’s more like tiptoeing over a thin layer of soft sand—I like it!

The combination of the V2s and the TKL’s construction also means the space bar is now much quieter than what I found on this board’s big brother. Although, it’s worth noting that future productions of both the full size Light Mount and the Dark Mount will come with the new V2 switches.

(Image credit: Future)

So far, so excellent: the Light Mount TKL is an actually quiet mechanical keyboard that won’t tattle on you during late night gaming sessions. So, what about those fresh gaming features? Well, let’s get the least exciting addition out of the way first: You can now disable the Capslock key in Game Mode.

Cool. Moving swiftly on, the Light Mount TKL also enjoys Be Quiet’s version of SOCD, Quick Tap, for the first time. Whereas the original Light Mount felt more like a fairly quiet mechanical keyboard you could also use for gaming, the TKL feels a smidge more like a gaming keyboard in its own right.

And you know what gamers love above all else? Bathing themselves in the glow of RGB lighting. Like its predecessors, the TKL implementation of RGB is similarly classy; a dedicated light strip lines the very top of the keyboard, and every switch below enjoys an ‘ARGB diffuser’ for tasteful per-key illumination. On top of plenty of customisation options in the IO Center software, the Light Mount TKL also features support for Microsoft Dynamic Lighting.

Performance

(Image credit: Future)

The Be Quiet! Light Mount TKL is a joy to type on. Switch-feel is really second to none in my mind. But what about gaming? Well, as I’ve said before, my most intense encounter in an online game recently was getting lost in Big Walk (not to mention how I tend to spend more time hiding in bushes in Arc Raiders than running and gunning). Similarly, this isn’t a gaming keyboard with the competitive scene in mind. With those expectations set, let’s get into it.

I tend to accidentally hit the Capslock key on smaller form factor keyboards, such as the Cherry XTRFY K5 Pro TMR Compact. The option to disable this key in Game Mode is definitely welcome, though I do find myself stumbling on to Capslock a lot less with this TKL. I also found this keyboard’s layout and 1,000 Hz maximum polling rate does little to impede my running around the feline-themed post office of Cat Mail Co. The Shift key for sprinting between barely organised shelves is comfortably within reach—so long as you don’t subconsciously curl your hand into a weird cat paw-esque grip like I do.

(Image credit: Future)

The TKL’s precision is definitely welcome as I roll up everything in sight in Once Upon a Katamari. The TKL’s responsiveness already makes it easy to both slow my roll and steer clear of disaster. Quick Tap comes especially in handy here, making changing the direction of my Katamari all the snappier. Does that mean I start immediately smashing through all of my previous records? Eh, no, not exactly. A swish gaming keyboard can only do so much for a skill issue, after all.

Whether I’m whiling away the wee hours trying to improve my Katamari game, or simply lose track of time playing Paralives, the Light Mount TKL’s luscious layers of sound-dampening foam and updated Silent switches continue to keep the secret of my late night gaming sessions.

Build Quality

(Image credit: Future)

This is a lovingly put together keyboard. I’ve already waxed lyrical about the factory-lubricated V2 Silent switches and their lovely, linear actuation. The keys themselves aren’t completely smooth on top, offering a little bit of surface texture that’s typical of PBT caps. This choice of material is generally more durable than ABS, and also tends to be much more resistant to picking up finger grease. In other words, these PBT keycaps will be looking box fresh for much longer.

Speaking of looks, you’re not going to find the Light Mount TKL in any fun colourways. Normally, I would rue the lack of a lavender colourway, but I respect Be Quiet’s vision; this is a smart looking keyboard that wouldn’t be out of place in either a gamer den or an office with a strict dress code. Besides, if you’re still desperate for a splash of colour, the IO Center software offers lots of customisation options for the RGB lighting.

(Image credit: Future)

A potentially unfortunate wrinkle is that PBT keycaps aren’t known for letting a lot of light through. That means that, even with the keycaps’ shine-through legends, the RGB lighting here is generally a more subtle affair. An arched ARGB diffuser on each switch keeps what glow there is evenly distributed, but I can’t help but feel the original Light Mount’s RGB was a smidge brighter.

Mind you, the gamer den I was testing the fullsize board in is generally much darker than the bright overhead lights of PCG towers where I spent most of my quality time with the TKL. Anyway, the strip of RGB at the top of the TKL is all the lovelier for being allowed to shine unimpeded.

Like the company’s other boards, the TKL also enjoys three internal layers of sound-dampening foam. This makes good on the entire promise of Be Quiet! while also making for a keeb with a pleasing amount of sturdy heft. The same brushed aluminium top plate featured on Be Quiet’s other boards is also the finishing touch here, acting as the shiny cherry topping an already beautifully constructed cake.

Software

(Image credit: Be Quiet!)

