Content

X360CE • Keyboard Precision and Quality Tests • Comparison of Keyboards

Scissor vs Mechanical Switches Precision and Quality Test Results Tested Keyboards
Scissor vs Mechanical Switches

Scissor vs Mechanical Keyboard Switches

Mechanical keyboards are uncomfortable, overrated and annoyingly loud even with O-Ring switch dampeners. It is nearly impossible to use them with external microphone and voice activated chat during online gaming sessions and around other people in quiet environments. People will hate you for all that noise. 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 key in them actuates usually at the same ~2 mm distance, but release is instant. Long travel distances and no soft cushions 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 • actuation and key travel distance 1.3 mm x down+up = 2.6+ mm.
Corsair K70 • mechanical • actuation 2 mm, travel distance 3.9 mm x down+up = 7.8+ mm.

Precision and Quality Test Results

Precision and Quality Test Results • Comparison of Keyboards

BEST

GOOD

AVERAGE

WORST
Logitech • MX KEYS ~€98 Logitech • K800 ~€120 Logitech • G513 ~€130 Corsair • K70 ~€150
1.3 mm actuation and travel distances. Smooth and quiet. Logitech scissor switches. 2.2 mm actuation and travel distances. Quiet. Logitech scissor switches. 1.4 mm actuation and 3.2 mm travel distances. Loud. Logitech mechanical switches. 2 mm actuation 3.9 mm and travel distances. Very Loud. Cherry mechanical switches.

Max Gram Force and Actuation with Travel Distance Averages

Image and Graph Differences

Image above shows values of average line, which is combination of 6 lines ( 1 = Y \ 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).

Performance Graph

Gram force table shows MIN MAX and MED values of 6 separated lines from each keyboard (gram force values before actuation).
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Tested Keyboards

List of Tested Keyboards
Logitech MX KEYS

Logitech MX KEYS1

2019-08Logitech • CRAFT€160

2019-08Logitech • MX KEYS€98

• 1.3 actuation and travel distance • Logitech scissor switches.
• Typing noise: Quiet.

• 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.
• Adjustable backlighting (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

2019-08Logitech • K800 Keyboard€120

Logitech MX KEYS is newer and better keyboard than K800.

• 2.2 mm actuation and travel distance • Logitech scissor switches.
• Typing noise: Quiet.

• Wireless via included Logitech Unifying USB receiver.
• 10 meters wireless range.
• Adjustable backlighting (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.

Logitech G513

Logitech G5133

2019-08Logitech • G513€130

• 1.4 mm actuation and 3.2mm travel distance • Logitech mechanical switches.
• Typing noise: Loud.

• Wired USB 2.0.
• 1 USB 2.0 port.
• Adjustable backlighting, 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)4

2019-08Corsair • K70€150

• 2 mm actuation and 4 mm travel distance • CHERRY® MX Brown mechanical switches.
• Typing noise: Very loud.

• Wired USB 2.0.
• Adjustable backlighting, 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.