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, Gray) Visit the DROP Store 614 ratings | 39 answered questions $22000 FREE Returns Color: Space Gray Style: Halo Clear Barebones Cherry MX Blue RGB Logitech G Pro X Gaming Keyboard Best mechanical keyboard overall Jump to details $150 Logitech Razer BlackWidow Elite Best mechanical keyboard for gaming Jump to details $238 Amazon Das. But I dont think Ive ever experienced a super rattly keyboard in the first place. $54.95. It has a USB passthrough and much lower latency. The Drop ALT keyboard has incredible backlighting. Our keyboard configurator is easy to use and requires no coding experience. You can remap keys and program up to fifteen layers of keymaps (which are similar to profiles on gaming keyboards), so having keysets for individual games is entirely possible. Details regarding registration can be The Drop CTRL is an easy on-ramp to the custom keyboard hobby that delivers a mostly-solid typing experience that becomes even better with mods. Aerial Drones Something went wrong. As an email subscriber, you'll have premier access to our best offers, exclusive deals and more. It's very bright and looks great even in a well-lit area. Updated. Sadly, there's no dedicated software, so you can't customize the board as easily. If you want to swap out the switches for something a little more tailored to your preference, this is entirely possible with the Drop CTRL. You can also pick custom keycap kits for additional costs. Text me your exclusive deals, new product alerts & coupons. However, the Drop ALT is a 65% compact prebuilt board witha USB passthrough. Shop CTRL | $200 Drop ALT star_borderstar star_borderstar star_borderstar star_borderstar star_borderstar 1325 A Smaller Take With 67 keys (compared to 87 on the CTRL), the fully-featured ALT is the perfect compact companion. DROP CTRL MECHANICAL Keyboard Tenkeyless TKL 87 Key Gaming Keyboard Parts/Used - $95.38. On the other hand, the Drop has dedicated navigation keys, including arrow keys, and has a USB passthrough. It has full RGB lighting and every key is macro-programmable, but without dedicated software, it's a bit difficult to set macros. Its been a while since the CTRL first hit the scene, so it doesnt have the benefit of following a lot of the recent trends in custom mechanical keyboards. The Drop ALT is a wired-only keyboard that isn't designed for mobile devices. Is it normal to not be able to change wifi channels on a modem? DROP CTRL Mechanical Keyboard Tenkeyless TKL (87 Key) Gaming Keyboard The Drop ALT is an excellent gaming keyboard. This is a thankfully easy fix with a touch of dielectric grease and doesnt require disassembling the case. Theyre made of PBT plastic, which is more resistant to wear and tear than ABS plastic and wont develop the telltale oily shine after months of regular use. It has a bunch of RGB lighting features built-in. Fn + N Toggle keyboard 6KRO/NKRO (Default state 6KRO) Custom configuration (2 shortcuts) # The shortcuts above was basic hotkeys for the keyboard. The Drop CTRL comes with an array of options for linear, tactile, and clicky switches. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the system requirements before making your purchase. Click to play video. It doesnt solve the problem but does make a substantial difference. Keyboards released these days include five-pin sockets with support for switches with enhanced stability. We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund and you wont even need a receipt. The Drop ALT is very good for office use. Black-LK67 RGB Modular DIY Mechanical Keyboard. It does have volume up and down, pause and play, but only if you memorize the keys. Opinions on drop ctrl mechanical keyboard : r/MechanicalKeyboards The brightness of this ring can be independently controlled, but its worth keeping on for the slick underglow effect and appealing side profile. It has okay ergonomics, but it doesn't come with a wrist rest, meaning some people may feel fatigued after long periods of use. So every time I turn it on, I just press Fn+D a few times, Fn+Z to turn off the rim light, and Fn+S to turn down the brightness. The stock keycaps are very good. As a service to our customers, Micro Center offers in-store technical support. Source: Drop.com Another minor complaint include it doesnt have any media keys. One of its best features is that it is hot-swappable. This makes it convenient for all sorts of desk set-ups and doesnt limit you from only using one side awkwardly. Whats more, the keyboard comes with your choice of switches, so you can get just the feel you likewhether you prefer something heavy and tactile or lightweight and linear. 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. The pre-travel and total travel distance are in line with Cherry MX's advertised 2mm pre-travel and 4mm travel distance, but these may change per unit due to manufacturing tolerances. Picture Information. Skip to main content. The stabilized keys are terrible. Click to play video. Missing 5, 8, +=, O, {[, }], L, Z, |\\, J, enter key, shift key, 2 control keys, and right arrow key. Thank you for signing up to Windows Central. As of December 21, 2015 all drones, regardless of purchase Changelog Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. Know more about our affliate disclosure terms. Initially, it felt like too much pressure for each press. The ALT also has lower latency, better RGB color mixing for its backlighting, and it has an additional incline setting. Now to do the typing test. Drop CTRL review: A great yet expensive foundation for a custom It's also available with Cherry MX Blue, Kaihua Speed Silver, Kaihua Box White, Halo Clear, and Halo True switches. The low-profile version retails for $200 (opens in new tab) pre-built and $150 (opens in new tab) as a barebones kit. The Ducky Mecha Mini V2 is a 60% compact board, while the Drop ALT is a 65% compact model. It's easily one of the better custom keyboard kits out there. Drop CTRL Review: Excellent Build Quality and Hot-Swappable It has low latency, though some gamers may prefer it lower. So long as you don't rely on the use of media keys and other physical features found on other keyboards, the Drop CTRL has everything you'll require. Drop CTRL is a mechanical keyboard with 87 keys. Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Looks like the same innards as the Input.Club K-Type and the previous CTRL that have been available for years. Hands On: Drop CTRL Mechanical Keyboard. 0:35 . Drop CTRL Mechanical Keyboard - Space Gray Story | Mechanical Keyboards Great! The Drop ALT keyboard has low latency. The Drop CTRL is available as a barebones unit, which is essentially the keyboard without any keycaps or switches. I also enjoy the magnetic feet and the double USB-C cable connectors, all things that are convenient to a casual typist and new mechanical keyboard enthusiast. 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. The Drop has magnetically attachable feet, which you can also position to create a negative incline, and it has a USB passthrough. Other compelling pre-built options include the Ducky Shine 7, which is made of zinc, for $169 or the Mecha SF Radiant at $159, but neither have the same level of firmware-based programmability or the tenkeyless form factor. Then there's the integrated USB passthrough with dual rear USB-C ports allowing one to connect a mouse or other accessories through the Drop CTRL as opposed to hunting for a free USB port. Mike Epstein is a freelance technology and culture critic based in New York. The doubleshot PBT shine-through keycaps have a slightly rough feeling to them. 0:10 . But keep in mind those keyboards may not have some of the features that the Massdrop CTRL may have such as being hot-swappable, having custom switch choices. In addition, you need a specialized USB-C power cable for this keyboard, I tried using my custom cable, but ran into some issues with not having enough power delivered to the keyboard. 2017 - The shine-through PBT keycaps only enhance the performance. Drop ALT Review - RTINGS.com This is done so that the LEDs on the PCB can shine through more directly to the legends on the keys, as the more sloped side of the switch housing gives more room for that. I know I have brought up Input Club twice already, but bear with me a third time. For a clicky typing experience, you can choose from Cherry MX Blue RGB or Kailh (Kaihua) Box Whites. To put it simply, the CTRL mechanical keyboard has it all. TheDrop ALT and theRazer Huntsman Miniare both compact boards, but the Drop is slightly larger and has dedicated navigation keys, including arrow keys. Corsair announces the K100 AIR ultra-thin mechanical keyboard Our unit is quiet and won't disturb others around you. Came packaged carefully and fast. Compare. I didnt experience any learning curve or slow down in my typing speed getting started on the CTRL. DROP + MiTo MT3 Noctua Keycaps Offer Luxury & Style To Mechanical Keyboards Delivering enthusiast-grade parts and build quality, the ENTR is an incredibly well-crafted keyboard. It was love at first sight. The back edge of the keyboard features Type-C ports on each side, allowing you to choose which youd like to connect to your PC and leaving the other open for peripherals. The Drop ALT is slightly better than the Ducky One 2 SF. See photos for exactly what is included. This keyboard has okay ergonomics. Unfortunately, the PCB is the same one that was released on the original CTRL back in 2018 and does have a few drawbacks that stand out more with each passing year. Aesthetically, the keyboard is equally impressive. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Keychron Q1 Pro review: a remarkably great keyboard without getting your fingers dirty. - The board is fully compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. The Drop ALT is bad for a home theater PC setup, but it isn't designed for this use anyway. The ALT also has lower latency, better RGB color mixing for its backlighting, and it has an additional incline setting. Measuring 14.5 x 5.5 x 1.75 inches, its very close in size to other tenkeyless keyboards like the Corsair K70 RGB TKL but will still take up more space than even more compact keyboards like the Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini. The Drop CTRL is an awesome mechanical keyboard with a floating keycap design and a sleek aluminum frame. The Drop is a 65% size compact board that has a better build quality, more incline settings for better ergonomics, and significantly better latency. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a wrist rest, and you may feel fatigue typing on it. $48.00 + $11.35 shipping. 2023 - Amazon is currently offering the ASUS ROG Strix Scope TKL RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $89.99 shipped. One of two new models released this fall, the ENTR, is the company's take on a classic tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard. 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. You can see the specs on the product page, but Ill summarize them below: I received my keyboard on August 12, 2019 with Halo Clear switches and the original keycap kit. Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available. 