1STPLAYER (or simply 1stplayer henceforth in this review) has greeted our readers in the past, with coverage done on the Bullet Hunter MK6 and Black Sir Lite K7 keyboards. Arguably weird names aside, they offered decent value for money for those wanting to step into the world of mechanical keyboards. Their keyboard offerings used to generally be full-size given the popularity of this layout globally, so when they mentioned they were going with a smaller form factor, it peaked my interest. Today, we take a look at the LANG MK8, and thanks again to the company for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp!
Somehow, each keyboard review of the 1stplayer brand I have done has been of a subsequently smaller keyboard, with the full-size MK6 to the TKL K7 and now LANG MK8 which keeps the TKL layout but trims down the bezels. The company is marketing this as a keyboard for keyboard lovers, with an emphasis on sounds as even the Mobil oil lubrication is a marketing feature. In doing so, they likely are targeting the enthusiast market more, and over the course of this review, we will see whether the feature set adds up to those claims. Let's begin with a look at the specifications in the table below.
Specifications
1STPLAYER LANG MK8 Keyboard
Layout:
87-key form factor in a US ANSI layout
Material:
ABS plastic case and keycaps, steel plate
Macro Support:
Yes
Weight:
1.2 kg/2.65 lbs.
Wrist Rest:
No
Anti-ghosting:
Full N-Key rollover USB
Media Keys:
Available as a layered function
Dimensions:
136 (L) x 438 (W) x 36 (H) mm
Cable Length:
6 ft/1.8 m
Software:
Yes
Switch Type:
Choice of Gateron Red, Yellow, Black, Brown, or Blue RGB mechanical switch