Realforce RGB gaming keyboard review: Even for Topre fans this is a tough call - herrmannquism1987

At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Topre switches are great to type on
• One of the few backlit Topre options
• Cuneate design

Cons

• Expensive, but without many premium features
• Lighting is dim and uneven
• Design is arguably too simple and generic

Our Verdict

The Realforce RGB functions as publicised in that it's a Topre keyboard with full RGB backlighting, but some of the Topre magic's been lost in the transition. Oh, and it's silly expensive.

Topre switches. You either love them or…considerably, you've probably never tried and true them, because they're prohibitively costly to all but the about enthusiastic of keyboard enthusiasts. Case in indicate: The Realforce RGB, Topre's attempt at a modern RGB gaming keyboard, yours for the low, low price—and this is the point where you swig some water—of $299.

Sanction, at once that you've wiped the spew-take from your monitor, let's dig in.

Annotation: This review is percentage of our best gaming keyboards roundup. Go at that place for details about competing products and how we tested them.

Office space

The Realforce RGB certainly doesn't look like a $300 keyboard—and maybe that's pursual in a long tradition of high-altitude-end, serve-o'er-form, "we're so good we preceptor't need to impress you" hardware. You get laid, equal Klipsch speakers and that garbage can Mac Pro. The Realforce RGB looks like the keyboard you'd find covered in sprinkle at a service department sale, '90s tech startup logo and all. The F1 key even has a secondary command that sporty says "web."

Web.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

It's aggressively uncool, arsenic close as you could come to the Google Image results for "keyboard." And I'll allow in that after days of tawdry gaming keyboards the Realforce RGB is almost a relief to pound away on. This is hardware that says "I'm for wreak first, play later," or the keyboard version of a mullet. IT's heavy. It's black. IT's boxy. IT's indistinguishable at a glance from your mean $20 rubber covered stadium keyboard, except for a patch of scintillating plastic in the top right, like at the net second a designer had a crisis of conscience and said, "we have to dosomething unique."

So hunky-dory, you're not paying for the Realforce RGB's looks. Wherefore are you paying for it? What could convince someone to spend $300 on a play keyboard?

And Topre is—leastwise if you're a same specific kinda nerd—the answer.

Here's the component where I mention that for a Topre keyboard, $300 actually isn't that bad. You pot easy spend more on less. The Happy Hacking Keyboard, for instance, has believably half the keys and no more backlight, LET alone RGB lighting, and is a programmer favorite.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

For the uninitiated, Topre is a class-of hybrid switch, one that's long invited argument. I'm not going to wade overly deep into that void, but: The primary chemical mechanism for a Topre's key resistance is a India rubber attic, the oft-maligned foundation of near budget tissue layer keyboards. The activation and feel, though, are similar to a mechanical keyboard's, and the result is a unique switch that diehard fans swear by.

Maine? I like Topre switches fine, though I'm forever hard-ironed to warrant the cost. They're smooth and reassuringly ungainly, with a nicethock when you bottom out the key. It's a great typing have, though admittedly an odd choice for games.

Topre does have one fancy up its sleeves Hera: Adjustable actuation. Actuation is the aim where a keystroke is recognized by the computer. A short propulsion is faster and thus amended for games, while a longer or deeper propulsion is less prone to errors piece typewriting. In theory, at to the lowest degree.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

In reality, these are differences of a fewer millimeters and milliseconds. And the resistance profile of Topre switches—stiff high front, then a speedy collapse—makes the difference between a 1.5mm and 3.0mm actuation even less important. You're unlikely to avoid bottoming taboo the switches regardless, particularly with a comparatively unimportant resistance of 45 grams, same as Cherry MX Reds.

Permit's call a gimmick a gubbins and then and move on. Really, you're purchasing the Realforce RGB because you love Topre switches operating room at to the lowest degree have an interest in senior high-end hardware.

To that end, it's worth noting some of the Realforce RGB's shortcomings.

For one, it uses doubleshot ABS keycaps instead of the favorite (and bounty) PBT. Most gaming keyboards use ABS as fit—but most gaming keyboards don't cost $300. And along the other hand, nigh Topre keyboards use PBT because they have sex the target audience wants that level of quality.

On the plus side, this is one of the few Topre keyboards to mix a Cherry MX style "stem" design. As a result it's compatible with some custom-made keycap sets you might ain, if indeed you own whatever. If not, it's pretty abundant to get Scarlet MX-congenial keycaps. It's an additional expense, and you power lose your backlight, but at least you'd inject a trifle of personality into the Realforce RGB in the process.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

And honestly the backlighting is second-rate anyway. It works American Samoa advertised, but looks clean dull even at full brightness in a dark room. I'm a bit disappointed, granted the Price.

Concluding, and credibly most dissentious: Information technology's so curst loud. Topre keyboards are generally quieter than their mechanistic counterparts, simply the Realforce RGB's Topre implementation rivals Outemu Gentle switches for the loudest modern keyboard I've had cross my desk. Dismal a key isn't so bad, but on rebound it makes a loud, rattly clack that's much louder than other Topre boards I've used—perhaps because of the stem figure? I'm not surely.

Oh, and the cable is cheap synthetic rubber, and impossible to detach. That's another oddity for ace of these high-end keyboards.

Bottom line

Even a subpar Topre keyboard is still a pretty blame good typing have. If you (and your loved ones) derriere get all over the noise issue? Well I've found the Realforce RGB pretty enjoyable to use day-to-day, and have actually moved it back onto my desk few multiplication nowadays. I like the feel of Topre switches for productivity, even if they're a hard sell for gaming.

But donated the backlighting is the Realforce RGB's main gimmick, and only somewhat successful at that, I'd wager most Topre fans are probably improve sour with a antithetical keyboard. Get unmatchable with fewer compromises. These are pricey investments, and you might as advisable buy the best. I've detected great things just about the not-RGB Realforce 2, even.

For the not-Topre fans, just give thanks you haven't gone so far downwardly this hare hole that you're paying $300 for a keyboard. Tear your gaze from the void while you still can.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/397980/topre-realforce-rgb-gaming-keyboard-review.html

Posted by: herrmannquism1987.blogspot.com

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