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This review first appeared in issue 343 of PC Pro.
Cherry is well known within the gaming community for its mechanical keyboard switches, but any long-time reader will associate the German brand with high-quality keyboards as well. Perhaps, I might dare to venture, keyboards that lean towards the ugly.
Not so the KW9100 Slim. While its square edges, square keys and plain black finish won’t appeal to all, this wireless keyboard will lend any desk a smart, professional look. It’s a solid piece of equipment, and Cherry claims each key has a service life of 10 million actuations. I can’t imagine the key labels will last that long, but they should survive the two years of warranty.
The key action uses Cherry’s SX scissor switch, which is shallow but satisfying. I prefer the action of Logitech’s MX Keys, but the KW 9100 Slim is a fraction quieter. What you don’t get is the Logitech’s backlighting, with the only sign of light being indicators for the Num, Scroll and Caps lock keys.
The upside to this lack of illumination is battery life. I find myself recharging the MX Keys every week, but I suspect the KW 9100 Slim would keep going for a couple of months between charges. This is easy to do, with a USB-C port at the rear, next to a switch that allows you to flick between Bluetooth and the nano USB receiver supplied in the box (this model only supports Windows, but there is a Mac version).
Don’t immediately throw the box away, as hidden within is a magnetic foot that attaches to the rear of the keyboard. So if you like your keyboards to have a raised angle rather than lie entirely flat, you have the option. It snaps on with vigor, so I was never worried it might fall off as I shoved the keyboard around my desk.
There is nothing fancy about this keyboard. It doesn’t have the backlight of its Logitech rival, nor the ability to flick between Bluetooth partners at the press of a button, and its “extras” amount to shortcuts to the default web browser, the Windows calculator and volume controls (although you can program the keys using Cherry’s software). Its looks are equally subdued. But if you’re looking for a reliable, quiet keyboard for an office rollout or your own setup, it does the job and should last for years.
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