Hands-on: NZXT’s Characteristic is the highest class keyboard for mech freshmen

The market for evolved, customizable mechanical keyboards is heating up. Beforehand the domain of exiguous-batch, easy-expensive designs or homebuilt one-offs, it’s essential to per chance be in a situation to now accept mod-friendly keyboards on Most efficient Purchase shelves. NZXT is acknowledged for situations, fans, and motherboards, no longer input devices, nonetheless the firm is throwing its hat within the ring with the glossy Characteristic series mechanical keyboards. Once you happen to’ve been trying to accept a quality keyboard with loads of alternatives for upgrades and programming, without breaking the bank, it’s with out a doubt value your attention.

NZXT gives the Characteristic in fats-sized, tenkeyless, and “mini-TKL” sizes, and they despatched us the latter for evaluate. And we’re contented they did. It’s broadly following the midsize improvement of current keyboards adore the GMMK Pro or the Keychron Q1, nonetheless its shining structure uses all-long-established keycap sizes. Meaning that if you happen to would employ to upgrade to a esteem novelty place, you don’t ought to hunt for a smaller left Shift key.

No topic the compact measurement and structure, the mini-TKL sides a scroll wheel (programmed to volume by default), devoted keys for nonetheless, “sport mode” (Dwelling windows key disabled), and lighting fixtures phases. It’s furthermore got a dapper location for a form of of the a form of stuff: feature-level playback controls are within the greater-dazzling corner, whereas the fundamental “delete” key is placed exactly where your muscle memory expects it to be on a bigger board. It’s an extremely surroundings friendly equipment. The glossy-swap swap bays wishes to be neatly matched with all long-established Cherry-vogue switches.

The Characteristic entails the identical old bells and whistles: RGB lighting fixtures, structure and macro programming (by utilizing NZXT’s CAM program, no longer an initiate-source possibility), and fold-out toes for a high profile if truth be told feel. Whereas the case is plastic, it feels top quality and accurate, though I’m no longer partial to the weirdly off-heart placement for the USB-C port and removable cable. The equipment comes with every little thing or no longer it is a long way a ought to to originate tweaking: keycap puller, swap puller, and some spares. No topic the sure way that the user change them, the bundled keycaps are moderately dazzling. They’re doubleshot PBTs with alternate coloured keys, though they don’t characteristic shine-via, so the RGB lighting fixtures is fully decorative.

Maybe essentially the most spectacular thing about the Characteristic is its dedication to user quite quite a lot of dazzling at the level of identify. Apart from to the three a form of sizes and layouts, NZXT will sell the keyboard in three a form of sinister colours (gloomy, white, gray) and both ANSI and ISO layouts. On top of that, you receive a formidable series of switches from Gateron: clicky Blue, tactile Brown, linear Crimson, plus two “top class” alternatives for Aliaz tactile and Murky Ink linear restful switches. (“Restful” by mechanical keyboard requirements, which methodology they’re about as soft as a notebook computer keyboard.) These are rather expensive upgrades, starting up at $70 for the smallest board. Naturally, said switches could per chance also be swapped out at any time.

All this is also chosen by utilizing NZXT’s online configurator, that would also let you be aware of the a form of switches and employ some stress-free add-ons, adore more accented keycaps or a favorable braided cable. It’s a formidable way for freshmen to leap into the customized mechanical keyboard apartment.

The NZXT Characteristic fats-sized, tenkeyless, and mini-TKL keyboards are transport as of late, for $150, $130, and $120, respectively, sooner than extra alternatives. We’ll bear a fats evaluate of the keyboard quickly.