New CHERRY MX BOARD 6.0 RGB Mechanical Keyboard User Experience

Outer package of the keyboard carries on the black-and-red theme of the past with the addition of rainbow colored ‘RGB’ on the right side, which distinguishes this package from the regular red-light 6.0 model.

The side of the box also annotates the colour of the switches. The version shown is Cherry's RGB blue switch. Why blue switch you ask? Because the popping sound of the switches feel great!

Back side of the box describes the keyboard's main functions and features.

Complementary items include: super large wrist pad, product manual, and drive installation instruction card. What is a wrist pad? A wrist pad is an important benchmark that distinguishes the class of the product.

CHERRY MX BOARD 6.0 RGB mechanical keyboard parameter table is as shown. Every time I pay attention to the length of the cable; the manufacture of the keyboard feels insincere with length less than 1.8 meter.

CHERRY MX BOARD 6.0 RGB mechanical keyboard overall takes on a modest and steady design, which is different from both the small but vigorous 8.0 model and the wild and expressive 9.0 model. The keyboard uses the 108-key layout, with 4 additional keys for multimedia functions. The aluminum alloy upper casing of the keyboard has been cut, and spray painted for surface treatment to improve the endurance. In this year's Cherry new product release conference, executive Han openly discussed the paint chipping problem in long term use of the old MX BOARD 6.0 model, and specifically mentioned the upgraded surface treatment for MX BOARD 6.0 RGB. As far as the actual endurance the upper casing however, only time will tell.

For a keyboard designed for gaming, n-key rollover and macro editing functions are a necessity. Though these two functions are rarely used in normal gaming or working environment, they determine whether a keyboard is truly gaming oriented. The keyboard inherits the HS technology of the early MX BOARD 6.0. HS technology, which stands for HIGH SPEED TECHNOLOGY, was a kind of high speed key signal response technology developed by Cherry independently. The response time of a signal can be as fast as 0.5 to 1 microsecond, which naturally leads to speed advantage in gaming. RGB light is the main feature of this upgrade. 7 modes of lighting are supported, namely the constant brightness mode, custom key colour mode, RGB gradient change mode, RGB light breathing mode, rainbow mode, single color stripe transition mode, and single key lit mode. The brightness of the light can also be adjusted to 9 levels. The cherry key on the right of the keyboard will twinkle while adjusting. If the twinkling stops, the brightness level either reached the highest or the lowest.

The keyboard has many compound function keys. The designers intentionally set the multimedia control keys on the two sides: the left key adjusts volume, the right key plays, pulses, and skips audio or video files, and the middle key adjusts the lighting. Specific functions can be used via Fn + multifunction keys. Fn + Cherry key = starting gaming mode, which disables the regular Windows key functions, such as Alt + F4, Alt + Tab, Ctrl + Esc, and Ctrl + Alt + Delete. If the regular functions are irresponsive, check to see if the gaming mode is on. I do want to mention my opinion on the position of the multimedia keys. The most common uses of multimedia keys are silence, raise volume and lower volume, so why not have the most common functions as keys on the right side of the keyboard. The functions that can be utilized with single keys now requires the combination of Fn + F1~F3, which feels rather inconvenient.

Silver metallic logo especially elevates the class; here comes all the cult following. The conventional straight ledge concave design around direction keys. The Cherry key, with which gaming mode can be set on and off with Fn + Cherry. A close-up shot on the right. A close up shot on the left.

Left and right side of the keyboard has angular lines. The upper and lower casing incorporates different colors, the upper dark black, the lower gray white. Such design is also present in MX BOARD 1.0 model. Despite the material difference of the two casings, the ledges of the two pieces connects neatly after treatment on the crevice. The bottom of the keyboard also has many features. The groove for the cable is toward the right. Three directions of the groove allow the cable to extend to different directions. According to the convenience and need of the user, the cable can be setup differently. Small rubber pads excellently prevent slipping of the keyboard. The supporting feet only has one mode of elevation. Opening the feet reveals the rubber pads on top of the feet. Keyboard at flat height. Raised height with supporting feet.

