The Genesis Rhod 500 is one of the latest additions to the Genesis lineup. In this review, we’ll break down its price, specs, design, performance, and overall value to help you decide if it’s the right keyboard for you.
Genesis might not be the most well-known gaming brand, but they do offer some solid budget-friendly products. For example, we were impressed with the Genesis Xenon 800 RGB gaming mouse because it delivers great value. Now, let’s see how the Genesis Rhod 500 keyboard stacks up.
Price and Specifications
The Rhod 500 is designed for budget-conscious gamers, priced at just $27—and potentially even less during sales. It’s a membrane keyboard, not a mechanical one, so you won’t get those satisfying clicks mechanical keyboards are known for. While membrane keyboards are fine for casual gaming, competitive gamers might find them lacking.
The Rhod 500 features a full-sized 104 key layout, perfect if you frequently use number keys and have plenty of desk space. It’s durable too, with the keys rated for 10 million presses, an actuation force of 55 grams, an actuation point of 2.5 mm, and a response time of 8 ms. Weighing 631 grams, the keyboard has an aluminum frame, adding both durability and a premium feel. It comes with a 180 cm cable, sufficient for most setups. And yes, it has customizable RGB lighting controlled via downloadable software.
The keyboard’s dimensions are 36 mm in height, 159 mm in width, and 466 mm in length, making it a relatively long but stable keyboard thanks to its non-slip rubber feet.
First Impressions
When we first laid eyes on the Genesis Rhod 500, its sleek aluminum finish caught our attention. Initially, we mistook it for a mechanical keyboard, but its $27 price tag clarified it was a membrane keyboard.
Personally, I prefer 60% mechanical keyboards for their compact size, but the Rhod 500 is great for those needing a Numpad. The RGB lighting is a nice touch and adds some style. The keyboard feels stable with its solid base and flip-up feet, making it comfortable to type on. It includes indicators for num lock, caps lock, scroll lock, and win lock.
The Enter key features the traditional “L” shape instead of the more modern elongated design. While I prefer the elongated key, this is more a personal choice than a functional issue. Overall, the design is straightforward and practical.
Performance
The Rhod 500 performs well, with anti-ghosting support for up to 19 keys, so pressing multiple buttons simultaneously isn’t a problem. Its onboard memory saves your settings, which is a handy feature.
All 104 keys worked flawlessly, and the 12 multimedia keys integrated into the function keys are convenient for quick access.
In conclusion, the Genesis Rhod 500 offers solid performance and good value for its price. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, full-sized keyboard with RGB lighting and stable design, the Rhod 500 is worth considering.