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 gives a variety of decisions for customers when it comes to specs and colours. Normally, what’s on provide from the producer is a fairly ample keyboard in its personal proper, however it might 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 identical time, you will additionally discover that those self same keyboards provide RGB backlighting, however not everybody desires the complete light-based expertise. Generally, a extra toned-down illumination is what’s wanted.
Within the Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite, you get not solely an honest keyboard setup, however one which’s not afraid to be tinkered with.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview – design
At face worth, the Crush 80 Reboot Lite is the cheaper possibility 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. In brief, you’ve fewer shade choices, a smaller battery, and considerably reduce down RGB.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: The total structure
You’ve the selection of the Silver or Black model, with the previous provided for overview. On this occasion, the primary enclosure is silver-colored, with white keycaps and a few black highlights.
As an 80% structure, 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 at the least which means it will not be shifting across the desk when you’re working.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: The weighted base
A few of that is all the way down to the machined aluminum physique, however there’s additionally a chrome 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 an excessively massive keyboard, due to that lacking numpad.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: The rear USB-C port for charging and connectivity
To the rear is the only real USB-C port, used for a bodily connection to a Mac or for recharging its included 3,750mAh battery.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview – 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 consumer. Whereas usually that may contain a screwdriver, right here it is tool-free entry.
A set of 4 catches means you’ll be able to pull off the highest cowl inside seconds, with a little bit of stress and energy. That provides you quick access to the internals, to a stunning diploma.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: Taking the keyboard aside
To assist with this, Wobkey features a system of magnetic POGO pins to attach the primary circuit board to the battery compartment beneath. Meaning you’ll be able to change 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 need to use them to boost your typing expertise.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: Spares included within the field
That brings us to RGB, which is kind of minimal right here. The board inside would not have the standard RGB components, aside from a number of keys to behave as indicators for connectivity. As an alternative, the RGB bits are away from the keyboard.
On either side, towards the again of the enclosure, there are RGB strips that illuminate the desk to the edges of the keyboard. This isn’t not like placing lighting underneath a automobile for road racing, however in your desk.
The opposite little bit of RGB is the emblem on the primary floor, off to the proper.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: 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’ll be able to flip them off, however you can too change how the lights act through keyboard shortcuts.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview – switches and keycaps
The keycaps in use listed here 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 overview: HMX Frost switches and the hidden energy change
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 gives an fascinating typing expertise.
Its primary keys are pretty good to sort on, with little springiness when mid-typing move. Acoustically, it eliminates among the higher-pitched tones, resulting in a seemingly quieter noise.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview – connectivity and configuration
There are 3 ways to attach the Crush 80 Reboot Lite to a Mac or iPad. For a begin, you should utilize the USB-C cable, which will also be used to recharge the battery.
To make use of it wirelessly, you would use Bluetooth. It has three Bluetooth profiles permitting it for use with three completely different gadgets.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: 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 strategy 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 change hidden underneath the Caps Lock key. It could appear bizarre to have the change behind a key you must take away, however you are most likely not going to want to really flip it off until you are transporting it.
Whereas it’s a Home windows structure by default, you’ll be able to change the keys round in two methods. One is through a keyboard shortcut, which switches among the keys round to a Mac structure.
The opposite is thru Through, a generally used piece of software program for managing mechanical keyboards. You do should 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’ll be able to regulate every key’s perform, and even arrange macros.
That is all nicely and good, however sadly, whereas Wobkey consists of spares like switches, it would not embody Mac-specific keys that might be changed. That is definitely a nice-to-have component, however those that want CMD and Choice keycaps may get a completely new set as an aftermarket buy.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview – refined customizations
As a possible mechanical keyboard for Mac customers, there’s so much 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 nicely, gives first rate connectivity and wi-fi help, and could be configured in numerous methods. The lowered RGB is a query of desire, however what’s included is inconspicuous and never attempting to blind you with shade patterns.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: You do not get Mac-specific key replacements, however you’ll be able to change the mapping round
There’s additionally customization and easy accessibility to the internals, extra so than typical. Whereas tinkering with the within could also be intimidating for many customers, entry is refreshingly straightforward for individuals who need it.
Actually, the one standout miss right here is the inclusion of some Mac-specific keycaps. It isn’t the top of the world, however it’s one thing that may have made it a neater selection for Mac house owners to make.
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: execs
- Quick access to internals
- Good typing expertise
- In depth wi-fi connectivity
Wobkey Crush 80 Reboot Lite overview: cons
- Lack of Mac keycaps
- Fairly heavy
Ranking 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 obtainable on Amazon, from $169.
