IOGEAR KVM Roundup Review: IOGear 2-port full HD KVM with HDMI/USB connections; 2-port 4K KVM with HDMI, USB, & KeyMander Nexus! Do You Need A KVM In 2023?

Working from home, I have an abundance of desk space that I have accumulated over the last number of years. I have had an opportunity before to use KVMs, or "keyboard, video, and mouse" switches, to do everything from connecting my laptop or game console to a larger monitor via USB and HDMI without the need of unplugging and reconnecting cables back and forth. This last year has seen more PC displays with KVMs integrated into the monitor's chassis, such as the Gigabyte M32U Arm Edition and Dell Alienware AW3423DW that we have previously reviewed. IOGear, a peripheral manufacturer of docks, chargers, and KVMs (plus many other products), contacted us to try out three of their most popular KVMs. Each offers a similar experience but has differences, which we will discuss in this review.

Let's get into it.

IOGear 2-port full HD KVM with HDMI and USB connections & 2-port 4K KVM with HDMI, USB, and audio connections unboxings and thoughts

Upon opening, the IOGear 2-port full HD KVM with HDMI and USB connections and the 2-port 4K resolution KVM with HDMI, USB, and audio connections come in a similar green, black, and white box which is synonymous with IOGear's branding. The KVM box port for both is about the size of a deck of cards, if not just slightly smaller, which is ideal for minimal desk space. Both come with a small button switch to click between various modes, and the cable attached to them is skinny. I fear the cable's durability will not last long, especially if you need to rearrange systems, cords, or desk spaces.

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The cables that connect to the PC are lengthy, which is another plus for both KVM models, but it adds to the cable management overall. In the second image, you can see four cables attached to the IOGear 2-port full HD KVM with HDMI and USB connections, which does not feel overwhelming from a consumer standpoint. I have been chastised before for cable management, so I have tried to be more conscious when possible. However, when testing as much as we do at Wccftech, it is hard to keep cables looking perfect when not photographed. The wires that go into the box, added with the cables from each box to the PC, double the size of your lines running between both. This may be an issue for the user for minimalistic desktops, especially with the eight cables from the IOGear 2-port 4K KVM with HDMI, USB, and audio connections.

As far as performance, both worked smashingly. Switching between my old laptop, current PC, and Xbox Series S or Nintendo Switch console was incredibly easy. I used the Arzopa A1 portable PC/console gaming monitor for this testing. The Arzopa A1 display allows me to set up a station on most flat surfaces and run cables quickly without interrupting the main displays for work and productivity. Plus, since all KVMs did not require DisplayPort ports on the monitor, the Arzopa A1 is more than suitable to use in this case.

PC gamers typically use a keyboard and mouse, and a product like these could benefit multi-PC systems. Adding 4K resolution and audio/mic jacks on the IOGear 2-port 4K KVM with HDMI, USB, and audio connections model is also a bonus, especially for those needing separate ports and are not using a USB-based headset/mic combo or USB microphone alone. Multitaskers and remote workers will also find the benefits of switching between systems quickly to work between systems and take the occasional break to game or watch a movie on another device connected to the KVMs. The only issues, albeit from an aesthetic angle, are the switch box having such a thin cable and the overwhelming number of wires coming from the IOGear 2-port 4K KVM with HDMI, USB, and audio connections.

IOGear Kaliber Gaming Keymander Nexus and K2 App unboxing and thoughts

The IOGear Kaliber Gaming Keymander Nexus is a beast of a KVM, even in its diminutive size. It is well-built, hefty, and offers seven different color combo options with two effect options (or the ability to turn it off completely). Users can connect a PC, laptop, or console system to the Keymander Nexus, and plug a mouse, keyboard, and headphones into the box, routing all control and video to the monitor of choice and other output choices.

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An initial issue I ran into when using the IOGear Kaliber Gaming Keymander Nexus is downloading software to receive its full capability, not that it does not make sense. You are buying a $200 KVM and a device to increase your ability to play on PC and compatible consoles. Users can download hundreds of game profiles for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC with the additional mobile application. Within the application, you can map out your controls, manipulate the dead zones, improve response times, and even assist with aiming.

