Review of the compact keyboard HIPER MK-1 SPIKE

Since its inception, computer keyboards have undergone a variety of changes. There are many form factors, including compact options.

Today we will talk about the compact keyboard from the company HIPER – models MK-1 SPIKE… Its cost in the online stores of the Russian Federation at the time of this writing was 3190 rubles.

COMPLETE SET AND APPEARANCE

The keyboard comes in a double-layer cardboard box, mostly white with purple lines. The front side shows the HIPER MK-1 SPIKE itself, and on the back side the manufacturer told about the characteristics and configuration.

Inside, the keyboard is packed in a polyethylene foam bag, which is held by two molds on the sides. The kit includes a USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable and a user manual with a warranty card. The warranty period is 1 year.

This is a compact 60% mechanical gaming keyboard. Its dimensions are 290 x 100 x 36 mm, and it weighs 489 g without a wire and 520 g with it. The body is made of black plastic, and there are four rubberized legs on the bottom, which confidently hold the keyboard and prevent it from sliding.

There are no folding legs, but the body is made in such a way that the back side is thicker than the front, which means that the cap cases are located at a slight angle for easy printing. Behind the case is a USB Type-C connector for connecting a keyboard. The wire is made of durable fabric braid, the tips are gold-plated. Length – 1.7 meters.

KEYS, FEATURES AND BACKLIGHT

There are 61 keys on the keyboard. All of them, with the exception of the gap, have a concave surface, and can also be easily removed if necessary. Keycaps are made of matte ABS plastic 1 mm thick with transparent engraving of Latin letters, through which the illumination light passes evenly. However, the Cyrillic alphabet and additional key markings are painted, which is why they are not highlighted. The combination of the FN key with 38 different buttons allows you to use their additional functions, such as controlling the sound or player, as well as adjusting the backlight and other system features.

The keycaps hide the Chinese Outemu Blue switches, which are a copy of the Cherry MX Blue switches. They have a life of 50 million clicks, and clicks when pressed resemble the sound of a typewriter. The sound is loud enough that over time it can start to annoy your roommates or work colleagues – depending on where you plan to use the HIPER MK-1 SPIKE.

To press the button, an initial force of 46 g is sufficient. The button is triggered already at a depth of 2.7 mm. In practice, everything is fast and clear. A force of 60 g is sufficient to fully press the 4 mm button.

One of the main declared features of the model in question is moisture protection, which will save your keyboard from accidental water ingress on it. It is unlikely that the HIPER MK-1 SPIKE can be washed under the tap, but it should be saved from accidental spilled water or tea. Whether the buttons will stick from sweet soda – it remains to be checked by the most daring users, and we, perhaps, will not risk it.

The backlight in the HIPER MK-1 SPIKE is used with a division into four zones: red, orange, green and blue. Since it is not RGB, it is impossible to change the colors of the zones. The keys have three levels of brightness, as well as several effects. By the way, the Caps Lock button is highlighted only when this function is activated. Since the keyboard does not have a customization application, all adjustments are only possible by combining the FN button with the P and[tocontrolthebrightnessandturnoffthebacklightaswell;and’tocontroltheeffect[дляуправленияяркостьюиотключенияподсветкиатакже;и’дляуправленияэффектом

RESULTS

The HIPER MK-1 SPIKE is a good relatively budget solution for those looking for a very compact keyboard. Its main trump card is the price, which in the category of keyboards 60% simply has no competitors. It has good switches, an ergonomic design, a detachable cable for transportation, a rainbow-free backlight, and waterproof protection from those who like to drip on the keys. Good keyboard for gaming and typing.

Author: Sergey Dyakonenko (Madnfs)

Read also: Review of inexpensive gaming mouse HIPER GM-2 ROBO