White Shark Excalibur L: a mechanical keyboard that annoys the more expensive competition

For a price of approximately 80 euros, with occasional discounts below 70, this keyboard offers a package that was significantly more expensive just a year ago.

Design and Build

The Excalibur L comes in white and black versions, both giving the impression of a neat, modern product that fits equally well in a gaming corner and on an office desk. The keyboard uses a compact full layout with 97 keys, the so-called 95% format that retains the full numeric section but brings the blocks closer together to save space. The result is an ANSI layout with a single-row Enter and no markings for Croatian diacritical signs, which some local users will need to get used to, but for most, it doesn't take longer than a few days.

The casing is made of sturdy plastic that doesn't creak, and in the upper right corner is a metal volume wheel that can also be pressed to mute the sound. Such details give the keyboard a higher-class feel than its price suggests. With two levels of tilt on the foldable feet, ergonomics are at the expected level.

Switches and Typing Feel

The heart of the Excalibur L consists of KTT Wine Red linear switches, among the better ones in KTT's catalog. A travel distance of four millimeters with a trigger point at around 1.9 mm and an initial actuation force of 43 grams provides a fast, pleasant, and predictable feel, equally suitable for gaming and prolonged typing. The plate supports hot-swap, meaning switches can be changed without soldering, with support for standard three- and five-pin models. The box also includes two pairs of replacement switches (linear Venom Rose and tactile, clicky PurplePulse) and a tool for removal, so you can change the character of the keyboard at no extra cost.

Particularly noteworthy is the interior. White Shark has incorporated several layers of absorbing materials that eliminate the ringing and hollow feel typical of cheaper models, and the plate is mounted in a gasket manner, on small silicone bumpers. The result is subtle impact absorption and a pleasant, deep "thock" sound that is expected from a serious mechanical keyboard today. This is a feature appreciated by enthusiasts and significantly exceeds expectations for this price.

Connectivity and Battery Life

One of the strongest advantages is the versatility of connectivity. There is a wired USB-C connection, a fast 2.4 GHz wireless connection via the included receiver, and Bluetooth for quick pairing with a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. The keyboard works with Windows, Linux, macOS, iPadOS, iOS, and Android, and a switch on the back bridge selects the operating mode and operating system.

For gamers, there is a polling rate of 1000 Hz and full anti-ghosting support, which guarantees fast response and precise registration of key presses. Battery life depends on the lighting: with RGB on, expect around fifteen hours, while without it, the battery easily lasts over 80 hours. Those who don't want to think about charging can simply use the included cable.

RGB and Software

RGB lighting offers 17 effects, and the switches use a south-facing LED design, so the light illuminates the area around the keys without bleeding through the printed (not laser-cut) markings. Two side light strips are a nice addition that brings life to the desktop at night and can be turned off. Everything is adjustable with the included driver which, although aesthetically unappealing, does the job without issues.

Conclusion

The White Shark Excalibur L is built on serious technical foundations and overall stands alongside models that until recently cost twice as much. The gasket construction, quality KTT switches, hot-swap capability, and three connection modes make it one of the most cost-effective choices in the mid-range. For the requested 80 euros, it's hard to find a serious complaint, so the title of the video review by Virus HR hits the mark: this keyboard truly has what it takes to challenge the more expensive competition.