Keychron does have such a keyboard, no RGB and decent switches. But if you want, check out Azio Fokal on Indiegogo. They have already delivered 2 keyboards so they will deliver. Ships in April 2020
I know this is over a year later, but Velocifire make the TKL01 that meets your criteria. I’ve had my TKL01 for a few years. I just got a second hand VM02 for cheap and found this review. The TKL01 has actual Outemu brown switched that have a more noticeable tactile bump than the VM02.
"The heart of the Velocifire VM02WS is an 80M08 ZAA8073112, a chip that we could literally find nothing about. We could not identify its manufacturer, let alone its specifications."
No kidding, if you Google for "80M08 processor" this article is the fourth result after chromatographs and coriolis flow meters.
Not that it helps in this case, but keep in mind that it's probably from China, and so you'd probably find more information searching Baidu or Sogou for "80m08集成电路" or similar.
For the same $60, I got a Logitech G613 wireless mech KB with a solid design, excellent build quality, great key function and long battery life also...... so I thinks me will skip the cheapo chino knock-offs for now, at least until they get their QA/QC up to reasonable standards anyways :)
Regular price for the G613 is $70 at pretty much every retailer. So any % off coupon will work to reduce the price. $60 is pretty close to the "real" regular price for this reason. If you wait for a good combination of coupons and sales, you can get it for even less. I paid $45 for mine.
I find a wireless keyboard and mouse to be useful at work where we sometimes do pair programming.
I can more easily take my keyboard, mouse, and wireless dongle with me to another developer's desk than I could wired devices. I also means you don't need to share a keyboard with other people which makes some folk feel uncomfortable.
Stop with the extra thick keyboards that require a wrist rest to even come close to being ergonomically correct. The 80's are over with. Why keep reviewing these pieces of crap?
Because the manufacturers seem to think that everyone who wants a mech keyboard wants an IBM clone with RGB, and are willing to pay through the a** for it.
"So Velocifire doesn't completely overcome the inherient disadvantage of a wireless mechanical keyboard – a fully electronic keyboard would find its battery life measured in months – but the VM02WS is delivering days of battery life in a field that often only delivers a dozen or so hours."
Why would a microswitched keyboard inherently have worse battery life than a silicone dome one? (they are both "fully electronic") I mean, I'd expect marginally BETTER battery life because the metal contacts in a microswitch have lower resistance than the carbon dot in a rubber dome.
This is a complicated topic, there are too many variables to discuss. One, for example, would be that the microprocessors used for mechanical keyboards consume much more energy. A more fundamental difference is that the controller is looking for many more inputs (per key) instead of an input from a group of keys. There are of course many more differences to discuss and all actually are subject to specific designs/models, but the general rule is that a mechanical keyboard requires about 4 to 10 times more energy than a classic membrane-based keyboard (without taking key lighting into account).
And, assuming that all other parameters are ideally stable, lower resistance equals higher energy consumption (I = V / R, P = V^2 / R).
So it is because microswitches are used in higher-end keyboards, basically? More inputs to avoid keyblocking issues and a more advanced processor to do keyboardier things = more power draw.
I'd assumed that lower resistance would save energy because they don't need to drive as much current through the switches to generate usable logic signals on the other side. But I suppose that's far from a guaranteed design change.
Having a backlit wireless keyboard is kinda self-defeating for me. I would either have it wireless with batteries that last the larger portion of a year and work anywhere at couch distance, or have it backlit, like my OG logitech G105.
I still have the G105 because I was planning a quiet pc on my sleeping room... it still fits that purpose if I ever need it.
What are the suggestions on a MX Red silent Backlit wireless keyboard that will work in an office environment. I am tired of the response times from the $5 el cheapo wait 1 minute for the key stroke to show up on the screen keyboard they gave me in an office where we keep the lights off.
The thing about this mx brown clone board is that there are a hundred just like it with a different brand name over the nav cluster and they are all made in the same chinese factory.
You should review a board with kailh's click bar switches, or a matias switch kb, or one of the new contactless boards, hall effect or optical. Even razer makes optical switch boards now and they seem pretty good.
Unicomp is currently making an ssk as well, you can review one of their standard buckling spring offerings.
Then theres the guys cloning the model f.
Not to mention all the capacitive rubber domes which would be better suited to an office anyway.
Theres lots of cool things happening in the mechanical keyboard world, mx brown clones aren't one of them.
Im not really seeing the switches as problem. The electronics are actually a problem on most keyboards. Sometimes they dont register a keypress (probably a bug in their Anti-Ghosting software).
If you truly want something different, try the Wooting keyboards.
I was suggesting they review something novel the wooting keyboard you mentioned for example is the optical type with analog switches, pretty cool tech that would make a good review.
Mx browns on the other hand are a known quantity, who cares about this velocifire board.
With regard to the keyboards not registering keypresses that could be a problem with their controllers method of implementing n key rollover but i wouldnt say thats common lol.
