Xtrfy K4 TKL Retro Mechanical Keyboard Overview
PerformancePSU Verdict: 4.8/5
From the Reviewer
The Xtrfy K4 Retro TKL is priced at £89.99 within 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 cheap 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 opponents 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 beneath my radar for a very long time till lately once I put collectively all the information for our most used keyboards by eSports players article once I quickly realised – there may be lots of professional players utilizing Xtrfy {hardware} in tournaments.
As with the earlier Xtrfy K5 keyboard evaluation, 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 needed to take 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 Overview by taking a more in-depth take a look at what’s on provide and the specs
Specs
On paper, the Xtrfy K4 TKL eSports gaming keyboard is a really related spec to its larger 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 Pink RGB | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swap Variants | Linear Solely | |||||||||
| Type 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 | |||||||||
| Worth | £89.99 keyboard within the UK or $155 within the USA | |||||||||
The Xtrfy K4 is offered 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 take a look at the field reveals that their design staff know precisely find out how to place their merchandise. A smooth retro design with fastidiously chosen colors to actually it other than 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 overlaying 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 at school once more, I particularly bear in mind an analogous model in my early years. I admit it’s a really nostalgic expertise – even right down to the retro gray tone of the body and keycaps, they actually nailed it there.
One factor I actually love in regards to 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 will have 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 should you’re on the lookout for a pickup-and-go keyboard you possibly can throw in your backpack chances are you’ll wish to take a look at the K5 TKL or perhaps even the Roccat Vulcan which each include removable USB-c connectors.
Construct High quality
Out of the entire mechanical eSports keyboards I’ve reviewed lately, 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 evaluation, I’m genuinely impressed by the eye to element.
The K4 is, in my view, a well-constructed keyboard that has an honest weight to it with out being overbearing in addition to rubberised pads and extendable toes 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 perfect at school bringing vibrant colors throughout the total spectrum of colors. Usually, I’ve one thing to say within the RGB lighting division however not with this keyboard.
What I’ve discovered to date 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 larger (smaller) brother?
General, the typing expertise from the Xtrfy K4 TKL keyboard remains to be significantly better than anything I’ve used within the section. 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 case 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 onerous to quantify with regards to RGB mechanical gaming keyboards. Response instances really feel as quick as they are often and are usually imperceptible to us mere mortals so I are inclined to go on really feel, suggestions and the overall consolation while gaming. I discovered with the Logitech G915 that whereas it was an enormous board taking over lots of area, my fingers felt cramped and suffered from lots of overshoot when gaming leading to my urgent the fallacious 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 characteristic ensures that every 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 within the UK or $155 within the USA, I don’t assume there may be a lot else within the section 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 within the UK or $69.99 within the US however, the refinement and high quality supplied are nowhere what you’re getting from the Xtrfy K4 TKL – spending the additional £20 is price it.
I don’t actually see every other competitors on the value level proper now within the eSports match gaming scene. Out of all of our critiques, analysis and testing – it’s wanting like Xtrfy keyboards are a few of the finest, off-the-shelf mechanical gaming keyboards presently obtainable providing aggressive value factors. Xtrfy appears to be nailing it on the top 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 among the best gaming keyboards utilized by skilled players proper now, alongside the K5 – I’d extremely advocate this keyboard for players or programmers wanting a step up from the run-of-the-mill, off-the-shelf {hardware} that solely seems good in footage and sometimes under-delivers.
