Drop ENTR Mechanical Keyboard Review

Keyboards don ’ t need to be complicated to make a potent impression. Drop, once known as Massdrop, primarily deals in limited-run keyboard components for enthusiast mechanical keyboard builders, but it besides makes a few complete units. One of two fresh models released this fall, the ENTR, is the party ‘s accept on a classical tenkeyless ( TKL ) keyboard. Delivering enthusiast-grade parts and build up timbre, the ENTR is an incredibly well-crafted keyboard. In fact, the ENTR is the best type experience you ‘ll encounter at its $ 90 price. Although it lacks many customization and quality-of-life features found in gambling and productiveness keyboards, the ENTR is an excellent high-quality, low-feature keyboard that carries a fair price. As a solution, the ENTR is the PCMag Editors ‘ Choice for budget mechanical keyboards .

Press ENTR to Start

The Drop ENTR is a “ full ” TKL with 87 keys—everything you ’ five hundred expect from a life-size keyboard except for the number pad, and it ‘s laid out in the accurate the lapp way. It sounds odd to explain the ENTR in such fashion, as we ’ ve reviewed similarly built TKL bet on keyboards, but the keys and layout aren ’ t a given with the fancier manufacturer. Drop ’ s early keyboards are all smaller, and some have non-traditional layouts. That ’ mho why the caller bid this the “ accessible ” model .
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Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better bribe decisions. ( Read our column mission. ) The ENTR ‘s covenant purpose, measuring 1.19 by 14.06 by 5.09 inches ( HWD ), has a small background footprint. If you ’ rhenium switch to a TKL to save outer space, the ENTR maximizes that profit. The ENTR ‘s main appeal is its the build quality ; the components, and how they ’ ra put together. The first thing you ’ ll notice upon picking up the ENTR is that it ’ randomness amazingly intemperate. The thick, hardy establish is made of alloy and feels solid. The anodize aluminum base and beefy, flat credit card circus tent empanel are bounty materials and feel like a fine part grade than what you find on most mass-produce keyboards. The LED-backlit PBT doubleshot keycaps are dense, with shrill legends and a polish flatness eat up. similar to how you can feel the choice in a thick, more expensive composition broth, or hardy lastingness in a fine nibble of furniture, you can feel that this keyboard is built to last .

The ENTR comes with either Gatreon Yellow or Drop ’ s Halo True mechanical switches. Our inspection unit featured Gatreon Yellow, a quick-acting analogue switch similar to the Cherry MX Reds found in many bet on keyboards, but with a high propulsion violence. As person who uses a fortune of gaming keyboards, I think of linear switches as having a hair-trigger : You can incidentally actuate a Cherry MX Red and Cherry Speed Silver cardinal by brushing the keycap. The Gatreon Yellow is a immediate tap with smooth military action ; you aren ’ thyroxine waiting to feel the chatter. still, the higher force requirement dramatically reduces the number of unforced typing errors. While I appreciate everything that the ENTR brings to the table, it ’ s significant to talk about what it lacks. The ENTR is a simple, wired keyboard. Outside of bet on, which has embraced the measure of mechanical keys, even the cheapest “ office-grade ” keyboards are wireless, thus paying closely $ 100 for a keyboard you have to plug in may seem backward to some people .

That said, with a detachable USB-C cable television, the ENTR is the finest potential translation of a simple, wired connection. It ’ randomness easy to unplug, pack up, and carry with you on a trip. In the work-from-home earned run average, you can use it across many workspaces, such as your desk, coffee mesa, or kitchen board. The ENTR lacks shape software that would let you remap keys or create macros. While there are a count of function-key shortcuts for media commands, increasing and decreasing LED brightness, and launching basic Windows apps like Calculator, power users may find the lack of customization smother. It ’ randomness worth noting that Drop has a web-based config tool for its other keyboards, so that support may come to the ENTR .

Beautiful Simplicity

The Drop ENTR is a finely crafted keyboard. You can feel the quality of its composition as you slide your fingers along the edges of the base and press down the key. It is beyond the passable, and even full, craft you find in mass-produce keyboards from major manufacturers, including ones that charge more money for their more feature-rich designs. Priced at $ 90, the Drop ENTR is far and away the best pure typing know you ‘ll find for less than $ 100. For that, the ENTR rides high as the PCMag Editors ‘ Choice for budget mechanical keyboards. At the lapp meter, a pricier keyboard like the $ 199.99, Editors ‘ Choice award-winning Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT brings more utility to the table. Config apps, dedicated media keys, USB passthrough, wireless connectivity : These features have respect, and it would be a error to dismiss what they offer. But for clean, comfortable type, this is vitamin a good as it gets at a sub- $ 100 price .