Closer Examination

The keyboard comes in a plastic wrap to keep it pristine and dust-free out of the box. Once removed, the first thing I noticed was how light it is, and then how small considering it is a full-size keyboard. This is a modified full-size US ANSI layout I have on my sample, so there are 104 keys as it is, with another 4 on top. The bezels are average in size, but look deceptively large compared to the keycaps mostly because the keycaps are low profile. The case too is quite thin to where this is one of the best size-to-size replacements for OEM membrane keyboards since it doesn't take up anymore room.

There is a Cherry logo with a red insert in the top middle, an update from the original release that was completely white. There is also the keyboard name printed on the bottom-right corner, and both really are tasteful to where I have no problems using this in my office, a very professional environment. The four extra keys here are for dedicated volume control, and there is a Windows key control button for those pesky times you do not want to accidentally register it. The Num Pad has secondary legends below the primary ones as applicable, whereas it is the other way around in the alphanumeric section for the number row keys, but given the absence of backlighting in general, this is a non-issue as far as placement goes.

Single legend placement is generally in the middle for 1u size keycaps and on the left side for larger keycaps, with the font size on the larger side of average for easier visibility. The typeface itself is fairly clean too, with only some that are outside the Times New Roman clone norm, such as Q, @, and so on.


On the back, we see a large red label in the middle with the company logo and product certification stickers. There are also two rubber pads at the bottom for some friction against a desk's surface, but we mainly have two cutouts closer to the top the provided two larger anti-slip rubber pads go on. The pads have a sticker on their underside that can be peeled off to reveal a sticky surface which then glues them into place on the back of the keyboard. There are also two fairly small case feet which do not have any rubber pads themselves, and this is where the final accessory set with the two slip-on rubber caps that lock in place when applied come in. I am not sure why these were even optional to begin with, and I would have preferred to see the case feet be slightly larger too.


The keyboard's cable is non-detachable and comes out in the middle at the top. This is another update Cherry made to the keyboard in recent years, after its release, given it originally had a detachable cable with a female mini USB end on the keyboard instead. The cable as it is now terminates in a standard male USB Type-A connectors. USB 2.0 will suffice for power and functionality here given the lack of backlighting. I would have liked to see a USB pass-through or a hub on this keyboard given Cherry is also advertising it as a keyboard for office professionals.


The keycaps are quite unique here, with a similar version having been used on the older MX Board 2.0. These are low profile, non-floating style keycaps with a minimal sculpting at the top to where it might as well be flat. The closest to a current keycap profile would be Signature Plastics' DSA profile, and those have proven to be extremely popular among keyboard enthusiasts. I have seen instances of people having purchased this keyboard just for the keycaps, so it turned out to be a bigger success than I imagine even Cherry anticipated. They have since moved to their own Cherry profile for subsequent keyboards, which is also low profile, but not as low and with more pronounced sculpting of the rows. Some inquiry followed, and I was informed that these keycaps were made by Devlin, who does solid work. As we can see, these use rather thick ABS at 1.28 mm average wall thickness and have pronounced laser etched legends with a UV coat. The legends will remain the bottleneck to longevity here, but the stock keycaps still feel better than on the vast majority of keyboards on the market even today.


The Cherry MX Board 3.0 naturally uses Cherry MX switches, and these come with options of Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, or Black switches. This sample came with MX Brown switches, and the keyboard was released before proper RGB switches with translucent housing were even a thing, so these of course have opaque housing. The larger keycaps use Cherry stabilizers as well, and they were well lubed. If you are planning on replacing the keycaps for some reason, know that the Caps Lock switch is off-center, as is the stem on the stock keycap, so that will be one you will have a hard time replacing, while the rest of the keyboard follows a "standard" spacing.