IO Center can either be downloaded as a local desktop app, or accessed via the web. For the most part, it’s a smartly laid out bit of software that makes it easy to tweak an array of settings. The latest version offers a helpful hardware monitor too, showing you temps and even fan RPM right there in the dashboard, though obviously this is less relevant in a review about a keyboard.

What is relevant is the robust selection of customisation options for the RGB lights. The usual rippling designs return, allowing for gradient, single, or dual colour lighting effects. If you aren’t digging IO Center’s ‘general’ pre-sets, you can create your own layered lighting, customising the look of each key and segment of the top light bar. The Light Mount TKL also enjoys support for Microsoft Dynamic Lighting for those with a much grander, all encompassing vision for their desk.

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Now, obviously RGB lighting isn’t the only thing that makes a gaming keyboard. Via IO Center, you can also fine tune the Game Mode across a small selection of toggles. These allow you to disable various key configurations while the mode is active, including Shift + Tab, Alt + F4, the Windows Key, Alt + Tab, and now Capslock too.

Interestingly, Quick Tap falls outside of IO Center’s Key Binding sub-menu. Instead, you’ll find options for remapping keys, editing the Function layer, and recording a whole load of Macros.

Quick Tap is found under ‘Product Settings,’ alongside the Game Mode. Quick Tap can be calibrated across five key pairs (‘A’ and ‘D’ are included as an editable default pair to start you off). While in Quick Tap settings, the software also warns that some competitive titles will restrict or ban SOCD tech, and advises that you check the rules for your game of choice before calibrating.

Value

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The Light Mount TKL costs $140/€140. That’s about $30/€30 less than the full size version would set you back at launch, though you can get a 100% Light Mount for much less now. That’s just as well, as the full size version graces our best gaming keyboards guide as our pick for the best silent board. The obvious question, then, is does the TKL do enough to dethrone its older sibling?

Well, the TKL introduces a number of features that will be coming to future productions of the full size keyboard, such as the V2 switches. Those who already have the full size Light Mount will also be able to enjoy the slightly expanded Game Mode through updates to IO Center, though Be Quiet is still evaluating if further features will be added retroactively.

(Image credit: Future)

What I can tell you for sure right now is, due to technical limitations, neither the full size Light Mount or Dark Mount will have the TKL’s 10 customisable layers of lighting effects, or its ability to record up to 999 Macro events. The original Light Mount is limited to 58, while the Dark Mount can record up to 200. So, if you use a lot of complex Macros and are looking for a quiet keeb, the TKL is the gaming keyboard to go with.

But that’s the thing: many PC gamers will tell you ‘the clack is the whole point’ of a mechanical keyboard. Personally, I think there’s room for a range of sound profiles in this space, but the Light Mount TKL’s central reason for being is arguably niche in appeal.

(Image credit: Future)

As an 80% design, the TKL is far from the most space-saving thing either, plus plenty of smaller boards beat it on features, too. For instance, our pick for the best 75% keyboard is the Keychron K2 HE, which comes with Hall effect switches and offers customisable actuation points. It’s also wireless, woody, and basically the same price as Be Quiet’s slightly larger offering.

If you’re looking to save yet more desk space, our pick for the best 60% keyboard is the Wooting 60HE v2, which our Jacob describes as “the best keyboard that Wooting has ever made.” That’s high-praise that feels absolutely earned once you hear just how feature-packed it is.

(Image credit: Future)

You can also get a feature-packed 65% gaming keyboard for much less than the Light Mount TKL. Case in point, the best budget gaming keyboard is the Gamakay x NaughShark NS68, and having spent some quality time with this $40 keyboard myself, going with something 100 bucks more feels like a steep ask.

Obviously, a $40 keyboard cannot hold a candle to Be Quiet’s build quality, and its software also leaves a lot to be desired compared to IO Center’s ease of use. But otherwise the NS68 still offers fantastic value for money with Hall effect switches and even PBT keycaps.

(Image credit: Future)

As a typist, I still love the Light Mount TKL; the switches really are that quiet and the key actuation is wonderfully smooth. Though I rue the lack of fun colourways, the aluminium topped chassis definitely looks very classy as it is, and I appreciate all of the options for colourful RGB customisation in the IO Center software. Although not the brightest, the RGB here illuminates my dank gamer den well enough.

As a PC gamer, I am left wanting just a little more for the money—specifically, the option to customise key actuation points wouldn’t go amiss. To be fair, having seen how much the full size Light Mount has come down in price since its launch last year, the TKL may also drop to a similarly appealing price point before too long.

Furthermore, I’m hardly a high-tier competitive gamer and what’s here on the TKL definitely suits most of my gaming needs. If you can take or leave gaming keyboards’ bleeding edge features, but still want a well-made mechanical keyboard to class up your desk, there’s lots to like about the Light Mount TKL.