Vortex Pok3r White Case Rgb Led

Vortex POK3R RGB

Pros

Solid build quality
Heavy cast aluminium chassis
Detachable USB cable
Double shot ABS
Cherry MX switches
No software needed
3 programmable layers
Brilliant RGB LED
Excellent LED customisation options

Cons

Non double shot PBT + POM
Steep learning curve
Arrow cluster should exist at WASD
LED and Multimedia shortcut not printed on keycaps
Weird programmable key function behavior
Doesn't come cheap

When we mention about keyboards, the first image that comes to your mind is probably your Dell or Logitech keyboards. Or mayhap, you lot're exposed to the gaming industry and currently rocking i of those gaming mechanical keyboards from Cooler Master, Corsair, Logitech G or Razer.

Today I'm going to testify yous something rather special compared to your everyday keyboards. What I have in My Everyday Tech's lab is the Vortex POK3R RGB mechanical keyboard. It features a lx% layout instead of the regular 100% or 80% layout. Why lx%? Because the keyboard has 61 keys as opposed to the regular total sized 104 keys.

By the way, Vortex has a standard non-RGB version of the POK3R few years before this. Hence, this is basically the same POK3R with some different configuration to support the LED options. So what does Vortex has to offer for such a minor keyboard at the price tag of RM599? Read on to find out.

Video Review

Vortex POK3R RGB Unboxing

The POK3R RGB comes in a familiar black package with the rainbow-coloured word "3" to indicate this is an RGB variant.

Overall, the box has clean and minimalist pattern with Vortex brand logo at the corner.

Open box reveals another layer of card box that offers extra protection for the keyboard.

The bundle comes with the keyboard and the USB cable just. But similar the regular version, you don't get whatsoever custom keycaps or the keycap puller. Even the user manual is only available on Vortex's website.

And then what'southward the difference between this and the regular POK3R?

	POK3R	POK3R RGB
Backlight	No LED backlighting	RGB LED backlighting
Frame colour selection	Black and White	Black only
Base plate colour	Black and White (Matching frame colour)	White but
Key caps	Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation engraved thick PBT	Doubleshot ABS

Basically, the differences are generally on the advent side to accommodate the LED backlighting, for example, the translucent double shot ABS keycaps and white back plate for better light reflection.

I'll explain more well-nigh the details at the latter office of this review.

Build Quality

Chassis

The keyboard notwithstanding retains the original 60% fundamental layout with standard modifier central size.

Pictured above is the size comparing with my full sized 104-fundamental Leopold FC500RR.

With the absence of the summit office row, navigation cluster and numeric keypad, you definitely can meet how miniature the keyboard is.

Beginning, we have a skilful look at the bottom chassis. Just like the regular POK3R, the case is fabricated of cast aluminium and feels extremely solid and heavy. It actually improves the typing feel where each keystroke has a solid landing instead of hollow-ish feel.

It comes with iv pieces of condom feet to make sure your keyboard stays in place.

There's an opening nether the keyboard for piece of cake access to the DIP switches for hardware layer customisation. I'll talk more well-nigh the DIP switch functions in the features section.

The keyboard proper name plate is fabricated of metal and light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation engraved with the series number and the tagline – Enjoy Your Feeling.

At the era of USB-C and Micro USB, the mini USB felt a little bit dated.

The keycap has a curved profile for improved typing ergonomics.

While it is quite obvious they're cutting the cost on the cast aluminium casing with the decision of using a depression profile chassis, but it gives this keyboard a dissimilar characteristic. Allowing you to showcase the transparent mechanical key switch housing and LED blings to your visitors.

Some say it helps to go along the keyboard from collecting dust. Always clean your keyboards guys!

The chassis has thicker top border compared to the rest, to be verbal, 5mm compared to 2mm.

The back plate sits flush with the low profile chassis. Seriously, we're talking well-nigh accurately fitting 2 pieces of metal together with some electronics circuit board sandwiched in between. On pinnacle of that, all of those in mass production quality, kudos to the folks at Vortex for such detailed and polished finishing.

Keycaps

Vortex has opted for using the double shot ABS keycaps for the RGB keyboard. The keycaps are multicoated and felt amend compared to other double shot ABS keycaps. However, the typing feel couldn't stand up against the much meliorate thick PBT keycaps that come with the standard non-backlit model.

