Ikbc Mf108 Aluminum Rgb Mechanical Keyboard V2 Review
iKBC MF108 V.2 RGB Mechanical Keyboard: Ultra-Premium RGB Goodness
iKBC is one of those companies that gamers may not know but absolutely should. They've been making high-end enthusiast keyboards capable of giving fifty-fifty the most premium gaming keyboards a run for their money. Today we're looking the completely aluminum bodied MF108 V2. It's packed with features, doesn't require software, and will make certain y'all never overcook dinner again.
Specifications
- MSRP: $199.99
- Model name: MF108 Black Aluminum / Silvery Aluminum
- Size: Full Size (108 keys)
- MF108 Keyboard Dimensions: L438.5 10 W136 X H41.6H
- MF108 Unit Gross Weight: two.50Kg / 5.5lbs
- LED Color: RGB (per key customizable, includes presets and multi-zone customization)
- Mechanical Switches: Cerise MX RGB (red [tested], silent red, brown, bluish, blackness)
- Keyboard Case Colour: Black / Silverish Aluminum
- Keycap Material: Backlit Doubleshot PBT keycaps
- Keycap Color: Black / White (with silvery aluminum)
- Keycap Font Position: Top
- Layout: ANSI
- Cable: Detachable Mini-USB
- NKRO: Total
- Multimedia Keys: Yes (dedicated volume keys)
- Congenital-in Qwerty / Dvorak / Colemak layouts
- Compatibility: Windows, Mac
- Warranty: 1 Yr Express Warranty
- Fabricated and Designed in Taiwan
Five Pounds of Solid Aluminum
From the infinitesimal you pick up the box, information technology's articulate that this isn't your average keyboard. Coming in at over 5.5lbs, it'southward more than than double the weight of your average mechanical keyboard. That's because of the MF108 features a solid metal frame composed of two pieces of milled aluminum (hence the "MF" in MF108). While most gaming keyboard makers have been selling themselves on having aluminum summit plates - which are adept in their ain right - stepping up to a full aluminum trunk redefines the meaning of premium.
To say the keyboard is build like a tank would exist an understatement. Like the Mistel MD870 nosotros looked at earlier this year, this is a keyboard that could double as a home defense weapon. In more practical terms, it ways it never slides around on your desk. Typing on a solid aluminum body is likewise distinctly quieter equally your keystrokes deaden out virtually as before long every bit they make contact.
You pay a premium for an aluminum body; nevertheless, iKBC sells an identical version just in a high density plastic for only $129.99. Equally we get a little farther on and await at what the keyboard offers, you'll exist able to make up one's mind which is the better fit for yous, but I call back both models well justify their price point against their competition. I'll say this, though: once yous go total metal, it'south hard to become dorsum.
That Sugariness, Sweet Keyfeel
The most important element of any keyboard is how it feels to type on. If construction is 1 element, primal switches and keycaps are the other two. iKBC spared no expense in either department. The MF108 uses 18-carat Cherry-red MX key switches, which take nigh unmarried-handedly defined quality over the last decade in mechanical keyboards. They're still manufactured in Germany to the highest standards of quality, with higher tolerances and better consistency than many other brands on the market today.
The unit of measurement I tested featured Cerise MX Red switches. Ruddy reds are a lightweight linear switch, perfect for games. They only require 45g of actuation force, which is almost 10g less than your boilerplate membrane keyboard. Since they're linear, they're perfect for double taps and effortless motion in games. The keyboard is also available in blueish, brown, silent cerise, and black, and then there are options for most tastes out at that place.
The primal caps are too fantastic. Like many of these high stop keyboards, they throw the sparse-walled ABS caps right out the window and instead apply loftier-quality doubleshot PBT. PBT is a much higher quality plastic and the dense walls not merely make the keys feel sturdier and higher quality, they feel much ameliorate to type on. Information technology's i of those things that's hard to understand why it'southward meliorate until you've tried it for yourself, merely all keycaps are not created equally, and, if you recall about it, they are your main contact with your PC. Using a skilful set of PBT keycaps makes thin, spray-painted, ABS caps feel every bit cheap as they are. Since the 'caps on the MF108 are doubleshot, they're actually composed of two pieces of molded plastic, and so the legends will never wear out or fade away.
