Leopold fc980c black topre switches review năm 2024

I bought this as a regular consumer for myself retail, this is not promotional or crowd funded or supported by anyone else in any way.

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After learning to appreciate the Topre switch over a period of more than two years in the form of several keyboards and knowing this layout from Cherry keyboards I knew I would like this. I have owned or still own the HHKB 45g, Topre Realforce TKL 55g (I also owned a variable Realforce) and the Leopold FC660C 45g.

Overall impressions:

The quality of the keyboard is very high as I expected and should be in this price range.I have never tried any full size Topre keyboards but I from what I have tried and owned I get the sense that Leopold keyboards are at least if not better build quality than Realforce or HHKB. The case has a nice texture to it.

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The case may seem slightly bulky at the front for some but it's rock solid and adds to the overall typing experience, the "Topre thock" sounds just the way it should. The LED lock lights are red and pretty small, stealthy looking. The rubber feet grip very well, the tips of the flip feet also have a rubber cover. The keyboard feels very solid for it's size, no flex and no sounds that should not be there.

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My FC980C did not come with any modifier keycaps or even a key puller I guess those days are over? The cable routing cable is detachable which is a plus to me, the keyboard is shipped with a plastic keycover in the box but I don't think the Topre switch is dust prone like Alps SKCM though.

The keycaps are dyesubs on PBT, again anything else in this price range would not be acceptable although Leopold does offer lasered PBT keycaps like the Hangul set on my FC660C. The spacebar is 6 units so PBT spacebars from matt3o / massdrop will fit thank you Leopold.

Layout:

This type of layout is obviously interesting if you need / want / like to have a numpad on your keyboard and have a slightly more compact form factor at the same time. Leopold adds their usual quirky nav-cluster in between the alpha and numpad section, not exactly the most pretty solution but it works. The bottom row works well with the FN key at the very right next to the navigational keys.

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The single unit CTRL key on the right between ALT and FN is also slightly odd, the function row above the numpad is awkward to use but not a problem since FN+arrow up and down is also page up&down just like on my FC600C. Because of the position of the arrow keys "0" on the numpad is a single unit key which does take a bit getting used to. Due to the layout the right shift key is an usually small 2 unit key.

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FN and DIP options:

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Cable routing left and right:

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Sturdy feet with rubber cover keep this keyboard in place:

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Conclusion:

The most important conclusion I can draw from using all these keyboards is that Topre 45g uniform is the most productive Topre swtich variation for me. While 55g is nice it gets tiring to type on over longer periods, that little 55g dome is not to be underestimated! The difference between 45g and 55g is actually quite substantial to me, possibly Topre should try developing a 50g version? The variable keyweight solution Topre offers is quite interesting but may irritate some, I do not mind it but I prefer to use an uniform keyweight across the keyboard.

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To make this short:

Unless you already know that you like the Topre switch don't spontaneously buy this unless you have plenty of money to blow. Furthermore and much more obviously you should like this layout or at least imagine the possibility of adopting it for your daily use. If you like the layout and the feel of the Topre electrostatic capacitive non-contact switch and don't mind the $$$ price tag this may be something for you to consider, the quality is top-notch. Unlike the newer Topre MX mount the keycap-options are quite limited in this case. All in all I can say that the Topre switch lends itself to it being trolled as "the most expensive rubberdome" out there but it has it's valid merits.

Are Leopold keyboards any good?

Leopold mechanical keyboards can be worth the price due to the good build-quality, different designs and layouts from 65% to 1800-Compact, the option to have mechanical Cherry MX or Topre switches, sound-dampening foam, and durable SS2-profile double-shot PBT keycaps in several different colors.

Why is Topre so good?

Generally speaking, Topre switches produce higher-quality thock sounds and have a more crisp feel; they're also legendary for how smooth and quiet they can be. Topre switches and Cherry MX browns are both fast switches, and neither requires much force to achieve actuation.

What is the difference between Topre and MX?

Topre switches are generally considered to be high-quality and are often used in high-end mechanical keyboards. MX switches, on the other hand, are linear or tactile switches that use a metal spring to actuate the switch.

What switches are similar to Topre?

Topre switches are similar to Cherry MX Browns with more “thonk” and crispier tactile feedback. Topre switches can be a lot of fun to use and offer a very unique typing experience. You can find them on keyboards such as the Happy Hacking keyboard.