At a look
Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Wonderful typing really feel
- Premium design and construct
- Works with Home windows or Mac
- Customisable software program
Cons
- Very costly
- You’ll want a wrist relaxation
- Keys not backlit
Our Verdict
You probably have a wedge to spend on a premium mechanical keyboard, the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Professional is value contemplating, because of its glorious construct and cozy typing really feel. However at this worth, the keys ought to be backlit.
Greatest Costs Right this moment: Keyboard 81 Professional
$239
OnePlus has lengthy made strong Android telephones. However now it’s making an attempt its hand at completely different merchandise by collaborating with different tech firms.
The Keyboard 81 Professional is the primary product of this new initiative. It’s a mechanical keyboard that’s OnePlus branded however made in partnership with Keychron, the model of alternative for a lot of mechanical keyboard nerds.
And the mannequin I examined presents glorious construct high quality and a clean, quiet typing expertise.
For those who don’t thoughts keys that aren’t backlit and don’t want to hold your keyboard round with you when travelling, the 81 Professional is a fantastic alternative.
Design & construct
- Heavy aluminium physique
- Beautiful keycap materials
- Helpful kickstand
- RGB lights, not backlit
There are two variations of the 81 Professional (so named for its 81-key format), every with completely different gray tone key caps and completely different key switches.
I reviewed the pricier ‘Summer Breeze’ model, which has largely mild gray keycaps product of ‘marble-mallow’ materials that’s new for this keyboard, and makes use of quiet linear switches that OnePlus says it developed with Keychron.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
The ‘Winter Bonfire’ model makes use of PBT keycaps in a darker gray, alongside louder, optimised tactile switches (additionally co-created with Keychron) that I haven’t tried.
Keychron followers might be aware that the format of the keyboard bears resemblance to the Keychron Q1 Professional, although the general design and keycaps are very completely different.
Basically, the keyboard is a big chunk of silver aluminium with two-tone gray keys, a clear dial within the higher proper, and two pink keys – an escape key with the OnePlus emblem on it, and the enter key.
It’s a fantastic keyboard with glorious high quality construct and clean, quiet typing expertise
An adjustable bar kickstand on the underside of the keyboard, used for reducing or elevating the typing peak, feels very luxurious. However the entire product is premium and really effectively put collectively.
OnePlus has designed the keyboard to be flipped and stood up when not in use, revealing the corporate’s ‘Never Settle’ motto beneath. Rubberised contact factors forestall the keyboard from sliding round or scratching your desk, although at a whopping 1.87kg (sure, it’s that heavy) this factor ain’t going wherever.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
In actual fact, it’s so heavy that this actually is a set and overlook keyboard. For those who like throwing your ‘board in a backpack to hold round or to the workplace, this isn’t the keyboard for you..
RGB lighting below every key might be programmed to a number of completely different modes, from a sweeping rainbow to at least one that stays unlit however then sprays mild outwards from every key as you kind earlier than fading away (my private favorite).
The consequences are cool, however a drain on the 4,000mAh battery. In fact, that’s solely a difficulty when you’re utilizing the keyboard wirelessly, somewhat than plugged in utilizing the beautiful braided USB-C to C cable within the field. It takes 5 hours to completely cost, however as soon as at 100% and with the lights turned off, I bought over one entire working week of wi-fi use.
Nevertheless, I really feel that for this worth you would possibly anticipate backlit keys, which these aren’t. OnePlus does at the very least present swappable Home windows or Mac keycaps with all the required instruments, and you should use both format on both working system (it additionally runs on Linux, Android, and iOS units).
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Keyboard really feel and typing expertise
- Quiet actuation
- Snug for lengthy classes
- Wants a wrist relaxation
The Summer time Breeze mannequin has a really quiet motion that I actually like. The keys solely make a mushy thunk noise, even when you find yourself typing rapidly. There’s additionally little or no of that plasticky clack sound, so you can positively use this in a busy workplace with out annoying anybody.
Pairing these marble-mallow caps with the quiet switches is a good mixture, and provides to the ultra-premium really feel of the product.
I discovered my private greatest consolation when typing with the kickstand elevating the board barely – it’s absolutely adjustable at any angle. However I did want to make use of my very own wrist relaxation, as trying to kind with out one rapidly led to wrist ache.
Even so, I made fairly a couple of typing errors, however that’s in all probability extra as a result of I often use the nearly flat Logitech MX Keys Mini.
The keys make a mushy thunk … you can positively use this in a busy workplace and never annoy anybody
I examined the keyboard with a Mac, and the dial within the prime proper nook is preset to regulate quantity when turned and toggles sound on or off when pressed. It’s a neat contact.
In addition to the kickstand and swappable keys that don’t require soldering, the keys are remappable utilizing the VIA app. It really works on any Chromium-based browser (see tips on how to apply it to the Keychron web site) and is efficient, however might be complicated.
Henry Burrell / Foundry
Value & availability
The OnePlus Keyboard 81 Professional prices $219/£249 for the Winter Bonfire model or $239/£269 for the Summer time Breeze model I used and reviewed right here.
You should buy it now from OnePlus US or OnePlus UK.
All entries in our greatest keyboard round-up are extra reasonably priced, with the Logitech MX Mechanical ($149.99/£149.99) the obvious various. Keychron itself additionally makes an analogous mechanical keyboard within the Q1 Professional ($199/£169).
Verdict
You probably have the money and need a premium mechanical keyboard with a superb typing sound and really feel, the Keyboard 81 Professional is an effective alternative. Collaborating with Keychron has labored out effectively for OnePlus, and the previous’s traditional high quality shines by way of right here.
The spectacular aluminium construct and glorious key switches are each highlights, whereas the marble-mallow keycaps really feel beautiful and keep away from the click-clack plastic really feel.
However it is a keyboard to place in your desk and by no means transfer, given it weights practically 2kg. And at this worth you would possibly balk that the keycaps aren’t backlit. I ended up turning the beautiful however functionally ineffective RGB lights off as they sapped the battery life, too.
However for pure typing pleasure, this is a wonderful keyboard that can be utilized on any fashionable computing platform and comes with all of the equipment you want.
This overview initially revealed on techadvisor.com.
