There are people who are satisfied with the simple design and decent performance no matter what product is used.
The same goes for keyboards, which are PC peripherals. Some people insist on a top-notch keyboard that has a gorgeous appearance, an expensive switch, and supports a variety of additional functions, while others are satisfied with it if there are simple and essential elements that fit the mood I want.
In this article, I would like to review the COX CK87 SLIM product, which boasts the charm of a mechanical keyboard with the basic specifications that a gaming keyboard should have, and a neat feel, although it is not a fancy or high-performance gaming keyboard with overwhelmingly good specifications.
■ Simple is Best, a neatly organized gaming keyboard
You must have heard the saying somewhere that simple is the best. It’s not for everyone, but there’s nothing wrong with being neat.
The components of the COX CK87 SLIM include a keyboard, connecting cable, keycap remover, and cleaning brush. There are no other components provided, but in fact, the keyboard has enough components.
It’s not a huge advantage, but it’s good that you don’t have to purchase a separate cleaning brush to clean the keyboard as it comes with a cleaning brush.
As you can see from the model name, the COX CK87 SLIM is an 87-key model with the number pad missing from the general 108-key full arrangement.
It’s not a unique arrangement, but among users who use gaming keyboards recently, the 87 keys with the number pad removed, which are not often used during game play, are popular in order to expand the range of mouse activity.
Even without the number pad, the keyboard itself is very compact and neat. Of course, not being able to use the tenkey is a disadvantage, but it is not really important because you can take advantage of the mouse movement radius.
Normal gaming keyboards use ABS material keycaps to further emphasize the colorful RGB. The advantage of ABS keycaps is high light transmittance, but in the case of a keyboard that has to be touched by a person because it is vulnerable to oil, the keycaps are prone to shine due to oil on the hands.
The COX CK87 SLIM has lower light transmittance than ABS, but comes standard with PBT keycaps that are resistant to oil and highly durable. Also, although it is a personal preference, the ABS and PBT feel are slightly different even on the same keyboard, but PBT usually shows a heavier and more refined feel.
The engraving method of the font used the double injection method. English letters and numbers allow light to pass through, and Hangul does not.
COX CK87 SLIM is connected to a PC with a C to USB type. The location of the input terminal is slightly off to the right from the top of the keyboard, but it seems to be a location designed to make the most of the space between the keyboard and the monitor, unlike before when there was a port in the middle.
Each corner of the back of the keyboard has a non-slip pad attached to it and a stand that can be adjusted in two levels. The height-adjustable stand also has a non-slip pad attached to each step.
It is not RGB, but it has a basic backlight and several game modes, and you can change it to your liking by combining function keys such as backlight OFF, brightness control, and custom mode recording.
In addition to LED control, various multimedia controls are also available. Among the keyboard components, they are detailed in the manual, so please do not throw them away and take a look.
Familiar but new switch TTC LP
The appeal of a mechanical keyboard is basically the switch. Each switch has a different feel and different specifications, which is why keyboard manufacturers offer different options for the same product only with switches.
The charm of this COX CK87 SLIM is the LP (Low Profile) switch. It shows a slightly different appearance from a general mechanical switch, but in a large range, the operation method is the same as that of a general switch, but it is a much thinner switch.
The operation method of the switch is a structure in which the switch is physically pressed and the corresponding switch touches the contact to receive input.
COX CK87 SLIM has three switch models, and you can choose between click key/blue axis, linear/red axis, and tactile/brown axis according to your preference.
Since the COX CK87 SLIM has an LP switch, the thickness is also significantly thinner than other mechanical keyboards.
The level of membrane keyboards before mechanical keyboards were popular, and keyboards equipped with LP switches have a completely flat structure, but the angle of the wrist is just right as it rises slightly upwards.
The stabilizer to be paired with the TTC LP switch is cherry-styled. Thanks to this, there is no phenomenon of tilting to one side when the key to which the stabilizer is applied is pressed.
If you look inside the stabilizer, you can see the iron core. Normally, the sound of the iron core is heard as that part vibrates while being keyed, but it is hard to find such an appearance in the COX CK87 SLIM. Rather, it shows the quality that can only be seen in expensive keyboards.
A gaming keyboard that captures the feel of the key, the COX CK87 SLIM
When I first touched the COX CK87 SLIM, it felt small and solid. The LP switch is applied to make it very slim, and there is not a lot of empty space inside the keyboard, so the feel is very good.
In addition, PBT keycaps were applied as standard, giving it a more refined feel. There are very few noises such as iron core sound, spring sound, and resonant sound, which are seen in general low-end models.
Unlike most of the gaming keyboards with their gorgeous appearance, they often break down easily or get tired of using them due to the poor feel of the keyboard. It was a keyboard with a higher level of satisfaction than expected by taking care of the fundamental feel.
As an option, it basically supports the blue axis, the red axis, and the brown axis, so it is a good keyboard that can be easily recommended to users who want to use a different axis, or to those who want a slightly neat and classic keyboard.
