{"id":423857,"date":"2022-03-30T16:00:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-30T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-03-30T16:00:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T13:00:17","slug":"a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#A Mechanical Alternative to Apple\u2019s Magic Keyboard \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a348c08e839a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a348c08e839a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#%E2%80%9CA_Mechanical_Alternative_to_Apples_Magic_Keyboard_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;A Mechanical Alternative to Apple\u2019s Magic Keyboard \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like\" >Here&#8217;s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#A_Design_That_Almost_Matches_the_Magic_Keyboard\" >A Design That Almost Matches the Magic Keyboard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#The_Backlight_Is_the_Star_of_the_Show\" >The Backlight Is the Star of the Show<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#Optical_Keys_Youll_Love_Them_or_Hate_Them\" >Optical Keys: You\u2019ll Love Them or Hate Them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#Battery_Life_I_Have_Bad_News\" >Battery Life: I Have Bad News<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#Who_Is_the_Vissles_LP85_For\" >Who Is the Vissles LP85 For?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like-2\" >Here\u2019s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont-2\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CA_Mechanical_Alternative_to_Apples_Magic_Keyboard_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;A Mechanical Alternative to Apple\u2019s Magic Keyboard \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<div class=\"single-review-card\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\" style=\"\">\n<div class=\"rating\" style=\"\">Rating:<br \/>\n<strong>6\/10<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"more-info-hover\">?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"rating-info\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage<\/li>\n<li>3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design<\/li>\n<li>4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons<\/li>\n<li>5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect<\/li>\n<li>6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale<\/li>\n<li>7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class<\/li>\n<li>8 &#8211; Fantastic, with Some Footnotes<\/li>\n<li>9 &#8211; Shut Up And Take My Money<\/li>\n<li>10 &#8211; Absolute Design Nirvana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<p>Price: <strong>$120<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-109838\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/02\/19a6a908.png?width=400 400w, https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/02\/19a6a908.png?width=1200 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/02\/19a6a908.png?width=1200\" alt=\"The Vissles LP85 keyboard with its backlight.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019re a PC user, you can buy just about any mechanical keyboard without missing out on functionality or correct button placement. But unless you\u2019re a tinkerer, finding a mechanical keyboard for your Mac is pretty dang tough. That seems to be the reasoning behind <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fvissles.com%2Fproducts%2Fvissles-lp85-low-profile-mechanical-keyboard%3Fvariant%3D39681988165731\">Vissles\u2019 LP85 keyboard<\/a>, a mechanical, colorful take on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/shop\/product\/MK2A3LL\/A\/magic-keyboard-us-english\">Apple\u2019s Magic Keyboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"review-card-body-inline\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like\"><\/span>Here&#8217;s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Extremely compact and portable<\/li>\n<li>Awesome animated and static backlighting presets<\/li>\n<li>Comes in Windows and macOS configurations<\/li>\n<li>Comfortable, clicky optical keys<\/li>\n<li>Wired or wireless<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Backlight and Bluetooth controls are confusing<\/li>\n<li>Some keys aren&#8217;t fully illuminated by LEDs<\/li>\n<li>Cramped layout and poor typing angle<\/li>\n<li>Poor battery life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>I\u2019m a big fan of this concept\u2014Vissles took a great keyboard design and tried to improve it with <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>-ready, satisfying, customizable features. But the execution is a bit spotty, and unfortunately, I don\u2019t think the LP85 will <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>eal to everyone.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Design_That_Almost_Matches_the_Magic_Keyboard\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_0\">A Design That Almost Matches the Magic Keyboard<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113600\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/03\/91940d39.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fvissles.com%2Fproducts%2Fvissles-lp85-low-profile-mechanical-keyboard%3Fvariant%3D39681988165731\">Vissles<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The concept behind Vissles\u2019 LP85 keyboard is pretty straightforward; it\u2019s like an Apple Magic Keyboard with clicky mechanical keys and flashy backlighting. If you don\u2019t like typing on a Magic Keyboard, you probably won\u2019t like the LP85. That said, the LP85 isn\u2019t a perfect Magic Keyboard replacement, and it may turn off some Apple fans.<\/p>\n<p>Design-wise, Vissles really captured the Apple vibe here. The LP85 feels super solid and dense, has an aluminum case, and has an extremely low-profile feel. It\u2019s a sloped keyboard, and at its tallest point, it\u2019s just 12mm thick (the Magic Keyboard is 9mm thick). The LP85\u2019s width and height (307.6mm x 118.1mm) are just slightly larger than the Magic Keyboard\u2019s (278.8mm x 114.8mm).<\/p>\n<p>Vissles more or less copied the Magic Keyboard layout for the LP85, though the company made a few changes that I enjoy. Unlike Apple\u2019s keyboard, this keyboard has full-sized arrow keys plus a row of page navigation keys\u2014home, page up, page down, and so on. I assume these keys are here for Windows users, but they work fine on macOS. (The print-screen button doesn\u2019t do anything on macOS, though you could bind it to a keyboard shortcut if you really wanted to.)