Cherry XTRFY K5V2 review: "new switches impress in this customizable deck"

GamesRadar+ VerdictThe Cherry XTRFY K5V2 feels great under the hand, save for some odd switch decisions on larger keys. With so many functions and features at your fingertips there’s plenty to dive into here - excellent news if you don’t like tinkering with fiddly software. However, a more budget-minded design even at the base price can hold things back.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$139.99at AmazonPros+Smooth, slick switches+Loads of inbuilt extra functions+Bold RGB lighting effect+Compatible with a range of customizationsCons-Cheaper build materials than competition-No way into the case-Some keys have heavier actuations out the box GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 feels great under the hand, save for some odd switch decisions on larger keys. With so many functions and features at your fingertips there’s plenty to dive into here - excellent news if you don’t like tinkering with fiddly software. However, a more budget-minded design even at the base price can hold things back.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$139.99at Amazon The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 feels great under the hand, save for some odd switch decisions on larger keys. With so many functions and features at your fingertips there’s plenty to dive into here - excellent news if you don’t like tinkering with fiddly software. However, a more budget-minded design even at the base price can hold things back. TODAY’S BEST DEALS$139.99at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS$139.99at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS$139.99at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS $139.99at Amazon $139.99at Amazon $139.99at Amazon Pros+Smooth, slick switches+Loads of inbuilt extra functions+Bold RGB lighting effect+Compatible with a range of customizations Smooth, slick switches Loads of inbuilt extra functions Bold RGB lighting effect Compatible with a range of customizations Cons-Cheaper build materials than competition-No way into the case-Some keys have heavier actuations out the box Cheaper build materials than competition No way into the case Some keys have heavier actuations out the box Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Cherry has expanded its range of keyboards under its recently acquired XTRFY brand, bringing the K5V2 to market in March this year. The 65% keyboard is the first to feature the brand’s new MX2A switches, but there’s plenty more going on under the hood here. From an expansive selection of on-deck controls and a bold lighting system, this is a mechanical keyboard with a treasure trove of hidden secrets. With my user guide in hand, I’ve been using the Cherry XTRFY K5V2 for two weeks, to see just where it sits among thebest gaming keyboardsavailable. Swipe to scroll horizontallyKey SpecsPrice$139.99 / £149TypeMechanical (hot-swappable)ConnectionWiredSize65%SwitchesCherry MX2A / Cherry MXKeycapsABSMedia keysDual functionWrist restAvailable separatelyUSB passthroughNone Swipe to scroll horizontally Key SpecsPrice$139.99 / £149TypeMechanical (hot-swappable)ConnectionWiredSize65%SwitchesCherry MX2A / Cherry MXKeycapsABSMedia keysDual functionWrist restAvailable separatelyUSB passthroughNone Design The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 comes in either black or white, and I received the latter. That means the strip RGB LEDs underneath can shine bright throughout the entire case - something I haven’t seen yet in another keyboard. That makes this the go-to for anyone keen on maximizing their RGB lighting, even if it sacrifices the more subtle aesthetic of the black model in doing so. Still, you can always alter these RGBs, tone down the brightness, switch to a static color, or turn them off altogether for a more relaxed tone. Strip LED lights do mean that you don’t get per-key control, however. The opaque plastic used to highlight this strip lighting does look a little cheaper than the minimum $139.99 price tag might suggest, and there are some rougher edges to the cut of each piece going together. Looks aside, though, everything feels sturdy and durable under the hand. There’s no flex to the main deck area, and both the feet and hinges feel well-crafted. I did notice some creaking to the main chassis when applying significant pressure, likely due to the cheaper build material. (Image credit: Future) The 65% form factor keeps things nice and streamlined on the desktop but allows for necessary arrow buttons and a few navigation keys floating in the top left as well. I had everything I needed for both gameplay and productivity close to hand, save for dedicated media controls which rarely show up on these smaller decks anyway (if you don’t want to miss out on playback I’d recommend checking out theAsus ROG Falchion RX Low Profilefor a rare outlier in this regard). Keycaps themselves are ABS plastic, again a cheaper construction choice. They don’t seem to be coated