REVIEW: Machenike KT68 Pro is the wireless mechanical keyboard with “screen”

A Machenik has established itself as an excellent option for those looking for cost-effective accessories. After test K600G mechanical keyboard, it's time to test another mechanical keyboard: the Machenike KT68 Pro. Definitely not your average wireless mechanical keyboard! The highlight is the 9.1-inch LED strip, which has 325 LEDs, and behaves like a smart screen - well in style cyber board.

We received the prototype that the project supporters Kickstarter will receive and you could see how careful the Machenik it's with the details. In addition to the keyboard (which in itself already shows the brand's concern for creating good experiences for users), the box comes with:

• One cable very big braided style with USB-C on one end and USB-A on the other;
• The 2.4G adapter;
• Tweezers for removing the keys and switches, either to clean or to customize;
• A letter of thanks to those who support the project;
• Various stickers;
• A coin (which closely resembles a Bitcoin coin) with the company logo;
• A quick guide to setup.

It's a very complete kit, if you are one of the supporters of Kickstarter get ready to get a lot in the box.

Anyway, check it out now review which was typed into the KT68 Pro!

Design

It's quite an interesting design. While this mechanical keyboard is very reminiscent of a typewriter, it also feels a lot like a keyboard. gamer. Yes, the design of this product flirts with the past and the future at the same time. Taste is individual and this look certainly appeals to a lot of people in the same way that it may not appeal to others.

Weighing 952 grams, we have 68 keys here (hence the name KT68) in the body of a 75-key keyboard, due to the smart screm on the top. Made of transparent plastic, just like the keycaps, the keyboard, which measures 327 x 145 x 41 mm, manages not to get too heavy. Even with the 4000 mAh battery, it weighs less than the 1.3 kilos of conventional mechanical keyboards (which don't have a battery). I have to say that it's a very tall keyboard, maybe it's good to have those keyboard supports to avoid problems like tendonitis.

On the back, we have a USB-C port that is right in the center and a button for wireless use (which can be via Bluetooth or 2.4G) or cable – and yes, the Machenik offers us 3 different ways to connect to the keyboard, and it is possible to connect via Bluetooth to up to 3 devices at the same time.

At the bottom we can see the 4.000 milliampere-hour battery and the support feet that have two angles (that is, you can use it on 3 different levels). Looking from the side, you can notice the 5-degree typing angle and the side volume wheel. Despite being made of plastic, it is very sensitive, has good grip and can also be used to mute the music just by pressing it, without having to turn the wheel all the way to volume 0.

Among the design errors — in my opinion — you can mention that the apostrophe key is not on top of the tab key and next to the 1, it is on the other side, below the lever and on top of the delete key. I confess that this was not a positive point for me. I have to keep reminding myself where the apostrophe key is and several times I hit the wrong key.

Speaking of the lever, which you can pull, it comes from the factory set to minimize and restore all windows, and it's actually very convenient. I use calculator a lot and I set the lever to open it.

Os switches are Gateron North Pole 2.0, of the linear type, and are useful both for those who will use it for work and for those who want to play. If you want to use it for both purposes, congratulations, you've found the right keyboard for you. Among the other characteristics of this type of switch, You can say that it is silent and with high sensitivity, it takes only 50g of force to register the touch.

About the design, I think it was a mistake not to paint the letters black on the keycaps. When the keyboard backlight is on, it is very difficult to identify the letters (that are clear, like the backlight). If you need to look at the keyboard at night with the lights on, you'll have a hard time finding the key you're looking for. In the white model, I believe this does not happen, since the letters are painted in black on the keycaps.

key functions

of the keys of KT68 Pro, 12 can be used to control multimedia functions such as play, pause, volume up and down and more. I confess that it is not as simple as we are used to, you need to press the FN key + the Ctrl key + the 8 key to pause a song, for example. It could be more intuitive.

On the Z, X, C and V keys we have the indicators to change between devices. Just press the FN key and one of the keys to switch, it's quite simple. Speaking of switching devices, this mechanical keyboard is compatible with Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS: you can connect to practically everything. I just haven't tested it on TVs, but it certainly should be possible too.

