Ranked Nova n60 Mechanical Keyboard Review 4

Ranked Nova n60 Mechanical Keyboard Review

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Value and Conclusion

  • The Ranked Nova n60 is a recently released keyboard that comes in six switch options and costs $69.99-89.99 from the Ranked web store depending on the switches chosen as of the date of this review.
  • Good value for the feature set
  • Novel use of layers and tapping modes
  • Six switch options for all feedback mechanisms
  • Hot-swappable switch sockets
  • Extensive onboard controls over function and form
  • Software support for fine tuning
  • Long-lasting PBT doubleshot keycaps
  • Dual foam sheets for dampened keystrokes
  • Plenty of RGB lighting, including preset effects to choose from
  • Pre-lubed stabilizers
  • Easily portable owing to the form factor and weight
  • Decent accessories provided and more available as optional purchase
  • Tapping mode can be frustrating in how it works
  • Software UI can be improved
  • Big price hike with some switch options
  • Front-facing legends are opaque
  • Steep learning curve, at least initially
I am glad I accepted Ranked's offer to review its keyboard debut in the form of the Nova n60. It's a brand I had not heard of and chances are high that you also had no idea about it until this review. I am still not sure whether going with "Ranked" was a good move given search engine results for "Ranked keyboard" will give you everything else besides the relevant results. There was already a challenge in front of the company thus and it had to make sure the keyboard was compelling to help convince fussy customers to go with this new brand rather than a more established one. Despite all this, Ranked rose up to my expectations and even beat them.

I have not even mentioned the QMK/VIA support in the pros list here but even so it doesn't take a genius to see that the positives highly outweigh the negative points. The Ranked Nova n60 is a keyboard that is both built well enough to appeal to the more demanding keyboard enthusiast but also simply someone wanting a new gaming keyboard with associated software and RGB features. There are some novel implementations here to help cut down the entry barrier to the 60% form factor too and I dare say most users will be able to get going with this quite soon. Perhaps you will even have a better time with the tap layer here offering arrow key functionality without needing to use Fn layers, but that was one of the more frustrating experiences for me. Either way, for the asking price you get a really good keyboard that should last the test of time and ideally only get better with improved software support. This one's an easy recommendation from me!
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Dec 16th, 2024 22:59 EST change timezone

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