The Crush 80 Reboot Lite is a mechanical keyboard with muted RGB and customization choices, albeit with out Mac-specific keycaps.
The mechanical keyboard market presents a variety of decisions for shoppers when it comes to specs and colours. Normally, what’s on supply from the producer is a reasonably sufficient keyboard in its personal proper, nevertheless it could possibly be higher with some tweaks.
More often than not, there’s the chance to tinker for these courageous sufficient to do it. Those that do can apply modifications to vary how the keyboard varieties, far past merely altering the keycaps or the switches.
On the similar time, you will additionally discover that those self same keyboards supply RGB backlighting, however not everybody needs the total light-based expertise. Generally, a extra toned-down illumination is what’s wanted.
Within the Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite, you get not solely a good keyboard setup, however one which’s not afraid to be tinkered with.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment – design
At face worth, the Crush 80 Reboot Lite is the cheaper choice within the Crush 80 Reboot line. The principle draw is the Professional model, which is obtainable in a wide range of colorways, full RGB, and a big battery for wi-fi utilization.
The Lite, alternatively, reduces the specs barely. Briefly, you have got fewer coloration choices, a smaller battery, and considerably lower down RGB.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: The complete format
You might have the selection of the Silver or Black model, with the previous equipped for assessment. On this occasion, the principle enclosure is silver-colored, with white keycaps and a few black highlights.
As an 80% format, it’s principally lacking a numpad, and that is it. All the remainder of the keys can be found to make use of, together with all the perform and management keys.
The general weight of the keyboard is 5.2 kilos. That is fairly hefty, however no less than which means it will not be shifting across the desk when you’re working.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: The weighted base
A few of that is all the way down to the machined aluminum physique, however there’s additionally a stainless-steel weight within the base. On this case, it has a glittering sample, which is sweet to find out about if not really see more often than not.
At 1.3 inches tall, virtually 14 inches lengthy, and 5.4 inches deep, it isn’t a very giant keyboard, because of that lacking numpad.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: The rear USB-C port for charging and connectivity
To the rear is the only USB-C port, used for a bodily connection to a Mac or for recharging its included 3,750mAh battery.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment – tinkering and AFK RGB
One uncommon advertising and marketing level for the Crush 80 Reboot line is that it may be freely disassembled by the person. Whereas usually that may contain a screwdriver, right here it is tool-free entry.
A set of 4 catches means you possibly can pull off the highest cowl inside seconds, with a little bit of stress and energy. That offers you quick access to the internals, to a shocking diploma.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: Taking the keyboard aside
To assist with this, Wobkey features a system of magnetic POGO pins to attach the principle circuit board to the battery compartment under. Which means you possibly can swap out the PCB for one more one, with out coping with fiddly cables or soldering.
Extra virtually, this lets you carry out modifications to the within. Wobkey additionally consists of spare screws, gaskets, silicone bumpers, and even one other layer of froth, in case you wish to use them to reinforce your typing expertise.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: Spares included within the field
That brings us to RGB, which is sort of minimal right here. The board inside would not have the standard RGB components, apart from a couple of keys to behave as indicators for connectivity. As a substitute, the RGB bits are away from the keyboard.
On both sides, towards the again of the enclosure, there are RGB strips that illuminate the desk to the edges of the keyboard. This isn’t in contrast to placing lighting beneath a automobile for avenue racing, however in your desk.
The opposite little bit of RGB is the emblem on the principle floor, off to the suitable.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: Some understated RGB
It is secure to say that these are fairly tasteful and understated components in comparison with the standard RGB overkill. In fact, you possibly can flip them off, however you may also change how the lights act through keyboard shortcuts.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment – switches and keycaps
The keycaps in use listed below are PBT Double Shot variations, which means that the glyphs will not put on away as they might with stickers. They’re additionally pretty conventionally designed keys with a small concave impact on the highest.
The included switches are HMX Frost switches rated to 45 grams for actuation. If you happen to do not just like the keys, they are often hot-swapped for others, persevering with the customizability theme.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: HMX Frost switches and the hidden energy swap
With the usage of a number of layers of froth contained in the keyboard, in addition to the usage of movie on the PCB, the Crush 80 Reboot Lite presents an attention-grabbing typing expertise.
Its primary keys are pretty good to kind on, with little springiness when mid-typing stream. Acoustically, it eliminates a number of the higher-pitched tones, resulting in a seemingly quieter noise.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment – connectivity and configuration
There are 3 ways to attach the Crush 80 Reboot Lite to a Mac or iPad. For a begin, you should use the USB-C cable, which can be used to recharge the battery.
To make use of it wirelessly, you may use Bluetooth. It has three Bluetooth profiles permitting it for use with three totally different units.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: The two.4GHz dongle is hidden inside the bottom
There’s additionally 2.4GHz through a receiver dongle. That is hidden beneath the emblem plate throughout the base plate, which is held in place magnetically.
It is a fairly cool approach to stow away the dongle when it isn’t in use.
Utilizing it wirelessly does require you to show it on, which is dealt with by a swap hidden beneath the Caps Lock key. It could appear bizarre to have the swap behind a key you must take away, however you are most likely not going to wish to truly flip it off except you are transporting it.
Whereas it’s a Home windows format by default, you possibly can change the keys round in two methods. One is through a keyboard shortcut, which switches a number of the keys round to a Mac format.
The opposite is thru Through, a generally used piece of software program for managing mechanical keyboards. You do must obtain a JSON file from Wobkey to make use of Through, however that is pretty easy to do.
Inside Through, which runs in a browser, you possibly can modify every key’s perform, and even arrange macros.
That is all properly and good, however sadly, whereas Wobkey consists of spares like switches, it would not embrace Mac-specific keys that could possibly be changed. That is definitely a nice-to-have factor, however those that want CMD and Choice keycaps might get a completely new set as an aftermarket buy.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment – refined customizations
As a possible mechanical keyboard for Mac customers, there’s lots to love in regards to the Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite. It’s a competent keyboard design that definitely blends into the everyday Mac aesthetic in its silver colorway.
It varieties properly, presents first rate connectivity and wi-fi help, and might be configured in numerous methods. The lowered RGB is a query of choice, however what’s included is unassuming and never attempting to blind you with coloration patterns.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: You do not get Mac-specific key replacements, however you possibly can swap the mapping round
There’s additionally customization and quick access to the internals, extra so than traditional. Whereas tinkering with the within could also be intimidating for many customers, entry is refreshingly straightforward for many who need it.
Actually, the one standout miss right here is the inclusion of some Mac-specific keycaps. It is not the top of the world, nevertheless it’s one thing that may have made it a neater selection for Mac house owners to make.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: execs
- Quick access to internals
- Good typing expertise
- Intensive wi-fi connectivity
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite assessment: cons
- Lack of Mac keycaps
- Fairly heavy
Score 4 out of 5
The place to purchase the Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite
The Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite is accessible on the Wobkey web site for $159. It is also out there on Amazon, from $169.