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X360CE • Keyboard Precision and Quality Tests • Comparison of Keyboards

Precision and Quality Test Results Detailed Graphs Scissor vs Mechanical Switches Tested Keyboards
Keyboards Intro

Comparison of Keyboards • Noise • Actuation Distance • Travel Distance • Gram Force

Tested keyboards are listed in order we would buy them. If you plan to use your keyboard in places where people will be resting... to avoid negative effects on sleep, sound pressure level should not exceed 30 dBA • Nigh Noise Guidelines for Europe by World Health Organization.

1. BEST • Logitech MX KEYS

Switzerland—USA ~ €98 Scissor
Almost perfect.
 

2. GOOD • Logitech K800

Switzerland—USA ~ €120 Scissor
Worse than Cherry STREAM, but has illumination. DISCONTINUED.
3. GOOD • Cherry STREAM

Germany ~ €22 Scissor
Better than Logitech K800, but no illumination.

4. AVERAGE • Dell KB216

USA ~ €22 Plunger
Cherry STREAM with scissor switches is better.
5. AVERAGE • Logitech K270

Switzerland—USA ~ €24 Plunger
Large actuation and travel distances.
 
6. AVERAGE • Logitech K295

Switzerland—USA ~ €30 Plunger
Easy to miss characters - similar max pre-actuation and actuation gF.
7. BAD • Logitech G513

Switzerland—USA ~ €130 Mechanical
Easy to miss characters - the same max pre-actuation and actuation gF.
8. BAD • Corsair K70

USA ~ €150 Mechanical
Very loud. Large travel distance.
 
Listed in order we would buy Switches Illumination Actuation
mm		 Travel
mm		 Gram Force gF
pre-actuation • actuation		 Noise dBA
average • max
 1. Logitech MX KEYS Scissor White 1.35 2.08 61.5  33.3  28.2 24.7  26.0
 2. Logitech K800 Scissor White 2.18 3.21 63.9  30.7  33.2 24.8  26.2
 3. Cherry STREAM Cherry SX scissor No 1.80 2.75 63.7  30.3  33.4 26.1  28.6
 4. Dell KB216 Plunger No 1.84 2.55 59.0  39.4  19.6 22.8  24.4
 5. Logitech K270 Plunger No 2.42 3.66 53.9  39.0  14.9 29.0  31.7
 6. Logitech K295 Plunger No 2.84 3.30 56.6  51.6   4.9 23.3  24.6
 7. Logitech G513 Logitech mechanical RGB 1.33 3.32 45.7  45.7     0 39.2  41.6
 8. Corsair K70 Cherry mechanical RGB 1.91 3.99 51.5  39.7  11.8 42.6  45.0

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Precision and Quality Test Results

Precision and Quality Test Results • Measuring Equipment

Measuring equipment resolution • Distance 0.01 mm • Gram force 0.2 gF • Noise dBA 0.1 • Measured keyboard keys: 2 7 = \ B /

Image and Graph Differences

Image above shows values of average line, which is combination of 6 lines ( 2 7 = \ B / ). Table in graph shows values of 6 separated lines (gram force values before actuation). MX KEYS MED gram force value in table is calculated from MAX values of 6 separated lines:

60.4 + 57.6 + 58.4 + 65.8 + 55.2 + 62.2) / 6 = 59.9

MAX number 59.7 of average line in image is lower than MED number in table (average of 6 MAX values), because MAX peak of average line is not at the highest points of all 6 separated lines (they are at slightly different positions).

Actuation and Travel Distances

Actuation distance (mm): how far you need to push keyboard key for value to change. Good scissor switch keyboards have 1-1.2 mm actuation distance.

Travel distance (mm): how far you need to push keyboard key to reach the end = 150 gF.

Deviation (±mm): deviation from average. No deviation (0) would be perfect.
ACTUATION Distance (mm) (±mm) • Actuation: 0+  1.50+  2.00+ • Travel: 0+  3.00+  4.00+
    KEYBOARDS Actuation Travel
 1. Logitech MX KEYS 1.35  0.03 2.08  0.08
 2. Logitech K800 2.18  0.04 3.21  0.03
 3. Cherry STREAM 1.80  0.02 2.75  0.02
 4. Dell KB216 1.84  0.02 2.55  0.03
 5. Logitech MK270 2.42  0.06 3.66  0.04
 6. Logitech MK295 2.84  0.05 3.30  0.06
 7. Logitech G513 1.33  0.13 3.32  0.02
 8. Corsair K70 1.91  0.06 3.99  0.02

Actuation Gram Force

Max pre-actuation gram force (gF): max gram force before actuation. About 45-50 gF is required to hold natural weight of fingers. Overcoming max pre-actuation gF (as tactile bump) ensures enough force not to skip a character, if actuation gF is smaller significantly.