<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113587\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6466136d.png\" alt=\"An image showing the Vissles LP85's measurements.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fvissles.com%2Fproducts%2Fvissles-lp85-low-profile-mechanical-keyboard\">Vissles<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My big problem is that the LP85 feels cramped. This isn\u2019t immediately noticeable, but after a long workday, typing on the LP85 is like tying my fingers into pretzels. Vissles went with a smaller key size than Apple, which is a bad idea in my book.<\/p>\n<p>More broadly speaking, the LP85 just isn\u2019t very ergonomic. That\u2019s not to say that Apple\u2019s keyboards are\u00a0ergonomic either\u2014neither the LP85 nor the Magic Keyboard have feet or risers to adjust their typing angle. And of course, both are shaped like solid rectangles, without any curvature to accommodate natural hand and wrist movement.<\/p>\n<p>Previous versions of the Vissles LP85 (the macOS model) had their Function and Option keys reversed, which was pretty offputting. Thankfully, Vissles now installs the keys in their correct order. I only wish the company had added small glyphs to the Command, Function, Option, and Control keys. (Some websites and apps show these icons instead of the keys\u2019 names, and I\u2019m not smart enough to remember what\u2019s what.)<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m also not a fan of the LP85\u2019s Bluetooth pairing process. To pair a new device, you have to hold Function and P. And to choose between your three paired devices, you have to hold Function and press either Q, W, or E. Printing these instructions on the keyboard\u2019s underside would save customers a lot of confusion, though I\u2019m sure you could memorize these commands in a day if you plan to use them often. Other keyboards, like Logitech\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.logitech.com\/en-us\/products\/keyboards\/mx-keys-wireless-keyboard.920-009295.html\">MX Keys<\/a>, have dedicated buttons for this, with clearly-labeled icons and no wonky key combinations to remember.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Backlight_Is_the_Star_of_the_Show\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_1\">The Backlight Is the Star of the Show<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113598\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/03\/01dcb7af.png\" alt=\"The LP85 with a dynamic backlight.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I understand that clicky mechanical keys are one of the big selling points for the LP85. But to me, the backlight is what makes this keyboard special. I\u2019m very impressed by the quality and functionality of the LP85\u2019s\u00a0backlight, although I have a couple of complaints that I hope Vissles addresses in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Vissles picked some high-quality LEDs for this build\u2014my photos don\u2019t do a ton of justice here. Each LED is bright and crisp, even in direct light, and animations look smooth as silk.<\/p>\n<p>Users can select between\u00a019 dynamic and 8 monochrome backlight options, and yeah, there\u2019s something for everyone. I\u2019m especially fond of one multicolor mode, which assigns random colors to each key and changes their color when pressed. I also enjoy that you can choose which color you want to use in monochrome mode, and the dynamic animations can be increased or decreased in speed.<\/p>\n<lite-youtube videoid=\"pia0vlk8V7I\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/pia0vlk8V7I\/hqdefault.jpg');\">\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"lty-playbtn\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"lyt-visually-hidden\">Play Video<\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/lite-youtube>\n<p>Here\u2019s where I start complaining. While most of the LP85\u2019s keys shine with a solid color, keys with long names (like Command and Caps Lock) aren\u2019t fully illuminated.\u00a0I think Vissles should\u2019ve shortened some of these key names (replace Command with CMD, etc.) to make the backlighting more consistent.<\/p>\n<p>Oh, and this problem might sound familiar\u2014you have to use weird keyboard shortcuts to control the LP85\u2019s backlight. I wrote out the instructions on a sticky note and tacked them on the bottom of the keyboard, which was easier than keeping the instructions at my desk.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Optical_Keys_Youll_Love_Them_or_Hate_Them\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">Optical Keys: You\u2019ll Love Them or Hate Them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113586\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dffafa27.png\" alt=\"An illustration showing the LP85's optical key design.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fvissles.com%2Fproducts%2Fvissles-lp85-low-profile-mechanical-keyboard\">Vissles<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Because the LP85 is a mechanical keyboard, it\u2019s a lot louder than Apple\u2019s Magic Keyboard. That said, this keyboard may feel a bit different from other mechanical beasts, as it utilizes optical switches instead of linear or tactile switches.<\/p>\n<p>Optical switches use light to detect when you press a key. As a result, they tend to have very little resistance and an incredibly fast response time. The \u201cdebounce delay\u201d you hear about in other mechanical keyboards doesn\u2019t exist in optical keyboards, so naturally, they\u2019re a popular option among gamers. (And yes, this keyboard is super responsive. I didn\u2019t notice any delay over a Bluetooth connection.)<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113597\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/03\/48b5e330.png\" alt=\"The LP85 with a green backlight.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But if you\u2019re used to mechanical keyboards with linear or tactile switches, an optical keyboard like the LP85 may feel a little too \u201clight\u201d or \u201cmushy\u201d when typing or gaming. The LP85 has an actuation force rating of 50g\u2014comparable to Cherry MX Red switches but <em>much<\/em>\u00a0lighter than other popular options. (That said, the LP85 is a bit faster than a Cherry MX Red keyboard, as it has just 1.2mm pre-travel and 2.5mm of total travel.)