Nzxt Cam Please Try to Save Your Component Settings Again
Tom'southward Hardware Verdict
NZXT'due south Part mechanical keyboards bring hot-swappable switches to the mainstream market in 3 sizes with plenty of customization options. The Function MiniTKL model delivers an extra column of keys while being just slightly larger than a 75% model. But if yous aren't interested in swapping in other switches, there are better options bachelor for less money.
Pros
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+ Hot-swappable switches across the lineup
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+ Low-profile torso feels solid
- +
+ Removable USB-C cable
- +
+ Bachelor in three sizes and colors
- +
+ Unique left-mounted volume roller
Cons
- -
- Default ABS keycaps experience generic
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- Custom model gets expensive fast
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- MiniTKL version lacks wrist remainder
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- Software has limited keyboard options
NZXT has been expanding beyond cases and cooling for a few years now, releasing a handful of motherboards and microphones. But with its move into keyboards, the visitor seems a scrap more than bold and confident. The NZXT Function line launched in three sizes: 100%, TKL and a slightly smaller MiniTKL version that saves space by bunching all the keys up confronting each other. They're offered in black or white options similar to NZXT'southward motherboards, and there's a surprising corporeality of customizability for a mainstream mechanical keyboard line. Information technology's clear the company is aiming for a spot on our all-time gaming keyboards list.
Retail models will ship with linear Gateron Ruby-red switches. Merely if you lodge direct from NZXT you can choose between v different switches, v accent keycaps and removable cable colors (so y'all can match or mismatch as you similar), and two shades of dye-sublimated PBT keycaps (the retail models transport with sleeky ABS caps). But perhaps most impressively, all of the Function keyboards feature swappable switches so that you can easily modify up the feel of the keyboard subsequently on by buying and popping in something new. The keyboards include primal and switch pullers that make this process easy.
In a unique pattern decision, at that place's a rubberized volume roller mounted on the upper-left corner to make it easier to adjust audio without moving your easily off your mouse. While its placement is novel and took a flake to get used to, I didn't mind the roller on the left, where you'll also discover a few pocket-size buttons for mute, Windows cardinal locking, and backlight brightness.
But apart from the swappable switch sockets (which are nevertheless fairly uncommon in the mainstream gaming keyboard space), the Part keyboards offering little to help them stand out in a very crowded market place. If you like the way they look and you want to dip your toe into the custom keyboard earth past trying out some different switches, any of the NZXT Office keyboards are worth considering. But if yous aren't going to bandy switches, there are better options that cost less.
NZXT Function Specs
| Model | MiniTKL | TKL | Total Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting | Addressable RGB | Addressable RGB | Addressable RGB |
| Onboard Storage | None | None | None |
| Media Keys | Via Fn | Via Fn | Via Fn |
| Connectivity | USB-C to USB-A | USB-C to USB-A | USB-C to USB-A |
| Cablevision | xx inches (2 meters) | 20 inches (2 meters) | 20 inches (2 meters) |
| Additional Ports | None | None | None |
| Keycaps | PBT or ABS | ABS | ABS |
| Software | NZXT CAM | NZXT CAM | NZXT CAM |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 13.33x4.86x1.59 inches | 14.24x5.03x1.59 inches | 17.4x5.03x1.59 inches |
| Weight | 1.58 pounds | 1.7 pounds | 2 pounds |
Models and Customization Options for the NZXT Function
NZXT sells the Part keyboard in three sizes, and the company seemingly got some pushback after the initial launch that has caused it to revisit pricing. Every bit of this writing, the Mini TKL version was $99.99 on Amazon, while the TKL and full-size model were both $129.99. That makes the MiniTKL I'll be focusing on in this review arguably the virtually appealing, only note that it lacks a wrist rest, while the larger models have a rubberized magnetic wrist rest that'south nice, but a bit narrow.
Some other contraction to keep in listen is that those prices are for the standard retail versions of the keyboards, which come in black or white, with blackness ABS shine-through keycaps. The company also lets you lot customize versions of the Function keyboards on its own site, letting y'all choose from Gateron Red, Blue or Brown switches for $20 (or Gateron Aliaz Silent or Blacks for $60-$lxxx more). With the custom option, you also go the choice of a greyness metallic top plate in add-on to the black or white of the retail models. You tin can besides pick black or gray keycaps ($50) which are a nicer PBT plastic but lack the smooth-through legends. And because the RGB backlighting here isn't all that bright to brainstorm with, the PBT keycaps really dull the backlight glow.
Other options when going the customization route through NZXT include half dozen accent keycaps ($twenty) and a USB-C/USB-A cable ($20) in your choice of five colors other than the basic black. All these customization options brand you feel similar yous're getting something tailored to your tastes. Merely information technology as well basically doubles the price over the $99 retail model. The model NZXT sent my way with a black plate, grayness caps, brownish switches and ruby accent caps and a cable lands at $190. If I wanted NZXT to put it all together for me (which I wouldn't considering it was easy and fun to practice myself) that would add some other $10 to the price.