The application is excellent regardless of how I feel about bloatware (you can read my keyboard and mouse reviews from MSI to see what I mean). Still, I would prefer this on a computer to alter dead zones and such before jumping into my favorite games because I feel I have better control than using a phone that has to connect via Bluetooth and expect that connection to maintain itself during the entire process. IOGear's mobile applications are necessary to use their gaming products, and maybe working on a PC option for gamers would be nice. Another issue, and I hope the company reads this, is that the instruction manual and website(s) need a serious update. From a user's standpoint, I was directed to the wrong mobile application and sent to two websites to locate the online manual. This was supposed to be user-friendly, but sadly it was not. It is sloppy for a company to promote itself this way, especially when someone would not understand why an application for the KeyMander 2 Mobile device — which is not the product I am trying to connect to my system, can't find the KeyMander Nexus application, which is named K2 App.

I will provide links to the App Store, Google Play Store, and the correct PDF on the website for users to find these easier in the future.

Once updated and connected to three systems (laptop, PC, and Nintendo Switch), I could switch between each by manually tapping the corresponding button or controlling via the mobile application. Without having a PlayStation 4/5 console, I cannot verify how the connection would be, but on the Xbox Series S, this was another problem, but not because of IOGear's product. Microsoft built the console system only to accept specific USB connections to particular ports, depending on the use. If I were to connect a USB mouse and keyboard without IOGear's Kaliber Gaming Keymander Nexus, I would plug those devices into the back of the system, and it would be like playing on a PC. However, using the KVM, I had to plug the device through the only front USB port available, which hinders a cleaner look to your work/play space. It also caused me to remove a USB drive I was using. This downside falls on Microsoft and not IOGear.

The only problem I noticed using the KeyMander Nexus was audio through the Xbox. I had to connect a pair of headphones to the controller, not the KVM (which has a port on the front to use an audio device). There is no option to fix this, but it is such a minor gripe that I am unsure if users will see that as the deal-breaking option, aside from the hefty asking price (remember that this is a premium KVM).

Final Analysis

In 2023, KVMs will be helpful for those who need a lot of desk space and are working with a single monitor and several inputs (laptops, secondary PCs, consoles, etc.). Remote workers still working from home, such as myself, could benefit from the benefits of a KVM unit. However, I fear that this will only satisfy a short need. As I had stated at the beginning of the review, computer monitors of all types are beginning to incorporate KVMs into the display. The necessity for a separate KVM is almost somewhat "archaic." It would be much different if, for the price, you received twice the amount of ports available. The downside would be the number of extra cables running from the KVM box. I think the additional KVM, the IOGear 2-port full HD KVM with HDMI and USB connections, and the IOGear 2-port 4K KVM with HDMI, USB, and audio connections can be helpful on a budget, especially if you bought used parts to make your work computer. As for an additional console display, I would have liked to have seen an addition of a DisplayPort port instead of an HDMI port. However, the cost is lower by going with HDMI, which makes sense. By the time any company building separate KVM units for the home adds a DisplayPort to the units might end up being too late.

With gaming consoles, the argument is that PC players dominate FPS games because using a keyboard and mouse offers a faster and more precise experience, giving those players an edge. However, some players on console systems only play with a controller. And, some of those players on PC prefer a controller over a keyboard and mouse combo. So, having a KVM for that need might suit some, but there is no evidence of whether it will improve your gaming experience. I have read some studies where a growing number of gamers would instead use a keyboard and a mouse on their consoles, which has an additional KVM (if it is not available in a monitor) would come in incredibly handy.

The KeyMander 2 application is almost not needed. Many tweaks that can be made for a keyboard and mouse can be done through a fair amount of games, even on consoles. I know that in using the software, the instructions would instruct the user to max out the settings in the game to alter the settings on the KVM device. But why has someone taken that extra step, especially when it was available in-game from the start?

Are these, or any KVMs, right for you? It is difficult to answer that question as each user is different. As an FPS player and a user who searches to enhance their productivity and utilization of what is available in a workspace, a KVM is no longer necessary as all of the monitors I currently use have them built-in. If I want to use my laptop, I can step away from the office and sit on my couch, bed, or at a coffee bar, allowing me the space I need from my desk. Suppose I want to use my Xbox Series S or Nintendo Switch. In that case, extra ports on the Dell Alienware AW3423DW or Gigabyte M32U Arm Edition displays I use for my workspace are already available.

If you purchased cost-friendly components to assemble a system and need to connect other systems to a single display or connect a console system to the same display, you might use it to play PC titles. In that case, these three options are suitable but may not be required a year from now, especially with more display manufacturers incorporating KVMs into their devices.

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