At first we would like to thank CHERRY for sending out a sample of their MX 10.0 Mechanical Keyboard for testing and reviewing.

 

 

About CHERRY:

"CHERRY GmbH, with its headquarters in Auerbach in der Oberpfalz, Germany, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of computer input devices with an emphasis on office, industrial and security markets, as well as switches for mechanical keyboards among

others for PC gaming. Cherry GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of the technology group ZF Friedrichshafen AG."

 

Product Features:

 

Fashionable gaming keyboard with aluminum housing and really thin design

CHERRY MX low profile technology – Gold Crosspoint precision switch for all keys »Developed and Made in Germany«

Impressive RGB illumination in more than 16 million colors, with numerous integrated color routines

CHERRY button for CHERRY Utility Software to individualize the keyboard settings

Create and save your own light effects using software in 8 MB on-board memory

Uncompromisingly fast, with high-speed key recognition and a shorter bounce time for higher switching frequencies

Full n-key rollover – all keys are read simultaneously

Anti-ghosting – no input errors

WIN key lockout for gaming

Abrasion-resistant key caps

Detachable cable with Micro USB-C

Automatic foldable mounting foot

 

Product Specifications:

 

SKU

G8A-25000

 

Keyboard

Key technology: CHERRY MX low profile

MX technology: Product dependent, see table "Models "

Service life and characteristics depend on switch specification (see www.cherrymx.de). Standard key operations between >50 and >100 million guaranteed.

Inscription technology: lasered

Number of Keys: Product dependent, see table "Models"

Number of additional keys: 4 + CHERRY Key

 

Packaging dimensions

approx. 527 x 195 x 67 mm

 

Dimensions (product)

approx. 430 x 130x 22 mm

 

Delivery volume

CHERRY Keyboard

Metal case

Printed manual

 

System requirements

USB connection

 

Operating temperature

0 °C … 50 °C

 

Storage temperature

-20 °C … 60 °C

 

Cable length

160 cm

 

Total weight (with packaging)

approx. 2420 g

 

Weight (product)

960 g

 

Type

Cable

 

The well-known MX switch manufacturer CHERRY has impressed us in the past with the entry-level to mainstream peripherals it manufactures, for both consumer and corporate use. For quite some time we have waited in order to see if it will launch a keyboard with the switches we do enjoy the most (CHERRY MX LP), the same format as we have seen along with the CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LP and the day has finally arrived with the launch of the MX 10.0 . This keyboard can be considered a member of the high-end products from the manufacturer, featuring a very elegant and premium design, but also per-key programmable RGB lighting.

 

The product has arrived inside a cardboard enclosure, with a subtle CHERRY logo in the frontal area:

 

 

 

 

On the side, the MX switch logo is also present:

 

 

 

On the back, we will get to see the company logo, with the same subtle design:

 

 

 

What do we have inside? Well, this is another interesting surprise!

 

 

 

We have found another compact all-aluminum case, similar to the ones you will see in movies with spies where you would expect to assemble a weapon in action movies:

 

 

 

A nice CHERRY logo, red color this time is also present on the casing:

 

 

 

The case does also feature rubber foot on the bottom, so it won’t get scratched during transit:

 

 

 

The case hinges can be also spotted here:

 

 

 

The opposite side of the transport case is similar, only this time we can see another set of rubber foot, on the sides:

 

 

 

 

The handle is red, in order to follow the color scheme and design lines of CHERRY manufacturer:

 

 

 

Let’s open the two metallic latches and see what we will find inside:

 

 

 

Surrounded by protective material from all sides, inside we will find CHERRY’s secret “weapon”, the MX 10.0, along with the documentation and the removable USB cable:

 

 

 

The documentation is written in multiple languages and shows the user how to operate the additional function keys:

 

 

 

 

Besides the initial protection layer, the keyboard is also wrapped inside a transparent plastic layer:

 

 

 

The USB connector of the supplied cable does sport the CHERRY logo:

 

 

 

An USB type-C connector can be found on the other end:

 

 

 

The MX 10.0 chassis is built entirely of aluminum and the keyboard can be had in either black or white colors; it sports the usual layout, but with some added multimedia keys in the top right corner:

 

 

 

The height of the keyboard is only 22mm and coupled with the low profile of the switches, it is a very pleasant peripheral to type with:

 

 

 

 

