[A] Vulkan TKL II Keyboard - Is It Worth It?

The Waffle Press

Vulkan TKL II Keyboard - Is It Worth It?

Written by Graham Day // published 27th February 2026

From its slick exposed switches to hot-swapping support and a volume dial you’ll actually use - the VULCAN II TKL looks like the perfect mid-range competitive keyboard… but is it really worth your desk space? Let’s find out.

This is the Turtle Beach VULCAN II TKL gaming keyboard - and if you spot something you like in this video, we’ve dropped a link to it down below. We’ve been using it over the last couple of weeks across gaming and typing workloads, and while it’s impressively balanced overall, there are a handful of things you should know before buying.

First up - transparency: this review is NOT sponsored. We do have an #Ad disclosure on the video, though, as we are Turtle Beach Partners and we do get kickbacks when you use our code. Save yourself 10% on all Turtle Beach products by using our discount code [ICU], whilst also helping us make more videos like this. PLUS - our friends at Turtle Beach provided for this review, but they respect the fact that we make honest content to help you decide what’s right for your setup… now let’s get it!

First Impressions – Design & Layout

Right out of the box, the VULCAN II TKL has that distinctive Vulcan look with exposed switches and a brushed aluminium top plate - plus that volume dial that doubles up as a push to mute button… It's a design that’s bold without being gaudy.

It’s a TKL keyboard - and if you don’t know what that means, we’re going to go off topic for a second. A few people mentioned in our Twitch streams that they didn’t know what TKL means, so let’s have a little learn with ICU segment.

So, this is a TKL keyboard, which is short for Tenkeyless; and that’s a compact keyboard layout that removes the numeric keypad (the "ten keys" on the right) from a standard full-size keyboard. A TKL is often called an 80% keyboard as it retains the main typing area, function row, and arrow keys, which makes it about 80% the size of a full keyboard. You’d choose a tenkeyless layout if you’re looking to free up space for wider mouse movement - which makes TKLs ideal for shooter games and competitive players.

There’s other sizes of keyboards, like 60 & 40% - but we’ll leave those alone for now and come back the the VLUCAN II TKL.

This is a wired keyboard - and it comes with a detachable, braided power cable which sits on the rear left side. It’s USB-C too, just in case you wondered - so if your setup is USB-C standardised already, this won’t cause you any issues with adapters.

It’s worth noting there’s no included wrist rest with the VULCAN II TKL - something you might see on other boards, particularly longer ones, like the VULCAN II MAX - so keep that in mind if you like the extra support. I’m 40 now, so I’m firmly in Unc territory… I appreciate a good wrist rest. I think we need to normalise them coming bundled with keyboards of every size!

Switches & Typing Experience

This thing uses Titan HS linear mechanical switches with a short 1.8 mm actuation point and smooth actuation - ideal for fast gaming input and solid performance in shooters.

They’re quick, feel smooth and are pre-lubed [NICE] - that essentially means they keep noise and spring chatter down, which is great if you’re using it in a shared space at home or for work… and on that note, it’s not bad for typing on either. Clacky buttons can sometimes you’re using a typewriter, but these switches have a nice glidey feel that transfers pretty well to general use.

But it’s not flawless - the ABS keycaps have a silky-smooth surface, which can be an issue for some people as they can feel a little slippy rather than grippy, and can also collect fingerprints over time too… especially if you’re munching greasy snacks like Doritos whilst you’re using it Don’t do that! That’s never been an issue for me but I’m just throwing it out there so you can make up your own mind.

The open, exposed switch aesthetic and lightly curved ABS caps can initially feel unusual if you’re coming from thicker, sculpted keycaps or tactile keys, so just be aware that - as with any new peripheral - a short adjustment period is common.

The hot-swappable support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches is a great touch - meaning you can swap switches if you want a different feel… but the reality for me is that I’m not going to be doing that any time soon. I might throw in a replacement switch if one is ever is faulty, but the likelihood is that I’m probably not going to be changing out the whole board. If you’re watching this and you’re likely to swap the boards or switches out though, let us know and we can look to grab some of that content for you if you need it, maybe in a future video or on stream.

The fact the switches hare hot-swappable means you can swap them out whilst it’s plugged in - you don’t have to completely unplug it. But it can be a little bit finicky to pop the switches out though… So, whilst you have hot-swapping as an option which could be good for people that need to lock-in mid-game, the reality is that it might be better for most people to unplug it and take it to somewhere more comfortable.

Speaking of comfort… if you wanted to use 3rd party keycaps, whether it’s for a different shape, texture or font size, you can do that with the VULCAN II.

Gaming Performance & SOCD / NKRO

The board ticks all the right boxes from a competitive standpoint.

Full N-Key Rollover and 100% anti-ghosting means that this bad boy gives you accurate inputs no matter how many keys you’re pressing at once.

Also, ReacTap SOCD cleaning ensures that directional movements are prioritised smartly… and if you don’t know what either of those mean - basically this has tech that helps you in games where simultaneous inputs matter.

In actual gameplay, strafe, crouch, and quick directional changes feel snappy - with no perceivable missed inputs during our sessions.

RGB & Swarm II Software

The per-key RGB lights up beautifully thanks to the exposed switch design - and Turtle Beach’s Swarm II software lets you customise colours and effects, save profiles onboard, and remap keys. I’m a big fan of RGB, so that’s a win for me!

However, whilst Swarm II’s UI is very functional, it’s not the most polished - don’t get me wrong, it absolutely does the job, but it isn’t as impressive as the hardware itself. If you had to choose one area to not be as tight, though, that’d be it - and you can expect regular updates to improve it going forward. For now, though, once you’re set, you shouldn’t really need to touch it too often, which means it won’t be much of a problem.

Price & Value

At its price point - $119.99 - the VULCAN II TKL stacks up very well against the market - you’re getting a lot of feature-set for the money: hot-swapping, NKRO, exposed RGB, and solid build quality… all without breaking the bank.

It doesn’t have some premium features like a wrist rest or USB passthrough, but for players focused on performance and core features, it’s a compelling option.

Conclusion

The Turtle Beach VULCAN II TKL is a very solid mid-range mechanical gaming keyboard. It delivers on performance, lighting, and feature set without a huge price tag - and for competitive gamers or everyday users alike, it’s easy to recommend as a daily driver.

If you want a clean TKL board, exposed RGB, hot-swappable support, and responsive keys without paying top-tier enthusiast prices - this hits that sweet spot.

If flashy extras, premium software, or ultra-specialised competition features are what you’re after, you might want to look at other options - but for people that want a solid gaming keyboard that’s a big step ahead of that cheap Amazon brand you’ve never heard of (which is most people that I play with), then this makes a serious case at its price point.

As always, our link is down below if you want to check it out yourself. It’s in demand so it’s often out of stock in the UK - if it’s unavailable when you come to look at, sorry about that! Turtle Beach are working on restocking as hard as they can. Our US viewers often have better chances at grabbing it… don’t forget code ICU will save you 10%.

We’d love to hear what you think in the comments — what matters most to you in a keyboard: performance, style, or features?

Hit that like button if you found this helpful - it really helps us out and lets us make more content for you.

Until next time… Stay Frosty! ❄️