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 has a really solid aluminum frame that doesn't flex at all. With dual USB-C connectors, the CTRL is outfitted with the fastest available connections. The Gatreon Yellow is a quick tap with smooth action; you arent waiting to feel the click. The Drop ALT iswell-built andoffers better typing quality than most other mechanical keyboards of its size. Unfortunately, neither has customization software, but you can adjust settings on either keyboard using the QMK firmware tool on Drop's website. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. You can find the Drop CTRL on Amazon for a good price. All trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. For a look on the different RGB lighting, I recommend checking out my wifes Youtube video review for this keyboard. The CTRL is Ready for Action The day has finally come. Its been about 5 months since then. We're sorry for inconvenience. We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund in accordance with our return policy no receipt needed if you have a Micro Center Insider Account. GlobaleParts StoreVisit Store. The Drop CTRL High Profile is a very good keyboard, but its not without its drawbacks. How to Configure your CTRL Keyboard! | Drop Used DROP + MiTo GMK Laser Custom Mechanical Keyboard Keycap Set *READ . However, it's not user-friendly and isn't considered dedicated software. Easy peezy just like that. For an expensive keyboard I was surprised there was such a glaring issue, although after further research I realized it was the Halo Clear switches and not the keyboard itself. Theres a wealth of customization options to really match what feels best to you. The Drop ALT keyboard is wired-only, and you can't use it with wireless devices. Drop, formerly known as Massdrop, primarily deals in limited-run keyboard components for enthusiast mechanical keyboard builders, but it also makes a few complete units. You can pair the Obinslab with up to four devices via Bluetooth, but you can also use it wired. Config apps, dedicated media keys, USB passthrough, wireless connectivity: These features have value, and it would be a mistake to dismiss what they offer. I think that its Fn+PgUp or Fn+PgDn for the volume features. So lets be careful out there! Just use the switch puller that comes with the keyboard and pull each one out individually. 6 Best Mechanical Keyboard Brands (And 6 You Should Avoid At All Costs) The Drop ALT doesn't have dedicated software. High profile of keys may lead to fatigue. Im going to be honest with you guys right now, since Im not selling this keyboard or gaining any affiliate whatever. If this is your first time remapping a keyboard, or if youre aiming for a particular hue with the backlight, you should be prepared to repeat this process multiple times as you dial it in. The keyboard has a dedicated Fn button that accesses the first layer by default when held. MASSDROP CTRL KEYBOARD - TIGHT PLATE : r/MechanicalKeyboards You may have read or seen his tech and gaming coverage at IGN, Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Variety, Digital Trends, and, of course, PCMag. There is an occasional $21 discount to be had from Drop, if not more at times, bringing the prices to $179-204. 2. By clicking the plus sign under the layer sidebar, an entire second keyset is generated and can house whole separate key sets. Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac - Lavender 1 x Keyboard, 1x 56-inch USB cable, 1x Keycap puller, 1x Switch puller, 1x Plate-mount stabilizers, 1x Switches and keycaps, Choose your store to see our full product selection with local pricing and availability. The high-profile version of the CTRL feels much more premium than most pre-built keyboards available currently. Glorious PC Gaming . Also see our recommendations for the best keyboards, thebest mechanical keyboards, and thebest keyboards for programming. Overall, this keyboard is great, but I have 3 main issues. Mechanical keyboards are now the norm when it comes to choosing the best typing (or gaming) machine for your desktop PC. You'll need to bear in mind that there's no wrist rest included either, which makes the pill harder to swallow and means you'll need an aftermarket solution for the raised keys compared to other keyboards. They also share the same customization options through Drop's website and the QMK toolbox, which aren't very user-friendly. Where the potential of the keyboard really shows is when you expand into secondary layers. There's a USB-C port on both sides of the keyboard, and you can use either one to connect to your computer. Drop Mito Mt3 Noctua Keycaps Offer Luxury Style To Mechanical Keyboards No complaints there. Search the Micro Center Job Access site to review our latest Openings. The Drop ENTR is a finely crafted keyboard. On the contrary, that solidness feels fitting for such a heavy case and is quite enjoyable. Let other users know below. Its a tenkeyless keyboard, which means it lacks a dedicated number pad. Notes - Delivery *Estimated delivery dates include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. It comes with Cherry MX Brown / Blue RGB or Halo True / Clear switches. (Image: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central), (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central), You want a great foundation for a custom keyboard, You aren't comfortable spending nearly $300 on a keyboard. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Heres how it works. Update 12/17/2021: We initially listed our Macro Programmable Keys test result to 'All', but this is incorrect. However, there's a QMK firmware available on their website, but we don't count it as dedicated software.