Great keyboard with so many customizations! I am building my first gaming setup and knew I wanted a minimalist style color block keyboard but with LEDs and Cherry MX Brown switches. I honestly thought I'd have to build my own because rainbow LEDs and "minimalist" don't sound like they should go together. But then I saw this keyboard and fell in love, especially seeing/using it in person!

First of all, it is so sturdy and has quite a bit of weight to it which is great. Second, the switches sound awesome and feel great to use. My boyfriend is jealous and will constantly just start clicking the keys for fun. Also, I am in love with the different LED settings! You can add breathing effects, side to side scrolling (in either direction you want), and more! I know it's pricey at $200, but I think the quality is worth it. And if you're picky about what you want aesthetically (like me), and this keyboard fits that aesthetic, then you know it's worth it to spend the extra money :)

I bought this keyboard due to on-going virtual work. This review is based off a direct comparison to the Apple Magic keyboard, which I love (but driver issues have forced me into using a different keyboard).

In terms of style. I love it. It's sleek, sturdy, and well-built. The Drop ALT exudes quality with a premium aluminum chassis and premium-feeling keys. The keyboard itself is not only quite a bit heavier than the Apple Magic keyboard, but the overall thickness of the Drop ALT makes it considerably larger. The chassis itself is thin, but the keys are really big and chunky.

I got the keyboard based on numerous reviews online about why we all should be using a mechanical keyboard and I guess I got swayed into buying a premium piece of equipment.

I have been using this for the last day or so and I must say that it feels quite different from the Apple keyboard. Maybe I am not used to how much travel the switches are, or the force that needs to be applied but it does take a bit of getting used to. The chuckiness of the keycaps also means that I have to stretch my tiny fingers a bit more than I am used to. If you are coming from the Apple keyboard to this, I think the Kaihua Speed Silver switches may be better for you (I may end up swapping to these). Additionally because of the thickness, I will probably have to buy a palm rest.

To be honest, the feel of the Apple keyboard is better (to me). I guess it may be sacrilegious to mechanical keyboard lovers but I ain't going to be swayed.

Despite that, I do think it is a quality keyboard with infinite customizability due to being able to configure the LEDs, the hotswappable switches, and keycaps. It adds a bit of fun to my mundane work at an engineering company.

I do wonder how reliable these mechanical keyboards are. I have used the Apple keyboard for about 10 years and it hasn't failed me.

I have owned several mechanical keyboards over the years, and this is by far the best I have ever used.

Here's why:

- EXCELLENT LAYOUT: Most 65% keyboards do not include any separation between the arrow keys and the alt/function keys. THIS IS A BIG DEAL and was one of my main reasons for purchasing the Drop ALT. That little bit of separation makes it so easy to "feel" your way over to the arrow keys without having to look at them. I cannot understate how important this is. Also, I prefer NOT having a row of dedicated function keys above the number keys. I have used other "65%-ish" keyboards with this layout, but the problem was that the extra row of keys all packed together make it harder to find the key you need.

- GREAT LOOKS: To me, this is what a modern mechanical keyboard should look like. The LED strip around the outside is a nice look, but if you don't want that, you can turn it off and leave the keys illuminated (or vice versa). I didn't know that before purchasing but it was a pleasant surprise.

- EASY PROGRAMMING: Drop has a configurator on their website that you can use to reprogram your keys or LED colors. Then you download the file they provide you and follow the instructions to upload the new firmware to the board. It worked great for me and they even support macOS, which I wasn't expecting. This is a MUCH better experience than what I've had with other keyboards, which required downloading their janky software onto a Windows PC and then trying to figure out how to work it. Drop's site was easy and intuitive. The Drop software also makes it easy to program volume, play/pause, and skip buttons wherever you want them, even on macOS.

- FEELS GREAT: I got the "kaihua box white" (these are also known as "kaihl box white", it's the same thing) switches and they are incredible. They make the old Cherry (and Gateron) Brown switches I used previously feel so dead and mushy, and they are not as loud and "rickety" as my older Cherry Blues. I encourage you to research these switches more to see why people like them so much. I feel like a more accurate typist, and I find myself going out of my way to type stuff just to use these switches and this keyboard (like this review).

This is a solid keyboard that works wonderfully, the brown switches I got are as smooth as butter, and they have a beautiful sound. The keyboard as a whole is basically just a massive block of aluminum that was machined, so its as durable as a tank. The RGB setting are absolutely fantastic. It has several modes ranging from scrolling effects to beautiful and vibrant solid colors. The hot swapping ability is just perfect, the switches slide in and out easily and fluently. Though you need to be careful when swapping switches, because if you accidentally come in at the wrong angle you risk damaging the switches and PCB, make sure you know what you're doing before pulling a mortal combat finisher on the keyboard. The keyboard itself is very heavy, so if you're a key smasher like I am, I can guarantee it wont be sliding, unless of course you're The Hulk. The rubber pads on the bottom, and on the angle pieces, definitely help it stay in place. The only grievance I have is that the USB-C cable that it comes with isn't very long or high quality and that it doesn't come factory lubed, but the rest of the keyboard more than makes up for the extra 10-15 dollars you will have to spend at Best Buy and on Amazon to get a better cable and some lube. All in all this is a 9.5-10/10 keyboard that is more than worth the buy and I am more than satisfied with it. I have a feeling this bad boy is going to be a 4Lifer.

I've been on an endless quest for that perfect keyboard, and I'd been eyeing these for a while, but It's not everyday you want to spend $200+ on a keyboard. That said, when they popped up on Amazon for quick delivery I really couldn't resist.

First off, I love the way this keyboard looks and feels. It's a really nice design, super clean, and it feels so well built. On top of that, there is zero visible branding when it's on your desk -- it's all on the back. No giant logo, just a clean simple slab of metal. I absolutely love the aesthetic.

There are a few little details I appreciate too. The cable can be used on either side of the keyboard, and you can plug other things in the unused port, which is pretty handy and unexpected. The little magnetic feet are kind of clever, you can swap them around to change the angle of the keyboard. I was sort of worried they'd come out or wobble, but they are surprisingly rock solid. You will want a wrist wrest though!

All that said, the rim lighting is a bit much for me, especially at the office, but luckily you can easily turn it off and on with a simple fn+z or fn+x press. I tend to leave it just with the key lighting on.

As for the switches, I use this exclusively for typing, so I ended up getting the Halo Clears and I have no regrets. I think if I were using this for gaming I'd probably want the MX Browns. The switches feel great, and while I've already swapped out some keycaps for a few fun things, I haven't tried hot swapping switches yet, but I'm glad it's an option in case I ever change my mind in the future.

Anyway, this thing definitely feels like a $200 keyboard and I have zero regrets. If you're like me and want a buy-it-for-life (or at least until I get the itch again) keyboard, this is definitely an easy recommendation.

UPDATE: After using this keyboard for about 3 months, there are a few things I feel I should add. First, I noticed I was getting a lot of double characters while typing. Letters would be registered twice, and it was really irritating. I thought this was just me adjusting to the switches, but it turns out it was an actual issue and was luckily mostly resolved by updating the firmware. Second, you can change the brightness of the LEDs by using FN+S and F+W. Turns out this was in the manual, but was really helpful for keeping the lighting on but at a more reasonable level. Over-all, I'm still happy with the keyboard, but if I were to buy now, I'd probably get it direct from drop.