Corsair announces the K100 AIR ultra-thin mechanical keyboard Normally going for $110, this 18% discount, or solid $20 price drop marks a return to the third-best price we've seen to date while coming within $10 of the all-time low set back over the December holidays. Another downside is that it only supports plate-mounted stabilizers for the larger keys. Unlike those keyboards, theres no expectation of softness to the typing experience (and is a fairly modern trend in custom mechanical keyboards). You can also pick custom keycap kits for additional costs. However, if you need help or need to return an item, were here for you! Similar to how you can feel the quality in a thicker, more expensive paper stock, or sturdy durability in a fine piece of furniture, you can feel that this keyboard is built to last. All other products may be returned within 30 days of purchase. The Drop CTRL isnt designed to be a gaming keyboard, but that doesnt mean youll be stuck swapping keyboards when you want to play games. It has excellent typing quality. Something went wrong. 3.4 Software system requirements are typically found on the Product information specification page. However, for its price, it's disappointing that it doesn't come with dedicated software, and there are cheaper options with software, such as the Razer Huntsman Mini. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Work with the latest in computer and digital technology. So I went with the Halo Clears, and trust me, I Googled the heck out of this thing. We couldn't add you, please check that your email address is correct and try again. Thats why the company call this the accessible model. The Drop ENTR is a full TKL with 87 keyseverything youd expect from a full-size keyboard except for the number pad, and it's laid out in the exact the same way. Sadly, there's no dedicated software, so you can't customize the board as easily. A flip side to this ability is cost. The biggest is that it only supports 3-pin switches. Its worth noting that Drop has a web-based config tool for its other keyboards, so that support may come to the ENTR . On the bright side, it had media hotkeys and RGB lighting to help you see the key legends when in the dark. It's a nice touch to have a secondary RGB strip that wraps around the base of the keyboard. Such keyboards allow the swapping of switches and keycaps, as well as other components, to personalize everything to your personal preference. Kinda lame. The anodized aluminum base and beefy, matte plastic top panel are premium materials and feel like a finer component grade than what you find on most mass-produced keyboards. Our review unit featured Gatreon Yellow, a quick-acting linear switch similar to the Cherry MX Reds found in many gaming keyboards, but with a high actuation force. It has dedicated navigation keys as the Drop does, but the GLORIOUS also has a programmable rotary knob and a dedicated F-row. The all-aluminum chassis feels premium, weighing in at just shy of 2kg. You can control the brightness and effects directly with hotkeys, but you need the user manual to learn the full list of hotkeys. Getting more complex requires clicking individual keys (you can select more than one by holding Shift) before choosing the color. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The following are available for selection: GMK Red Samurai, MT3 /dev/tty, XDA Canvas, and SA Pulse Noire. The Drop CTRL can be purchased as a pre-assembled kit or as a barebones version that lacks switches and keycaps for a discount. You can pair the Obinslab with up to four devices via Bluetooth, but you can also use it wired. What the keyboard does lack is supporting features for gaming. Drop CTRL Mechanical Keyboard - Space Gray Story | Mechanical Keyboards You can feel the quality of its composition as you slide your fingers along the edges of the base and press down the keys. The ENTR lacks configuration software that would let you remap keys or create macros. In fact, the ENTR is the best typing experience you'll encounter at its $90 price. This is to avoid comment bots. Other features include being fully programmable via QMK, which is available on Drops website as well. There's also a high-profile version of the CTRL that comes with a shroud to cover the switch sockets. Drop CTRL Mechanical Keyboard Review: Tenkeyless and Hot - YouTube Theyre quite expensive, however, ($85 when purchased through the Builder, $105 without) so to keep things in the ballpark of what many users would experience, I opted to use JWICK Yellow (opens in new tab) switches. Its more like the original silver than space grey, but its a bit darker. Accelerate Your Returns with Micro Center's Online Return Check-in! Know more about our affliate disclosure terms. + Reasonably priced for a complete custom keyboard, + Available in a barebones version at a reduced price. DROP CTRL High-Profile Mechanical Keyboard Tenkeyless TKL (87 Key) Gaming Keyboard, Hot-Swap Switches, Programmable, Backlit RGB LED, USB-C, Doubleshot PBT, Aluminum (Black, Kaihua Box White) Visit the DROP Store 213 ratings | 16 answered questions $27000 FREE Returns Style: Kaihua Box White Barebones Cherry MX Blue RGB Cherry MX Brown RGB The stock keycaps are very good. Outside of