Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsBought it to upgrade another keyboard, Excellent value for that.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 5, 2022
At the time I purchased this, it was the same price as a box of 110 kailh Bronze switches I was going to order for my Drop Alt keyboard. So really, it was a no brainer: if you have a hotswap keyboard already and you want the same switches preinstalled in this board to swap into another board, then for the same price your getting a LOT more. In addition to the 110 kailh speed bronzes switches, I also got a set of keycaps, a switch puller, keycap puller, and they even threw in an extra 8 kailh speed silver keys (so you could take advantage of the fact this is a hotswap keyboard right of the the box, for example WSAD keys and 4 other keys you want quick linear keys on. Nice touch EVGA.)
Although my intent was to cannibalize the board, I gave it a few days to try the keyboard itself, and for the price it is very reasonable and compact compared to my old all plastic Razer Blackwidow. Nice metal top frame, plastic body, a few built in (though lacking) lighting options out of the box, and per-key lighting and more color options if you find and install their PC side software to get more options. Although I did not like how the bottom shiny strip of metal caught my ceiling lights and occasionally shone bright light directly in my eyes. The cord is also NON REMOVABLE but it is a nice sturdy feeling braided cord that isn't absurdly bulky. The big EVGA branding is very annoying and not easy to remove. It also makes it that much thicker for travel, which is a shame. The spacebar stabilizers were also much less wobbly than on my Drop Alt.
Judging the keyboard as it comes out of the box, it only loses stars because I would have found it lacking for the full price, although I'd give it a full 5 stars for the value it gave me for my intended purpose to cannibalize it.
I started pulling the switches with my Drop Alt puller, but found the angled ends made it harder than the one included with the EVGA. Pulling the switches from the EVGA did not feel quite as smooth as pulling them from the Drop Alt and sometimes required more effort. I didn't bother with the EVGA Keycap puller though. My Drop Alt came from a batch that had very wobbly stabilizers (newer batches have been improved, although to be fair it functioned well enough for 2 years), and after measuring the stabilizers I found the spacebar and shift key stabs were all compatible with my Drop alt, saving me from having to order those separately! I didn't even have to unscrew anything, just pressed some tabs, pulled them out, and swapped them over. Now my Drop Alt spacebar feels much nicer, and without having to spend another 25 bucks for a new stabilizer kit!
Overall, I am very happy with the outcome.