Between the ESC and F1 key, we’ve got the CHERRY key which can be used for installing the CHERRY software or for opening the LED light customization effects menu inside the GUI:

 

 

 

Moving forward, we do have multimedia (Volume controls) from F1 to F3, while F4 will turn off the lighting:

 

 

 

With F5 and F6 we will be able to customize the LED brightness, while with F7 and F8 we will choose the speed of the currently selected RGB mode:

 

 

 

Next, we do have the Win-Lock key for deactivating certain key shortcuts, the function to open the default web browser, a very useful function key for opening Windows Explorer but also a function for cycling through the available RGB lighting effects:

 

 

 

In the top right corner, we do have the key for opening up Calculator app, but also some multimedia keys:

 

 

 

To the left and right of the Spacebar key, we do have the usual set of functions:

 

 

 

 

A nice CHERRY logo is positioned in the upper area of the directional keys:

 

 

 

In the top left and right-side corners, we will be able to spot the hinges of the kickstand:

 

 

 

In the frontal area of the keyboard, we will be able to spot the flawless aluminum build, but also the USB Type-C port; there are no USB hub ports here, because this aspect would make the keyboard bulkier:

 

 

 

 

The CHERRY MX Speed switches are the same we have seen along with the CORSAIR keyboard mentioned before (which is also our daily driver) and have a short travel and a much slimmer body versus the regular ones. When typing fast, the MX 10.0 is more silent than the CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 LP, possibly because of the all-aluminum build (the CORSAIR model has a plastic layer on the bottom area):

 

 

 

The clean design lines are also present on the bottom area of the chassis, it’s like we’re talking about an Apple laptop with unibody chassis:

 

 

 

The kickstand is also made of aluminum and features rubber feet on the sides:

 

 

 

 

In the lower area we will also spot a long rubber foot, so the keyboard will remain steady on the surface and won’t make contact with the aluminum surface:

 

 

 

The kickstand has an integrated folding mechanism, so if it will return to the default position when not in use; underneath it we will spot a red sticker with the keyboard power rating, the internal code names but also its serial number:

 

 

 

Here is how the keyboard does look with its folded kickstand:

 

 

 

 

After connecting the keyboard to a spare USB port of our test PC, we could enjoy the RGB goodness of this particular keyboard; the fact that the switches are mounted right onto the aluminum layer does allow the light to shine from one key to the next, creating a continuous effect:

 

 

 

 

 

 

After downloading the customization software, we were prompted to update the keyboard firmware:

 

 

 

The GUI does allow us to customize the RGB lighting effects but also change the button functions; here are the RGB presets we can choose from:

 

Wave

Spectrum

Breathing

Rolling

Curve

Scan

Radiation

Ripples

Single Key

 

Static

 

 

 

With Custom mode, we will be able to choose a separate color for each key:

 

 

 

The KB Setting button will launch a separate menu, from where we will be able to choose the keyboard Polling Rate but also the LED brightness:

 

 

 

As mentioned before, the User Keys menu will allow key function customization:

 

 

 

We can set a different function to a specific key:

 

 

Macros can be recorded and allocated as well:

 

 

Text sequences are next:

 

 

There is a separate section for allocating media player (multimedia) functions as well:

 

 

CHERRY has finally launched their own keyboard featuring the MX Speed Low Profile switches, which is very responsive and pleasant to type on and also surprisingly silent! With the MX 10.0, CHERRY is also showing that a gaming keyboard can also be very elegant and professional looking by using an all-aluminum chassis and the low height does also contribute for a more comfortable typing position. The used switches do feature a 1.2mm pre-travel and 3.2mm total travel, while the operating force is 45cN, making it ideal for competitive games; given its fast response time, writing articles on it takes a little time to adjust, but it is 100% doable.

 

The keyboard does integrate multiple function keys in the F-key zones, but also some extra multimedia keys, a dedicated CHERRY and a button to launch the calculator (in case you are doing productivity work as well).

 

The 8MB on-board memory does help with saving settings to the keyboard and in order to customize everything we do have the dedicated software at our disposal. Indeed, the software is not as complex as we have seen with iCUE from CORSAIR, but it can improve over time and offer even more, interesting lighting presets.

 

The keyboard is currently on-sale in China unfortunately and the date for a worldwide launch is programmed for Q4 of this year.

CHERRY MX 10.0 Mechanical Keyboard is Recommended for:

 

 

 

We would like to thank again to CHERRY for making this review possible!