Faisal Ghaffar 
The wireless version of the Vulcan II Mini has been named the Vulcan II Mini Air, but it does not just include a battery and radio. The keyboard comes with some commendable innovations, even if only a niche user can take advantage of it. The small, premium device comes with a high price, but is it justified? Read on to know.
The changes
At first glance, the Vulcan II Mini Air looks the same as the Vulcan II Mini released last year. The layout remains the same, with Titan II optical switches that ensure smooth and fast operation, full arrow keys and ‘floating’ keycaps that highlight the company’s RGB lighting. There is about an inch difference in height of the wireless version, which illuminates the Roccat logo.
The USB-C port has been shifted to the left and there is a bay available for keeping the 2.4GHz dongle. You can also find a power switch. It is also a tad heavier than last year’s model, but not by much. The difference is less than 3 ounce, yet Roccat has still managed to add a battery and wireless hardware.
The weight-saving design makes this one an excellent portable keyboard. The eye-popping RGB lights are certainly as amazing as before and Roccatremains the king in this regard.
The battery
According to Roccat, the Vulcan II Mini Air can last for about 150 hours when used on standard mode and if you disable the RGB lighting, then it can last for about 750 hours. While the specifications do not mention the size of the battery, it cannot be too capacious because only a few ounces of extra weight have been added. Yet, the fact that it lasts for so long shows that it is undoubtedly the best battery life to be found on a gaming keyboard.
Roccat has also accomplished a rarely seen trick called ‘instant wake’. The keyboard wakes up instantly with the 2.4GHz dongle and is ready for input commands. When you hold down the Fn key, you can turn your V key into a battery bar because the LED light beneath it will turn from green to yellow and then to orange and red as it drains.
The performance
Similar to its non-wireless variant, there are optical key switches to be found in the Vulcan II Mini Air. These keys are different from those of traditional keyboards because they are able to detect a key press a lot faster. Therefore, they are able to deliver a smoother and faster performance. In terms of typing, the keys feel somewhat loose and they are not as pleasant.
This is mostly due to the ABS keycaps, but if you replace them with PBS keycaps, then you will notice a marked improvement. This is also applicable in the case of gaming. But, you will have to give up on the lighting system and no one wants to do that. The N-Key rollover and 1,000Hz polling offered by the keyboard is more than any gamer could want. The Swarm software is also functional, if not amazing.
The Verdict
The Roccat Vulcan II Mini Air keyboard is a good deal because keyboard has user-friendly keys and despite its larger layout, it is better for traveling. Plus, its battery life is simply unbeatable.
