#8BitDo now has a full-sized Mechanical Retro Keyboard variant for fellow numpad lovers

After I reviewed the 8BitDo Mechanical Retro Keyboard final yr, I had one solitary criticism: it doesn’t have a numpad. Later, 8Bitdo launched a separate numpad, and it’s fairly superior. All the pieces’s proper in my world. However in case you are on the lookout for a extra all-in-one resolution, the corporate is now releasing a full-sized variant with the numpad caught proper on there.

To make clear, the full-sized variant is barely accessible for preorder within the NES and Famicom shade variations. There’s additionally a Commodore 64 model and IBM Mannequin M variations of the unique dimension. I’m going to imagine they’ll get full-sized variations of these out later, however they haven’t been confirmed but.

You may examine how a lot I really like these keyboards within the aforementioned assessment. I’m probably not somebody who usually will get enthusiastic about keyboards, however 8BitDo discovered a solution to get me there. The retro shade schemes harken again to a day when hearth retardant chemical substances would flip white, grey, and beige electronics yellow when uncovered to daylight. They faucet into my ardour for hella previous stuff with out going too far into woodgrain territory.

I don’t precisely know a tonne about what makes keyboard good, however these use “Kailh Field White Switches V2.” They’re hot-swappable if you happen to just like the look and performance of the keyboard, however desire totally different switches. I’ve spilled a number of drinks on mine and it nonetheless features, although I did as soon as must take it aside to get among the matcha latte out of it. Nonetheless works like new.

This isn’t a sponsored commercial, by the best way. I’m simply actually passionate about this keyboard.

There’s a quantity knob. It really works wirelessly utilizing Bluetooth or with a 2.4 GHz dongle. It will probably additionally simply be left plugged in. It comes with two “Tremendous Buttons,” that are simply large, programmable buttons which you could map to explicit keys or macros. There are additionally two A/B “Supper Buttons” (I’m severe, that’s what the software program calls them), that can be programmed in the identical means. One factor that’s on these new full-sized variations that aren’t on the unique are “magnetic foldable ft” so you’ll be able to regulate the angle of your keyboard. I form of want my keyboard had these, however I’ve gotten used to simply typing on a flatter angle.

You may preorder the full-sized 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard now. It appears prefer it formally releases December 12, 2024.