Cherry's latest mechanical keyboards feature German-made MX2A switches and office-friendly designs but will game just as well
Cherry has launched three new mechanical keyboards for office users — KW 550 MX, KW 300 MX, and KW X ULP 2.0 Mini — all featuring Cherry's new MX2A, MX Low Profile 2.0, or MX Ultra Low Profile switches. The keyboards all keep it fairly minimal on the feature front, focussing on productivity and typing feel instead of fancy RGB backlighting, 8 kHz polling rates, and exaggerated looks. That said, all of the keyboards are capable of 1 kHz polling, and the hot-swap capable versions can be equipped with Speed Silver switches for lower actuation points while gaming.
The new productivity keyboards all have double-shot, backlit PBT keycaps with clean, minimalist fonts, Bluetooth connectivity for up to three devices, and accented backlights for special indicator keys. The keyboards range from the compact 75% layout of the KW X ULP 2.0 to the more practical 96% layout of the KC 550 MX LP. The Bluetooth connections are also all protected by AES-128 encryption, meaning they should be fairly safe from packet snooping attacks.
The Cherry KW 300 MX is a 75%, full-height mechanical keyboard with double-shot PBT keycaps, Cherry MX2A switches, and a “soundproof” housing. It also features a versatile knob that can control system volume, brightness, or keyboard connectivity modes.
This is the only new keyboard that is available with hot-swap sockets, meaning it will be compatible with third-party switches if you want something with a different feel, sound, or actuation point. The KW 300 MX can connect via Bluetooth 5.2 or USB Type-C, and it has a starting price of €139.99, which is honestly a little pricey considering there are more affordable keyboards available, like the Keychron V1 Max (available on Amazon), that offer more customisability, similar feature sets and build quality, and the same ISO and international layout options.
Cherry KW 550 MX LP - 96% layout low-profile design
The Cherry KW 550 MX LP takes the low-profile form factor and Cherry's MX Low Profile 2.0 switches and puts them into a 96% keyboard. This means the keyboard keeps the num pad and sacrifices the navigation cluster typically featured on full-size keyboards, allowing for a more compact form factor that retains broad usability for those working with numbers.
The KW 550 MX LP features a metal plate, which should make it plenty stiff, although it doesn't have hot-swap functionality, meaning you're stuck with the switches you choose when you buy it. At least the keyboard features 1,000 Hz polling, so it should be good enough for casual gamers, although there are no special features, like remapping or customisation, making it somewhat limited. The MSRP for the KW 550 MX LP is €119.99, and it is available in black only, from Cherry directly.
Cherry KW X ULP 2.0 Mini
Potentially the most interesting keyboard of the lot for mobile productivity users, the Cherry KW X ULP 2.0 Mini features Cherry's MX Ultra Low Profile 2.0 switches and polycarbonate keycaps. These are the same switches featured in the Alienware 18 Area-51 laptop, which we called “some of the most comfortable we've experienced on a gaming laptop” in our review.
The KW X ULP 2.0 Mini features a more compact 75% layout, compared to its predecessor, which was only available in a full-size layout. This makes it far more portable. Like the other new Cherry keyboards, the KW X ULP 2.0 has white backlit keys, Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.4 GHz connectivity, and a detachable USB Type-C-to-A cable for charging and wired use. It also features a combined macOS and Windows layout, so it's easy to use for those who hop between operating systems.
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