Drop CTRL V2 assessment: the keyboard gateway drug will get a glow-up

Drop’s unique CTRL was once simple to suggest as an accessible entry level into the world of premium mechanical keyboards. The retailer was a comparatively early adopter (by mainstream requirements) of hot-swap switches, making its personal model keyboards nice for hobbyists who wished to have the ability to swap out their switches with out having to do any soldering. It was solidly constructed, QMK-programmable, and packed to the gills with RGB lighting.

However the world of mechanical keyboards strikes quick, and the CTRL V2 (together with the extra compact ALT V2 and bigger SHIFT V2) is Drop’s try and catch up. It has hot-swap sockets which are appropriate with a greater variety of switches, upgraded {hardware} that makes it sound and really feel significantly better to sort on, and extra programmability choices. 

It’s, in different phrases, an important replace to the unique CTRL design. Nevertheless it additionally prices $200 absolutely assembled, which brings it slap-bang into competitors with Keychron’s glorious and fan-favorite Q-series. Drop has its work minimize out if it needs to compete with an organization firing on all cylinders.

Drop’s new lineup of V2 keyboards consists of 5 fashions throughout three totally different layouts, that are both accessible barebones (i.e., with out switches or keycaps) or absolutely constructed at a complete of 10 totally different costs. The three layouts are the compact 65 p.c ALT V2, the bigger numpad-equipped SHIFT V2, and the numberpad-less (also called tenkeyless) CTRL V2. Then, the ALT and the CTRL are additionally accessible in further high-profile case choices, which successfully conceal the switches within the case reasonably than leaving them uncovered. All instructed, this implies costs vary from $140 for a barebones ALT V2, rising to $250 for a totally constructed SHIFT V2. 

The precise mannequin I’ve been testing sits proper in the course of the lineup. It’s the absolutely constructed CTRL V2 with a low-profile case, which has an MSRP of $200 — although, as of this writing, Drop is taking preorders for it at a reduced worth of $179 (orders are resulting from ship later this month). It’s accessible in a selection of both black or area grey (I’ve the previous) and comes with both tactile Holy Panda X Clear or linear Gateron Yellow switches (I’ve the latter).

The CTRL V2 has a easy, stable development. Its aluminum case is sturdy, with little or no flex to it, and there are a few magnetic toes included within the field to prop it up at a six-degree angle. You’ll be able to flip these toes round to get somewhat extra carry, take away them solely to make use of the keyboard flat in your desk, and even prepare them so the keyboard tilts downwards away out of your fingers (aka “damaging tilt”). 

The absolutely constructed model of the keyboard ships with a reasonably understated set of two-tone grey keycaps constituted of sturdy PBT plastic, with doubleshot lettering that’s each immune to put on and likewise does an important job letting the keyboard’s RGB lighting shine via. It’s not probably the most colourful or thrilling of coloration schemes, but it surely works nicely as a default choice. 

Across the prime of the keyboard, there’s not one however two USB-C ports. You should utilize both one to connect with your PC (good for cable administration) and use the opposite to attach an extra accent. The extra USB port was in a position to cost my cellphone or output audio to a headphone DAC. Though choosing USB-C is sweet for future-proofing, it does imply you’ll have to make use of an adapter if you wish to plug in a USB-A accent. Drop says the port helps a most information switch price of 480Mbps and between 2W and 4W for charging, so don’t count on this to fast-charge your cellphone or immediately offload all of your photographs from a thumb drive. This can be a wired-only keyboard, with no wi-fi capabilities.

Drop has optimized the design of the CTRL V2 to take advantage of its RGB lighting, and there’s each good and dangerous information right here. The excellent news is that via a mix of north-facing switches, the aforementioned shine-through keycaps, and a case with further lighting on its sides, the RGB lighting is way extra seen than on Keychron’s competing keyboards, the place you’re successfully simply seeing no matter mild bleeds across the edges of the opaque keycaps.

Getting this high quality of RGB lighting comes with a slight compromise. North-facing switches (the place the RGB mild is on prime of the change, proper beneath the shine-through legend) could be higher for RGB lighting, however they’ll additionally are compatible points with some aftermarket Cherry-profile keycaps. If you happen to’re after good RGB lighting, it’s a tradeoff you could be prepared to make. 

Extra annoyingly is that below sure circumstances, the keyboard’s lighting can emit a faint, high-pitched buzz. I skilled this when plugging the keyboard into the exterior Thunderbolt dock I take advantage of with my laptop computer, and the way audible the buzzing was assorted primarily based on how brightly the LEDs have been shining and even what coloration they have been set to (saturated colours like crimson have been worst, however a pure white was silent). The buzzing fully disappeared once I plugged the CTRL V2 immediately into my MacBook utilizing a third-party USB-C-to-USB-C cable. 

