Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Cherry XTRFY K5V2 RGB. It’s a compact 65% mechanical gaming keyboard with Strip LED RGB illumination.
It’s the first gaming keyboard to be equipped with CHERRY’s Hot-swappable MX2A RED switches, making it one of the most customizable keyboards in the world. You can even go to Cherry’s website to pick a base and add your preferred switches, keycaps, cord, frame, logo plate and more.
The MX2A RED switches brings you smoother actuation, improved acoustics, and a lifespan of upto 100 million keystrokes.
The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 is built with a metal plate construction, and features super-scan technology for instant response, pre-lubed PCB-mounted stabilizers, and double layers of sound-dampening foam.
The keyboard also feature per-key customizable RGB illumination, macros, media controls and more. All the settings are made using the keys, so no software is needed.
Before we continue further, I would like to thank Cherry for supplying the review sample. For those who don’t who they are, here’s a little blurb taken from their website …
About Cherry
The CHERRY Corporation was founded by Walter Lorain Cherry in 1953. The first microswitches were produced in the basement of a restaurant in Highland Park, Illinois. From humble beginnings, the company quickly grew in size and reputation after entering the US automobile market. In the early 1960’s, Walter Lorain Cherry ventured across the pond to Europe.
American Entrepreneurship coupled with German Engineering encompasses the history and future of CHERRY. Today, CHERRY is regarded as the epitome of quality, innovation, design and sustainability. A unique feeling.
Features
- 65% size
- Ultra-customizable
- Strip LED RGB illumination
- Hot-swappable CHERRY MX2A Red switches
- Super-scan technology for instant response
- Pre-lubed PCB-mounted stabilizers
- Double layers of sound-dampening foam
For more information about this product, visit Cherry’s website.
Overview
One of the most customizable keyboards in the world – now the first gaming keyboard to be equipped with CHERRY MX2A switches. K5V2 is the next level in design and performance.
- Small gaming keyboard in 65 percent format: Compact, wired keyboard with fast super scan technology for instant responses – all keys are scanned every half millisecond
- Hot-swappable mechanical CHERRY MX2A RED switches: smooth and direct typing feel with linear switching characteristics (no click) and more than 100 million actuations per key
- Pre-lubricated, PCB-mounted stabilizers (no key wobbling) + double-layered, sound-absorbing foam for a pleasant and noise-reduced typing experience
- Comprehensive features: Impressive, customizable RGB lighting with LED strips for each individual key, full N-key rollover, anti-ghosting, macros, media controls and much more
CHERRY MX2A RED SWITCHES
The world’s most trusted mechanical keyboard switch just got better. CHERRY MX2A is a transformative upgrade to the CHERRY MX – used in more than 60 million keyboards worldwide. With precisely applied premium-grade lubricant and a new innovative spring design, the MX2A brings you smoother actuation, improved acoustics, and a lifespan of 100 million keystrokes. And if you’d like to try different switch characteristics to find the perfect touch and feel, the switches are hot-swappable so you can easily replace them – no soldering required.
CUSTOMIZE EVERYTHING
Customizing your keyboard has never been easier. On the K5V2, everything from the switches, stabilizers and keycaps to the cable, frame and even the little plate for the logo is swappable.
DESIGN YOUR OWN
Grab one of the pre-built editions or click CUSTOMIZE and create your own using our Custom Keyboard Builder. Pick a base and add your preferred switches, keycaps, cord, frame and logo plate. You have more than 150 options.
65% SIZE
This keyboard comes in a 65% format – bringing you an extremely compact design without sacrificing the convenience of arrow keys.
HOW TO GET FASTER: SUPER-SCAN TECHNOLOGY
Your keyboard is never faster than its ability to detect your keystrokes – no matter how many times per second it reports to the computer (Polling rate). The K5V2 features a new super-scan technology, scanning all keys every half a millisecond.
UNBELIEVABLE RGB
“The best RGB experience we’ve had” said one of the UK’s largest tech review sites about the previous generation of Xtrfy keyboards. On the K5, we’ve developed the RGB implementation even further to bring you a more impactful illumination than ever. Connecting the keyboard to a USB 3 port? Switch to USB 3 mode to boost the RGB!
