Xtrfy K4 TKL Retro Mechanical Keyboard Evaluate
PerformancePSU Verdict: 4.8/5
From the Reviewer
The Xtrfy K4 Retro TKL is priced at £89.99 in the UK and we really feel is the proper value level for the unimaginable high quality on provide. The RGB lighting is crisp and saturated, and the typing expertise is affordable however might simply be improved with some low-cost modifications.General, for the value you are paying, you’ll not discover a higher keyboard within the bracket. The K4 simply outperforms a few of its rivals for lower than half of the value.
Execs
- Retro Aesthetics
- Good Base to Modify
- Crisp RGB Lighting
- Braided Cable
- Construct High quality
Xtrfy is a Swedish firm that has slipped underneath my radar for a very long time till not too long ago once I put collectively all the information for our most used keyboards by eSports players article once I quickly realised – there may be plenty of professional players utilizing Xtrfy {hardware} in tournaments.
As with the earlier Xtrfy K5 keyboard evaluate, I reached out to the Xtrfy advertising and marketing staff to see if I might see what all of the fuss was about. Initially, I simply wished to have a look at the K5 however they had been good sufficient to ship me this one as properly, so an enormous shout out to Xtrfy for offering this pattern.
Allow us to kick off our Xtrfy K4 TKL Retro Mech Keyboard Evaluate by taking a better have a look at what’s on provide and the specs
Specs
On paper, the Xtrfy K4 TKL eSports gaming keyboard is a really comparable spec to its greater brother the K5 65% however, brings rather less refinement leading to a extra accessible value level. Whereas nonetheless rocking the identical Kailh crimson switches because the K5 this mannequin doesn’t help hot-swappable switches nor does it embody key dampening or a removable USB cable.
| Xtrfy K4 TKL Retro Specs | ||||||||||
| Switches | Mechanical Kailh Purple RGB | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change Variants | Linear Solely | |||||||||
| Kind Issue | 88 Key, TenKeyLess (TKL) | |||||||||
| Lighting | Onboard Controls | |||||||||
| Quantity Adjustment | Sure through shortcut | |||||||||
| Connectivity | Onerous-wired braided, non-detachable USB | |||||||||
| Layouts Out there | Nordic, UK, US, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian | |||||||||
| Colors Out there | Retro, Black, White | |||||||||
| Dimensions | 356 x 141 x 39 mm | |||||||||
| Value | £89.99 keyboard in the UK or $155 in the USA | |||||||||
The Xtrfy K4 is on the market in 4 totally different choices; The primary is the full-size K4 full with quantity keys however solely obtainable in black. The opposite 3 are all TKL variations; The primary is the retro model we’re reviewing right here and the totally different choices you possibly can spec are both a black or white model.
Unboxing
A have a look at the field reveals that their design staff know precisely place their merchandise. A modern retro design with rigorously chosen colors to essentially it aside from the competitors – you immediately really feel a way of bizarre nostalgia.
Upon opening the field, there may be not a lot to see apart from some protecting foam masking the entrance of the Xtrfy K4 TKL keyboard.
Aesthetics
I discussed earlier than that the packaging design made me really feel like was 8 years previous and again in class once more, I particularly bear in mind an analogous fashion in my early years. I admit it’s a really nostalgic expertise – even all the way down to the retro gray tone of the body and keycaps, they actually nailed it there.
One factor I actually love concerning the Xtrfy K4 RGB keyboard is the triple-tone keycaps, particularly the darker caps that take up the ‘TKL’ portion of the board – they appear to part off the keyboard in my peripheral imaginative and prescient.
To the rear of the K4 TKL keyboard, you’ve got a centred and braided USB cable with crimson plastic accents to additional bolster the retro theme of this unit. As talked about earlier than, the cable just isn’t indifferent so in the event you’re in search of a pickup-and-go keyboard you possibly can throw in your backpack you might wish to have a look at the K5 TKL or possibly even the Roccat Vulcan which each include removable USB-c connectors.
Construct High quality
Out of the entire mechanical eSports keyboards I’ve reviewed not too long ago, the construct high quality of Xtrfy mechanical keyboards has been second to none and no, I’m not simply saying that as a result of they had been sort sufficient to offer me with some samples to evaluate, I’m genuinely impressed by the eye to element.
The K4 is, in my view, a well-constructed keyboard that has a good weight to it with out being overbearing in addition to rubberised pads and extendable ft that means it’s not going to go slipping round your desk throughout these clutch gaming moments.
As with the Xtrfy K5 compact 65% keyboard we reviewed, the built-in RGB lighting is amongst the very best at school bringing vibrant colors throughout the complete spectrum of colors. Usually, I’ve one thing to say within the RGB lighting division however not with this keyboard.
What I’ve discovered up to now is the entire costly keyboards look the half in footage such because the Logitech G915 and the SteelSeries Apex PRO TKL however lack in different departments which isn’t one thing I can say for the Xtrfy K4 TKL mechanical eSports gaming keyboard.
Efficiency
I’ll come proper out and say it; The typing expertise is nowhere close to as refined because the Xtrfy K5 65% keyboard however what do you anticipate from a product that’s purposely positioned to be cheaper and simpler to entry that its greater (smaller) brother?
General, the typing expertise from the Xtrfy K4 TKL keyboard remains to be significantly better than anything I’ve used within the phase. The stabs have some good resistance and don’t sound echoey in any respect which is one thing I discovered to be an issue with the Roccat Vulcan TKL Professional. In the event you take a while to tape-mod the keyboard and lube the switches, I might nearly guess that this keyboard would beat anything for the value.
I discover gaming efficiency is at all times laborious to quantify in the case of RGB mechanical gaming keyboards. Response occasions really feel as quick as they are often and are typically imperceptible to us mere mortals so I are likely to go on really feel, suggestions and the final consolation while gaming. I discovered with the Logitech G915 that whereas it was an enormous board taking over plenty of house, my fingers felt cramped and suffered from plenty of overshoot when gaming leading to my urgent the unsuitable keys however that isn’t one thing I’ve whereas utilizing the Xtrfy K4 TKL.
There are zero noticeable delays within the execution of key presses. The n-key rollover feature ensures that each one keypresses are registered irrespective of what number of keys you press in succession.
Ultimate Ideas
Till a few months in the past, I didn’t even know who Xtrfy had been however, after reviewing two of their keyboards now and seeing how they work together with their viewers on social media, I can see these guys going locations in the long run. Remembering that is an £89.99 keyboard in the UK or $155 in the USA, I don’t suppose there may be a lot else within the phase that may match the standard on provide this facet of the pond.
Okay, so price-wise, there may be the Coolermaster CK352 which is available in at £60 in the UK or $69.99 in the US however, the refinement and high quality provided are nowhere what you’re getting from the Xtrfy K4 TKL – spending the additional £20 is value it.
I don’t actually see another competitors on the value level proper now within the eSports event gaming scene. Out of all of our opinions, analysis and testing – it’s trying like Xtrfy keyboards are among the finest, off-the-shelf mechanical gaming keyboards at present obtainable providing aggressive value factors. Xtrfy appears to be nailing it on the pinnacle mixing the proper quantity of promoting with high quality. It’s good to see a producer not oversell and underdeliver their merchandise.
The Xtrfy K4 TKL mechanical keyboard is definitely the most effective gaming keyboards utilized by skilled players proper now, alongside the K5 – I’d extremely suggest this keyboard for players or programmers wanting a step up from the run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf {hardware} that solely seems to be good in footage and infrequently under-delivers.