gaming, which has embraced the value of mechanical keys, even the cheapest office-grade keyboards are wireless, so paying nearly $100 for a keyboard you have to plug in may seem backward to some people. An integrated plate isnt ideal for sound or typing feel, however. We tested the Drop ALT mechanical keyboard in black with Cherry MX Brown switches. The trend in custom keyboards today is a softer typing experience, usually created from flexible plate materials (like polycarbonate) or foam gaskets. Constructed with a solid aluminum frame with a built-in switch plate, its stable and fortified. Updated. After the first few times applying firmware in this way, the process does speed up substantially, but its arduous enough that I could see many users giving up before theyve even begun. It ticks most of the right boxes, including excellent build quality, a great selection of switches, and USB-C connectivity. It's a solid place to start on your keyboard modding journey. The Drop CTRL keyboard comes in a variety of color and switch options, with the cost ranging from $200 to $225 from Drop directly. Corsair has announced the K100 AIR, its thinnest wireless mechanical keyboard ever. At the time, I was especially worried about keyboard chatter or double typing that everyone was discussing in the reviews/comments section of the product itself. One of the most special things about this keyboard is that it features hot-swappable switches. Its not gasket mounted and lacks case foam like the Keychron Q1. Wireless Phones are not eligible for return. This is, on the surface, a great thing as youll be able to take these keymaps to any machine without the need for software. DROP + Invyr Holy Panda Mechanical Keyboard Switches - Plate Mounted There was a solution, which well talk about later. We're your trusted local service and repair professionals. Also, it has a Windows key lock feature, which the Drop lacks. It's fine for most gamers and daily tasks, but competitive gamers may notice a delay. Chris is a regular contributor for Toms Hardware, covering mechanical keyboards, peripherals, and content creation gear. You may have read or seen his tech and gaming coverage at IGN, Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Variety, Digital Trends, and, of course, PCMag. Compare. You use the function key and different letters on the keyboard to control the effects, brightness, turn on/off lights/rim light, and speed of pulsing. For help getting set up, or if future issues arise, visit our Knowledge Bar technicians instore or contact our remote Tech Support services. Came packaged carefully and fast. Drop Mito Mt3 Noctua Keycaps Offer Luxury Style To Mechanical Keyboards Microsoft to Standardize RGB Control within Windows 11 Settings, NVIDIA RTX Video Super Resolution Tested, AI Enhanced Streaming That Barely Makes a Difference, LG Display Claims Samsung's QD OLED More Susceptible to Screen Burn Than LG's WOLED, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Possibly Maxes Out AD107, NVIDIA's Smallest Ada Silicon, The Drop CTRL keyboard comes in a variety of color and switch options, with the cost ranging from $200 to $225 from, Fully open-source firmware and design language, Very customizable with spare/replacement parts, PBT doubleshot keycaps are of great quality, Hot-swappable mechanical switch socket, albeit limited to 3-pin switches, Vibrant side lighting courtesy 32 extra LEDs, Full programmability with Drop configurator, with up to 15 extra layers, Per-key RGB backlighting options to edit and create, Two add-on feet for different elevation options courtesy magnets and tilting, Low-profile, clean looks with no branding on the front or sides, The software experience is too complicated for the average customer, 1st-party configurator updates seem dead now, albeit QMK loader is still being worked on, Legends are not very clear without backlighting, Not very competitive at MSRP today, especially with 3-pin switch sockets, plate-mounted stabilizers, and north-facing LEDs. Besides typing experience, we expect our results to be valid for the other variants. Keychron Q2 Custom Mechanical Keyboard Full Aluminum Wired Barebone Overall, this keyboard is great, but I have 3 main issues. Windows Central is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. There are three options for fans of tactile switches: Cherry MX Brown RGB, and Drops own Halo Clear and Halo True switches. Where the potential of the keyboard really shows is when you expand into secondary layers. DROP CTRL Mechanical Keyboard Tenkeyless TKL (87 Key) Gaming Keyboard, Hot-Swap Switches, Programmable Macros, RGB LED Backlighting, USB-C, Doubleshot PBT, Aluminum Frame (Halo Clear, Black) Visit the DROP Store 612 ratings | 39 answered questions $22000 FREE Returns While many modern custom keyboards support VIA, a downloadable QMK tool that automatically remaps keys as you enter them, the CTRL relies on downloading a firmware file and a very specific process to write that file to the keyboard. Ill attach a link to the fix that I used to configure it so that it would stop chattering. At this point I had never used a high-end keyboard, I had been using the 2014 Razer Blackwidow Tournament Edition for about 5 years. I prefer to keep my fingers on the home row, so I map my Caps Lock key to access Layer 1 when held and send Caps Lock when tapped. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Since theyre plate-mounted, it takes only minutes to completely replace them with a higher quality set (opens in new tab) and doesnt require disassembling the whole keyboard. It absolutely sucked, and I was scared that I would have to return it. 3/5/2021 8:56:46 PM Added some shortcuts. Free assistance is available for the first 60 days on new purchases, excluding internal hardware installations or networking support. After launching its Elvish and Dwarvish mechanical keyboards, DROP is back with a new Mordor-themed Black Speech keyboard. Partnering with global cooling component manufacturer Noctua, the new DROP + MiTo MT3 keycaps set has the colors and quality of build from both companies. 0:35 . FOR SALE! Theres no native macro support or advanced features like one-button custom application launches, timers, or game-reactive lighting. The Drop ALT keyboard is wired-only, and you can't use it with wireless devices. Again, not a major concern, but something to note if you prefer silence. Click here and follow these directions to get started. If an item you have purchased from us is not working as expected, please visit one of our in-store Knowledge Experts for free help, where they can solve your problem or even exchange the item for a product that better suits your needs. PC restarts under heavy load, faulty psu? Today, its also available in a high-profile version with a taller case that hides the keycap housings. Looks like the same innards as the Input.Club K-Type and the previous CTRL that have been available for years. Its not the heaviest keyboard in the custom or even premade world (the Abkoncore AK87 (opens in new tab) tops it by more than two pounds), but its certainly heavy enough to elicit a wow moment the first time you feel it for yourself. I love that it has two USB-C connectors, one of the right and one on the left. The CTRL is a hot-swappable keyboard, so changing switches is a breeze. The Drop CTRL and Hexgears Gemini I've compared this to over the course of the review both are variants of the, Kids want Minecraft Console for Multiplayer. You can also connect your mouse if it has a USB-C cable ending or if you have an adapter. The Drop has magnetically attachable feet, which you can position to give a negative incline. Drop also sells different keycap sets to give it a unique aesthetic. It is also expensive for a keyboard that might not behave the way its supposed to, which is unfortunate. Its been about 5 months since then. It comes in a variety of switches, including clicky and linear ones, meaning you can get the ones you prefer. Utilizing its BLD service, NZXT allows you to configure the keyboard of your dreams from the get-go on its website, including a choice of switches, colors, keycaps, and accessories. French. The best stabilizers screw into the PCB for improved stability (and also sound the best if youre into typing ASMR). It has okay ergonomics, but it doesn't come with a wrist rest, meaning some people may feel fatigued after long periods of use. The high-profile version features a much thicker (and heavier) metal case which raises the price to $250 (opens in new tab) pre-built and $200 (opens in new tab) without switches and keycaps. We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund and you wont even need a receipt. It's available in a wide variety of switches, so you can get the ones you prefer. Overview of the Drop CTRL Please carefully review the . may be returned within 15 days of purchase. Drop SHIFT Review - RTINGS.com Constructed with a solid aluminum frame and Kaihua hot-swappable switch sockets, the CTRL allows you to change switches whenever you want without soldering. This is a wonderful feature that allows you to easily try new switches, which is one of the most fun aspects of the custom keyboard hobby. date, between 0.55 lb (8.82 oz, 250 g, 0.25 kg) and 55 lb take-off weight are required by - Measuring at 368mm by 140mm and 44mm thick, it's in line with the competition if not a little on the thick side. Also see our recommendations for the best keyboards, thebest mechanical keyboards, and thebest keyboards for programming. The Drop ENTR is a simple mechanical keyboard, but its premium build makes it feel like so much more. $39.99. This keyboard is an absolute beauty. DROP CTRL High-Profile Mechanical Keyboard Tenkeyless TKL (87 Key The included Kaihua Box White switches are excellent for typing up thousands of words a day and some gaming on the side. With a 1ms response time, the keyboard lacks little in responsiveness against dedicated gaming keyboards. The Drop ALT and the Dream Machines DreamKey are mechanical gaming keyboards, but they have different features. Sometimes it's not possible to choose the best keyboards off the shelf and if that's the case for you, a custom keyboard kit like the Drop CTRL may be just what you require. It's also showing its age slightly with the use of three-pin sockets. HP GK320 Wired Full Size RGB Backlight . Theres no need to desolder the old switches and solder new ones on. Please temporarily enable JavaScript in your browser to post text.