Das Keyboard X40 Pro Gaming Mechanical Keyboard - Review 2022

Editor'southward Notation: This production was originally released (and reviewed on January 27, 2022) as the Sectionalization Zero X40 Pro Gaming Mechanical Keyboard, reflecting a Das Keyboard gaming sub-brand. Das Keyboard has since canceled the Sectionalization Nothing line and changed the name of the keyboard accordingly. This review was updated on February 17, 2022, to include the new production name.

About a decade ago, Metadot redefined the desktop computer landscape by repopularizing a style of computer peripheral that had once been ubiquitous: the mechanical keyboard. The product that resulted, the Das Keyboard, gear up a new standard for contemporary typing performance that acted like a swift kick to the knees of the cheap, forgettable dome-switch keyboards that at that point flooded the marketplace. Since and so, Metadot has redesigned and rethought effectually the edges of their original concept, but, aside from a foray into colored key caps, never actually going down the gaming keyboard road. Merely that's changed with the Das Keyboard X40 Pro Gaming Mechanical Keyboard—although, despite fine structure and a few compelling ideas, information technology's tough not to retrieve that Metadot just hasn't brought its A-game with this release.

Design and Features

Simplicity was plainly the watchword with the X40 Pro, which maintains Metadot's commitment to efficient minimalism; you'll find few external frills here. Measuring 19.13 by 6.81 by 1.22 inches (HWD) and weighing about three.25 pounds, the sturdy keyboard departs just from the traditional 104-cardinal design by mode of the five macro keys lining its left edge. All other enhancements come up by fashion of the FN primal located in the lower-correct of the chief deck, between the Alt and Context Menu buttons, which yous printing in conjunction with one of the top-row (F1 through F12) function keys.

F1 and F2 wheel through the half dozen brightness levels of the X40 Pro's red backlight that can be viewed betwixt the keys and through the labels on the light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation-etched fundamental caps. (This cannot be inverse using the driver software.) F3 toggles Gaming Mode, which deactivates the Windows Cardinal so you lot don't accidentally crash-land yourself out of whatever game you're playing. F5 through F7 are Rewind, Play/Pause, and Fast-Forward controls for your media. F9, F10, and F11 respectively mute, decrease volume, and increment book; unlike on the Das Keyboard 4, you'll find no hardware volume controls. And F12 is a macro recorder shortcut fundamental. As well changed by mode of FN: the Esc key, which will put your computer to sleep.

Aside from the backlighting, there are the usual 3 lights (for Number Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock) in the upper-right corner, along with a fourth light to remind yous when you're in gaming mode. The merely other features of note are the three laissez passer-through jacks on the rear upper-right edge. The kickoff is a single USB port, though only USB 2.0; the Das Keyboard 4 is armed with two USB 3.0 ports in this location. Next to the USB port are headphone and microphone jacks. Because of all this, you'll take a lot to connect to your estimator, though the thick, braided cable is long enough (about 6.5 anxiety) that you shouldn't have any problems with virtually desk setups.

Whereas most keyboards, even those designed specifically for gaming, maintain a fairly austere advent when viewed from the top down, the X40 Pro distinguishes itself with an aluminum acme panel that's intricately designed with a dynamic collection of geometric shapes—and which you can you tin can remove and replace at your leisure. There are currently two designs, Stryker and Defamer (which, except for an angled protrusion at the top and a gentle shattered glass effect, looks a lot like the Stryker), with the former available in argent, red, and olive, and the latter available in silver and mustard. To me, the cerise Stryker and the mustard Defamer (both of which were included with our review unit) looked somewhat garish, but the coolly detached silver Stryker panel had an highly-seasoned war machine presence. (Information technology's easy to imagine panels for specific games or hardware companies being amid the future designs.) The panels are swapped by manner of eight hex screws located effectually the perimeter of the deck (a small hex wrench is included with each replacement panel). This process is hardly hard, merely I did find the bulky screws somewhat distracting, and uncomfortably brushed against them oftentimes while mousing.

