If you’ve ever gone looking for an external keyboard for your computer, it’s very likely that you’ve stumbled into the universe of mechanical keyboards. Although they are far from being a novelty, these peripherals have gained a true legion of fans in recent years who have been hooked by the responsiveness and the characteristic click of the switches that equip these accessories.
My experience with this type of product is similar. Since I bought my first mechanical keyboard, almost a decade ago, I never got used to using a conventional model, especially notebook ones. For me, the tactile feedback provided by these keyboards makes typing much more pleasurable and, above all, comfortable.
However, it is true that mechanical keyboards are not perfect. One of the main complaints is the characteristic noise of its switches, which may vary in intensity depending on the chosen model. As much as the advantages of mechanical keyboards are numerous, I confess that typing on such a thing at night, when everyone around you is sleeping, is not one of the most pleasant experiences in the world. ????
That’s why I accepted the invitation from Machnike to test the KT68 Pro, its newest mechanical keyboard that has the proposal to be as quiet as possible while delivering all the benefits of this product category. Rafa, a few days ago, brought us a video with his unboxing and hands-on:
After all, would this keyboard be able to unite all tribes?
Visual and first impressions
The KT68 Pro is an accessory with a very unique design. It mixes elements reminiscent of a classic typewriter and newer keyboard models — especially on the gaming side of the force.
The keyboard is available in two color options (black and white), both of which have a transparent plastic that allows you to see the insides of the accessory. The model Machenike sent me was the white one — in my opinion the prettier of the two, as its RGB lighting is even more evident.
Of course, you can’t ignore the LED display.Light emitting diodeor light-emitting diode.”>1 9.1-inch display, positioned just above the first row of keys. Ultra-quiet keys aside for a moment, this screen is definitely the keyboard’s big draw, as it’s fully customizable and can be configured to display a myriad of information.
You can use this screen to display things like your internet speed, CPU usageCentral processing unitor central processing unit.”>2, keyboard battery level and even a sedentary alert that reminds you to get up from your chair a little bit after a while working or playing. The coolest thing, however, is creating your own effects and animations using the driver from the keyboard on your PC.
The KT68 Pro, as its name implies, has a total of 68 keys, which makes it reasonably compact. This layout, of course, comes with some concessions: no numeric keypad or classic function keys (F1 until F12) — absences that are partially compensated for by the small lever in the upper right corner and the volume wheel to the typewriter on the left side.
Speaking of which, the lever is another aspect of this keyboard that can also be customized. By default, it minimizes all open apps and takes the user back to the desktop, but you can also use it as a media control, as any mouse/keyboard button, and even as a shortcut to a app or website, among other things.
All these options, as in the case of the LED screen, can be accessed via the driver keyboard, which also lets you customize all of its other 68 keys with macros and other shortcuts. Personally, I like to use the lever to play/pause a song or podcast while I’m playing or studying, for example.
All keys, including the switches Gatheron North Pole 2.0 — which appeal to both enthusiasts and more casual users — can be exchanged individually in case something breaks or the user simply decides to change the look of the accessory. There are two options of switches para o KT68 Pro: o North Pole Yellow-Linear (linear typing with an operating force of 50g) and the North Pole Dark Brown-Paragraph (more accentuated tactile feedback with an operating force of 55g).
The dimensions of the KT68 Pro are 327×145×41mm, and it weighs about 952 grams.
Connectivity and battery
If you’re like me and hate wires, the KT68 Pro is a great choice. It has Bluetooth connection (2.4/5G) and can also be used with a cable if the battery level is low. The keyboard comes with a braided USB-C to USB-A cable with gold-plated connectors to prevent oxidation.
For all this to be possible, the peripheral has an internal battery of 4,000mAh that can be recharged through a USB-C port on the top of the keyboard. It never let me down, since I interspersed the use of the keyboard with the cable and with it connected via Bluetooth, but it is likely that you can spend a good few weeks on a single charge — especially if you turn off the lighting.
The battery level can be checked either by one of the various LED screen effects or by a little red light in the upper right corner of the keyboard. Next to the USB-C input, you can find a little switch that serves to put the keyboard in wireless or wired mode.
User experience and sound test
I tested the KT68 Pro version with the switch North Pole Yellow-Linear, which was quite interesting given that my personal keyboard has a much smoother mechanism. “clicky” (and noisy). The keystrokes, as expected, are extremely smooth, which makes typing much more comfortable and satisfying.
I feel like I can type on this keyboard for a lot longer without my hand starting to get tired, although I think a slightly higher level of haptic feedback would be welcome—perhaps the model with the switch North Pole Dark Brown-Paragraph was right for me.
Another very cool thing is that the keyboard has three levels of height adjustments. Thus, you can place it exactly at the most comfortable height for you.
In terms of sound, the KT68 Pro delivers what it promises. It’s dramatically quieter than any other mechanical keyboard I’ve tested (including some membrane ones), although it doesn’t quite reach the quiet level of a non-mechanical notebook keyboard, for example. With it, you can play at night without waking up everyone in your house or annoying your neighbor.
Here is a short sound test:
The keyboard loses some of its luster when connected to a mobile device, worth noting. As Machenike doesn’t have an app for these platforms that allows you to customize it like on the PC, you lose a good part of the effects of the LED screen when you use the accessory with an iPad, for example. Furthermore, the absence of extra keys with the symbols ⌘ command e ⌥ option they also detract somewhat from the experience on Apple systems.
Conclusion and where to buy
Despite its great typing experience, I feel the KT68 Pro isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a good keyboard to work with and play something every now and then, this is perfect. But if you, like me, aren’t a big fan of this gamer aesthetic or simply don’t play often, know that there are other, much more sober options on the market — including Machenike’s own!
The LED screen is nice and reminds a lot of the Touch Bar of the 13″ MacBook Pro, even though it is not touch sensitive. However, like the Apple resource, it is something very “gimmicky” and that you end up not using as often. Moreover, it still does not have control software for macOS, and it is only possible to make these adjustments running Windows.
It would be cool to see Machenike add the possibility to create effects similar to CPU usage and internet speed instead of just texts and animations, such as a notification counter or one that shows the frame rate of a game in time real.
I would also like to see a version of this keyboard with a full layout, that is, with a number pad and function keys. At least for me, these two things are really missing in software like Blender, for example.
That said, I think the KT68 Pro is definitely worth your investment. It delivers everything it promises and has a finish worthy of a top-of-the-line product. if you are a gamer and you’re looking for a quiet, versatile keyboard, it’s clearly one of the best options on the market!
The KT68 Pro is now up for pre-order on Kickstarter for US$179 (excluding freight/fees). Starting in March, the retail price of the new product will rise to $219. So don’t waste time and run to get this great keyboard at a great discount!
TRANSPARENCY NOTE: This is a sponsored article, independently written by MacMagazine from a commercial agreement with the advertiser, which did not influence the content of the post.