The design of the opening for the cable is interesting; the cone shaped lock effectively protects the cable from stretching. It may seem that the cable and keyboard are separate at first glance, but it cannot be disassembled.

Bottom has the nameplate of the keyboard. MX BOARD 6.0 RGB has the model serial number G80-3931 among Cherry keyboard lineup.

A concaved magnetic surface is available at the front for wrist pad connection. When the curved surface attach to the wrist pad, light raise and movement of the keyboard will not detach the two.

Nylon weaved cable is 2 meters long. The surface of cable is woven densely, so the cable as a result is slightly hard.

USB head has been gold-plated with a light gold color.

The key caps use ABS material, and are spray coated with UV coating, having the characters etched by laser. Skin-like coating feels fine on the touch, which is a bonus for comfort. The drawback however is that the caps are prone to the stain from fingerprints. With some upgrade for the skin-like coating from some manufacturers, the stain accumulation is evidently lessened, but the fundamental problem remains. We may hope that next year's product will be upgraded to PBT caps.

The first two rows of the keys have high caps, and the three rows that follow have low caps. The last row of the key caps has been curved up. The different height level of the caps adapts ergonomic principles, which decreases the exhaustion from extended keyboard usage. Some letters on the key caps are intentionally left open. Regardless the letter ‘O’ or ‘D’, the side of the letters has a small opening, so no letter is closed off. As we all know, PBT key caps with bi-color injection molding has letter openings for the manufacturing process, but why does this Cherry model with ABS + skin-like UV coating mimics the letter openings intentionally? The answer will be left to you to think of.

A close-up shot on the surface of a key cap

The female piece of the key cap has three supporting trusses on the inside. One truss is left out for even lighting on the letters. The strength of the key caps is nonetheless guaranteed.

This is a close-up shot on the blue switch of Cherry keyboard. The connections between the caps and the switches are seamless, so do not forcefully pop out the key caps, or else the switch may come off. The RGB blue switch from the new molds have uniform texture, and the problem with individual keys having no clicking sound is resolved. We who chose blue switch likes the feel of clicking sound, and this grantees satisfaction.

Bigger keys utilize the solution of dummy switch. The bigger keys are as good as other keys even with the dummy switches, and no difference can be felt by touch.

A close-up shot of space key

Sections of the steel board has a hollow design, though these are not everywhere. It was originally used to improve light penetration, but such consideration is scrapped after connecting circuit.

The wrist pad is very broad, the broadest among the keyboards I have reviewed. The outer layer of the wrist pad uses rubber material, and the surface is silky. This give wrists better support while typing, which relaxes the whole palm. Once wrist pad is used, one can never go without it. No matter what brand of mechanical keyboard, a fitting wrist pad increases the comfort of the wrists.

The keyboard logo is hidden while wrist pad is attached, so logo on the wrist pad is only necessary.

MX's printed across the surface of wrist pad

A close up on the bottom of the wrist pad

The curved structure on the inside of the wrist pad attaches to the front of the keyboard as such.

The visual effect on a counter top

The keyboard lighting has 9 levels of brightness. Even the brightest is not blinding to the key, but gives off a tame and smooth feel. Comparing to the Cooler mechanical keyboard and the MI gaming keyboard, the lighting is a bit weak.

Summary

CHERRY MX BOARD 6.0 RGB mechanical keyboard has improved lighting effect and upper casing coating on the foundation of the original MX BOARD 6.0. To be honest, the degree of improvement is not too large. Maybe some will disagree when I say that this is the new product of this year. The upgraded RGB lighting effect is satisfactory. The variety of lighting is indeed less than some other products, but from a practical stand point 7 modes is enough. How I felt is that Cherry’s keyboard focuses mostly on the internal functions and details, and the lighting is a bit lacking, so it trails behind other RGB products. Maybe the Germans will consider more of what is in the hands rather than in the eyes. Nevertheless, buying Cherry is mostly cult following, and a Cherry keyboard must be purchased regardless.

Advantage: excellent craftsmanship, uniform switch functionality, more comfortable wrist support, satisfactory RGB lighting effect.

Disadvantage: key caps susceptible to stain 

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