What board were you using that didnt work properly?
"Velocifire"... come on guys. If you have to steal the product name branding from a major industry player... you aren't worth my time. Sure fire sign the company you are dealing with is fly-by-night is when they have to rely on similar branding to a popular brand moniker that is not their own.
It is 21st century. Why are they still making keyboard with the numpad on the right? It should at least be detachable. With great difficulty I managed to find and replace my foreverlasting Cherry G80 keyboard 100% with a Chinese 70% with Blue MX switches which perfectly fits in my space. The best part it costs 2-3x less than any other Cherry MX based keyboard.
Got one of these recently and also a Logitech G613. Since we’ve been working from home (computer programmer) during quarantine I wanted something that was wireless to clean up the dining room table. Ended up returning the G613, because the extra keys and permanent wrist rest made it too big. Key feel on both were excellent but I slightly preferred the Velocifire. Battery life isn’t too big a deal; I stick it on my cell phone charger every couple days. The backlight spends most of its time off but is useful now that the sun sets before 5PM.
Thank you for reviewing this; I wouldn’t have found out about it otherwise. It’s obviously not a perfect keyboard (I’d definitely prefer one with the Cherry Blues from my old Ducky) but it’s been good for me.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
36 Comments
Back to Article
arashi - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
Might as well get a Keychron.milkywayer - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
Yup.Does this one have a TKL version?
I'm still looking for a wireless keyboard that fits my criteria :(
Should be
Wireless
Good switches
No nasty RGB or fint style
TKL
Dug - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
That's an impossible wish list :)You'll get it when manufacturers stop making rgb everything.
bigvlada - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
Scour Ebay for IBM Model F, with bluetooth conversion kit installed.CrazyUkrainian - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
Keychron does have such a keyboard, no RGB and decent switches. But if you want, check out Azio Fokal on Indiegogo. They have already delivered 2 keyboards so they will deliver. Ships in April 2020The_Assimilator - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
It's also ridiculously expensive.arashi - Friday, January 17, 2020 - link
Keychron K2/K4? It's not technically TKL but it has all the buttons I want. K2 for home and K4 for the office.Violet Giraffe - Sunday, January 19, 2020 - link
What's nasty about RGB? And what do you care if it can always be turned off?MayDayComputers - Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - link
I know this is over a year later, but Velocifire make the TKL01 that meets your criteria. I’ve had my TKL01 for a few years. I just got a second hand VM02 for cheap and found this review.The TKL01 has actual Outemu brown switched that have a more noticeable tactile bump than the VM02.
jordanclock - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
"The heart of the Velocifire VM02WS is an 80M08 ZAA8073112, a chip that we could literally find nothing about. We could not identify its manufacturer, let alone its specifications."No kidding, if you Google for "80M08 processor" this article is the fourth result after chromatographs and coriolis flow meters.
milkywayer - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
Gotta love companies that are still clueless to the existence of internet and advantages of having even a $3/month hosting plan.edgineer - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
Not that it helps in this case, but keep in mind that it's probably from China, and so you'd probably find more information searching Baidu or Sogou for "80m08集成电路" or similar.bonehead123 - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
For the same $60, I got a Logitech G613 wireless mech KB with a solid design, excellent build quality, great key function and long battery life also...... so I thinks me will skip the cheapo chino knock-offs for now, at least until they get their QA/QC up to reasonable standards anyways :)The_Assimilator - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
Yay, you got a good deal on a sale. Not everyone else will, so no point in comparing your apples to their oranges.Solandri - Monday, January 27, 2020 - link
Regular price for the G613 is $70 at pretty much every retailer. So any % off coupon will work to reduce the price. $60 is pretty close to the "real" regular price for this reason. If you wait for a good combination of coupons and sales, you can get it for even less. I paid $45 for mine.Zingam - Friday, August 7, 2020 - link
That thing is sold for 150 EUR - more like 200 USD. And it is a full keyboard.Flunk - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
Wireless keyboards seen a bit pointless, why does it matter that it's wireless if it's just going to sit there on the desk?pauldoo - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
I find a wireless keyboard and mouse to be useful at work where we sometimes do pair programming.I can more easily take my keyboard, mouse, and wireless dongle with me to another developer's desk than I could wired devices. I also means you don't need to share a keyboard with other people which makes some folk feel uncomfortable.
Azethoth - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
Why will nobody make me the Microsoft Natural Mechanical that I lust after and deserve?John08099 - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
We are testing such a sample :)FunBunny2 - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
they do: https://www.amazon.com/KINESIS-Gaming-Freestyle-Me...Dug - Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - link
Stop with the extra thick keyboards that require a wrist rest to even come close to being ergonomically correct. The 80's are over with. Why keep reviewing these pieces of crap?The_Assimilator - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
Because the manufacturers seem to think that everyone who wants a mech keyboard wants an IBM clone with RGB, and are willing to pay through the a** for it.Lord of the Bored - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
"So Velocifire doesn't completely overcome the inherient disadvantage of a wireless mechanical keyboard – a fully electronic keyboard would find its battery life measured in months – but the VM02WS is delivering days of battery life in a field that often only delivers a dozen or so hours."Why would a microswitched keyboard inherently have worse battery life than a silicone dome one? (they are both "fully electronic")
I mean, I'd expect marginally BETTER battery life because the metal contacts in a microswitch have lower resistance than the carbon dot in a rubber dome.
