That lack of software is an issue and potentially a big one depending on how you’ll be using the keyboard. It’s better than boards that use red, yellow, and green LEDs, but is one more reason the software suite can’t come soon enough. Pressing Fn+B causes a white LED to flash in the middle of the board in 10-percent intervals. There’s no way to check exact battery life, either. In my testing, I was able to use the keyboard with the dongle for about a week with RGB enabled, working about four hours a day before I needed to plug in. The company is mum on what you can expect over 2.4GHz or with backlighting on, but you can expect a big drop when using either of those features. There is an important caveat to that quote: it’s taken with backlighting turned off and connecting over Bluetooth. Where the F96 promised only 160 hours of use per cycle (20 days of use at eight hours a day), the F97 skyrockets that to 2,080 hours, or 260 days at the same rate of use. Wireless battery life has taken a big leap forward this generation. For gaming, you’ll want to use the 2.4GHz dongle for its improved, 1ms responsiveness, lending the keyboard wired-like performance without any kind of tether. There was no delay when typing characters over Bluetooth, which was something I noticed intermittently on the iQunix A80 I reviewed last year. Each option worked flawlessly in my testing.
#FREELANCE TYPIST BLUETOOTH#
You can connect using a standard USB Type-C cable, or wirelessly with Bluetooth 5.1 or 2.4GHz using an included dongle (you choose your option using a switch on the back of the case). The F97 keeps the same exceptional connectivity as the F96. If backlighting isn’t your thing, iQunix sells a version of the F97 without RGB for $20 less. You can color customize many of these by selecting from eight different hues, or set a rainbow color across the whole keyboard. There are 18 lighting animations to choose from that cover the bases from rainbow waves to reactive lighting effects and static colors. Since there is no software, you’re limited to the effects and colors built into the keyboard. Even in a brightly lit room, it is clearly visible, which wasn’t the case on the F96. The RGB backlighting is much brighter and more vibrant this generation. An extra layer of foam and o-rings doesn’t sound like much, but definitely improves acoustics and typing feel. It sounds less hollow than the F96 and brings out the sound of the switches more. There are also o-rings around the metal standoffs in the case, isolating typing sounds further. Beneath that, there’s a second layer of foam between the PCB and case. There’s a layer of plate foam between the metal switch plate and the PCB.
#FREELANCE TYPIST PLUS#
Their design also has the benefit of not needing re-lubing as often over time.īeneath the keys, the F97 uses two layers of foam, plus silicone rings to dampen typing sounds. Having tested both styles with my two review samples, rattle wasn’t an issue with either, but the Costar stabilizers sounded better. This style of stabilizer has the benefit of being far less rattly than Cherry stabilizers ( see here for an in-depth article on the differences) but they make removing keycaps for these keys much more difficult (seriously, don’t take them off).
I just wish iQunix offered tactile and clicky options for these switches.Įxcept for the Cosmic Traveler, the F97 models use Costar stabilizers for their larger keys. There is no scratchiness and no spring ping at all. In sound and feel, the Gold Pink and ACE switches I tested are a huge leap ahead of Cherry MX Red. The TTC switches are all linear and come pre-lubed from the factory for extra smoothness. iQunix has added new switch options from TTC, including Gold Pink, Speed Silver, and ACE, as well as the usual Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, and Pink. The grid saves space on your desk and, depending on your taste, will either look clean or congested.Īs welcome as it is, I can’t see myself swapping switches anytime soon.
These functions–and many others others–are all accessible as secondary commands using the Fn button. What you’re left with is a grid, complete with the function row, number pad, and arrow keys, but without dedicated keys for Insert, Pause, and Scroll Lock.
It is, in essence, a squeezed full-size keyboard that does away with spaces between keys and lesser used buttons. The iQunix F97 is a compact full-size keyboard using the 96-percent layout. Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, or Pink TTC Gold Pink, Speed Silver, ACEĭetachable USB-C Cable, 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.1ĭesign and Construction of the iQunix F97
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