OUR SMALLEST BUT MOST ADVANCED KEYBOARD YET
Small doesn’t mean less. This keyboard is extremely compact yet fully featured, with per-key customizable RGB illumination, macros, media controls and more. All settings are made using the keys. No software needed.
BUILD QUALITY ON A NEW LEVEL
Feel. Sound. Durability. It all comes down to build quality. The K5V2 is built with a metal plate construction, double layers of sound-dampening foam and high-quality PCB-mounted stabilizers – pre-lubed by hand.
Dimensions |
|
|---|---|
| Width of product without packaging (mm) | 4,33 in |
| Weight main product | 30 oz |
| Height of product without packaging (mm) | 1,46 in |
| Cable length | 6.56 ft |
| Length of product without packaging | 12,8 in |
| Scope of delivery | 2 spare switches, USB-cable, Manual, key cap puller, Keyboard |
Keyboard |
|
|---|---|
| Illumination | Strip LED RGB |
| Anti-ghosting | yes |
| Response Time | 1 ms |
| Adjustable feet | integrated |
| Palm rest | Palm rest available as accessory |
| N-key rollover | N-Key Rollover |
| Switching characteristics | linear |
| Special key functions | FN Key, Illumination settings, Media controls, Play/Pause, Unmute/Mute, Volume up, Volume down |
| Status LEDs | in housing |
| Keyboard format | Compact (65%) |
| Keycap material | ABS |
| Key technology | Mechanical |
| Windows Key | with Windows key |
Box and Packaging
Inside in the box, you’ll find the keyboard, user manual, keycap and switch extraction tool, a USB-A to C Cable, a XTRFY sticker and 2 spare MX2A Red switches.
A Closer Look
The whole keyboard is encased in a transparent/translucent casing which allows the LED to shine through, and this adds unique look to the keyboard.
The keyboard features super-scan technology for instant response, pre-lubed PCB-mounted stabilizers, and double layers of sound-dampening foam.
The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 is a compact 65% keyboard, and weighs in at 850g. It’s a little heavier than I expected, but that’s because it’s built with a metal plate construction.
The keyboard comes hot-swappable MX2A Red switches which offers smooth actuation and improved acoustics. You can use the included keycap/switch extraction tool to modify your keyboard to your liking.
On the right-hand side there is a small magnetic area for the logo plate. Underneath, you’ll find the retractable keyboard stand.
Cherry K5V2 in Action!
The RGB just shines through the entire keyboard and it looks absolutely stunning. The keyboard feature per-key customizable RGB illumination, macros, media controls and more. There’s no software to control the keyboard. All settings are done and configured via the keys on the keyboard itself.
Verdict and Conclusion
What I like about the Cherry XTRFY K5V2 RGB is the fact that it’s the first mechanical gaming keyboard that uses Cherry’s very own MX2A Red switches. Furthermore, Cherry claims that this keyboard is one of the MOST customizable keyboard in the world. Is this true? Well, after playing around with the keyboard for a number of days, all I can say is … I’m pretty impressed.
I love the design and asethetics of the keyboard with its transluent casing, and I also like the ability to customize it the way I want it.
The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 features hot-swappable MX2A Red switches which are extremely responsive and extremely quiet, with no audible clicks. These MX2A Red switches have a travel distance of 2.0mm, an actucation force of 45g and is guaranteed up to 100 million clicks.
You can replace the original keycaps and/or switches with your own custom ones using included keycap/switch extraction tool.
There’s a few things which I would have liked, such as a dedicated software which you can download and install, so that you can control and configure the keyboard. A wireless otpion would have been nice too.
You can buy the Cherry XTRFY K5V2 RGB Compact 65% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with prices between USD $129 – $149 from Amazon – https://amzn.to/3wT18OU
Final words
With the ability to fully customize it the way you want it, and featuring Cherry’s very own hotswappable MX2A Red switches … you won’t find a better compact 65% mechanical gaming keyboard on the market, other than the Cherry XTRFY K5V2 RGB.
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