OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro Review — A Heavy Contender

Editor’s note: OnePlus sent the keyboard to IGN India for this review for a limited time.

---

The OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro marks OnePlus’s debut in the keyboard game, a departure from its usual focus on mobile phones. OnePlus collaborated with Keychron, which is renowned for top-notch mechanical keyboards, to make some tweaks and bring this into the limelight. The 81 Pro is a revamped version of the Keychron Q1 Pro, an existing keyboard. So, let’s see what OnePlus has to offer in the keyboard space with its 81 Pro mechanical offering.

Features and design of the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro

Straight out of the box, the most striking feature of the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro is its weight. The CNC aluminium body exudes a sense of sturdiness and durability. Tipping the scales at a hefty 1.8 kg, OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro is no lightweight, and you might want to watch your toes if it takes a tumble.

Inside the box, you will discover extra foam gaskets, courtesy of the double gasket mounting. OnePlus has also thrown in a keycap and switch puller, along with spare screws and a hex key (Allen key) for any tinkering enthusiasts. For the wired connection aficionados like me, there is a 2-metre USB Type-C to Type-C cable in the signature OnePlus bright Red hue. What is neat is that the cable comes with a USB Type-A dongle, offering versatility for use in both USB-C and A ports. Pretty handy.

Now, let’s talk design. OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro has opted for a clean and work-centric aesthetic. The volume knob on the right side isn’t just functional; it is a thing of beauty, with a diamond-like lustre and rubbery-feeling tactile steps. I found myself using it frequently as it makes adjusting the volume so quick. 81 Pro subtly bears the OnePlus mark with a Red “Escape” key featuring the company logo and a matching Red “Enter” key. That is the extent of the front-facing branding. Flipping it over, you will find the “Never Settle” tag line of the company. Beyond that, OnePlus has kept things clean and minimalist without any flashy logos.

OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro keyboard embraces a 75% layout, a smart choice that saves the desk space by removing the Numpad area. But you still get convenient keys like Page Up, Page Down, and Home on the right side. Oddly, it comes with Mac keycaps by default. I had to swap them out for the Windows keys included in the box, which was fairly easy.

The feet bar on the bottom is not just for adjusting the angle and height of the keyboard. But it can also hold the keyboard upright, handy to make some extra desk space when needed. While it is an interesting feature, I never really used it, even in those moments when desk area was at a premium. Primarily because I forgot about it. Sometimes, we forget about the cool tricks our gadgets can do.

Keycaps, Price and Connectivity

Now, onto the nitty-gritty of the keyboard itself. OnePlus sent me the Winter Bonfire version of the keyboard with Red, tactile switches. This version comes with PBT keycaps made from the high-quality plastic polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). These keycaps feel solid and rigid, and the material does not develop that annoying oily shine from skin even after extended use. The colour scheme is a sleek Dark Grey with ₹ (INR) 16,999 price tag.

If you are eyeing the Summer Breeze version, then this comes with Blue, linear switches. OnePlus calls them Marble-mallow keycaps, and these are a bit playful. You will notice that these keycaps are soft and can flex when squeezed after you take them off. They come in a light Grey colour scheme with a slightly higher price of INR 19,999.

After using the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro, it was hard to go back to my previous keyboard, the Asus TUF Gaming K3. Setting aside the obvious price differences — given the Asus keyboard’s ₹5,000 cost — the tactile experience of the TUF keyboard felt notably plastic-like. This sensation almost immediately made me want to revert to using the OnePlus keyboard. The durable and premium feel of the OnePlus keyboard’s keycaps was sorely missed in comparison.

The Page and Home keys felt redundant in their placement, as they didn’t serve much purpose for me. The location of the Delete key adjacent to the volume knob was quite helpful during my usage. However, it took me some time to get habitual to the placement of the arrow keys before I became comfortable in using them. Preference for key travel may vary among buyers, but I found the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro is quite comfortable. I appreciate the responsive spring-back feedback and the overall typing experience the keyboard offered.

I am a fan of the clackity sounds of a keyboard, and the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro sounded like music to my ears with its tactile switches. The sound of the keyboard was neither harsh nor excessively loud. The keys offered a refined click that provided a satisfying typing experience without being overwhelming.

During my time with the keyboard, I did not receive any complaints from people around me regarding the sound the mechanical keyboard generated. On the contrary, many were impressed by the aesthetics of the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro, finding it far more visually appealing compared to the typical gaming keyboards I have used in the past.

Shedding some “light” on the lighting situation, the LEDs on the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro are south facing, residing at the bottom part of the circuit board of the keyboard. These LEDs shine bright and support various lighting effects. However, the absence of backlit lettering is a notable drawback, which could be a deal-breaker for some, including me. You will need to buy a new pair of keycaps that support backlit lettering and swap them to get what you want. However, that will further push the price up.

Now, focusing on the connectivity, the keyboard can seamlessly switch between wired and Bluetooth modes with a flick of a switch. There is another switch for toggling between Windows and Mac modes, which makes OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro quite versatile. I did not find any issues while changing connectivity and OS modes.

OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro: Battery performance

The keyboard packs a 4000mAh battery, and in Bluetooth mode, it holds up for a few days, give or take. Though, keep in mind that if you are rocking the RGB lights, the battery will drain faster. Personally, I found myself sticking to the wired connection for the most part.

Software

OnePlus doesn’t have its own customisation software for the Pro 81 which is a great thing. As with any other Keychron or high-end mechanical keyboard, you are not left in the dark and can configure almost everything including the keymapping of individual keys, different layers, different language ISO layouts and more. You can also set, reset, or reassign the special modifier keys, application, and multimedia shortcuts including mouse keys (in the keyboard) and additional Function keys beside the backlight and RGB lighting effects. You can use open-source firmware tweaking tools like QMK and VIA, commonly supported by other Keychron keyboards, to make these customisations.

The QMK web app is your go-to solution. It is a browser-based app that allows you to remap keys, create macros, and tweak the lighting. The overall experience is quick and hassle-free. Alternatively, if you prefer installable software, the VIA app has you covered.

Worth the money?

Now, let us talk value for money. If you are a keyboard aficionado eyeing high-end options like the Keychron Q1 Pro, the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro is worth considering. It brings Bluetooth functionality and those snazzy keycaps to the table. Plus, you get the well-established after-sales support and customer service from OnePlus, a major player in the Indian market. On the flip side, if wireless isn’t a deal-breaker, the Keychron Q1 is a more budget-friendly alternative, sacrificing the wireless feature for a lower price tag. Beyond these relatively high-end mechanical keyboards, there are plenty of options in the sub-INR 10,000 range from Keychron.

OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro: Where to buy?

The OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro is only available on the OnePlus website for purchase at the time of writing this review.

Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.