Qpad MK-90 – Performance  

Crucial to any mechanical keyboard is the responsive feel and long-life of its individual key switches, as compared to cheaper, rubber membrane or other types of keyboard.

Cherry is the de facto key-switch manufacturer, with its MX switches used in the majority of such keyboards. However, Qpad has opted for a different supplier for the MK-90, claiming that its switches best the 50 million keystroke life of the Cherry MX with a life of 60 million keystrokes.

While this is all well and good, I didn’t particularly like the feel of these keys – at least not at first. They have a similarly smooth, non-click action to the Cherry MX Red, but have a stiffer spring. In fact, at times it almost felt as though the resistance increased the more the keys were pressed – although this could be an illusion.

Some people prefer this stiffer action, but for me it was almost too much effort. On occasion, I pressed too lightly such that the key press didn’t register.

The upside for those slightly sloppy typists out there – like me – is that the need for a more defined press will keep typos to a minimum. You also won’t experience the the harsh stop from hitting the bottom of the key’s travel – you’ll quite often not press the key fully because of the resistance – resulting in less strain on your fingers and makes the keyboard quieter in operation.

It’s difficult to say for certain after only a week’s use, but I did also find that, compared to the Cherry MX, the keys were a little more prone to sticking when struck slightly off-angle.

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Should I buy the Qpad MK-90?

I’m in two minds about the MK-90. On the one hand it offers a lot for the money: RGB backlighting, heavy-duty mechanical key switches, the USB and audio ports, and all the extra functionality via the Fn key.

However, I remain unconvinced about the key action, the design of the keyboard is quite to my taste, and essentially, all those extra functions come via software; many rival devices offer physical media and game keys.

Overall it’s a keyboard that will get the job done for a good price. It just doesn’t quite excite.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard with all the latest bells and whistles, the Qpad MK-90 is a great option. It’s cheaper than most rivals yet boasts full mechanical keys, RGB backlighting, audio and USB connections and more. It doesn’t have quite the design and feature set to truly excite – but it’s a solid option for the price.

Trusted Score