As much every bit I like the wait of the keycaps, extra keys and the reddish cable, I definitely don't like them $100 more than the $100 base of operations model. Even though the keycaps on the retail models are slick, shiny and choice up fingerprints seemingly faster than my fingers can type.
Design of the NZXT Function
Regardless of which model of the Function you opt for, y'all go the same pleasingly rubberized volume rocker that lives in the upper-left corner of the keyboard, off the edge of the escape key. NZXT says this placement is optimized for gamers, presumably because y'all don't have to take your hand off your mouse to use it. Only yous withal need to move your mitt away from the WASD and/or number keys (depending on which kind of game you're playing). So I'm not certain how much better this really is for gamers, though I plant myself liking the placement hither well enough later a couple days of aligning.
Below the wheel, along the left edge of the keyboard, are three round buttons that, from lesser to top, suit backlight brightness (four levels, plus off), lock the Windows key and mute your audio. Over again, I'k not sure if this is any amend or worse than placing these buttons elsewhere on the keyboard. Only with the MiniTKL model I tested, there is no bachelor infinite around any of the keys to add together extra buttons or lights.
In fact, the MiniTKL version has the keys so close to ane another that there's no room even for an LED to indicate Caps Lock. Information technology would be overnice if NZXT had, say, made the caps lock switch'due south LED plow when it was enabled, but as it stands your only indication that caps lock is on is when your keyboard makes information technology seem similar you're shouting everything that you lot type..
In terms of build quality, all of the models experience good, though not quite great. The height plate is metal, which makes for a solid feel, just the rest of the housing is plastic. The lesser has four rubber slip-resistant pads to keep the keyboard from sliding around, and there are flip-up feet at the back that are made of sturdy plastic and characteristic two levels of lift. One of the more abrasive things about the feel of the keyboard out of the box is the feel of the stabilizers on the larger keys (space, enter, shift, etc.). They're noisy, don't experience corking, and are in drastic need of a bit of lubing. This won't bother everyone, only for those who've used high-end custom keyboards, or who are sensitive to keyboard audio, yous'll definitely feel and hear it.
Except for the USB-C port for the removable 80-inch braided cablevision, that's it for external features. There are no laissez passer-through USB or audio ports. And while you tin control media with the keyboard, that's done through secondary part keys in the upper correct that do double duty equally impress screen, scroll lock and pause.
Sweet Hot-Swappable Switches
With the chief outside features of the Role keyboards out of the fashion, information technology's time to dig below the surface to i of the lineup'due south stand-out features: its swappable switches. There are some mainstream and/or gaming mechanical keyboards that have swappable switches, similar
Logitech's Grand Pro X. And there are dozens of more niche custom keyboard kits that let you swap switches. But this feature is still fairly rare in mainstream, gaming-focused keyboards, and I applaud the fact that NZXT has included swappable switches across its current keyboard lineup. The company fifty-fifty includes both keycap and key pullers in the box to make the procedure equally easy equally possible.
Equally noted, I chose Gateron Brownish switches with the custom MiniTKL keyboard. And they're perfectly fine equally browns get: tactile, serenity, and kinda boring. But I ordered
Holy Panda 10 switches from Dribleta month or and then before NZXT's keyboards arrived, and they happened to show upwards in my mailbox the twenty-four hour period after I started testing the Office keyboards. Then of form I pulled out the browns and dropped in the new switches.
The process of swapping the switches was straightforward and took about half an hour, first pulling the keycaps (which mount surprisingly tightly on the standard Cherry-style stems) and and then pulling the switches by grabbing the tabs at the top and bottom of each switch with the supplied puller. Popping in the new switches (yellow stemmed in the image above) was super simple, requiring just that the pins were oriented at the lesser and that yous printing them in from above rather than at an bending. The hardest bit by far was putting the keycaps back on correctly when I was done.
While this isn't a review of the Holy Panda X switches, I like them much amend than boring browns (they have more resistance and a much springier return, making them feel and sound more satisfying). I as well similar the idea that, should I purchase other switches in the future, I could have a keyboard that's drastically dissimilar in less than an hour.
Gaming and Typing Experience on the NZXT Part
My experience using the Function MiniTKL keyboard was mixed, but mostly positive. In that location are slight quirks with the layout, some of which are more odd than annoying. The right shift key, for instance, is larger than the left one, taking upwardly the space of three regular-sized keys. This bothered me more visually than anything. Simply the delete key being i column in and three keys down from the peak corner annoyed me when writing or editing. That'south in part because my daily driver is the Keychron K2, where delete lives in the peak row. I used the company's CAM software (more than on that shortly) to remap the pause key in the upper-right corner to office as delete to mitigate this issue. But subsequently a couple days, I started getting used to the location of the actual delete key. Since that was my primary frustration, I'k certain I'd exist fine with the MiniTKL'southward layout if I were using this keyboard for work or gaming long-term.
