Introduction

QPAD is a well known brand among gamers. Over the past year they have expanded their business to include mice, headsets and now also keyboards. Today we will be taking a look at their brand new keyboard the MK-80 mechanical gaming keyboard. Like the name suggests this keyboard features mechanical keys.

QPAD have gone their own way and are using Cherry MX Blue keys in their MK-80 keyboard. As an added twist QPAD have included adjustable back lighting and audio pass-through alongside a USB 2.0 hub. This feature packed keyboard will soon be available for around €120.

The QPAD MK-80 keyboard differs in quite a few ways from your average mechanical gaming keyboard. For one there is the back lighting, and secondly the keys have a rubbery coating on them. Besides the extravagant features you also get a decent wrist rest in the bundle.

Specifications

• Key switch: Cherry MX blue mechanical switch technology
• N Key Rollover: Gaming cluster with anti-ghosting capability
• Key strokes: 50 million
• Lighting: Individual LED backlight
• Lighting features: Four levels of brightness
• Connectors: Gold plated connectors for extremely low latency
• Media keys: Media keys for volume control, play, pause and skip tracks
• USB Hub: Two high speed USB 2.0 ports
• Audio ports: 3.5mm Headphone-out and microphone-in jacks
• Cable: 1.8 meter extra thick cable
• Extras: 4 extra orange key caps and key cap puller
• Dimensions: Keyboard 44.45 x 14.48 x 2.54 cm (17.5 x 5.7 x 1 inch), Wrist pad 44.45 x 6.1 x 1.4 cm (17.5 x 2.4 x 0.55 inch)
• Weight: 1.27 kg (2.8LBS)
• Warranty: 2 year

The Package

The QPAD MK-80 mechanical gaming keyboard ships in a very flashy box. QPAD have gone overboard with features on this keyboard, it has: blue background lighting (three intensity settings), spare orange hot keys, headset pass through and a USB 2.0 hub!


The bundle includes everything you might need and then some. Among the treats is a key cap remover along with four spare bright orange keys you could use to highlight the WASD area.


Because of the pass through feature and USB 2.0 hub the one cable that leaves the keyboard splits into four separate leads. Two mini-jacks for the headset transport, a PS/2 connector for the keyboard and a USB connector for the integrated hub.