Hexgears X-1 Keyboard Review
I’ve been in the market for a new keyboard for a little while now, and finally decided on the Hexgears X-1 mechanical. It had the features I needed - Bluetooth connectivity for multiple devices, usb connectivity, media keys, chicklet keys and decent key travel, while still being in a compact, portable size. So, I decided to toss up a review of the thing, because why the hell not? This was entirely typed using the keyboard, and has been a vessel to acclimate myself to the deeper key travel.
Hexgears X-1 Keyboard
Model Ordered: White with brown switches.
Shipping & Packaging
I ordered a model that was in stock, so I didn't have to wait on manufacturing. I'm in Sweden, so I expected to have a long wait for the keyboard to be shipped out. But it actually arrived ahead of schedule, arriving 4 days after my order date. The cardboard packaging was pretty substandard, but that's not really much of an issue. The case for the keyboard is what I would consider mid-range. It's not flimsy, but the quality isn't great. The zipper is questionable, and some of the foam inside the case has already started to come up. That said, the case is perfectly serviceable, and will clearly protect the keyboard from wear. My biggest complaint with the included case is that it’s way too long to fit just the keyboard. Hexgears included a really big space at the end that’s meant to hold the USB-C charging cable, but it actually makes the case unable to be used to fit inside a backpack because of the length. Sad.
Look & Feel
After years with low-travel keys, it's somewhat difficult to get used to the longer travel of the X-1. This obviously isn't an issue that everyone will have, but it's something to keep in mind if you're someone who, like me, is coming from a years of using a regular Apple extended keyboard or similar.
The brown switches are nice. They have a good press feel without being too loud for an office environment. They have a nice spring to them, but do feel maybe a teensy bit mushy. If you're someone who wants a very clicky response, maybe don't get the browns. That said, the brown switches that I have definitely don't have the issue with key presses not registering properly, so if you're at all worried about that, have no fear if you select the browns.
Color Modes on the Hexgears X-1 keyboard
The lighting works exactly as advertised. It's really enjoyable, but can be completely turned off if it's not your bag. Then again, if it's not your bag, there are probably better options for keyboards for you. Who doesn't love their fingers shitting rainbows?
The key spacing is a little tight, particularly for this much key travel. If you have fat fingers, you will probably end up with quite a few typos. Even if you don't have fat fingers (I don't), you'll often feel other keys, either below or to the side, because depressing keys with a moderate amount of travel allows your fingers to briefly touch neighboring keys.
Some people have mentioned Bluetooth connectivity issues, but I haven't yet experienced any issues. I haven't tried connecting it to my Mac yet, but it flawlessly works to switch between USB wired connection on my work Windows PC and Bluetooth on my iPad. In fact, that's one of the best features is being able to hot-swap between the two devices simply by pressing Fun + Backspace. Also, swapping between multiple Bluetooth devices is fantastic. I don't have enough good things to say about this feature. The one thing that I'll say is that the Bluetooth connection is a little bit strange when looking at it on the iPad - the battery life doesn't always seem to display properly.
The delete key kills me. It's placed just strangely enough that I don't know where to go to get to it when I reach for it. I really think I'll probably have a hard time getting used to this, but we'll see.
I'm not sure what the three pin point LED lights are for at the top edge of the keyboard, and nothing in the quick start guide seems to tell you what they are.
Areas for Improvement
- Keys for iOS/Mac. It would be nice if Hexgears could ship/sell keys for alternative operating systems (replacing the windows key with the Apple command key, for example).
- Programmable key layouts. Would love it if some of the keys could be set up with alternative functions, or if it there was a way to make the media keys the default instead of the F-keys, particularly for non-Windows users.
- Layout for the NumPad. Though I'm aware that shrinking the layout for the keyboard footprint means dealing with some sacrifices, I think some of the choices for the layout are sub-optimal. Squeezing the keyboard this much meant that the delete key and numlock keys are out of place, and there isn't enough room for a longer zero key, so some people who do any kind of number entry on a regular basis may have some getting used to. I almost question the inclusion of the numpad at all, maybe instead simply giving that positioning to a bank of keys that could be programmed with other functionality, and maybe giving a little bit more finger room to main keyboard.
If you want one for yourself, you can pick one up on the Kono store.