It also features dedicated volume controls, as well as a calculator push button.
Excellent Software-free Programming
1 of the other big selling points of the MF108 is that you don't need to install whatsoever software to take advantage of all of its functions. You lot can bandy the caps lock and command, and the windows and alt keys, likewise as swap between QWERTY, DVORAK, and COLEMAK layouts with like shooting fish in a barrel key combinations. You can even suit the grapheme repeat rate, a chip similar entering turbo way on onetime custom controllers. Lighting is a bit more complex but not hard when you learn the combinations and there'southward a whole lot that yous can do.
Whether you're the kind of gamer that likes to color code every primal or turn on a preset and leave it, the MF108 has something for you lot. There are nine preset modes, everything from ripples to rainbows, reactive lighting to a snake that traces the rows of your keyboard. What'due south bang-up, though, is that you can really plan the private layer behind these effects, and so instead of having your ripple exist a single color, it will light up your preset hiding underneath the illuminated keys.
Programming in these static layouts, whether they're underneath a reactive effect or a static layout is cleverly done. Similar other keyboards we've seen with onboard color controls, you hold the Fn push button and select varying levels of ruby, light-green, and blue, then tap the keys you would like to exist that color. You're non able to achieve every color this way, though, and then some other key combination will light up your keyboard in a spectrum to choose from. It's an intuitive solution that gives the greatest amount of option I've seen on a software free keyboard.
Never Run Late Again (Or Burn Dinner)
Interestingly, the MF108 also has a built in timer. Past pressing Fn+Scroll Lock, both your role and number rows light up. ane-ix stand for single minutes. F1-F12 represent ten minutes each. Want 129 minutes? Hit F12 and ix, so enter to confirm. When you're ane minute away from the timer concluding, you keyboard turns blood-red and lights outset ticking downward. When the timer is done, your keyboard volition flash white until the timer is turned off. Neat, correct?
The potential uses for this are great. Once yous learn the key combo, y'all tin can quickly set cooldown timers to remind yourself that spells are prepare. If you share the figurer, your children will no longer exist able to say they didn't know they were playing likewise long ("It's flashing in your confront!"). If you're sticking to a schedule, information technology will help get you out the door on time. And yes, if you have dinner in the oven and think you have time for that Destiny 2 raid, the MF108 will aid you avoid burning dinner. Non that that's ever happened to me… never.
Minor Quibbles
If I had to quibble - and quibble I must - I'm a bit concerned about the Mini-USB plug. There's a cutout to keep it safe (plus), merely that cutout besides makes information technology challenging to plug in and it needs to be slightly torqued to go positioned in the port. Over time, I would detest to run across this cause impairment. Second, and perhaps more than meaningfully for gamers who love them, there is no onboard macro programming. This isn't uncommon for software-costless keyboards and is easily worked around with AutoHotKey, just it'southward definitely something to keep in mind.
Final Thoughts
I'm extremely impressed with the iKBC MF108. You lot're but not going to find a gaming keyboard of this quotient. Keyboards like this redefine premium when you've spent a lifetime with peripherals marketed for gaming. Betwixt its solid aluminum body, high-end doubleshot PBT keycaps, and exceptionally powerful onboard programming, this isn't a keyboard to exist missed. And if that solid aluminum body isn't for you, y'all can save $70 and option upwardly the standard F108 for but $129.99.
Pros
- Solid aluminum torso - information technology's hard to become back
- Doubleshot PBT keycaps - seriously, don't overlook this
- Genuine Red switches
- Great onboard lighting controls
Cons
- No onboard macros
- Can exist troubling to slot the USB
The product discussed in this article was provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of review.
Source: https://www.mmorpg.com/hardware-reviews/ikbc-mf108-v2-rgb-mechanical-keyboard-ultra-premium-rgb-goodness-2000107128
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