REALFORCE R2 PFU Limited Edition (Black/45g/TKL) - Topre Silent Key Switches, Full-NKRO, Professional keyboard

Product Information

Per-key customization of actuation distance is undeniably a unique feature that your typical gaming keyboards don’t offer (unless you try swapping individual keyswitches, which isn’t impossible). But, it’s pretty much the only standout feature. Overall, compared to other mechanical gaming keyboards, the gaming performance of the Realforce R2 RGB doesn’t manage to excel in any tangible way. Purchasing Guide title=More%20Expert%20Tech%20Roundups&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=tech-roundup&count=6&columnCount=6&theme=article I also rather like that, if you flip the keyboard over, you can see it has three distinct exit points for its USB cable, allowing you to route the cable out of the top, left or right of the chassis depending on what's practical and convenient. It's so simple, and yet nothing else I've seen even offers this - and it makes you wonder why other keyboards don't offer the same thing. Depending on where your PC's located, you can have the Realforce R2's cable coming out of the top, left or right side of the keyboard.

If you remember the right-hand rule from high-school physics, the concept is very similar. I still remember everyone in my physics class (including myself) trying to conceptualize the idea while making the spinning motion with their hands. While the issues don’t jump out at you, if you take a closer look the issues become more apparent. The Switches I was disappointed to find some imperfections on the keycaps, such as a warped shape, inaccurate spacing between keys, and peeling plastic.The main downside to the quality is the non-detachable power cable. This is a poor feature that is really difficult to overlook. Keycaps can be removed easily with most standard keycap pullers with perhaps the only exception being some plastic ring-pull varieties which can be difficult to attach to the keycap. Some Realforce keyboards come with a Topre keycap puller which is not particularly ideal for larger cap removal and should be used with caution as it has been known to slip off and scratch the keycap during removal attempts. Home row indicators on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys are the homing bar design. Type as fast as you can! REALFORCE keyboards can keep up with any number of keystrokes and ensure you’re always in control. Every nerd with Collector's Disease knows about the dream of the "endgame," that theoretically perfect item that will end the definitionally never-ending quest. I expected the RealForce's appeal to accordingly pale as soon as it settled on my desk. But this quiet, satisfying, timelessly stylish beast is everything I want and more. And the price? Well, at least it's cheaper than buying a half dozen new keyboards.

REALFORCE keyboards include Fujitsu Computer Products of America’s industry leading technical support, a 2 year advanced exchange warranty and U.S. certifications. While technically rubber dome, the Topre switches actuate via electro-capacitive design, which means it uses a magnetic field to figure out how close the switches are to determine when to register the keystroke. The keycaps are sort of a mash between Cherry and OEM keycap profiles, which makes them slightly shorter than usual. It’s an excellent shape if you find most mechanical keyboards make you raise your wrists too high when typing. Topre REALFORCE keyboards are high-end keyboards built for maximum programming and gaming performance. Designed for comfort and efficiency, REALFORCE keyboards feature Topre’s best-in-class capacitive key switches which allow for durability and reduced user fatigue. REALFORCE Keyboards include Fujitsu Computer Products of America’s industry leading technical support, a 2 year advanced exchange warranty and U.S. certifications.

I popped off a keycap to see what was going on underneath, and while not the exact same setup you’d see on many Cherry MX keyswitches, it seems the Realforce R2 RGB can have Cherry keycaps installed. Not all invoices are formatted or in a condition to return any, some or all data points accurately using this technology Some additional personal preferences for possible future models from Realforce include an option for a detachable cable, complete programmability via QMK or something similar, a 60% form factor version, and keycap sets for the R2 and other RF models. The keyboard does have a few routing channels at the bottom, so if you want to route the cable more cleanly that is an option.

For the uninitiated, Topre is a sort-of hybrid switch, one that’s long invited debate. I’m not going to wade too deep into that void, but: The primary mechanism for a Topre’s key resistance is a rubber dome, the oft-maligned foundation of most budget membrane keyboards. The activation and feel, though, are similar to a mechanical keyboard’s, and the result is a unique switch that diehard fans swear by. The APC models come with moulded key spacer inserts for main alphanumeric cluster of keys that reduce the travel of the switches to 2mm and 3mm. For this reason, they also come with a keycap puller. Topre has also replaced their folded steel "tweezer" keycap puller with a more common wire loop design. The key spacer inserts are also sold separately, and include moulded sets for the alphanumeric cluster and WASD keys, and 10 individual spacers that can be used on any single-unit keycaps. APC models also have 4 additional keys in the top-right corner, similar to the Realforce RGB. These keys have the same function as they do on the Realforce RGB: 'Mute', 'Volume Up', 'Volume Down', and 'APC'. The 'APC' key switches between the three adjustable actuation points (1.5, 2.2, or 3.0mm). Unlike the Realforce RGB, the R2 does not use Cherry MX compatible stems or keycaps; instead, the traditional Topre slider design and keycaps are used. This allows the R2 models to continue using PBT keycaps instead of the double-shot ABS keycaps that were chosen for the Realforce RGB. The R2 and its components are made and assembled in Japan [6].

Spacebar on 87U is ABS plastic, while on R2 is PBT. R2 spacebar sounds nicer but also feels nicer due to the fact that spacebar on 87U has a sharp edge (which is one of the reasons some people flip it) that can be felt if your thumb finger is not high enough when typing. Fortunately on R2 the edge feels smoother, maybe due to the different plastic material. Please note that if the elevating feet are used on 87U, this issue is much less noticeable. Topre also make keyboards that are not marketed under the 'Realforce' brand. See the list of Topre OEM keyboards for details. The Epomaker NiZ Plum Atom 68, still comes with an electro-capacitive switch design, similar to Topre, but at a much more affordable price point. At the Tokyo Game Show, held in September, 2017, Topre revealed a new line of Realforce keyboards [6]. Dubbed the 'Realforce R2', the new keyboards borrow features from the previously released Realforce RGB, including the case and PCB design, and on some R2 models, the APC (Actuation Point Changer) feature. The initial announcement comprised of 8 Japanese-layout models. The 2 standard and 2 standard + silenced models were released in October and November respectively. The 4 APC models were released in December, 2017. The Realforce R2 PFU edition has all the bells and whistles. It has the multiple actuation modes - a lot of people don’t use this, apparently. Some find it annoying, as it provides complication that they don’t need, and wish it only had one setting.