Actuation gram force (gF): gram force at the moment of actuation.

Deviation (±gF): deviation from average. No deviation (0) would be perfect.
ACTUATION Gram Force (gF) (±gF) • 0+  50.0+  60.0+
    KEYBOARDS Max Pre-Actuation Actuation Difference
 1. Logitech MX KEYS 61.5  1.33 33.3  0.87 28.2
 2. Logitech K800 63.9  1.91 30.7  2.43 33.2
 3. Cherry STREAM 63.7  1.64 30.3  0.78 33.4
 4. Dell KB216 59.0  1.02 39.4  0.73 19.6
 5. Logitech MK270 53.9  2.00 39.0  2.46 14.9
 6. Logitech MK295 56.6  1.58 51.6  3.43 4.9
 7. Logitech G513 45.7  1.93 45.7  1.93 0
 8. Corsair K70 51.5  0.57 39.7  1.11 11.8

Noise • Sound Pressure Level

Sound pressure level (dBA): tested by dropping 60g "finger" (with Shore A 22 hardness silicone bumper at the end) 40 times on 2 7 = \ B / keyboard keys from 1 mm height. Sound pressure level recorded from 1 m distance. To avoid negative effects on sleep, sound pressure level should not exceed 30 dBA (Nigh Noise Guidelines for Europe by World Health Organization).

Deviation (±dBA): deviation from average. No deviation (0) would be perfect.

NOISE • Sound Pressure Level (dBA) (±dBA) • 0+  30.0+  40.0+
    KEYBOARDS Noise
 1. Logitech MX KEYS 24.7  1.48
 2. Logitech K800 24.8  1.65
 3. Cherry STREAM 26.1  2.43
 4. Dell KB216 22.8  1.62
 5. Logitech MK270 29.0  2.79
 6. Logitech MK295 23.3  1.42
 7. Logitech G513 39.2  2.59
 8. Corsair K70 42.6  2.49
 9. Corsair K70 with 40A-R O-Rings 37.8  3.08

Detailed Graphs

Detailed Graphs

Graph bottom values • mm • keys measured by pushing them in 0.01 mm steps.
Graph left values • gF • gram-force resolution 0.2 gf.

Actuation and Travel Distances • Gram Force

Noise • Sound Pressure Level

Keyboard Sizes
Scissor vs Mechanical Switches

Scissor vs Mechanical Keyboard Switches

Noise (dBA): Mechanical keyboards are uncomfortable, overrated and annoyingly loud (Corsair K70 42.6 dBA) even with O-Ring switch dampeners (Corsair K70 with 40A-R O-Rings 37.8 dBA). It is nearly impossible to use them with voice-activated chat during online gaming sessions or around other people in quiet environments like bedrooms. People will hate you for all that noise. They also ruin immersiveness of quiet scenes in games and when you need to hear hints of sounds, like faint steps behind you. To avoid negative effects on sleep, sound pressure level should not exceed 30 dBA (Nigh Noise Guidelines for Europe by World Health Organization).

Actuation and travel distances (mm): Long key travel distances in mechanical keyboards (~4 mm x down+up = ~8 mm) feels inferior by comparison with scissor-switch keyboards (~2 mm x down+up = ~4 mm). Mechanical keyboard manufacturers know about this and some of them brag, how they reduced it by 25% and how faster it is now. Thin scissor-switch keyboards are twice as fast as mechanical, because even, when key actuates at the same ~2 mm distance, release is instant. Long travel distances and no soft cushion in mechanical keyboards results in hurt fingers after longer gaming sessions, because of frequent attempts to reach contact point as fast as possible, which means hitting key's bottom quite hard. Playing intensive games is not like playing some slow, peaceful and calming piano music. If you want to buy mechanical keyboard “for gaming”, you should try it first. Finger travel... DOWN + UP + over edges of keycaps:

Logitech MX KEYS • Scissor • Noise 24.7 dBA • Actuation distance 1.3 mm • Down and up travel distance 2.1 x 2 = 4.2 mm.
Corsair K70 • Mechanical • Noise 42.6 dBA• Actuation distance 1.9 mm • Down and up travel distance 4.0 x 2 = 8.0 mm.

