Luankan Peripherals Chapter 70: Short axis support, the keyboard can be so portable——Talk about the CHERRY MX-LP 6.1 three-mode keyboard

In 2018, CHERRY released the MX-LP switch. Compared with the common MX switch, the LP switch is thinner and flatter. It was once regarded as the first choice to replace the butterfly keyboard on the laptop. However, most of the LP-axis keyboards launched by major peripheral manufacturers at that time were full-size or TKL-sized, which did not take advantage of the thinness of the LP axis. Taking advantage of the recent trend of small-size configuration and wireless, CHERRY personally came to the stage, organically combining LP axis with 65% configuration, three-mode wireless, slim body and other features, and brought the lightweight and portable MX-LP 6.1.

MX-LP 6.1 is arranged with 65% of 68 keys, which is smaller and more compact than full-size or TKL-size keyboards. Compared with the 61-key Poker layout, the 68-key layout of MX-LP 6.1 not only provides a complete input area, but also provides an independent direction key area and function keys, which can meet the daily needs of most users. Through the way of Fn combination keys, MX-LP 6.1 can also realize multimedia shortcut keys, lighting adjustment and other functions, and has relatively complete combination functions.

The keyboard adopts a floating design language, which is good for the keyboard to create an atmosphere of RGB lighting, and it is also more convenient and quick to clean the keyboard every day. The one-piece bottom shell is made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy as always, which is also the standard configuration of CHERRY on high-end keyboards. The anodizing process and fine-grained sandblasting surface treatment endow the MX-LP 6.1 with outstanding texture and delicate touch, making this keyboard both beautiful and durable.

As we all know, metal shell keyboards are basically not connected to wireless connections due to the Faraday cage effect. MX-LP 6.1 solves the wireless signal problem caused by the metal body by setting a plastic signal window on one side of the metal bottom shell. The details of the signal window are handled very well - the shape and size are similar to the product nameplate, the brand recognition of the product is enhanced by spraying CHERRY LOGO, and the metal bottom case is further embellished.

The MX-LP 6.1 in the Cyber ​​City color scheme in the hand uses pink, purple, and white keycaps to create a small and fresh visual impression, but the surface of the keycaps is treated with a matte metal-like coating, and has a metal-like finish. The cold texture forms a rich sense of layering. Although the height of the translucent keycap made of ABS material is not very high, it also has an ergonomic step design. Compared with the flat keycap, it may be more comfortable when typing.

The biggest feature of MX-LP 6.1 is that it is equipped with the MX-LP (Low Profile) switch developed by CHERRY. Because of the abbreviation of the name, it is nicknamed the wife switch by many players. Wife switch, ah, no, the LP switch is different from other short switches. It follows the cross axis and trigger structure of the CHERRY MX switch. The overall height of 11.9mm is about 35% lower than that of the MX switch with a height of 18.5mm. The height can make the keyboard slimmer.

The LP short silver switch in hand adopts the design of round dust-proof side wall + cross axis + transparent switch cover. The trigger pressure is 45g, the trigger key travel is 1.0mm, and the bottom key travel is 3.2mm. In terms of feel, compared with the common MX silver switch, the LP short silver switch has a tighter and shorter press feeling and a faster press response. Thanks to the circular dust-proof side wall design and short-stroke structure, the LP short silver shaft feels stable and smooth when pressed. It’s just that the LP short silver switch has a short bottoming keystroke, and it still takes some time for players who are used to the MX switch to get used to it.

For the LP axis, what I like more is its design that retains the cross axis, which is also the biggest difference between the wife's axis and the short axis of your friends. The advantage of retaining the cross axis design is firstly that it is easier to remove the keycap, and you don’t have to worry about the keycap buckle breaking, and then the cross axis has better compatibility, and you can even install the keycap with the height of the original factory. This is something that the short shafts of other manufacturers do not have. Of course, the LP shaft also has its shortcomings, that is, there will be rustling sound during the pressing process, which is why the MX-LP 6.1 adopts a double-layer noise reduction design.

MX-LP 6.1 provides three connection methods: USB cable, 2.4Ghz wireless and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless, among which the Bluetooth 5.2 wireless mode provides three connection channels, and the connection device can be switched through the combination of keys on the keyboard, which is good for users in multi-platform and multi-device seamless connection. In the 2.4GHZ wireless state, the CHERRY self-developed CAWT wireless technology on the keyboard claims to achieve an extremely fast response of less than 1ms, which is good news for gamers.

Although it is a wireless keyboard, with the support of a 2800mAh lithium battery, CHERRY has arranged RGB lighting for the MX-LP 6.1, which is quite comfortable to use in a dark environment with the equipped light-transmitting keycap. In addition to adjusting the lighting through keyboard combinations, you can also download and install the CHERRY assistant driver software to make deeper customizations to the RGB lighting of the MX-LP 6.1.

The LP short silver switch is compact and short due to the key stroke, but the overall feel is quite stable and smooth. In terms of the handling of large keys, the overall feel of the satellite axis design adopted by MX-LP 6.1 is good: there is no sense of stickiness when touching the bottom, and there is no unnecessary noise or wire sound. As far as the user experience is concerned, the MX-LP6.1 set of short axis + short keycaps still needs an adaptation period for users who switch from ordinary mechanical keyboards.

The most prominent advantage of MX-LP 6.1 is that the slim body is very convenient to carry. For this reason, CHEERY also provides an easy-to-carry acrylic dust cover and fixed rubber sleeve. This also makes a mechanical keyboard such as MX-LP6.1 as portable as a mobile hard drive. During these two business trips, I will talk about MX-LP 6.1 with Matebook14, Western Digital My Passport portable hard drive, SanDisk DDC3 Extreme Speed ​​Cool You can carry it together with a USB flash drive. With MX-LP 6.1 in your spare time, you can sneak in and play a few games to relax.

The combination of Western Digital My Passport mobile hard disk, SanDisk DDC3 Extreme High Speed ​​​​Cool USB, and MX-LP 6.1 is a good choice for students and workers on business trips. The needs of office and games, travel and carrying will not take up too much backpack space.

MX-LP 6.1 combines selling points such as 65% configuration, three-mode wireless, slim body, and LP short shaft, achieving a balance between slim body and comprehensive functions, and greatly enriching the choice of small configuration keyboards. The blessing of CAWT wireless technology endows the keyboard with extremely strong gaming performance. There are as many as three Bluetooth channels to facilitate seamless switching between multiple device platforms. It can be regarded as an all-round small steel cannon. For players with portable needs, MX-LP 6.1 will be a very good choice.