I as well put the Function through several hours of gaming, with RTS titles like Stronghold 3 and They Are Billions, as well as the punishing RPG Elden Band. The brown switches might not be to everyone's gaming gustatory modality, but since I am non a competitive esports player, I actually prefer their tactility–although I still like the Holy Panda Xs I swapped into the keyboard better.
The volume rocker on the left border is supposedly designed to exist easier for gamers to apply since you don't need to move your paw off the mouse. But I generally adjust the book to a good level earlier I start gaming, so I can't say that its placement here was peculiarly better than having the roller on the right. But I didn't mind its placement here.
Since there is no dedicated bank of macro keys or other gaming-specific features, in that location wasn't a whole lot that stood out, good or bad, almost the Function keyboard when it came to gaming. It's solid, mostly feels good, and the MiniTKL model doesn't have up much space on your desk-bound. And while there aren't any gaming-specific keys, the layout does include a few keys you could hands map to macros or other functions, like the odd F13 key and the NZXT key, neither of which do anything out of the box. You'll demand the company'south CAM software to program those keys, which happens to be the subject of the next section.
Software for the NZXT Part
NZXT's CAM software, much like Corsair's iCue or Asus' Armoury Crate, is designed to practice a lot–including monitoring your arrangement's temps and performance and power settings, handle overclocking and even launch games. But its functions when it comes to keyboards is a bit express and feels clunky.
Starting time off on the lighting side, things are about what you'd expect on the surface. You can cull betwixt half dozen presets for colour modes, different multi-color options for those color modes, and choose the number of colors the lighting shifts between, likewise every bit the speed and brightness. At that place is also a Reactive layer that works atop the base layer, letting you configure how the keyboard reacts when keys are pressed, sending say a line or a ripple beyond the surrounding keys.
And then there's the remapping department, which looks promising but is oddly designed and doesn't allow you do every bit much equally you might want to. Y'all remap keys by choosing the activeness y'all want to map a central to by first scrolling or searching the list on the left and dragging that button onto the key you want to map to on the keyboard on the correct. This works, simply feels counterintuitive. Information technology would feel more than natural to click a key on the on-screen keyboard, then press the key yous want to program that to on the actual keyboard, then click save. The way CAM has this setup feels backwards, though it does work.
While at that place are definitely keys begging to be remapped hither (the F13 and NZXT keys don't seem to do annihilation by default), you can't remap the volume wheel or the iii buttons on the left edge. That'due south a shame because I'd prefer to make the lower two control media rather than effulgence and Windows fundamental locking. And since I take a standalone USB volume knob at my treadmill desk at home, it would be nice to be able to apply the wheel on the Function keyboard to command something else, like zooming in and out in Adobe apps. Y'all might exist able at some point to do this with third-party software like VIA, but at the time of this writing, VIA didn't recognize the MiniTKL keyboard. Given NZXT has its ain keyboard software, it's unclear if it will work to back up third-party software control.
Conclusion
As an introduction to the enthusiast custom keyboard earth, by style of a more mainstream gaming board, NXZXT's Function keyboards agree strong entreatment. And the MiniTKL model I tested is unique in that it gives you an extra column of keys over a 75% layout while taking up simply an extra inch or so on your desktop.
But the basic retail models of the Function keyboards experience expensive, particularly in the TKL and total-size models, both of which sell for $130. At $99, the retail MiniTKL model is less then, only if y'all opt for the custom model from NZXT with PBT keycaps and custom emphasis keys and matching USB cable, the price doubles–or more than depending on the switch you cull.
While the left-mounted buttons and volume wheel and buttons are interesting, just not game-changing. So we recommend the Function keyboards merely if you similar their looks and want to attempt out different key switches on your own. If that's not something you lot're certain you want to do, options similar
Patriot's Viper V765offer a bang-up, colorful typing experience with interesting switch options and dedicated media control keys and a volume rocker (albeit on the correct side non the left) for equally little as $78. That makes the Part models, particularly the ii larger ones, tough to argue for at $130 and up (customizations cost more), although the $99 base MiniTKL model has a bit more than appeal given its lower cost and unique size.
That said, NZXT says information technology will offer its custom models as barebones kits (without switches or keycaps), starting at $70 for the MiniTKL, $80 for the TKL and $90 for the full-size model. If you are interested in customization and looking for a solid, affordable RGB deck to add together your favorite keyboard bits to for an even more customized keyboard feel, those might be the most appealing options in the Office lineup. Especially if you lot're looking to take a serious footstep into the enthusiast keyboard world without shelling out hundreds of dollars upwardly forepart.
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Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nzxt-minitkl
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