Final Words and conclusion

Final words and conclusion

Cooler Master did something unique with this keyboard, offering analog functionality to an otherwise digital keyboard. No matter how we look at it, it is an innovative product as that analog functionality gives 'analog joystick like' feedback, addressable to the eight keys, and that is something very new and exciting.

Analog yo!

Now, it isn't all perfect really as, next to the learning curve, you will also need to switch often with the Mode keys. Next to that, with infrared comes calibration that you will need to apply quite often. These are all minor discomforts really. While testing games I was not disappointed, especially in race games, precisely steering moderately to the left or right brings more precision to your game. Weird though is that when mode M2 to M4 activate the analog functionality, you lose the ability to type letters. What continuously played through my mind was this, aren't we overthinking things? I mean, why not place a mini console like joystick on the keyboard opposed to adding analog functionality under digital switched keys, and then be done with it. But as an experience, despite it feeling a bit clumsy to manage with calibration and key bindings to operate it per game, it did work nicely (where it worked).

Overall

I am certain it'll steal the hearts of many gamers (as well as the contents of their wallets) as, if you look around, you will find the MK850 for a whopping 199 USD ex VAT, £210 (pre-Brexit) and roughly 220 EUR incl VAT. It is, however, a Cherry MX keyboard with per-key lit RGB keys. The switches work out nice and responsive and are the cherry (no pun intended) on top of the red cherry cake (that was definitely a pun -Ed). However, not everybody will like red switches and it is the only flavor that, at the time of writing, Cooler Master offers. With all the Analog and RGB madness you'd almost forget that this is a keyboard, it offers plenty of functionality and feels great to game on. You really are receiving something well designed and comfortable to play games on. Animated lighting can be busy at times to continuously have enabled. Hey, you can dim it, disable it or just have it show one color just as well, remember this puppy can be set up to many of your desires and wishes. So yeah, expect extensive features and specifications. We also like the additional two USB ports and that comfy but easily smudged wrist rest.

Final words

I've been looking for some simple words to describe the Aimpad functionality and it ends being a little unpolished yet innovative. Adding analog controller like functionality to the keyboard I do like. It potentially helps me game better and more precisely with functions like throttling up/down, steering and what not. That said, many but not all games will be compatible and there are ones that vary in usability, Cooler Master likely also needs to look into adding more functions that you can assign to the analog keys. Is all that innovation worth the 220 Euros? Well, that depends on the userbase; for some, yes. If you put it on your shortlist you need to really like the analog input functionality. If you browse a little on the web and look for a Wooting One or Wooting Two, these offer similar, if not better functionality for a lower price. Is it worth the money to me? For me personally (and that is a very subjective statement) that answer is no. The game setup needs quite a bit of work, the mandatory regular calibration is a bit of a nag as well. Then again, I do find this tech to be fascinating enough and at the very least seriously interesting. While I'm not sure if it is worth the money, it is an exciting feature that you can opt to use, or leave disabled. Let's not forget that this is a proper Mechy as well, Cherry MX Red switches, good programmability on a decent software suite, RGB lighting per key and a pretty sweet aesthetic design (albeit that is subject to taste). It offers two USB 3.0 jacks as well. The overall build quality is really good and looks refined and stylish with that nice alu plating. The Cherry MX keys are, as always, very responsive, no complaints there either. If you are on the lookout for a new mechanical keyboard in a more premium segment, then the MK850 is a very viable alternative for your shortlist but that analog is the cherry on top of the Cherry MX Red cake. For some, the analog functionality will be the holy grail, to others a small gimmick they can use whenever they feel like it. We certainly like where Cooler Master is headed with this though.

• Sign up to receive a notice when we publish a new article
• Or go back to Guru3D's front page