Vissles V84 (2.0) Mechanical Keyboard
The keys travel well and feel firm and responsive when you’re typing up a storm
$119 (about £85) FROM vissles.com FEATURES Mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, 12 function keys, rechargeable battery (up to 180 hours)
The slimline designs used for many modern keyboards may look very elegant, but the low-profile keys feel limp and lifeless for anyone that needs to type quickly when they’re working (yes, Apple, we’re looking at you). The latest 2.0 version of Vissles’ V84 keyboard is a good alternative, as it uses a good old-fashioned mechanical design, with a switch mechanism inside each key that feels much firmer and more responsive.
The V84 has a ‘75% layout’, which means that it lacks a numeric keypad, but it measures just 315mm wide, so it’s a good option if you’re a bit tight for desk space. If you’re used to a full-size keyboard then the compact design of the V84 may take a little getting used to, but it’ll feel like an upgrade if you’re switching from one of Apple’s even smaller keyboards.
The lack of a numeric keypad may also be a problem for some, but the V84 does have a top row of function keys that can double up for controlling brightness, volume and other settings. And, running down the right-hand edge of the keyboard there’s a set of navigation keys – Page Up/Down, etc – for browsing through web pages or long documents. Most importantly, the keys travel well and feel firm and responsive when you’re typing up a storm. The keys do sound a bit loud if you’re heavy-handed, but that’s quite common with mechanical keyboards such as this.
Identity issues
The V84 is designed for the Mac, and has the Mac’s traditional ç and å keys, so you’ll feel at home when using it. Unusually, though, Vissles includes some spare replacement keys that are designed for Windows, so you can use it with a PC as well if you ever need to. You can use it as a Bluetooth wireless keyboard, with the rechargeable battery lasting for up to 180 hours – depending on how much you use the fancy backlighting effects – but we were pleased to find that it also works as a wired keyboard too, with a USB-C-to-USB-A cable included in the box.
The multi-colour backlight effects just seem a bit gimmicky, though, and the macro-recording function is poorly explained in the manual and rather confusing to use. And somewhat oddly, the Vissles app that can help you set up macros and lighting effects only runs on Windows – which seems like a strange omission for a keyboard that is so clearly intended for Mac users. There are also several different versions of this keyboard on Vissles’ website, with slightly different designs, but unless you’re a real keyboard afficionado then it’s probably best to opt for the V84 (2.0) that we review here.
Cliff Joseph