As for typing, the feeling is very pleasant. Anyone who has tried mechanical keyboards knows that the tactile response is very different when compared to membrane keyboards (the common ones). he is a little quieter than some models of mechanical keyboards.

Connectivity

A good keyboard is a keyboard that connects to everything, and the KT68 take 10 on that question. You can connect it in 3 different ways: via cable, Bluetooth and 2.4G. And we can keep it connected at the same time on 4 devices (3 via Bluetooth and 1 via 2.4G). Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS have support, that is, you can connect to everything. And, according to the manufacturer, the Bluetooth has a range of 10 meters and the cable that comes in the box can be used as an extension for the 2.4G adapter, showing once again that the Machenik think about the details.

A Machenik provides an application to change effects, control the screen and perform other settings, and is available only for Windows, which can be negative for users of the MacOS. Speaking of other systems, the wheel that controls the volume works both on the Android how much in iOS.

The application still needs to be optimized, through the task manager I noticed that it consumes about 1,5% of the CPU usage, which may seem little, but the Chrome with more than 30 open windows consumes little more than that. Indicates that it needs to be optimized.

KT68 Pro Features

There are so many lighting possibilities. You can define this keyboard in one word: joy. In some effects I felt like Christmas, so colorful and happy are its colors. Starting with the lever, an extra feature that we rarely see in products of this type, it is factory configured to minimize all windows when pressed. By pressing again the windows are restored. Via with you can configure it to perform other tasks like opening the calculator, for example. Feature I loved.

There are 20 lighting effects and I can say that they are very interesting and among the mechanical keyboards with RGB LED, the KT68 Pro it has the most different types of effects. It's a full plate for those who like to vary and use different effects per day. And the key lighting can also react according to the music you're listening to on your computer (even if it's on headphones). Just open the application, go to the Music option and choose the visualization modes, effect speed, amplitude and brightness level.

smart screen

This screen deserves a space just to talk about it. There are 325 LEDs on a 9.1 inch screen spread across 5 rows of 65 LEDs each.

by the application of Machenik you can switch between 11 different effects, they are:

• CPU usage, temperature and battery;
• GPU usage, temperature and battery;
• Internet speed (upload and download);
• Date and time;
• Sedentary lifestyle reminder;
• Musical effects;
• Sound Spectrum (those soundbars that keep moving);
• An animation of Tetris;
• Rain effect (orange);
• Rain effect (green);
• Color gradient.

You can also set the brightness and change it to 8 different levels. But one thing that could be different is the possibility of only being able to configure the keyboard when it is connected via cable. In the future, it could be something for the manufacturer to change.

Price

Don't expect a keyboard with canvas, packed with goodies in the box and full of features like Get Free. At the Kickstarter, Machenike KT68 Pro is being sold for USD 179, around BRL 937,00 and the manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty. Even though it's not that cheap, it's a value well below other models that don't offer as many features. The company has already managed to raise almost USD 50.000 (about R$ 260.000,00). There are definitely a lot of people interested in this product.

Conclusion

It's a keyboard for those who like to have the setup well colored. Packed with visuals, it's virtually impossible for this keyboard to go unnoticed. You can connect it in many different ways to different devices, it is well built, it has some details that leave something to be desired, but given all the good things it offers, you can ignore it. Worth the Price? Compared to models in the price range, you can say yes.

Machenike KT68 Pro technical specifications

Name do produto	Machenike KT68 Pro
smart screen	9.1 inches 325 LEDs dot matrix screen
number of keys	68
multimedia keys	12
Available Colors	Crystal Black (Switch Brown or Yellow) White Crystal (Brown or Yellow Switch)
battery capacity	4000mAh
charging voltage	5V
cable size	1,5 meters
Weight	952g
Size	327 145 x x 41mm

See also:

And for those who liked the brand and are looking for a mechanical keyboard, Machenike has the K600G that we have already tested.

Text proofread by: iris xavier.