Ever Trend Zone Lowrefree Flow84 is my only, repetitive, latest episode of love with a mechanical keyboard. I would describe it as a mechanical keyboard that combines good and bad reasons, but we get to it!
It is one of a relatively new kind of low profile mechanical keyboards, something that seemed to have been inconsistent just a few years ago…
Anyway, what is a mechanical keyboard?
Considering that Apple-style Chiclet keyboards dominate the market today and that many Mac users aren’t old enough to remember anything before them, it’s probably worth starting from the start.
The MacBook keyboard, as well as various Apple Magic keyboards, consist of ultra slim keys that lie on top of a two-part sizer mechanism. This is what provides elasticity and backs up each key after use.
This mechanism is quiet to be used, and most importantly, requires very little height for Apple purposes. This means it can be used with ultra slim MacBooks. (We’re shiny while the company went too far with this…)
However, scissor keyboards also have serious drawbacks, the biggest of which is their lack of touch. They are not very happy with using it simply from a tactile or auditory perspective. This is where the mechanical keyboard comes in.
These use more robust switches under each key and have much longer movement. Depending on the type of switch you use, it may sound like a click, or crack, or a tockey. These are the three most commonly used terms to describe variations in hearing.
Mechanical keyboard fans prefer greater physical movements as well as absolute tactile and audible feedback registered by the keypress. The combination of the two tends to be more accurate, and to some degree, it gives you a faster speed.
Finally, most mechanical keyboards offer almost endless customization options. You can purchase a variety of switches, each with a distinctive sound and feel. You can also purchase a huge range of keycaps with a choice of shapes, colors, finishes, typefaces, and more.
The emergence of modest mechanical keyboards
For a very long time, you have paid your money and made your choice:
- It has a low profile and compact layout, but the scissor keyboard has a bad atmosphere
- It feels great, but the large physical size and height of a mechanical keyboard
The width and depth of the mechanical keyboard can be reduced with a variety of reduced key options. A full-size keyboard has function keys, numeric keypads, navigation keys such as PGUP and PGDN, and all keys for your work. It has over 100 keys and is known as a 100% keyboard.
Over time, various other options emerged. Delete numeric keypads and functional keys (accessed using key combos) and more. This creates a mechanical keyboard, as small as 40% of a full-size keyboard, while retaining standard-sized keycaps.
However, a problem that has only been resolved in the past few years has been reducing the height of mechanical keyboards without reducing the range of movement or feel. Many companies have found a way to do this, and the low-key keyboard has been born.
Low flow 84
The low one I’m reviewing is Flow84, which comes from the 84 key. In size terms it’s a 75% keyboard with functional keys and navigation keys, but no numeric keypad. (There is a Flow100 version available on the keypad.)
Look
This is the first reason why Apple says it’s a mechanical keyboard that we make today. It is absolutely beautiful and minimalist design. Available in either black or white, and when you look at the white version along with Apple’s Magic keyboard, you’ll think the similarity is clear.
It’s a bit off-white, but not as creamy as this light.
The low profile design is evident from the side. A copper-looking branding plate is something you might like or dislike. Personally, I would like to not have it, but that’s pretty uncomfortable. The same applies to matching feet.
The keys provide a backlight, but are not used personally on desktop keyboards. Toggling the three supported Bluetooth connections and backlight strength is controlled via key combinations.
Its low design is partially possible with the very shallow keycaps:
This means that if you’re fantasizing about a different look, you won’t have the flexibility to buy a keycap set, but Lofrey is Many The price for the various options is $50 per set. This is a little more expensive than typical for a standard set, but not much.
Customization
Normally I would go from the look to the feel, but there are some issues here.
Well, one of the key advantages of mechanical keyboards is their mixing and matching nature. Want a different look? Switch keycaps. Do you want a different feel? Select a different switch.
To be clear, Lofrey offers many keycap options, so that’s fine. But things are more limited when it comes to the Switch. The keyboard uses the Kailh switch. Now, I personally think these are excellent, but some people may prefer cherry, and that’s not an option.
I’m a commonly clicked switch guy. This usually means choosing a Kailh Wizard set. But I can’t. For some inexplicable reasons, the white keyboard comes with a ghost switch, and the black keyboard comes with a phantom switch. You don’t have the ability to specify what you want, as you can get from other mechanical keyboard companies. You can order addition It’s your favorite set of switches, but that’s an extra $59.
This is the second reason I say this is a keyboard that Apple makes. That’s exactly what you want, as long as Apple has its own choice.
The firmware is exactly the same. Most mechanical keyboards support software remapping. Do you need up and down keys on the top page of your home? No problem: Replace the keymap and redisplay the functionality in the software. But that’s not the case with this keyboard. There is zero remapping function. Again, it reminds me of the “Apple Knows Best” approach.
So my white keyboard arrived with a ghost switch.
Ah, there’s one last one of the missing customizations: those feet. Most mechanical keyboards have three positions: under the legs, low and high. The Flow84 has its feet fixed in what I describe as a low position. It works well at this angle, but again, there is no choice.
feel
The keyboard feels like it offers excellent build quality. It is all aluminum housing and feels firm and properly heavy. The fit and finish standard is suitable for Apple Standards.
As for typing, the ghost switch is linear and should not be clicked. I wanted to exchange them. But… I haven’t done it yet.
Lofree says these switches will make for the smoothest typing experience and I have to say I’ve got it completely. The feel is absolutely beautiful.
I might still trade them, but I will not deny that they have enough positive sensation and auditory feedback for reliable typing. After two weeks I still use them and feel like there are less and less calls to change them.
Solve half of my on-off love
We mentioned the on-off love incident with a mechanical keyboard. On the positive side, i On a large scale If you prefer the feel when typing, you will find that both typing speed and accuracy are superior when used. On the downside, they traditionally cover great beasts, so they are less than portable ones while traveling.
However, at 12.5″ x 5″ x 1″ and weighing 1.3 pounds, the Flow84 is not a very unfair suggestion, even adding it to your travel kit or sliding it over your backpack. Also, as you can see from the above comparison, there is little extra room on my desk on top of the magic keyboard.
The battery life is low at 40 hours, but I have a habit of charging every week. This works well in this way.
However, another reason for the multiple times that we’ve been going back and forth between mechanical and the Chicle keyboard is the challenge of switching between the two. Because I use my desk mechanical, my mobile chiclet, or leisure in the living room. Certain adjustments can be tiring, but I have to say this might stick. It’s just So It’s nice to use
Pricing and conclusion
The Lofree Flow84 costs $159, but it currently costs $139. As always, it’s worth comparing Amazon prices. However, there is a flow, so be very careful when doing so. Light Half aluminum, half plastic.
Like the NEPHY Air75, there are cheaper options that range from $120 to $135 depending on the original and V2. But when it comes to the most apple-like, modest mechanical keyboard, it’s the lofree flow84.
Yes, I would like to check the switch options when ordering. Yes, I would like to check out the software remapping and layering. However, if you want a mechanical keyboard that looks at home with an all-app setup and you want a beautiful typing experience, you might consider a modest extra investment and something worthy of constraints like Apple.
Highlighted accessories
Main Photo: evertrendzone collage of images from countless codioful
