Are they coming to the UK?

Dangggg!

Thanks Lee. But looks like we can't order yet it's just got notify is that correct?

 
 
I am currently using an ASUS flare.. its ok but the keys don't feel that great and typing is difficult.  I am wondering if a Z20 is better then what I am using.  I will see what the reviews say.
 
 

dam I think Ill have to pull the trigger on the Z20,with that price how can I not lol, you can swap the key caps on the Z20 as well correct?

Noodle 1
Is the Z15 the only one that's hot-swappable? The source I looked at only specified the Z15 having that capability.

ohh I thought that the "HOT SWAP" meant changing the entire keys, cause when I look at the pics of the Z20 it shows a pic of "key pluckers" as well

Hoggle

munch06

Noodle 1
Is the Z15 the only one that's hot-swappable? The source I looked at only specified the Z15 having that capability.

ohh I thought that the "HOT SWAP" meant changing the entire keys, cause when I look at the pics of the Z20 it shows a pic of "key pluckers" as well

The key caps on the Z20 can be pulled off and replaced and are standard key caps that are easily found. What the Z15 has it replaceable switches as well. So if for some reason you wanted to replace the switch itself you can but it’s unlikely that you would need to with the millions of clicks needed to wear them out.

Just keep in mind if you replace the key caps sometimes function keys are not always labeled the same.

Thank you for clearing that up😎

Hoggle
One question does the keyboard unleash software sync the RGB with the mouse? It would be nice to have the Z20 and the X20 in sync.

Yes.  Both can be configured in UNLEASH RGB.
 

Noodle 1
Is the Z15 the only one that's hot-swappable? The source I looked at only specified the Z15 having that capability.

Correct.  The Z20 switches are soldered.

Just some background, I'm EVGA's resident mouse and keyboard expert (self proclaimed)  and I have built several custom keyboards. I took lead on this launch midway through its development. 
Just to answer some of the questions. 

• Z15 is hot swap. It comes with Kailh speed switches which are your run of the mill mechanical switches but with a shorter accusation. But you can pull out the switches completely and replace them with any 3 pin switches that support SMD LEDs (cut out at the bottom of the switch for LED clearance)
• Z20 uses LK Light Strike optical switches. These use a light beam instead of leaf springs. Technically these switches are not soldered onto the board since there are no contacts or leads to solder. But they are not removeable/swappable with other LK switches. 
• Unleash RGB will have the option to sync lighting. We are still fine tuning the software as we are planning to release more mice. The new Unleash RGB software uses about half the resources of PrecisionX1 and there is no game built in game profile support. 
• Both Z20 Z15 use the standard Cherry style stems and have the standard bottom row layout. You can use any keycaps without requiring weird size ctrl alt and win keys. 

 

flg2010
I am currently using an ASUS flare.. its ok but the keys don't feel that great and typing is difficult.  I am wondering if a Z20 is better then what I am using.  I will see what the reviews say

Not sure what you mean by the keys don't feel that great. Looking at that keyboard it uses Cherry MX switches so experience will be similar. However I personally hate Cherry MX switches and there are far better switch options out there. 


 

Noodle 1
Do you know the reasoning behind soldering the Z20's switches? Hot-swappable keyboards are pretty rare and to have one come from a larger manufacturer at a relatively cheap price is something that I haven't seen before. This is usually a major selling point for keyboards that have it so the higher end board not having it while the lower end one does seem odd.

As mentioned the optical switches themselves are not soldered on but they are not removeable. The infrared light beam is on the PCB and the design of the switch housing is unique to the Light Strike switch line unlike other optical switches that use the standard Cherry style housing. 

Z15 and Z20 has some good improvements over the old Z10 keyboard, no slider for volume control or obsolete calculator type lcd screen. Don't know why evga added a big tacky logo on the keyboard. That would be the first thing i would rip off they keyboard.
 
Not bad keyboards at the elite price (only). The regular price not so much. You can get RGB mechanical keyboards that give you way more lighting customization for less.
 

Noodle 1
What are some of your personal favorites? I heard that enthusiasts consider Gateron and Kailh switches to match or exceed that of Cherry's but never really understood why considering most outside the enthusiast space consider Cherry the best. Why the disconnect?

Cherry has been around for decades. They held on to their patent up until several years ago and then it expired. Its all in the name because the general public had only known about Cherry MX and all the manufacturers used Chery MX in their marketing. When the likes of Kailh and Gateron started coming out they didn't have the name recognition and everyone just saw them as fakes or counterfeits. However these companies have taken the switch design  and moved forward with them, experimenting with different materials and design improvements while Cherry has kept the for the most part the same exact design with little to no changes. 
There are way to many switches available to call my favorite however Linears with minimum of 50g spring or Tactiles with at least 67g spring are what I tend to use. 
 
 

Noodle 1
Good to know, I've only experienced Cherry Browns and Reds before but I'm curious about the Blues now. It's a bit overwhelming when you delve into mechanical switches and it turns out that Kailh and Gateron have like 50 different switches each.
 
The hot-swap feature is a huge reason why I'm probably going to go for the K15. The media controls are nice too and the elite price is too good. I don't care too much for lighting as long as there is either a white or RGB backlight. The only downside, as another user pointed out, is the giant EVGA logo in the middle of the keyboard, like who's brilliant idea was that?

 
Just make sure you get 3 pin switches that support SMD LED like the one shown in the right. 
Ultimately you can also use 5 pins switches that support SMD LED (which is that gaop on top) and clip off the 2 extra plastic legs. 

I picked up a clicky Z20 and am typing on it now. Moving from a Logitech board with Cherry switches, so the very light actuation pressure is an adjustment, but I'm enjoying it. The texture on WASD keys is wildly over-aggressive. but it comes with alternates in the box and I suppose there must be some people who will be very happy to have sandpaper-textured WASD keys (it might actually be useful to competitive gamers). The software is pretty flexible and I was able to figure out a custom RGB profile that suits my preferences within a few minutes of tinkering. I can't really tell how to make use of the proximity sensor for myself, but I can easily see it as a highly useful security function that could be put to work in unique and creative ways.
 
Overall, I'm happy with it (at Elite price) and I hope that EVGA releases a version with an ergonomic layout, because the mechanical keyboard market seems to be offering better options every year and coming up with endless ways to describe how cutting edge the technical specs are, but there are still very few ergo options and a little angle makes typing a lot more comfortable for me.

Any info on how long the Elite price will be around for these?
I've been keeping an eye out for a nice deal on a new keyboard for weeks now so the timing here is perfect. Interested in picking up two Z20s, but I just want to see a few more reviews before jumping in.
 
Also, how spill friendly is the Z20? I've had a few accidents with my current keyboard using Cherry MX Reds and it's taken everything like a champ. Going on 9 years or so, and aside from a few dead LEDs, it still works great. Just a concern I have since I'm not familiar with the optical switch tech these are using.

I have been wanting to upgrade form membrane for sometime (but this keyboard is build tough!) could bite the trigger now that I can use the Elite discount...