Inca Empousa II IKG-451 Review

Inca is a brand known among gamers for its accessories, and we looked at its first Empousa keyboard earlier. This time the model is the Empousa II, an RGB mechanical gaming keyboard and the last entry in the Empousa series.

Design of the Inca Empousa II IKG-451

The Empousa II uses Brown switches and supports RGB lighting. The lighting reaches the keys themselves, and light strips run along the upper and lower edges of the keyboard.

The key lighting is adjustable, with 6 LED modes and 19 lighting effects. The keyboard also includes a wrist support. It is not padded, being made of flat plastic, but it is solid: it fixes to the keyboard with screws supplied in the box.

The Empousa II works straight out of the box. It connects over USB and needs no software to be installed. The box also includes a brush for cleaning between and under the keys. The cable is a 1.8-meter mesh cable, which gives enough reach.

Features of Inca Empousa II IKG-451

The Brown switches are close in feel to Cherry MX Brown. They have a maximum working weight of 60 grams, an actuation point of 2.1 mm, and a total travel of 3.9 mm. These values suit gaming well. The sensitive action makes the keyboard less obviously a typing board, though we did write our articles on it, including this review.

Typing takes some adjustment, after which it becomes comfortable for sustained use. The numeric keypad is a plus. The hardest part to get used to was the Enter key, which sits just above the Shift key in a smaller shape.

The Brown switches are quieter than Blue switches. Which you prefer is a matter of taste, some liking the louder typewriter feel and others the quieter action. We preferred the quieter one.

In Brief

The Inca Empousa II is a mechanical gaming keyboard aimed at players who want that switch feel, and it is usable for typing once you adjust to it. Compared with rival models, its price sits in a reasonable balance.