Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
I ’ve covered a spate ofgaming keyboardsover the past couple of years . In most compositor’s case , they ’re standout offering from mainstream stain like Asus , HyperX , and Corsair . And in most cases , these companies bring some premium , fancier - level features to products you could find in your local Best Buy . TheMeletrix Boog75isn’t in the same class .
This keyboard has enthusiast roue running through its veins . It does n’t come with dense RGB software , dateless joining modality , or consecrate keys for medium and macros . But it ’s the best damn keyboard I ’ve used by a mile , both for typing and play , and it ’s cheap enough that it can go toe - to - toe with more mainstream offering .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
The Hall Effect
The base of the Boog75 is Meletrix ’s own Zoom75 . If you ’re tune into the earth of enthusiast keyboards , you ’ve in all likelihood hear of the Zoom75 . Its comparatively gloomy price and high quality has already bourgeon it into fabled condition among mechanically skillful keyboard fans . The Boog75 is a gaming - focused take on the Zoom75 , and that comes down to the switch it use .
It uses magnetic switches , which are more commonly lie with as Hall Effect flip-flop . Unlike a traditional mechanically skillful switch , there ’s a sensing element at the bottom of a charismatic switch . This go after a attraction at the top of the electrical switch , yield a dissimilar current depending on how far the samara is pressed down .
In praxis , this leave some major advantage over a traditional switch . First is that you may get razor - thin actuation points . As we ’ve seen on keyboard like theSteelSeries Apex Pro Mini , this switch design can get down to propulsion points of 0.1 mm . You barely need to touch the shift to trigger an input , which can make rapid presses , particularly in games , much loose .
It ’s a range , though . These switches can go down to 0.1 mm and up to 4 millimeter , and you select where the actuation tip is . There ’s the competitive slant , but more importantly , this design allows you to fine - line incisively where the switch activates .
That ’s only one part of pressing a key . In a traditional substitution , you have an propulsion compass point and a rest point — how far you have to press the key down to register an input , and how far it come back up to readjust for another stimulus . Magnetic substitution are dynamic in this regard . Instead of a fixed reset spot , magnetic switch use a set space between propulsion to determine the reset point .
It micturate your keystrokes much more consistent . If you slam on one keystroke and barely tap on the other , it does n’t matter — the reset point adjusts to account for the differences in key stroke . This has obvious advantages in gaming , but it even make a deviation in typewriting . I ’ve never miss a key stroke while using the Boog75 .
Finally , magnetized shift are interchangeable to something like analog triggers you ’d encounter on a secret plan controller . Keystrokes still have a rigid propulsion point , but you could utilize the range available for special office . For example , theF2andF3keys are set to increase and lessen volume on the Boog75 by default . The amount of book depends on how far you bid the key down .
More than key switches
The switching are the genius of the show here , but the keyboard itself is excellent . For dispatcher , it’sheavy . It librate 4.4 pounds , due to both the alloy frame and weighed down bottom weighting . compound with some hefty understructure on the bottom of the keyboard , it detain firmly locked in place when put up on your desk .
It looks capital , too . Meletrix has two designs available . Shockwave is black and teal with accent on the keycaps and digital trace etched on the edges . I have the Induction Coil figure , which hold up for a white - and - ecru aesthetic with wispy etch lines across all aerofoil .
The look and experience is worthy of a keyboard that could easily cost $ 500 or more , but the Boog75 does n’t . Either of these designs be $ 230 , and that includes the keycaps , switches , a carrying case , and a coiled braided USB - C cable television service . That ’s the same price as a Corsair K70 Max and $ 30 more than a SteelSeries Apex Pro .
Under the thick double - crack keycaps , you ’ll find the magnetic permutation . In the prebuilt version , these are Gateron KS37B switches , but you ’re gratis to trade in your own , take for granted you ’re impart in two - pin charismatic switches ; regular three - rowlock or five - bowling pin electrical switch wo n’t work .
Meletrix use a gasket riding horse , placing 12 rubber gasket around the edge of the switch plate to dampen the typing feel . A gasket riding horse is essential , and it ’s no surprisal that Meletrix is using one here . Along with a gasket mountain , there ’s board foam to absorb the Ping River you normally get with a alloy frame .
The result is a keyboard that sounds as in effect as it find . There ’s the characteristicthonkto keystrokes , but it ’s that sound unite with the silky answer of the substitution that really makes it shine . The Boog75 is conference ahead of even mycustom Glorious GMMK Pro , which I ’ve tweak nearly every facial expression of . It ’s hard to magnify just how much of a leap the tone of this keyboard is compared to even higher - end mainstream keyboards like theAsus ROG Azoth .
Outside of an insanely premium keyboard like theCyberboard R2 , this is about as skillful as it gets for any reasonable amount of money . You might not be capable to pick up the Meletrix at a local retailer , but locomote out of your agency to order it forthwith from Meletrix is well worth it .
A couple of small downsides
I love this keyboard , but it is n’t everlasting . You do n’t get a circle of the creature comforts you find with more mainstream choice . Most notably , this is a wired keyboard . Meletrix sell a wireless interpretation of the Zoom75 , but the Boog75 is only useable in a pumped interpretation . I suspect that has to do with the magnetic switches , but it ’s something to keep in idea disregarding .
The software experience is n’t on the degree of mainstream options , either . There is n’t a local app . Instead , you could access all of the keyboard ’s options through your web web browser . There ’s per - fundamental RGB lighting , some circumscribed preprogrammed RGB effects , and control for the actuation point of each shift . you’re able to even take vantage of the charismatic transposition to program four different actions for dissimilar points of the keystroke — which is utile for spare function keys .
There are macros here , too , as well as rebindable keystone , where you’re able to add shortcuts like a calculator to certain keys .
The independent job is that it ’s in your web internet browser . There are three ironware profiles that you’re able to store on the keyboard itself , but you ’ll have to bookmark and commit up the website whenever you need to remember keys or make adjustments . There is n’t a connection to your local PC , either . For case , you ca n’t program a macro to launch a certain program , or automatically swop profiles when launching a sure game .
I do n’t put a gross ton of value on these extra feature article because I do n’t use them very much . However , it ’s definitely something to keep in mind . If you ’re a macro power user that want to set up half a dozen apps with a few keystrokes , your choice are limited here .
Even without radio receiver and some fairly basic software , the Boog75 is incredible . At $ 230 , it absolutely lambast the high end of the spectrum from mainstream brands like Corsair , Asus , and HyperX , and it even manages to outclass the GMMK Pro — at least before some serious modification . My biggest concern is that Meletrix wo n’t be able to keep it in stock . That ’s what we saw with the Zoom75 — all interlingual rendition of that keyboard are presently sell out .
If you ’re retrieve aboutpicking up a Boog75 , I ’d do so quickly — they are n’t going to last long .