with anything that can prolong their lifespan, but they are doubleshot to keep those legends nicely visible. These are the basic caps, available in the cheapest K5V2 model, with the option to upgrade either at the time of purchase or later on down the line. Still, I got on well with these clickers. (Image credit: Future) Features Cherry calls this an ultra-customizable keyboard, and that much is obvious from when you first place your order. There’s a massive range of keycaps, stabilizers, switches, cables, and extra accessories to choose from when building your deck. However, prices can quickly rocket if you’re putting together something more substantial. In fairness, though, it’s no more customizable than most otherhot-swappable keyboardsin this regard - it’s just that Cherry is selling you this stuff straight up rather than you shopping around for it after the fact. Still, not spending cash on a dud set of caps before ultimately upgrading is going to save you in the long run. (Image credit: Future) It’s still impressive to see that only two keys here are not mapped to secondary functions, though, with everything from calculator quick launches to the speed of your dedicated macro commands controlled directly from the deck. The fact that everything works so well straight out of the box with no software requirements is a godsend - and something very few keyboard models have got right so far. That even extends to on-the-fly macro recording across five dedicated keys. Performance (Image credit: Future) That, combined with the pretty standard pre-travel 2mm and 4mm total travel makes these particularly strong switches for gaming. I enjoyed a speedy debounce across the main keys, with a spring feel that had me moving nice and quickly across the deck in more competitive arenas. However, the space, enter, and backspace keys have a slightly heavier feel which doesn’t translate in the same snappy way. Not only do they feel different under the fingertips, but they sound far quieter as well, giving a woolly impression to each press. That wasn’t as enjoyable during more frantic moments - jumping with the space bar, for example, felt far more cumbersome than strafing with A or D. It’s an odd feeling to have these few keys acting in such a different way to the rest of the deck. That extra tension did perform nicely in a productivity setting, but I was already looking under the cap for any adjustments I could make after about a morning’s use. Should you buy the Cherry XTRFY K5V2? (Image credit: Future) The Cherry XTRFY K5V2 is a must-see for anyone after a function-heavy keyboard but who doesn’t want to deal with CPU-hogging software running in the background. The snappy feeling of these new MX2A switches, combined with the beautifully muted auditory profile and soft-touch keycaps makes for a luxurious typing and gaming experience. Plus, anyone looking to brighten up their setup with a crisp set of LEDs should look no further than this translucent white casing. However, to be a true ultra-customizable keyboard (and therefore represent a solid investment for anyone looking for their first footholds in the custom deck space), the K5V2 could be doing more. Opening up that main chassis area would give the K5V2 far more to work with in its market position, and the actual build of the case itself is lacking behind others in this space. Of course, pretty much any gaming brand is going to void your warranty if you do crack open its hot-swappable keyboards, but if you’re throwing caution to the wind theRazerBlackWidow V4 75% is the way to go. Today’s best Cherry XTRFY K5V2 deals$139.99ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best Cherry XTRFY K5V2 deals$139.99ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best Cherry XTRFY K5V2 deals $139.99View $139.99View $139.99View $139.99View $139.99 $139.99 We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices How we tested the Cherry XTRFY K5V2 I used the Cherry XTRFY K5V2 for two weeks, replacing my daily driver (theAsusROG Azoth) for all work and play in that time. I tested across Apex Legends and CS:GO while also playing Fallout 4 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey on the deck as well. For more information onhow we test gaming keyboards, check out the fullGamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. We’re also rounding up all thebest wireless gaming keyboardsand thebest membrane gaming keyboardsif you’re after something a little cheaper. Or, if you’re building out a whole new setup, check out thebest gaming mousemodels available. Cherry XTRFY K5V2: Price Comparison $139.99View $139.99View $139.99View $139.99View $139.99 $139.99 We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene? 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final season Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final season Squid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene? 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Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”