review – This is the new mechanical keyboard from XVX, which according to their website is a blend of art and modern technology.Eye-catching pieces from Ooo’s and Ah’s that captivate the family right out of the box
What is it?
XVX M84 is 84 keys, 75% wired or wireless mechanical keyboard Wrapped in their Coral Sea theme.
What’s in the box?
- Royal Kludge RK89 keyboard
- 2.4 GHz USB receiver
- keycap puller
- key switch extractor
- USB A to USB C cable
- manual
Hardware Specifications
- Wired or 2.4 GHz wireless mode
- 84-key layout (full rollover)
- hot swap switch
- Gateron red or yellow switch
- Customizable LED lighting
- 1850mAh built-in battery
- PBT dye sublimation keycaps
- Windows/Mac compatible
Design and Features
If you’re a fan of anime, Japanese art, and mechanical keyboards that won’t break the bank, you might just want to check out this one. This thing has what XVX calls a Coral Sea theme around the whole thing. This is reminiscent of the Japanese painting The Great Wave off Kanagawa, which is one of my favorites. So not only does it have themed keycaps, but the casing is also wrapped in artwork. I’m assuming it’s flooded, but I can’t tell you for sure. The XVX website doesn’t reveal any secrets about how they did it. My kids and I really love this theme. We watch a lot of anime and samurai movies, so that probably has a lot to do with it.
The XVX MK84 is a 75% ten-keyless keyboard that uses Gateron red or yellow switches, depending on which one you choose. The sample comments I received are in red. Since I think it’s becoming the de facto option for mechanical keyboards, this keyboard has the popular hot-swap switches as well as PBT keycaps. Now Gateron is a popular switch maker best known for its Cherry MX clones, which means you’re going to get some great switches. Fair warning: I don’t like any OEM’s red switches. I’m too heavy and the typist is not very good. The switches I usually use in keyboards bottom out, and the red actuation is about the lowest. Needless to say, I made a mess of these fools and it tarnished my experience. I didn’t know yellow would be better for me. I might have a similar problem with them as they are both linear type switches and the yellow has a slightly higher actuation force. If you’re a typist or a hardcore gamer looking for quick responses, you should love either one.
The keycaps feature dye-sublimated artwork and legends. It’s not as good as a double shot, but with dye sublimation you can get this type of art without worrying about the waves and fish getting worn out. And, since you can’t get dye-sublimated ABS keycaps, you get the quality and feel of PBT! I mean, look at them! don’t you like them? I love them, my kids love them, my wife loves them too. I even think my dog likes them, but he won’t admit it.
The keyboard casing is plastic, making it more cost-effective. Outside, it looks great. The problem I’m having is when I take it apart and look inside. That’s why I think it’s flooded. In the picture you can see where the finish is wrinkled and missing. I mean, it looks like a decal with water on it. Maybe that’s how it’s done? I do not know.
Here’s another photo of the inside of the case showing some issues with the finish.
Again, the outside is flawless. My concern is that if you commute with it, you might experience wear and tear on the finish.
The next problem I see is the steel plate that holds the switch. It’s very flexible and doesn’t seem to bend all the way back once it’s flexed. Keep in mind that I’m an awkward typist, so this may not be an issue for you, just something to consider. The PCB also seems to be more flexible than others I’ve worked with, which may be responsible for some of the softness I’ve experienced.
Does the XVX MK84 have LED lights? yes. It got them. There are many lighting options built in, and with the XVX software available on their website, you can customize them almost any way you want. The software available on the XVX website isn’t the most intuitive, but if you play around a bit, you’ll understand.
The MK84 supports wired and wireless modes using the included USB A to USB C or 2.4 GHz dongle. Located at the rear, there is a switch to toggle between them. It’s a little confusing, though. Instead of saying wired or wireless, or off and on, it’s red or green. So, I had to check the manual and found that red means wired and green means wireless. No big deal, I just thought it was an odd choice. The last problem I had was that the cable I received only charged the battery. I can’t get it to communicate with my computer. I’m off to a race when I use another cable.
what do I like
- 75% of the size.It’s a nice middle ground where I feel most comfortable
- Use a switch from a quality manufacturer, even if red doesn’t work for me
- hot swap switch
- Internal battery allows it to be wireless
- I really like the art theme and quality keycaps
what would i change
- Build could be better.Could use thicker steel and a higher quality PCB to make this thing stronger
- A better way to apply artwork to a case.I’m worried it shows wear and tear
final thoughts
A nice budget mechanical keyboard that could be a little better, and I think it’s possible for the price. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I really want to love it.
price: Configuration is $86.99, Gateron Yellow Switch is $89.99
where to buy: Amazon
source: Review sample provided by seventeenth
