This Compact Gaming Keyboard Gets a Lot Right, but a Few Things Wrong Too
Cherry has long been one of the best keyboard makers and continues to have a huge presence and influence on the industry. The newest version of it's popular compact gaming keyboard, the XTRFY K5V2, offers a lot for both hardcore and enthusiast gamers to love.
What I like about the Cherry K5V2 keyboard
Jason Cockerham/CNET
I sometimes forget how much I enjoy smaller keyboards. They take up less space on my desk while still giving me all the essential functions I need. The K5V2 is a 65% keyboard which keeps things nice and compact with the only extra keys being Delete, Page Up and Page Down, all of which are tucked in on the right edge. There's a tiny Cherry magnet on that side too which I found to be an odd inclusion but at least you can take it off.
Cherry switches have long been synonymous with build quality, and thankfully its keyboards are just as well built. The K5V2 has a metal plate, two layers of sound-dampening and pre-lubed PCB stabilizers, all adding up to a very solid keyboard. No part of the K5V2 feels cheap.
Glorious Cherry keys
There's a reason Cherry has been such a dominant player in the mechanical keyboard space: it makes beautifully tactile switches. The K5V2 I reviewed has Cherry's new MX2A Red switches. They don't have quite as much audible clack as I'd like, but they still feel great. They're smooth and responsive with enough tactile feedback to remind me why I fell in love with Cherry switches in the first place.
This keyboard is part of Cherry's XTRFY lineup which is all about gaming, so the company has included its "super-scan technology" which increases the polling rate of the keys. The company claims the keyboard is scanning keypresses every half millisecond for an incredibly fast response rate, and while I wasn't able to directly test that claim, I can say it responded incredibly fast for me.
Detailed customization
Jason Cockerham/CNET
If you don't like the MX2A reds (or really any other part of the keyboard), Cherry lets you customize almost every aspect of the K5V2. From the base to the keycaps, the cable, even add-ons, you can pick and choose from an impressive array of colors and materials for your K5. The standard model comes in all black, with non-PBT keycaps and the aforementioned MX2A Red switches. I personally prefer PBT keycaps, but the ones on the base version at least allow the RGB light through.
Even though there's not much in the way of software customization for remapping keys, Cherry did hide secondary functions behind almost every single key on the keyboard. Using key combos, you can change the lighting effects, access media controls, program macros and even control your mouse all without having to move your hands. I've not used a keyboard with this much pre-programmed mapping before, and I have to say I like it.
It's helpful too for using the K5V2 for things other than gaming. It took me a while to memorize some of the shortcuts, but it's actually made me a bit faster at my day job of review writing and research.
What I don't like about the Cherry K5V2 keyboard
Jason Cockerham/CNET
As great as the switches and keys are on the K5V2, I've noticed the feeling doesn't appear to be universal across the keyboard. This likely has to do with the pre-lubed PCB stabilizers. While they certainly add to the smooth quality of the typing experience, the feel and sound of the stabilized keys (space bar, backspace, etc.) are noticeably different from the rest of the keyboard. I wouldn't say it's bad, but at the very least, I found it distracting.
No software support
This seems to be one of Cherry's biggest opportunities for improvement. I've tested several of their keyboards, and it's always hit or miss as to which are supported by the Cherry Utility software. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason behind it, and while the physical keys on the K5V2 have an extra layer of functionality and can be somewhat customized via the hardware itself, there's no way to modify anything with Cherry's software.
Jason Cockerham/CNET
No wireless connectivity
Being such a compact keyboard, the K5V2 is almost begging for wireless connectivity, but there's none here. I realize space is precious on a 65% keyboard, but I've seen companies include wireless support on keyboards smaller and thinner than this one, so it's definitely possible. At least you can choose a really nice coiled cable if you want, so that's something.
Should you buy the Cherry K5V2 keyboard?
There's a lot to love about the K5V2, especially if you prefer compact keyboards like I do. It's very well built, great for gaming and more customizable than most other keyboards I've tested. Plus, it's backed by the Cherry reputation. However, it's certainly not the cheapest you can find. It's $140 for the base model, but I've seen it on sale for as low as $70. Of course, adding customization options other than the standard white or black will start to add up. The highest-end configurations can push $300.
But if you're looking for a solid, compact gaming keyboard that's great for both work and play and you don't need much software support, the K5V2 is easy to recommend.
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