After I requested Drop about this, spokesperson Jyri Jokirinta instructed me that the keyboard handed Drop’s personal high quality management exams in addition to third-party testing. “With a median noise stage of 17 dBa, the V2 keyboards must be imperceptible when used at most typing positions in a typical dwelling or workplace atmosphere. Most space noise ranges sit between 30 – 40 dBa,” Jokirinta mentioned.

I wouldn’t say the buzzing I skilled was a dealbreaker, particularly because it solely cropped up below such particular circumstances. Nevertheless it’s one thing to concentrate on and pay attention out for.

Some of the consequential upgrades for hobbyists that Drop has made to its V2 keyboard lineup is that its PCB now has an additional two holes per change to assist 5-pin switches (the most typical pin structure). Whereas it was potential to make use of 5-pin switches on earlier Drop keyboards, you needed to snip off their two further plastic legs to get them to slot in its 3-pin sockets, a tedious course of. There’s not likely a lot else I can say about this improve — you get a change puller together with a keycap puller within the field, and swapping out the switches is as simple as ever.

The opposite customizability improve Drop’s keyboards have gotten is upgraded QMK programmability, together with official assist for the highly effective VIA configuration software program. Weirdly, regardless of Drop’s advertising for its V2 keyboards making a giant deal of their assist for VIA, the choice to make use of the software program is somewhat buried. To make use of it, you first need to obtain Drop’s personal configuration software program (accessible for each Mac and Home windows) and use that to flash the VIA-compatible firmware to the keyboard. To Drop’s credit score, it’s a seamless course of as soon as you recognize what you’re doing, however it could be good if Drop’s configuration information made the method clearer. As soon as the firmware is flashed, VIA works nice for all of your structure tweaking, macro making, and brightness customizing wants.

Though these are all welcome modifications, the upgrades Drop has made to the sound and typing really feel of the keyboard are those that you simply’re going to really feel every day. Because of a mix of higher stabilizers (the construction put in beneath longer keys just like the spacebar to cease them from wobbling) and extra sound-dampening foam, the CTRL V2 feels far more premium to sort on in comparison with Drop’s earlier keyboards. There’s no metallic pinging or extreme rattling, only a nice, crisp and clear typing sound, and the Gateron Yellow switches in my pattern had the correct steadiness of smoothness and weight.

The Drop CTRL V2 feels higher to sort on in comparison with the corporate’s first-generation keyboards, however for my cash, it’s not the best-feeling keyboard at its worth level. Drop’s keyboard makes use of an built-in plate development, which arguably gives a much less premium typing really feel than the gasket-mount method used within the likes of Keychron’s tenkeyless Q3, which might be had for $184 (although provided that Drop affords free transport on US orders over $99 and Keychron doesn’t, it’s possible that the costs of the 2 keyboards shall be roughly equal for a lot of US consumers). I haven’t personally used the Q3, but it surely makes use of the identical development because the Keychron Q1, which I feel is unbelievable to sort on.

By way of typing really feel, I feel Keychron has the sting at this worth level and matches the CTRL V2’s different options like 5-pin hot-swap, VIA programmability, and an aluminum development. Drop’s CTRL V2 has the slight edge within the RGB division due to its shine-through keycaps, but it surely doesn’t fairly take the price-to-performance crown.

That mentioned, the price-to-performance ratio will get extra interesting should you’re an proprietor of both of Drop’s current SHIFT, ALT, or CTRL keyboards. For between $55 and $75, the corporate will promote you simply the upgraded circuit board for its new keyboards (which is able to get you assist for VIA and 5-pin switches), and there’s additionally the choice to purchase the sound-dampening foam and upgraded stabilizers. If you happen to’re not afraid of somewhat keyboard DIY, it’s a extra inexpensive means of getting a a lot larger high quality keyboard and one I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest in case your current Drop keyboard is feeling somewhat lengthy within the tooth.

In comparison with Drop’s first-generation keyboard, the CTRL V2 is a way more trendy and aggressive proposition. Help for 5-pin switches is, at this level, a function that it is best to have the ability to take without any consideration on hot-swappable keyboards, and programmability utilizing VIA offers you an enormous quantity of management over how the keyboard features. Except for the LED buzzing I skilled (which actually is a ache if it crops up together with your setup), there’s actually little to fault the CTRL V2.

The one challenge, actually, is the competitors. On the CTRL V2’s premium worth, it’s competing in opposition to Keychron’s very succesful gasket-mounted Q-series lineup, which I feel has the sting in typing sound and really feel. But when higher RGB lighting and a helpful further USB-C port are vital to you, Drop’s CTRL V2 lineup is nicely value contemplating.

Pictures by Jon Porter / The Verge