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Lofree’s 1% Clear Keyboard line boasts linear mechanical switches, built-in LED results — and clear keycaps.
We love mechanical keyboards and are all the time looking out for brand new ones so as to add to our assortment, particularly if they bring about one thing new to the desk.
We acquired to take a look at two of Lofree’s 1% Clear Mechanical Keyboards to see how they stack up in opposition to our different favorites.
Lofree’s 1% Clear Keyboard – Design
The very first thing you discover about Lofree’s 1% Clear Keyboards is that they’re eponymously clear. Whereas the look will not be for everybody, it definitely is a dialog piece. We occur to love it fairly a bit.
The unique model boasts clear keycaps with none tint, making it really feel a bit ethereal to kind on. The bottom is silvery chrome.
The Orange Soda version options soda-bottle inexperienced and clear orange keycaps with a soda-bottle inexperienced base. We love the playfulness of this design and assume it could look nice in a themed setup.
Each variations characteristic pre-lubricated Kailh Jellyfish switches. These switches are linear, that means there is no loud clicking once you press the important thing down the entire manner.
Each additionally characteristic a USB-C charging port and a 60-hour battery life. As well as, they arrive with Bluetooth 5.1, which is good if you wish to pair them with a console or good projector.
Along with the clear keycaps, each fashions have white LEDs that backlight the keys. We like the selection to pair this with white LEDs reasonably than RBG ones, because it feels extra thematically applicable. The LEDs might be set to a handful of various modes and have just a few ranges of brightness to select from.
If there’s one draw back to the keyboards, they’re solely accessible in a 68-key — or 65% — format. We might like to see the next key rely accessible in future releases as a result of we would be serious about a full 104-key 1% Clear keyboard — or a minimum of an identical quantity pad.
Lofree’s 1% Clear Keyboard – Efficiency
The one factor we needed to get used to when typing on the 1% Clear Keyboards is how slick the keys felt. Our different mechanical keyboards and non-mechanical keyboards additionally are inclined to have a really slight texture to the keys.
These keycaps are shiny, making them a little bit international to kind on at first. It isn’t a deal breaker, but it surely was one thing we needed to get used to.
After all, whether or not you like linear or clicky keys is a matter of desire, however we expect the Kailh Jellyfish switches are implausible for a linear set. There is a good quantity of suggestions with out being overly noisy.
Whereas the keys are definitely louder than one thing like an Apple Magic Keyboard, we do not assume that it could irritate any coworkers, napping toddlers, or faculty roommates.
We paired it with each our iMac and our iPad and located that it labored nice with each. We particularly love the change that lets you toggle the format between a macOS/iOS format or a PC format — no must remap your keys in any respect.
The Lofree 1% Clear Keyboard is a head-turner
Not everybody will desire a fully clear keyboard, however for these on the lookout for one thing really distinctive, the Lofree 1% Clear Keyboard will certainly get consideration.
Our largest concern is that the value level is excessive, particularly when in comparison with AppleInsider workers favorites just like the Keychron K2 or the Keychron K2V2.
Nonetheless, it looks as if a strong alternative, and for many who aren’t trying to construct their very own mechanical keyboards — a job that may get very costly in a short time — however need one thing designed to face out, this can be a implausible keyboard price trying out.
Lofree 1% Clear Keyboard – Execs
- Distinctive, clear keycaps
- Pre-lubricated linear switches are nice for a number of environments
- First rate battery life
- Two colorways to select from
Lofree 1% Clear Keyboard – Cons
- Shiny keys take time to get used to
- Worth level could also be a bit excessive for some
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