Nether the hood, the X40 Pro uses a new proprietary key switch design chosen Alpha-Zulu that boasts an actuation signal of 1.7mm rather than the typical 2mm, which Metadot claims provides enhanced performance during particularly intense gaming situations. Yous can purchase the X40 Pro with either of two styles of Alpha-Zulu switches: Linear (aka Olive), which is both non-tactile and non-clicky (roughly equivalent to Cherry MX Red); and Tactile, which is tactile and non-click (call back Cherry MX Chocolate-brown). In both keyboards, the switches are gold-plated, and rated for 60 meg keystrokes (up from the 50 million of before Das Keyboard models); and have total n-key rollover, then y'all can blazon every bit quickly every bit you need to and hold down multiple keys without needing to worry that they all won't register in a pinch. A plastic key cap puller is included if yous want to remove and supplant any of the caps.

Software

It'south not necessary to install the X40 Pro driver software; the keyboard will work just fine without it, though it gives you lot a lot more flexibility with regard to setup. In addition to making it easy to plan the macro keys (you lot can select a number of useful default choices that will mimic, say, Web browser or mouse functions, or you can record your own), you lot can also configure up to five profiles that assign new values to keys, assign unlike polling rates (125Hz, 500Hz, and i,000Hz are all options). Considering the X40 Pro isn't busting with features (such as multicolor backlighting across circuitous collections of central zones) the style some gaming keyboards are, the software is incredibly elementary. Paradoxically, it's too somewhat confusing, with a Abode screen that does absolutely cipher and a Support/Updates tab that links you to the visitor'south website; it could all exist streamlined quite a bit.

Performance

Beyond a couple of weeks of intense testing with a variety of titles (most notably Fallout 4), the X40 Pro proved a capable gaming companion that, surprisingly, I liked more for that purpose than my stalwart Das Keyboard II. The Alpha-Zulu Linear switches did provide smoother, quicker response in high-speed chase and combat sections, with the lack of a notable spring keeping my fingers where they needed to be, when they needed to be there.

Granted, the X40 Pro is designed for gaming, then its performance in that area is more important. But you'll somewhen need to blazon something. I found the X40 Pro somewhat less ideal for that task, especially across longer stretches; the firmer bounce and satisfying click of the Das Keyboard 2'south classic Cherry MX Blue switches, and its deeper actuation signal, better suited for helping me accomplish and maintain the rhythm and speed I'm used to.

At that place's absolutely some element of personal preference hither, and if you game a lot more than you type, chances are this won't thing to yous. Merely it's worth keeping in mind.

Comparisons and Conclusions

Metadot is coming late to a crowded market, and has some trouble asserting itself here every bit completely as information technology did with the original Das Keyboard once upon a time. At $159, the X40 Pro is expensive and is missing some of the swankier features you'll detect on college-end gaming keyboards—fifty-fifty those that price less. The Corsair Strafe Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, for instance, lets you lot create an space multifariousness of lighting patterns and has presets for eye-catching blithe effects. The Razer BlackWidow Tournament Edition Chroma lacks the X40 Pro's 10-key number pad, but has fully customizable, multicolor backlighting. And our Editors' Pick for gaming keyboards, the Corsair K95 RGB, combines sprawling backlight configuration with powerful driver software and even a number of additional function and macro keys that allow for preprogramming of more than 100 commands. Against all this, the X40 Pro's big innovation of removable meridian plates looks a flake chintzy.

Ultimately, yous'll have to decide what matters most to you with a gaming keyboard, and so purchase accordingly. Because the Das Keyboard X40 Pro Gaming Mechanical Keyboard struggles to go on step with its contest, and lacks the flash that characterizes the category, we're keeping the Corsair K95 RGB our Editors' Choice for now. We notwithstanding beloved and heartily recommend the Das Keyboard iv Professional for everyday typing, and all but the most hard-core gamers will notice it perfectly acceptable for regular gaming chores equally well. If Metadot wants to own the gaming keyboard infinite as definitely, information technology needs to gear up itself—and its value proposition—apart more distinctly than it does with the X40 Pro.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/keyboards/9776/das-keyboard-x40-pro-gaming-mechanical-keyboard

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