The Cherry MX Board 6.0 Mechanical Keyboard Review
by E. Fylladitakis on January 27, 2016 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Keyboard
- Cherry MX
- Mechanical Keyboards
Conclusion
I always try to use every keyboard that we review as my personal keyboard for at least a week. My typical weekly usage includes a lot of typing (about 100-150 pages), a few hours of gaming and some casual usage, such as internet browsing and messaging. Cherry's use of MX Red switches on the MX Board 6.0 is odd, as it is being marketed as a professional keyboard and the MX Blue and MX Brown switches are generally the preferred switches for typing. Despite the use of MX Red switches, which are not my personal favorite for typing either, the MX Board 6.0 was remarkably responsive and comfortable for long typing sessions. The large wrist rest helped as well, maintaining the palms of my hands at a comfortable position over the length of the typing session.
For gaming, the MX Board 6.0 leaves us with mixed feelings. The Realkey technology is supposed to minimize the latency of the keyboard and provides true N-Key rollover, which is nice for gamers, and the keyboard itself is very comfortable for prolonged use. However, it also lacks any form of programmability, macro keys or even just the capability to run macros (without the use of third-party remapping software). For me, since my gaming style frequently relies on macros, the MX Board 6.0 was impractical during my gaming sessions. Nonetheless, those who do not use macros and/or remap their keyboard for gaming will not have any issue using the MX Board 6.0.
The Cherry MX Board 6.0 is undoubtedly a very high quality keyboard, designed to be virtually indestructible and very comfortable for advanced professional users. However, we found Cherry's design confounding. MX Blue/Brown switches are far more popular with typists than MX Red switches, so it is strange that the company decided to offer such a keyboard only with MX Red switches. It is also strange that Cherry included the Realkey technology into this model, as it would be a feature appreciated by gamers, but professionals are unlikely to be swayed by it. Furthermore, the MX Board 6.0 lacks any programmability, a feature that is almost a necessity for gamers nowadays, but also very helpful for many professionals as well.
In conclusion, we feel that the Cherry MX Board 6.0 is aimed towards a very small, specific target group - those who want a top quality keyboard and do not care about advanced features, such as a programmable layout or macro capabilities. It would be an excellent choice for anyone who wants to buy one (and only one) keyboard for years to come, even for gamers if they are certain that they will not need any advanced features.
However with that said, the MX Board 6.0 solid quality comes with one significant drawback, and that's price. The MX Board 6.0 currently retails at the very steep price of $198 plus shipping, which greatly limits its market potential. Professionals can find very good mechanical keyboard retailing for nearly half the price. The very best gaming keyboards using Cherry's own MX switches, such as the Corsair Vengeance K95 RGB and the Cougar 700K, retail for less than Cherry's own implementation, and those keyboards feature programmability, RGB lighting, and macro key functionality that the Cherry does not. As a result, while the Cherry MX Board 6.0 is a product of excellent quality and design, it's misplaced in the market due to a lack of competitive pricing - and that's a significant problem when that competition is based around Cherry's own switches as well.
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BurntMyBacon - Thursday, January 28, 2016 - link
@529th: "This lack of interest in the ONE thing that separates this board from others screams for your resignation and or being fired."Seems a little harsh. I agree that the review would have been much better with in-depth examination and comparisons, particularly of the new Real Key technology and its competition. However, as it is, this review is no worse than a hundred other keyboard reviews I've read at various sites. Certainly not resignation worthy. Perhaps he'll take your feedback and include such comparison in his next review. It would certainly help it stand out from the crowd more. Perhaps it is too much to ask, but I'd be really happy to see an update to this review to include said content.
Ancillas - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
I had keyboards with macro buttons for years, but I never used the feature.Kepe - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
Same here. I used to have the original Logitech G15 that had 18 macro keys. The only things I used those macro keys for were my e-mail address and password, which was the same everywhere. I've now had a Func KB-460 with Cherry MX Red switches for a couple of years. It does have macro functionality, but it's tied to the fn key so I don't use them. And I play A LOT of games. Never felt the need for keyboard macros in any game.I like the red switches, they're very light and when I type I don't usually press the keys all the way to the bottom. Very good for gaming, as well.
Kepe - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
Hmm, Func has been bought by Fnatic ;oThe Fnatic Rush seems to be exactly the same keyboard as my Func KB-460, they've just changed the logo.
cm123 - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
I was lucky enough to get one of the very early released MX 6.0 keyboards from Cherry so I've had mine for awhile now. Simply the best keyboard I've ever used period (used lots of keyboards from Razer, Corsair, Logitech, and many others). Though its main purpose for me is First Person Shooters as well as general typing. Love the hand rest and how smooth the reactions feel, even have become a fan of the reds (I was a brown only person before this keyboard).NeilPeartRush - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
I actually bought most of the CherryMX switches (Red, Black Brown and Blue) and compared them to my IBM Model M, Matias (Alps) and Topre Keyboard. I grew up with the Model M at home and the Apple Extended Keyboard II (Alps) at school, so I have a fondness for well-done mechanical keyboards. My ranking:1. Topre - the perfect blend of tactile, comfort and noise for me. I use it at work.
2. Cherry Brown - not quite as good as the Topre but easier to find and thus more affordable. I use it at home in an LED-backlit variety; it represents the best balance among the Cherry switches for me.
3. Model M - if you can get past the noise there is nothing quite like it. Not my favorite anymore for everyday, but I keep one around with an old Windows 98SE/DOS machine for classic gaming (along with a Trinitron CRT).
4. Matias - I just find the build-quality somewhat lacking and these new Alps not quite as good as the old Apple Extended Keyboard. Gave it to a buddy who loves Alps.
5. Cherry Red - very fast but not the best for my style of typing; I tend to produce unintended keypresses due to the low actuation force and lack of detent. My wife loves it.
6. Cherry Blue - nice, tactile response that is very audible, and that is my biggest gripe. I am sensitive to noise and the sound of these just affects me negatively; I also prefer the feel of a buckling spring. Gave it to my buddy who will use nothing but Blues.
7. Cherry Black - my least favorite mechanical switch. The Brown is the most versatile for me, the Blue is the best for typing (among the Cherry models) and the Red is FAST and nimble. The Black just ends up being the worst for my typing style and finds no niches for me. It feels slow and airy everyone I lent it to hated it, except one guy - now it's his...
I have the green and clear Cherry switches in a little tester unit, and they are not for me, but I would be willing to give them a shot in a full-size keyboard.
jmunjr - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
If you're an old school gamer like me using any macro is cheating. This is the perfect keyboard for us originals...Mr Perfect - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
I guess I'm the only one who's bugged by not having that right Windows key. It might be weird, but the whole thing is a pass without it. I couldn't spend that kind of money on something that would annoy me a couple times a day.Murloc - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
I only use the left one really since the hand rests on the WASD area when I'm using the mouse or ctrl+c-ing stuff around.The only bad part is not being able to Windows+L with one hand when leaving the table.
Kepe - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
How small are your hands? Win + L is easy to reach with pinky and thumb. I can reach Tab + P with one hand, and I have small hands compared to pretty much every one of my friends.