LED Illumination (White vs RGB). Scissor swich keyboards usually use White LEDs for backlight illumination. Mechanical “gaming” keyboards usually use RGB LEDs. You can set different colours for different keys with RGB LEDs, but you will not be able to set pleasant and evenly white illumination for whole keyboard. There will be noticeable and inferior looking colour distortions. To achieve even and similar white light quality, mechanical keyboards should use RGBW LEDs.

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Tested Keyboards

List of Tested Keyboards
Logitech MX KEYS

Logitech MX KEYS1

2022-09Logitech • CRAFT€160

2022-09Logitech • MX KEYS€98

• Scissor switches.
• Wireless via included USB receiver or Bluetooth.
• 10 meters wireless range.
• Easy-switch keys to connect up to 3 devices and easily switch between them.
• Backlighting: adjustable, white (ambient light sensor - automatic, keys - manual).
• Hand proximity sensor to turn the backlight on and off.
• The Perfect Stroke keys.
• Caps Lock and Battery indicator lights.
• USB-C rechargeable. Full charge lasts 10 days to 5 months (depending on backlight settings).
• On/Off power switch.
• Compatible with Logitech Flow enabled mouse.
• Keyboard size: 429 x 131 (196 with palm rest) x 20 mm.
• Palm rest size: 429 x 66 x 9 mm.

Logitech K800

Logitech K8002

2022-09Logitech • K800 Keyboard€120

Logitech MX KEYS is newer and better keyboard than K800.

• Scissor switches.
• Wireless via included Logitech Unifying USB receiver.
• 10 meters wireless range.
• Backlighting: adjustable, white (ambient light sensor - automatic, keys - manual).
• Hand proximity sensor to turn the backlight on and off.
• The Perfect Stroke keys.
• Caps Lock and Battery indicator lights.
• Micro-USB rechargeable. Full charge (6 hours) lasts 15 hours to 10 days (depending on backlight settings).
• On/Off power switch.
• Keyboard size: 449 x 194 x 26 mm.

Cherry Stream

Cherry Stream JK-85003

2022-11Cherry • STREAM JK-8500 Keyboard€22

• Cherry SX scissor switches.
• Wired USB.
• No illumination.
• Caps Lock indicator light.
• Num Lock indicator light.
• Keyboard size: 463 x 163 x 30 mm

Dell KB216

Dell KB2164

2022-11Dell • KB216 Keyboard€22

• Plunger switches.
• Wired USB.
• No illumination.
• Caps Lock indicator light.
• Num Lock indicator light.
• Scroll Lock indicator light.
• Keyboard size: 442 x 127 x 24 mm

Logitech K270

Logitech K2705

2022-11Logitech • K270 Keyboard€24

M185 mouse is very small and made for ants in MK270 Combo (M185 Mouse + K270 Keyboard).

• Plunger switches.
• Wireless via included Logitech Unifying USB receiver.
• No illumination.
• 10 meters wireless range.
• Caps Lock indicator light.
• Battery Life: Full charge lasts 36 month.
• On/Off power switch.
• Keyboard size: 441 x 149 x 18 mm.

Logitech K295

Logitech K2956

2022-11Logitech • K295 Keyboard€30

M220 mouse is very small and made for ants in MK295 Combo (M220 Mouse + K295 Keyboard)

Plunger switches.
Wireless via included Logitech Unifying USB receiver.
• 10 meters wireless range.
• No illumination.
• Caps Lock indicator light.
• Battery Life: Full charge lasts 36 month.
• On/Off power switch.
• Keyboard size: 441 x 149 x 18 mm.

 

Logitech G513

Logitech G5137

2022-09Logitech • G513€130

• Logitech mechanical switches.
• Wired USB.
• 1 USB 2.0 port.
• Backlighting: adjustable, RGB per key lighting (FN+F5/F6/F7).
• Game Mode (FN+F8).
• Media Controls (FN+F9/ F10/F11/F12).
• Volume Controls (FN+ PRTSC/SCRLK/PAUSE).
• Programmable FN keys via Logitech G HUB.
• Keyboard size: 444 x 131 - 219 x 34 mm.
• Palm rest size: 444 x 88 - 21 mm.

Corsar K70

Corsair K70 (CHERRY® MX Brown)8

2022-09Corsair • K70€150

• CHERRY® MX Brown mechanical switches.
• Wired USB.
• Backlighting: adjustable, RGB per key lighting.
• Additional coloured and textured keycaps FPS / MOBA
• On-Board Memory.
• WIN Lock Dedicated Hotkey.
• Media Control Dedicated Hotkeys, Volume Roller.
• Keyboard size: 437 x 165 - 210 x 39 mm.
• Palm rest size: 437 x 63 - 20 mm.