Drop SHIFT is a perfect gaming keyboard. It has incredible latency for fast movements, and our unit’s Cherry MX Brown switches have a short pre-trip, although some other models have a much shorter one. This keyboard is remarkably well built and has a complete RGB backlight. However, it doesn’t have any dedicated software, and the customization options aren’t very easy to use.
Drop SHIFT keyboard is a great choice for programmers. It looks extraordinarily well built and offers an exceptional writing experience. Our unit’s Cherry MX Brown switches provide good tactile feedback and feel light to write, but they’re also available on a variety of other switches, if you prefer. Unfortunately, it lacks a sample rest for added comfort and doesn’t have any dedicated software, so customizing it can be a bit more complicated.
Drop SHIFT keyboard is ideal for use in the office. This slightly compact model has a remarkable construction quality with stable keys that feel good to type. Our unit’s Cherry MX Brown switches provide pleasant tactile feedback while feeling light and responsive. They are also quiet enough to be used in a noise-sensitive environment. However, typing could cause fatigue over time, as this keyboard lacks a rest on the wrist and has a fairly high profile.
Drop SHIFT feels extraordinarily well built and solid. Its body is completely aluminum without bend marks and the keys are pbt double shot with a nice structured finish. Most keys feel very stable, without staggering or shaking. However, the spacebar of our unit produces an ecoey sound when pressed. Also, while the magnetic feet are very holds, they do not fit perfectly into the grooves at the bottom, making them a little less stable overall. On the plus side, they’re not foldable, so you don’t have to worry about pushing down on the board as you type.
Drop SHIFT is a compact, full-size keyboard, which means it has the same number of keys as a normal-sized model, but in a slightly more compact design. It still has a numeric keypad, arrows, and dedicated keys like Caps Lock, Numeric Lock, and Scroll Lock, but everything is much closer. This frees up desktop space, as this keyboard is much shorter and narrower than regular full-size options.
Drop SHIFT keyboard has RGB backlight complete with individually lit keys. There is also an RGB strip that goes all over your body, which adds a nice touch. The white backlight looks good overall, although it tends to have a slight shade of magenta and you can see the reflection of blue light on the keys. You can scroll through many different color defaults with function keys, or customize them through the Drop website, and then view the settings you choose on the keyboard. However, this customization method is not easy to use, and the website is not considered dedicated software.
The USB-C cable can be plugged in on any side, reducing cable clutter. Should you need to move the Drop Shift, a detachable cable also makes it simpler. However, since it’s still a full-size keyboard, We wouldn’t necessarily advise that.
The Shift boasts a ton of RGB lighting for a keyboard that isn’t intended for gaming. A wide ribbon of RGB light wraps around the base’s borders in addition to the complete per-key RGB illumination that shines up through the keycaps. The silver top plate and gray keys complement this appearance well. If a desktop light show isn’t your thing, you may use the setup web tool to disable the backlighting or set it to white.
Drop SHIFT typing quality is very good. The double-stroke PBT keys have a good feel for them and a nice structured surface that is not subject to the brightness of the fingers. In addition, the keys are quite stable and our unit’s Cherry MX Brown switches offer good tactile feedback, while being lightweight for pressure. Although the board is slightly more compact than a full-size model, the design of its keys still looks standard enough and shouldn’t take time to get used to. That said, it could cause some fatigue over time, as it lacks rest on the wrist and has a fairly high profile. Also, while the spacebar feels good overall, it has a slight rattle and makes a strange sound when pressed. Photo: Drop
Drop SHIFT is a wrong choice for use with a home theater PC. It’s just wiring, which means you have to run the cable from the couch to your PC, which isn’t ideal. A trackpad is also missing, so you need a mouse to navigate the UI. On the plus side, it has full RGB backlight for use in the dark.
Drop SHIFT is a fairly adjustable keyboard that offers great features in slightly compact sizes. It is remarkably well built with an aluminum body and PBT two-shot caps and should be a great addition to any office set or configuration. It has a full RGB backlight and offers some additional features, such as keyboard shortcuts for media control and a USB switch. It also has excellent latency, ideal for fast games. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have any dedicated software, so the only way to really customize it is to encode your firmware or use the Drop keyboard configurator offered on your website. On the plus side, it offers a great typing experience and comes with many different types of switches, which are hot replaceable so you can remove and replace them easily.
The Drop Shift is an unique, sophisticated keyboard, costing $250. You can tell it was carefully crafted because of its sturdy design, thoughtful styling, and sparkling lighting. Although the Corsair K95 Platinum XT and the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog, which have significantly more functionality, are among the highest-end gaming keyboards available for this budget, the Drop Shift’s distinctive design and Halo True switches make it significantly more pleasurable to type on. A sensitive typist will find the difference between good and outstanding typing feel most appealing, but even if you just want a standard keyboard, the Drop Shift’s tiny form can be the ideal fit.
Drop SHIFT keyboard Specs:
- 99 keys
- Anodized, CNC-machined aluminum frame
- Custom PCB
- Hot-swap switch sockets
- QMK firmware
- Plate-mounted Cherry-style stabilizers
- Cherry MX, Kaihua, or Halo switches
- Doubleshot PBT shine-through keycaps
- Floating key design
- Dual USB-C connectors
- RGB LED indicator lights for Capslock, Numlock, and Scroll lock
- PCB compatible with 3-pin plate-mount switches only
- Dimensions (fully assembled): 15.2 x 5.5 x 1.7 in (38.6 x 14 x 4.3 cm)
- Weight (fully assembled): 34.2 oz (970 g)
- Price: $250