I seriously thought that Vortex could accept picked the double shot PBT+POM keycaps for this, specially for how the customs has been auspicious on for when the POK3R was released with thick PBTs.

Switches & Stabilisers

Taking off the keycaps reveals the Scarlet MX RGB mechanical central switches with transparent housing.

The POK3R RGB comes with a switch option of:

Tactile & clicky Cherry MX RGB Blue
Tactile Cherry MX RGB Brown
Linear Cherry MX RGB Blood-red (45gm actuation)
Linear Cherry MX RGB Natural White (55gm actuation)

The keyboard I had come up with the Scarlet switches, which is my personal favourite switch for all purpose usage. Well, your switch preferences differ, though.

Cherry stabilisers are used on those long keys such as spacebar, shift, enter and backspace. They are easier for keycap removal than the wire type stabilisers.

I believe Vortex has done some tweaking at the stabilisers as it doesn't experience as mushy every bit regular Cherry stabilisers.

Features

DIP Switch

The DIP switch at the bottom of the keyboard allows the user to toggle some of the configurations such as the keyboard layout and function key location. As mentioned, you need to access to Vortex's website for the user manual.

Say, y'all're a Dvorak user, and by simply plugging in the keyboard, the calculator volition recognise the layout as Dvorak without the need of configuring information technology in the Bone settings.

Central Combos

You yet take access to all the missing key functions with the FN layer even though the keys take been reduced. Holding the "FN" fundamental will activate the FN layer while holding the "Card" primal will activate the PN layer. It is indeed troublesome for beginners, simply once you become used to the layout, y'all're going to fly through the combos without having to look at the side-printed labels.

The keyboard also has native multimedia control built-in, however, they are non labelled on the keycaps. Same applies to the LED functions. I understand the PN combination will overlap the FN combinations but Vortex could accept labeled all the FN functions instead of leaving them out.

The missing FN layer labels.

Lighting customisation functions autumn under the PN layer.

I wonder why Vortex print the text "Menu" instead of "PN" on the keycap.

Some other thing I hate is the Vortex'south conclusion to move POK3R'southward pointer cluster from WASD to IJKL which is extremely awkward to use because you need to press downwardly the FN key to use the cluster.

Programmable Layers

Vortex introduced two-layer programmability role with the second generation POKER keyboard. For the third generation POKER, they increase the programmable layers to 3 layers.

Instead of belongings the PN key to access to the additional layers, the new keyboard allows yous to toggle between different layers with the use of FN key.

It is really useful that we tin can plan a hot key on-the-fly without the need of any software installed on your computer.

While usually a hotkey's command is triggered with a single actuation and ends at the end of the command, just one matter I find it weird is that nosotros demand to continue the hotkey depressed in order to execute the command and it won't terminate until we lift our finger.

Here's a video to showcase how you can configure the layers.

LED Configuration

If you fancy for those actress blings on your peripherals, the POK3R RGB volition not disappoint you with the extra bright LEDs. The keyboard utilises the RGB variant of Cherry MX switches that has transparent housing for maximum calorie-free dispersion.

It comes with multiple onboard presets that includes full keyboard backlight also as per-key reaction type of lighting effect. The icing on the cake is the ability to support your ain custom lighting design.

Here's a video with in-depth explanation and demo for the LED backlighting.

Verdict

I'll be honest with you, threescore% keyboards has a very niche demand in the market. Only those mechanical keyboard enthusiasts would pay attention to these keyboards. Sometimes, even those 87-key (tenkeyless) are having a difficult time to sell due to the lack of num pad. Hence you don't see a lot of brands releasing 60% keyboards.

This is for those who are looking for a keyboard with a small footprint that saves their precious desktop space without sacrificing whatever of the full-sized keyboard functions. Although the keyboard sells at RM599, but consider that nosotros're getting meridian-notch build quality specially the cast aluminium chassis, we call up it is off-white. On top of that, you're getting 3 programmable hardware layers besides as customisable RGB backlighting. We had boat-loads of fun exploring the capabilities and potential of this keyboard and certainly, you would observe it interesting every bit well.