PerformancePSU Verdict: 4.8/5
View on Amazon
From the Reviewer
The Xtrfy K4 Retro TKL is priced at £89.99 within the UK and we really feel is the right worth 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 worth 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 worth.
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 not too long ago after I put collectively all the info for our most used keyboards by eSports players article after I quickly realised – there’s a variety of professional players utilizing Xtrfy {hardware} in tournaments.
As with the earlier Xtrfy K5 keyboard evaluate, I reached out to the Xtrfy advertising crew 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 effectively, 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 take 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 worth level. Whereas nonetheless rocking the identical Kailh crimson switches because the K5 this mannequin doesn’t assist hot-swappable switches nor does it embrace 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 by way of shortcut | |||||||||
| Connectivity | Onerous-wired braided, non-detachable USB | |||||||||
| Layouts Accessible | Nordic, UK, US, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian | |||||||||
| Colors Accessible | RetroBlack, White | |||||||||
| Dimensions | 356 x 141 x 39 mm | |||||||||
| Value | £89.99 keyboard within the UK or $155 within the USA | |||||||||
The Xtrfy K4 is on the market in 4 completely 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 completely 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 crew know precisely how one can place their merchandise. A glossy retro design with rigorously chosen colors to actually it other than the competitors – you immediately really feel a way of bizarre nostalgia.
Upon opening the field, there’s 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 identical 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 may 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 will not be indifferent so should you’re in search of a pickup-and-go keyboard you possibly can throw in your backpack you might need 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 all the 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 form sufficient to supply me with some samples to evaluate, I’m genuinely impressed by the eye to element.
The K4 is, for my part, a well-constructed keyboard that has a good weight to it with out being overbearing in addition to rubberised pads and extendable ft which 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 thus far is all the 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 count on 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 a lot better than the rest 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. When you take some time to tape-mod the keyboard and lube the switches, I might nearly guess that this keyboard would beat the rest for the worth.
I discover gaming efficiency is at all times onerous to quantify on the subject of RGB mechanical gaming keyboards. Response instances really feel as quick as they are often and are typically 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 a variety of area, my fingers felt cramped and suffered from a variety of overshoot when gaming leading to my urgent the flawed keys however that’s not 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 each one keypresses are registered regardless of what number of keys you press in succession.
Last 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’s a lot else within the phase that may match the standard on provide this aspect of the pond.
Okay, so price-wise, there’s 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 value it.
I don’t actually see every other competitors on the worth level proper now within the eSports match 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 presently obtainable providing aggressive worth factors. Xtrfy appears to be nailing it on the top mixing the right quantity of selling with high quality. It’s good to see a producer not oversell and underdeliver their merchandise.
The Xtrfy K4 TKL mechanical keyboard is definitely probably the greatest gaming keyboards utilized by skilled players proper nowalongside the K5 – I might 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 to be good in footage and sometimes under-delivers.
