Page 2 - A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
By far the most striking part of the GAMDIAS Hermes M4 Hybrid is the black and white keycaps, and it looks great. It is nice to see a bit of a different look available for keyboards, since they are more often than not just one solid color. There are quite a few extra icons printed on the keycaps, this is in part due to the size of the Hermes M4 Hybrid. It is a 65% keyboard, meaning it has no F row of keys. These are found as the alternate function on the number row of keys. Some of the keys found around the outer edges also have extra functions to control the volume or RGB LED lighting.
The GAMDIAS Hermes M4 has a fairly big aluminum frame. It functions as the back plate to the keyboard, which keeps it quite firm. There is barely any flex to the keyboard when you pick it up and try to flex it. The backplate definitely means the keyboard is well-built. However, it adds to the weight. The Hermes M4 comes in at 563g, which is much less than mechanical keyboards in general, but for its size, it is quite heavy. The dimensions are 323mm in width, 129mm in depth, and 35mm in height. The frame on the outside definitely increases its footprint. There is a lot of extra space on the sides of the keyboard, which either could have been removed or been used to add another row of keys. Its footprint feels a bit larger than what I might expect for a keyboard of this form factor, but it is similar to other 65% keyboard we have seen, including the Cooler Master CK720 and DeepCool KG722.
When it comes to instructions, the GAMDIAS Hermes M4 is severely lacking. There are quite a few extra functions on this keyboard, and many are hard to decipher. GAMDIAS does have a manual online to help explain all of the secondary functions. Some important ones include the Esc key, which resets the keyboard to default settings when held down for five seconds. Otherwise, we find a Windows lock function on this side of the keyboard as well. This comes in handy during games to ensure you do not accidentally press it and minimize the game in a time of intensity. There are also three profile keys found on this side, which switches between different Bluetooth connections. In the software, a maximum of three profiles can be programmed, but only in wired mode. It is easy enough to switch between these profiles.
On the other side of the keyboard is where most of the functions are found. Macros can be programmed using three keys in the top right of the keyboard. The LED lights will start flashing to indicate a macro is being recorded. It can then be ended by pressing one of the buttons again. Volume can be adjusted up or down, but there is no direct mute function. The arrow keys are around to either change the lighting mode, but only if the keyboard is connected to your PC over USB. In wireless mode, the LEDs cannot be adjusted except for their brightness. Macros can be recorded, but many of the other functions are unavailable when you are using it in wireless mode. You can only change the color, but not the effects. I find this quite strange, since many wireless keyboards have full functionality regardless of how the keyboard is connected.
The bottom layout of the GAMDIAS Hermes M4 is fairly standard. Four rubber feet are found in each corner which ensure the keyboard stays in place. The kickstands lift the keyboard to an appropriate angle, and each of them have a small sliver of rubber as well to prevent any unwanted movement. Otherwise, a typical sticker is found in the middle with some extra information.
The top of the keyboard, where there is a small protruding rectangle, is where all the connectivity options are. The keyboard has a USB Type-C connection, which you can connect to your computer. There is also a small compartment that houses the USB wireless receiver. It sits snugly in the compartment and stays in mostly because of how tight of a fit it is. There is a switch next to the compartment, which changes the connectivity modes between the wireless adapter, Bluetooth, and wired. In each different mode, there are different polling rates. Wired yields the highest polling at 1000Hz, while the wireless adapter is limited to 500Hz, and Bluetooth is understandably the worst at 125Hz. For my use, I used the keyboard mostly with the dongle, and I never encountered any issues when it came to keys registering or not. GAMDIAS boasts that in this mode, without the backlight on, the battery should last 266 hours, which is a long time. I had the backlight on and was able to use the keyboard for more than one week, amounting to around 35 hours of use. I am impressed with the battery, however, I would have appreciated a better battery life indicator so I know when to charge the keyboard. There is a small light that lights up red when it is time to plug in the keyboard, but I would like a constant indicator.
The mechanical key switches are GAMDIAS-branded key switches, which are manufactured by Huano. The Hermes M4 is available only with red switches at the time of review. These are linear switches with an actuation force of 45g and a pre-travel distance of 2mm. The total travel on these is 4mm. Unfortunately, they feel a bit soft as they are not as crisp as other mechanical switches I have used and feel as if the spring is a bit pillowy. This was not the best typing experience, but some may find it to their liking. I generally love Red switches, but these left some to be desired. But they are built well. GAMDIAS rates at 50 million actuations, while Huano specifies they are good for 80 million. This is pretty impressive and should last a long time. There is a satisfying sound to the keys, especially as they bottom out against the aluminum backplate. The sound is solid, speaking to the value of the aluminum backplate. It has a deep thock to it as the key is bottomed out.
The wider keys, like the Space or Enter key, are stabilized quite well. There is no wire underneath the wire keys, indicating that it uses a Cherry stabilizer. Costar stabilizers have a wire running from one end of the key to the other, making it a bit rattly. On the other hand, a Cherry stabilizer has essentially a mock switch on either side. The key can be pressed anywhere and it will be as if they are pressed in the center. The GAMDIAS Hermes M4 also has N-key rollover, which means the keyboard should register every key that is pressed, no matter how many other keys are pressed. In the picture above, you can see the black marks on the white keycaps left by the included keycap puller. I would recommend using another keycap puller that will not leave a mark on the keys.
The software boasts a wide range of lighting options. The GAMDIAS Hermes M4 definitely does not lack in the realm of customization. There are plenty of lighting options and the ability to customize the color extensively as well. The biggest shortcoming in this area is that you can only change the lighting options when the device is connected with the USB cable. You cannot even open the software without the keyboard plugged in. However, the keyboard does have some memory to store profiles, at 64 KB, which is enough for the three profiles allowed.
I did find it interesting to see a QR code on the retail box to get to the website, as it often means you will need to use a mobile device to scan the code. As such, you will still need to navigate to the website manually on your computer unless you happen to have a webcam to scan QR codes. Otherwise, the software and documentation can be found at the bottom of the page, which is pretty standard. I was a bit apprehensive to use this utility, as the download triggered my antivirus program.
The Hermes M4 Hybrid software is fairly basic. RGB lighting modes can be changed, and the different profiles can be programmed. Each individual key can be programmed to different functions, which makes the keyboard easy to use in different situations. Macros can also be recorded in the software. The entire experience is pretty simplistic and generally offers what I need. However, it would be nice for GAMDIAS to make a single application to cover all of their products.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Conclusion
