Closer Examination

The keyboard has a standard 87 key US layout, and its top is a thin plate of brushed aluminum that can currently to be had in blue or gray.


These keys completely stick out of the keyboard, which makes cleaning out crumbs and such with just a can of compressed air very easy. You do still have to completely take the keyboard apart if you want to clean it thoroughly, though.


You will find the cable-connection point at the back.


The aluminum front wraps around the sides of the keyboard, right where Rantopad placed a sticker with its name on it.


The bottom of the keyboard is plain, except for the USB connection in the middle. Each edge except for the one facing away from you as you type also has its own rubber foot for some excellent grip on such table surfaces as wood or glass. However, there are no feet with which to adjust the keyboard's height and tilt.


Rantopad's MXX comes with some extremely bright white LEDs with four levels of brightness, which makes for five different modes as you can also completely turn them off.


This version of the MXX uses Gateron Blue switches, which can best be described as Cherry MX Blue clones with an actuation force of 55g instead of 50g. Their clear frame helps with the keyboard's backlighting. These keys are rated at 50 million clicks.


The MXX's Gateron switches use the exact same switch stems as Cherry MX switches. This and Rantopad's completely standard keylayout means you can easily get alternative keycap sets for the MXX. Rantopad's keycaps are a normal laser-etched affair, but the plastic is a little thin.