At a look
Skilled’s Ranking
Execs
- Good typing really feel
- Excessive-quality supplies
- Mac key structure
- Acceptable quantity
- Very compact
Cons
- No numeric keypad
- No Mac software program for configuration
- Comparatively heavy
Our Verdict
The KW 300 MX is an efficient alternative for followers of mechanical keyboards. It provides a first-class mixture of correct typing really feel and quiet operation. Macs are nicely supported and the included Mac keys are a pleasant bonus. The rotary swap is trendy, however sadly provides few features. Nevertheless, it isn’t best for all customers: the compact keyboard just isn’t appropriate for cell use because it is just too heavy. The dearth of a numeric keypad can be a drawback in case you usually have to enter numbers.
Value when reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing At the moment
Value When Reviewed
$149.99
Finest Costs At the moment: Cherry KW 300 MX
$149.99
Apple at the moment makes use of a really flat design for its personal keyboards: each the desktop keyboards for Macs and pocket book keyboards have elegant, flat keys and the important thing journey could be very quick—similar to on a laptop computer. This ensures the identical typing really feel on all units.
Nevertheless, followers of mechanical keyboards with actual key journey and a exact strain level won’t be proud of these enter units. There are quite a few alternate options for them on the Mac: take a look at our evaluations of the greatest Mac keyboards. An fascinating new wi-fi mannequin is the KW 300 MX from Cherry, which prices $149.99.
Visually, the keyboard makes a sober however very high-quality impression with its gray keys and black housing. The retro-look design could even remind some individuals of previous Mac keyboards such because the open-top Professional Keyboard.
Cherry has chosen a so-called 75% structure with no quantity pad for this compact keyboard, which is at the moment in vogue. It’s about as broad as Apple’s Magic Keyboard with no quantity pad, however 3 times larger. This makes it best for small desks, and a mouse can be positioned very near the keyboard with this structure.
The Cherry KW 300 MX is considerably taller than Apple’s Magic Keyboard.
Stephan Wiesend
As a consumer of a standard keyboard, nevertheless, I needed to spend a while getting used to the unfamiliar place of among the keys throughout testing. The arrow keys, Enter key and Web page Up/Web page Down keys are barely offset in comparison with an ordinary keyboard. There isn’t a palm relaxation, however at the very least you possibly can alter the angle of the keyboard with stands.
The Bluetooth keyboard can handle as much as 4 units, and even an iPad Professional can be utilized with it with none issues. Nevertheless, the KW 300 MX is much less appropriate for cell use, because it is just too heavy and thick at just below 750 grams.
A particular characteristic of the keyboard is a placing rotary wheel on the facet, which additionally serves as an influence button and is backed by a bronze metallic floor. You may swap on the keyboard by urgent and holding the wheel, and later swap between two features by merely urgent it.
It’s a nifty characteristic, however I’m slightly upset with the vary of features. The rotary wheel can solely be used to regulate the brightness of the keyboard lighting in levels or to alter the quantity of the Mac. Each are helpful, however given the restricted vary of features, the rotary wheel looks like a missed alternative to me.
The backlight is kind of shiny and white, and pink LEDs additionally point out configuration choices. For instance, after switching on, you possibly can choose the 4 Bluetooth channels utilizing the F1 to F4 keys.
The built-in battery is charged through USB-C, however you can even join the keyboard on to a pc through USB-C. The battery ought to final for every week of use with the backlighting energetic, and Cherry claims a runtime of six weeks with the backlighting turned off. That’s not precisely lengthy, and most customers will most likely solely use the backlighting sparingly in the long term.
The rotary wheel is a cool characteristic, however provides few features.
Stephan Wiesend
Nice typing really feel
The largest drawback of many mechanical keyboards is that they’re very loud and disturb colleagues or flatmates with their loud keystrokes. Nevertheless, there are additionally quiet mechanical switches such because the MX2A Silent Pink, which might be put in within the KW 300 MX on request.
These switches, produced in Germany by Cherry, mix a first-class, exact typing expertise with acceptable noise ranges. The housing is even specifically insulated to additional cut back the quantity. Nevertheless, this doesn’t make the keyboard silent by any means; a keyboard comparable to
These Cherry switches, manufactured in Germany, provide a first-class, exact typing expertise at a average quantity. The housing can be specifically insulated to additional cut back noise. Nevertheless, the keyboard just isn’t utterly silent—fashions such because the Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic are considerably quieter.
The keyboard can be out there in a model with totally different switches, the Cherry MX2A Brown. These are so-called tactile switches, which supply barely stronger suggestions than the linear MX2A Pink. Nevertheless, the MX2A Brown can be fairly quiet and are primarily really useful by Cherry for workplace customers or programmers, whereas the MX2A Pink are extra appropriate for players.
Regardless of the insulation, the typing really feel is great. Not like an Apple keyboard, the entire key journey is about 4 millimeters and you’ll really feel a definite strain level. As a result of insulation, that is softer than on different mechanical keyboards, however in my view it is a wonderful compromise. The sturdiness can be mentioned to be spectacular, with Cherry promising a lifespan of as much as 100 million keystrokes.
Mac compatibility
You may really use virtually any Home windows keyboard on a Mac. Nevertheless, the Alt and Home windows keys are assigned in a different way on Home windows keyboards, and it’s important to reconfigure this through System Preferences > Keyboard .
Even with out this reconfiguration, the Cherry keyboard can provide Mac key assignments. All it’s important to do is press the Fn and M keys for 3 seconds after switching on, and the keyboard will swap to Mac mode. You may reactivate the default Home windows mode utilizing the Fn and W keys. You may as well set this default individually for every of the 4 Bluetooth modes—for instance, in case you use the keyboard on each a Mac and a Home windows pc.
The keyboard has one other particular characteristic to supply: it comes with three keyboard caps and a particular loop-shaped software that you need to use to take away the three Home windows keys (Alt, Home windows and Alt Gr) and substitute them with Mac keys. The keys are specifically designed by the producer to be simply changed.
That is one other benefit over Apple’s delicate keyboards in terms of repairs. Sadly, the Keys software program for configuring the operate keys is just out there for Home windows computer systems; there isn’t a Mac model.
Value
The Cherry KW 300 MX prices $149.99 or £125.
Must you purchase the Cherry KW 300 MX?
The brand new Cherry KW 300 MX provides an fascinating different to Apple’s flat keyboards. It’s notably aimed toward customers of compact mechanical keyboards who wish to be thoughtful of their environment. The compromise between exact typing really feel and average quantity is nicely achieved, and Mac compatibility is a welcome bonus. Nevertheless, it isn’t with out its limitations: the compact structure and relatively excessive design require some getting used to for a lot of Mac customers, and the restricted performance of the rotary management is considerably disappointing.
This text initially appeared on our sister publication Macwelt and was translated and localized from German.
