Trust GXT 865 Asta is one of the most affordable mechanical keyboards that you can find in shops. It is simple, with modest looks, and it includes only the basic features that you expect from a keyboard. Does its low price mean that you get a low-quality product? Fortunately, that is not the case. We were impressed by the value Trust GXT 865 Asta manages to offer at an affordable price. Read this review to learn why:

Trust GXT 865 Asta: Who is it good for?

This keyboard is a good choice for:

• Gamers with a low budget
• People who type a lot on their computers
• Users who want a keyboard that looks like it has RGB lighting, without costing as much

Pros and cons

The Trust GXT 865 Asta keyboard has the following strengths:

• Excellent price
• Great fit both for typing and gaming
• It offers a LED-based lighting system with multiple colors
• Multimedia keyboard shortcuts
• It is a bit more silent than other mechanical keyboards

There are some negatives to consider too:

• It does not include a wrist rest
• There is no software to personalize the keyboard

Verdict

Trust GXT 865 Asta is an affordable gaming keyboard that is an excellent fit for typists too. If you want a mechanical keyboard that is precise and responsive, with a simple QWERTY layout and LED lighting, Trust GXT 865 Asta is one of the best affordable choices that you can make. For less than 50 USD, all the basics are covered well.

Unboxing the Trust GXT 865 Asta mechanical keyboard

The packaging used for the Trust GXT 865 Asta mechanical keyboard is glossy, similar to the one used for other accessories from the company. On the top, you see a picture of the keyboard and a list of its essential characteristics.

On the back, you have more technical details about the keyboard, its lighting system, and technical features. After you open the box, you immediately see the keyboard, nicely packaged.

Inside the box, you find the following elements: the Trust GXT 865 Asta keyboard, the user manual, a sticker with the Trust GXT logo, the warranty, and legal information. Unfortunately, Trust did not bundle a wrist pad with this keyboard.

The package of the Trust GXT 865 Asta keyboard is simple and good looking. Inside the box, there's only the keyboard, and the usual documentation.

Design and hardware specifications

Trust GXT 865 Asta is a mechanical keyboard with a classic look and a QWERTY layout. It is black and understated, without any accessories other than the integrated keycap puller. Considering how flashy other gaming keyboards can be, Trust GXT 865 Asta is refreshingly simple. The company says that the keyboard uses "GXT-RED switches" that last up to 50 million keystrokes. The polling rate is up to 1,000 Hz and the response time of up to 5 ms. All the keys have N-key rollover anti-ghosting technology, meaning that the keyboard should be able to accurately register all the keys on it, even if you are pressing all of them simultaneously.

The integrated keycap puller is found on the back of the keyboard. There are two anti-slip rubber feet, useful for holding the keyboard in place on your desk. The USB 2.0 braided cable of the keyboard measures 70.8 inches or 1.8 meters, and it is long enough for most users, even when you keep your computer under your desktop. If you look carefully on the back of the keyboard, you also see a cable channel that helps users with their cable management, when needed.

Unfortunately, there is no detachable wrist rest available, like on the cheaper Trust GXT 860 Thura. Also, there are no dedicated macro keys or additional multimedia buttons, even though you can use keyboard shortcuts to control features like the sound volume. Trust GXT 865 Asta is not spill-proof, and it does not include any software.

You get a LED-based lighting system, with fixed colors for each row, and multiple lighting modes that can be personalized using keyboard shortcuts. If you do not look closely, it might seem like an RGB keyboard, even though it is not.

Trust GXT 865 Asta is 17.4 x 5.2 x 1.6 inches or 444 x 133 x 41 mm in length x width x height. As you can see it is small when compared to other gaming keyboards, a feature that is going to be appreciated by users with little desk space. Trust GXT 865 Asta is also light, as it weighs 2.4 pounds or 1.1 kilograms.

If you want to see more details about the features and hardware specifications, visit this web page: Trust GXT 865 Asta Mechanical Keyboard.

Using the Trust GXT 865 Asta mechanical keyboard

We used the Trust GXT 865 Asta for both typing and gaming. We played games such as League of Legends, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Gaming on this keyboard was a satisfying experience. The keys responded well to all in-game actions, and the N-key rollover anti-ghosting technology did its job well no matter how many keys we had to press in our day-to-day use.

The LED-based lighting system is useful in rooms with little or no light. You can quickly change between the color modes using the ScrLK key. The color modes are rainbow-like, and whether you enjoy them or not, is a matter of personal taste. Most probably, adults are going to prefer having one evenly lit color, while teenagers and children are going to love the rainbow color modes. You can view a demo and the keyboard shortcuts for interacting with the lighting system, in the YouTube video below:

Even though Trust GXT 865 Asta does not include dedicated multimedia keys, it does have 11 shortcuts that you can use to control functions like: skip to the next/previous track, control the sound volume, open your default music player or the calculator. In total there are eleven functions that you can access, using FN plus a key from F1 to F11.

Typing on the Trust GXT 865 Asta is a pleasant experience. Our team types a lot each day, writing articles, making detailed product analysis, and tests, and we were happy to see that our hands do not tire quickly on the GXT 865 Asta. The feedback you get when typing feels good, the typing precision is what you expect from a good keyboard, and the sound it makes is lower/softer than other mechanical keyboards that we used.

The Trust GXT 865 Asta looks and feels sturdy, even if it is made mostly from plastic. You should keep in mind is that it is not spill-resistant like more expensive keyboards. Therefore, do not expect it to resist accidental spills of Coke on it.

The only complaint that we have about the Trust GXT 865 Asta is the fact that it lacks a wrist rest, which improves the comfort of using the keyboard for long work or gaming sessions.

Trust GXT 865 Asta is a good fit for gamers as well as typists who desire a simple and affordable keyboard.

What is your opinion about the Trust GXT 865 Asta?

Now you know what we think about the Trust GXT 865 Asta mechanical keyboard. Before closing this review, we would like to know your opinion about this product. Do you think that it offers good value for your money? If you already have it, how was your user experience with it so far? Comment below, and let's discuss.