<\/p>\n<p>For what it\u2019s worth, I think Vissles went with the optical technology to keep this keyboard as dense and low-profile as possible. Sticking tactile switches in a chassis this small may be impossible.<\/p>\n<p>As for the keyboard\u2019s sound\u2014well, it\u2019s definitely clicky. The sound isn\u2019t as weighty or loud as what you\u2019ll get with some keyboards, but it gets the job done. (Personally, I wish that Vissles offered this keyboard without the clicky sound. I really only care about the optical switches and backlight.)<\/p>\n<p>Again, I think the LP85 is a solid upgrade option if you\u2019re using a membrane keyboard and want something clicky. But some people may prefer heavier, louder, bigger switches. I should also reiterate that the LP85\u2019s keycaps are not replaceable; what you see is what you get.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Battery_Life_I_Have_Bad_News\"><\/span>Battery Life: I Have Bad News<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-109837\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/02\/8266e4bf-1.png\" alt=\"The Vissles LP85 USB-C port and Bluetooth\/Wired connection switcher.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Looking for a Bluetooth keyboard with amazing battery life? Well, this ain\u2019t it. The LP85 has a relatively small battery, and because it has backlit keys\u00a0<em>and<\/em> optical switches, it only lasts a few days on a charge.<\/p>\n<p>I work at least eight hours a day, and I spend most of that time typing. In my experience, the LP85 lasts about two days with its backlight fully illuminated. When the backlight\u2019s turned off, the keyboard can go about five days before dying.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a pretty abysmal battery life\u2014about two days short of the Keychron K2 and other popular mechanical keyboards. It\u2019s also half the battery life you\u2019ll get with most <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/108451\/satechi-slim-x2-keyboard-review-backlit-and-beautiful\/\">rechargeable membrane keyboards.<\/p>\n<p>Just to be clear, the LP85 works over a wireless\u00a0<em>or<\/em> wired connection. Those who plan to use it with a USB cable don\u2019t need to worry about the battery.<\/p>\n<p>If you want a Bluetooth mechanical gaming keyboard with good battery life, I suggest buying one that takes AA or AAA batteries. The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FLogitech-G613-LIGHTSPEED-Wireless-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard-with-Programmable-G-Keys%2F488776282%3F\">Logitech G613<\/a> is such an option, as it lasts about a year on a pair of AAs. (Unfortunately, there aren\u2019t a lot of Mac options in this space.)<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Is_the_Vissles_LP85_For\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_4\">Who Is the Vissles LP85 For?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-109836\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/02\/09dd8c26-1.png\" alt=\"The Vissles LP85 keyboard without its backlight.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s clear that the Vissles LP85 is an exciting alternative to Apple\u2019s Magic Keyboard, and it may even appeal to PC users who want something compact, mechanical, and flashy. But there are a lot of pain points that may turn off some customers.<\/p>\n<p>Solely in terms of pricing, I think the LP85 is a solid deal. You get a well-made optical mechanical keyboard with great backlighting for $120. But this keyboard is a bit cramped, its optical keys may not appeal to all people, the battery life kinda stinks, the keycaps aren\u2019t replaceable, and the backlighting presets aren\u2019t the same thing as programmable RGB.<\/p>\n<p>For gamers, I suggest looking for something a bit more comfortable and robust. But if you just want a flashy, mechanical, portable take on the Magic Keyboard design, the LP85 is a solid option. It just isn\u2019t a\u00a0<em>perfect<\/em> option.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single-review-card border\">\n<div class=\"review-card-body\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like-2\"><\/span>Here\u2019s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Extremely compact and portable<\/li>\n<li>Awesome animated and static backlighting presets<\/li>\n<li>Comes in Windows and macOS configurations<\/li>\n<li>Comfortable, clicky optical keys<\/li>\n<li>Wired or wireless<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont-2\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Backlight and Bluetooth controls are confusing<\/li>\n<li>Some keys aren&#8217;t fully illuminated by LEDs<\/li>\n<li>Cramped layout and poor typing angle<\/li>\n<li>Poor battery life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nsetTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('init', '1137093656460433');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/108853\/vissles-lp85-keyboard-review-a-mechanical-alternative-to-apples-magic-keyboard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;A Mechanical Alternative to Apple\u2019s Magic Keyboard \u2013 Review Geek&#8221; Rating: 6\/10 ? 1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage 2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage 3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design 4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons 5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect 6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale 7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class 8 &#8211;&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":423858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/02\/19a6a908.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-423857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=423857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/423857\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/423858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=423857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=423857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=423857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}