Half price for one small change.
The Cherry Xtrfy K4 V2 is one of our favourite gaming keyboards in recent times because it offers a functional and reliable experience in a smaller form factor layout, complete with the brand’s venerable MX2A switches.
At the moment, this keyboard is £100 if you want it in ISO UK layout, but by opting for a Pan Nordic layout, it’s just £32. This means some of the alphanumeric keys have region-specific legends on, but if your keyboard language is set to English UK in your operating system of choice, then it’ll work the same as a normal UK layout keyboard. Also, I feel obliged to mention the German layout variant in the ‘Retro’ colourway that’s two-tone grey is just £24, so even cheaper!
Alternatively, you can add a UK layout keycap set that’ll make it a proper UK layout ‘board for much less than the £100 asking price, too. One of our favourite keycap sets, the PBT SteelSeries PrismCaps are £30 for an entire set – that’s £62 for the keyboard and an upgrade to more durable and shine-resistant PBT pudding-style keycaps, and at a significant discount to boot.
Barring the Pan-Nordic shenanigans explained above, the space-saving TKL layout offered here is a a standard one that gives you alphanumeric keys, a proper nav cluster with arrow keys and a function row to boot. The only thing you are sacrificing is a number pad in the name of more desk space. The chassis here is plastic, but it’s a reasonably solid feel and for the price, I don’t have any real complaints. There isn’t any software customisation here either, as the configuration is handled on the keyboard itself, which is convenient, although I can understand why folks prefer an actual GUI for doing so.
Inside, you’ll find the new MX2A Red switches, which are Cherry’s attempt to improve their venerable, long-standing designs with additions such as a barrel spring for less key wobble and factory lubrication for a smoother feel, and to alleviate the complaint that MXs were scratchy switches. Both Will and I have used a form of MX2A Reds in the recently-released MX 3.1, and we’ve both seriously been impressed with the improvements in feeling with a smoother keypress alongside the light and snappy 45g linear feel that makes them well-placed for gaming. Sure, there aren’t any hall effect or rapid trigger shenanigans going on, but for a no-nonsense gaming keyboard, this is a good choice.
If you want to grab one of our favourite gaming keyboards on the cheap, this Cherry Xtrfy K4 V2 deal from Amazon is absolutely fantastic.