E.Fyll - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
This is a complicated topic, there are too many variables to discuss. One, for example, would be that the microprocessors used for mechanical keyboards consume much more energy. A more fundamental difference is that the controller is looking for many more inputs (per key) instead of an input from a group of keys. There are of course many more differences to discuss and all actually are subject to specific designs/models, but the general rule is that a mechanical keyboard requires about 4 to 10 times more energy than a classic membrane-based keyboard (without taking key lighting into account).And, assuming that all other parameters are ideally stable, lower resistance equals higher energy consumption (I = V / R, P = V^2 / R).
Lord of the Bored - Friday, January 17, 2020 - link
So it is because microswitches are used in higher-end keyboards, basically? More inputs to avoid keyblocking issues and a more advanced processor to do keyboardier things = more power draw.I'd assumed that lower resistance would save energy because they don't need to drive as much current through the switches to generate usable logic signals on the other side. But I suppose that's far from a guaranteed design change.
Gonemad - Thursday, January 16, 2020 - link
Having a backlit wireless keyboard is kinda self-defeating for me. I would either have it wireless with batteries that last the larger portion of a year and work anywhere at couch distance, or have it backlit, like my OG logitech G105.I still have the G105 because I was planning a quiet pc on my sleeping room... it still fits that purpose if I ever need it.
docbones - Friday, January 17, 2020 - link
But will it work with a KVM switch?Snowleopard3000 - Saturday, January 18, 2020 - link
What are the suggestions on a MX Red silent Backlit wireless keyboard that will work in an office environment. I am tired of the response times from the $5 el cheapo wait 1 minute for the key stroke to show up on the screen keyboard they gave me in an office where we keep the lights off.lmcd - Saturday, January 18, 2020 - link
I wonder if a mechanical keyboard could be low enough power to fit within the power profile of the Logitech solar K750Ssnarfbot - Sunday, January 19, 2020 - link
The thing about this mx brown clone board is that there are a hundred just like it with a different brand name over the nav cluster and they are all made in the same chinese factory.You should review a board with kailh's click bar switches, or a matias switch kb, or one of the new contactless boards, hall effect or optical. Even razer makes optical switch boards now and they seem pretty good.
Unicomp is currently making an ssk as well, you can review one of their standard buckling spring offerings.
Then theres the guys cloning the model f.
Not to mention all the capacitive rubber domes which would be better suited to an office anyway.
Theres lots of cool things happening in the mechanical keyboard world, mx brown clones aren't one of them.
Beaver M. - Tuesday, January 21, 2020 - link
Im not really seeing the switches as problem. The electronics are actually a problem on most keyboards.Sometimes they dont register a keypress (probably a bug in their Anti-Ghosting software).
If you truly want something different, try the Wooting keyboards.
snarfbot - Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - link
I was suggesting they review something novel the wooting keyboard you mentioned for example is the optical type with analog switches, pretty cool tech that would make a good review.Mx browns on the other hand are a known quantity, who cares about this velocifire board.
With regard to the keyboards not registering keypresses that could be a problem with their controllers method of implementing n key rollover but i wouldnt say thats common lol.
What board were you using that didnt work properly?
santiagodraco - Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - link
"Velocifire"... come on guys. If you have to steal the product name branding from a major industry player... you aren't worth my time. Sure fire sign the company you are dealing with is fly-by-night is when they have to rely on similar branding to a popular brand moniker that is not their own.Zingam - Friday, August 7, 2020 - link
It is 21st century. Why are they still making keyboard with the numpad on the right? It should at least be detachable.With great difficulty I managed to find and replace my foreverlasting Cherry G80 keyboard 100% with a Chinese 70% with Blue MX switches which perfectly fits in my space. The best part it costs 2-3x less than any other Cherry MX based keyboard.
dave_the_nerd - Saturday, November 7, 2020 - link
Got one of these recently and also a Logitech G613. Since we’ve been working from home (computer programmer) during quarantine I wanted something that was wireless to clean up the dining room table. Ended up returning the G613, because the extra keys and permanent wrist rest made it too big. Key feel on both were excellent but I slightly preferred the Velocifire. Battery life isn’t too big a deal; I stick it on my cell phone charger every couple days. The backlight spends most of its time off but is useful now that the sun sets before 5PM.Thank you for reviewing this; I wouldn’t have found out about it otherwise. It’s obviously not a perfect keyboard (I’d definitely prefer one with the Cherry Blues from my old Ducky) but it’s been good for me.