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I’ve been a evaluations author at Tom’s Guide for over a yr now, and in that point, I’ve reviewed practically 90 keyboards. Yep. Ninety. That’s loads of keyboards. I’ve examined the perfect mechanical keyboards and the perfect gaming keyboards (most of which characteristic Hall Effect switches).
Considering I’ve spent hours and hours with these decks, I’ve realized an vital factor: that mechanical keyboards are actually a factor of the previous. It’s all about magnetic ones right this moment.
Before you get all riled up, I would like you to listen to me out. Mechanical keyboards aren’t inherently dangerous; magnetic ones simply supply way more, normally at a cheaper price. Whether you are a gamer or a pace demon who wants the quickest board within the biz, you’d hardly ever go improper with Hall Effect switches.
But I’ve tested almost 90 keyboards — so why has it taken me so long to come to this conclusion? There’s one keyboard to credit that to, and that’s the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.3 TKL Wireless. I spent a week typing on it and while it’s good, I kept wanting to go back to my Keychron K4 HE. Let me show you why.
Speed… I am speed
If you tell me what this heading is referring to in the comments, I’ll give you a cookie. Moving on. One of the key things I consider when reviewing a keyboard is just how fast it is. That comes down to its polling rate and the speed of its switches.
Best gaming keyboards
We’ve ranked the best gaming keyboards and as you’ll see, there’s a good mix of magnetic and mechanical ones on there, so plenty to pick from.
High polling rates basically negate any input lag or missed inputs, so if you’re a competitive gamer, it’s worth getting a keyboard that has a 4,000Hz or 8,000Hz polling rate — which the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.3 TKL Wireless does.
Over 2.4GHz connectivity, the keyboard achieves 4KHz polling which doubles to 8KHz when the board is plugged in. Mighty speedy, right? Yes, but it’s let down by switches which aren’t the fastest.
The XTRFY MX 8.3 TKL Wireless features MX2A red mechanical switches, which require 45g of force to activate and have a 2mm pre-travel distance. The travel distance (or actuation point) isn’t adjustable as is the nature of mech switches. These are easily upstaged by Hall Effect switches.
Usually, you can drop a Hall Effect switch’s actuation down to 0.1mm (or raise it to 3.8mm, as you can on my trusty Keychron K4 HE), which makes the switch extremely sensitive.
You can fine-tune each switch to your preferred gaming or typing style, and that’s a feature that can’t be understated. Not only have magnetic keyboards made me a better PC gamer (as a console gamer), but they’ve made me a better, faster typist too.
Spending wisely
I’ll be honest, one of the biggest things holding the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.3 TKL Wireless back is its price. The keyboard retails for $299 / £299. Two hundred and ninety 9. That makes it the costliest deck I’ve ever used — and that is loads of moolah for a mechanical keeb.
Today, you may seize a deck with Hall Effect switches and 8,000Hz polling for lots much less, such because the Lemokey L5 HE ($220) or the Wooting 80HE ($199). Or if you’d like a good cheaper keyboard, the Epomaker HE68 ($59) is a unbelievable alternative.
I’m not solely certain how Cherry justifies such a excessive worth level for the XTRFY MX 8.3 TKL. German precision would not come low-cost, I assume, however the factor is, a mechanical keyboard just like the Keychron C1 Pro 8K ($54) boasts equally excessive polling whereas being a lot, less expensive.
Some good ones on the market
As I discussed up high, mechanical keyboards aren’t mechanically dangerous simply because magnetic ones are quickly overtaking them. There are nonetheless some good ones on the market, particularly for individuals who favor the louder sound profile and tactile suggestions.
Best mechanical keyboards
Looking for an excellent mech keeb? We’ve ranked the best mechanical keyboards, from budget-friendly options to the best ergonomic ones.
Keychron is well-known for making some of the greatest keyboards, especially mechanical ones, such as the Keychron V1 ($94) and the Keychron Q14 Max ($209). There’s also the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro ($139) which is the most beautiful sounding keyboard I’ve tested so far.
If it’s a gaming board you’re after, you can’t go wrong with the Corsair K70 Max ($229), and I’d be lying if I said the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini ($179) wasn’t up to the task.
So you see, I don’t discredit mechanical keyboards. They’re great at what they’re designed to do, but the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.3 TKL Wireless has left me wanting more.
,000Hz polling is fantastic and so is N-key rollover, but the keyboard doesn’t do enough to justify its steep price tag — especially because scratches and fingerprints show up so easily, and the lackluster companion software doesn’t help.
If you want a mechanical keyboard just to add to your collection and if money is no object, then sure, the XTRFY MX 8.3 TKL Wireless is for you. But if it’s pure speed and power you’re after, you’ll be better off spending lesser on a magnetic keyboard.
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