8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is sort of a nostalgia overload — and affords a rattling good typing expertise, too

I’m a sucker for the outdated days. I do my finest to maintain my rose-tinted glasses off as a lot as attainable, however give me a vinyl deck over an MP3 any day, a GameBoy cartridge over a digital obtain each time. Consequently, the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is urgent all the fitting buttons for me.

Not solely is it an excellent mechanical keyboard in its personal proper, with most of the fashionable conveniences you’d count on of a keyboard in 2024, nevertheless it aesthetically harks again to some traditional gaming methods that can attraction to many individuals of a sure classic. If you happen to’re a gamer who turns their nostril up on the fashionable obsession with RGB-everything — or simply available on the market for a well-priced keyboard with a little bit of character, the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard ought to be excessive in your record. It joins the ranks of our prime picks among the many finest mechanical keyboards for Mac.

And naturally, this complete overview is written utilizing the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor — (Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

Worth and availability

The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is out there now, and is available in 4 totally different types — Fami, N, C64 and M. Fami is modelled after the Japanese 8-bit Famicom computer systems with beige shell and a choice of pink buttons. It’s the one we’re testing out as we speak, although they’re all functionally an identical. N is modelled after the gray and pink stylings of the Nintendo Leisure System (NES) which dominated dwelling rooms within the 80s. C64 seems similar to the Commodore 64 computer systems, whereas the M takes its cues from Amiga methods.

They’re priced at $99.99 — although the corporate has commonly been knocking $10 bucks off that worth with restricted time gross sales. The exception is the C64 version, which has a $109.99 price ticket. And all embody a separate set of outsized, programmable ‘Tremendous Buttons’ within the field too — a enjoyable and quirky further.

Whichever mannequin you go for, that’s an amazing worth for a very stable mechanical keyboard, even earlier than you throw in these further macro buttons. You possibly can simply pay double that worth to get a mechanical keyboard with this function set, so it’s an amazing worth providing from 8BitDo right here.

What I really like

Simply have a look at this factor! Although I grew up with the NES styled 8-bit Nintendo system quite than the Japanese Famicom that this explicit model is aesthetically aping, you may’t assist however overload no matter gland is answerable for retro nostalgia everytime you have a look at the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard. It’s only a beautiful merchandise, with its combination of pink and cream colorings, golden particulars and kanji characters alongside the Roman alphabet on the keys.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

There are a ton of cool particulars right here, from the NES-like arrow keys to the customizable B and A buttons that sit beneath the fitting Shift button, to the old-school bulb-like energy indicator to the highest proper. I just like the little nods to analog physicality right here too — there’s a dial for leaping between Bluetooth LE, 2.4GHz wi-fi (over a Mario-block type dongle USB-A dongle that neatly shops away right into a recess), and OFF / wired modes, and one other dial for cranking up your system’s quantity. Subsequent to those is a trio of spherical buttons for connecting to units wirelessly, organising macros, and switching between customized key profiles. USB charging is on the rear edge, in addition to 4 enlargement ports for add-on equipment 8BitDo sells — in addition to the included Tremendous Buttons, you will get particular person large buttons, an arcade-style joystick, and a four-key SNES-style key add-on, every bought individually.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

These Tremendous Buttons are dumb enjoyable too. You possibly can program them to do any perform of your selecting. Are they that helpful? Most likely… not? However there’s one thing enjoyable about switching between apps, as an illustration, with a push of a giant mushy controller button. It’s enjoyable, and hasn’t appeared to have added a large further expense to the general price, so I’m right here for them.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

It’s total an excellent typing expertise too — a bit noisier and clicky than I’d like, nevertheless it’s an excellent really feel. There’s 3.6mm journey to the keys, with a hot-swappable circuit board and N-Key rollover assist (letting you press nevertheless many buttons as you want concurrently with out the keyboard freaking out and misinterpreting your inputs). 8BitDo kits the keyboard out with Kalih Field White Switches (V2), and the keycaps are dye-sub PBT, which ought to shield the icons from carrying off over time.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

Although tenkeyless, it’s a chunky keyboard for the format (87 keys complete), partly because of its full-size perform row keys and separated units for the likes of Print display screen, Insert, Delete, PGUP, PGDN, and so forth. It measures 377 x 170 x 47mm, and weighs in at 1050g. The load works in its favor — this man received’t slide round if you’re furiously typing away.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

Although I’ve not had the time to check the 200 hour utilization declare but, that appears in-line with what I’d count on from the interior 2,000mAh rechargeable battery onboard right here. 4 hours of charging time over the included USB-C cable will deliver the battery to 100%, and the keyboard can nonetheless be used with zero energy with that cable plugged into your laptop and the connectivity dial switched to ‘OFF’.

What I don’t love

The very first thing right here shall be apparent to anybody taking a look at these photographs above intently — this isn’t a Mac-layout keyboard, and 8BitDo doesn’t supply the choice. By default you’re caught with Home windows and ALT keys quite than Choice and CMD, and whereas all of them map intuitively, you is likely to be a stickler for a keyboard that matches your major platform. Seeing because the keys are swappable, it’d be nice if 8BitDo might supply a sold-separately Mac-pack sooner or later, however this seems unlikely. I don’t assume I’d wish to smash the aesthetic with non-matching third-party Mac keycaps both.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

Maybe extra irritating is the accompanying keyboard software program. On Home windows, it’s really nice — you’re in a position to remap keys to any perform you want, program these massive Tremendous Buttons to macros, and scroll by means of totally different profile configurations. It’s nice for constructing out customized shortcuts, or game-specific key mappings. It’s a disgrace then that there’s no Mac assist for the software program — and probably troubling for the long-term well being of the keyboard when paired completely with a Mac, because the software program suite is the one present solution to replace the keyboard’s firmware.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

Competitors

There are such a lot of totally different mechanical keyboards with totally different options to suit your wants. And with countless customization, there’s not essentially a one-size-fits-all when figuring out one of the best.

The NuPhy Halo 75 is barely dearer than the 8BitDo coming in at $130 nevertheless it affords a unbelievable typing expertise with each connection possibility you can hope for. With numerous switches to select from, the Halo 75 is one of the best mechanical keyboard underneath $150.

If you happen to’re in search of one thing extra customized and wish to get your arms soiled with a DIY undertaking, look no additional than the Meletriz Zoom75. This beautiful keyboard has distinctive construct high quality and is good for anybody who needs to make mechanical keyboards their passion.

For one thing slightly extra low profile we advise the Lofree Move 100 which provides you an amazing sounding keyboard and construct high quality that seems like Apple might’ve made it.

Ought to You Purchase It?

Purchase the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard if…

You like the retro aesthetic
You benefit from the really feel of an excellent mechanical keyboard

You need a keyboard with a little bit of heft to it

Do not buy the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard if…

You need a extra sedate-looking keyboard
You favor low-profile or chiclet keyboards

Desk area is at a premium

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

(Picture credit score: Gerald Lynch / Future)

Verdict

I’m smitten with the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard. It’s so good wanting with such enjoyable little options that it’s straightforward to fall in love with — and that’s regardless of its lack of actual Mac assist, and me being a Mac consumer primarily, and my common desire for low-profile keyboards. Generally although, you simply wish to look down at one thing you spend a lot time of your day in entrance of, and have it increase a smile. The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard does that, and at an amazing worth too. If 8BitDo ever will get its software program over to the Mac, this is able to get prime ‘wonderful’ prime marks. For now it’ll should make do with ‘very, excellent’ as a substitute.

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard on a wooden floor

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is sort of a nostalgia overload — and affords a rattling good typing expertise, too

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