At first, we would like to thank CHERRY XTRFY for offering a sample of their K4 TKL RGB RETRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for testing and reviewing.

 

 

About CHERRY XTRFY:

“Following the successful acquisition of Xtrfy by CHERRY, the two renowned brands have joined forces to create CHERRY XTRFY – an innovative powerhouse in the gaming peripherals industry, set to be the new home for all future gaming peripherals, encompassing both existing and upcoming offerings from CHERRY and Xtrfy.

 

CHERRY and Xtrfy proudly unveil their new name, logo, and visual identity, signaling a fresh era in cutting-edge gaming gear and a unified portfolio of gaming peripherals.

 

“The merger of Xtrfy by CHERRY is a prime example of how diversification is crucial in esports. Both companies bring different strengths, networks, and product expertise, which complement each other perfectly. With the fusion of German engineering and Swedish design, this partnership is a match made in heaven, united by a shared love of gaming. As we move forward, we are excited to introduce our new gaming peripherals brand, which is driven by our vision for the future of esports. This vision encompasses diversity and inclusion, as we aim to promote a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone can participate and thrive”, says René Schulz, Vice President Business Unit Peripherals at CHERRY.

 

The revamped identity reflects the brand’s commitment to quality, performance, and the pursuit of next-generation esports equipment.

 

“We’re passionate about esports and after years of collaborating with professional players, we’re putting our hearts into growing our presence in competitive gaming. Ramping up our efforts in esports, we’re committed to creating new products that help gamers win. Our dedication is symbolized by the Winner symbol – X – and verbalized through the CHERRY XTRFY tagline: In it to win it”, says Joakim Jansson, Managing Director and Co-founder of Xtrfy.

 

The new brand and gaming peripherals will be housed under cherryxtrfy.com, and more news will be unveiled at CHERRY XTRFY’s event in Cologne, Germany on April 26th.”

Product Features:

 

THE PRO-LEVEL KEYBOARD FOR ALL-LEVEL GAMERS

The essentials of our Major-winning keyboards. In a new, straightforward package. The K4 features what you need to step your game up. Performance for the highest level. Bang for the buck. No excuses. You’re ready.

TENKEYLESS

Minimalistic on your desk. Compact on the go. The K4 TKL is the tenkeyless version of the K4. Just as sturdy. Just as fast. Only smaller.

MECHANICAL SWITCHES TRUSTED BY PROS

Approved by elite gamers, Xtrfy’s pro-grade keyboards come equipped with red mechanical key switches. Lighter touch, faster actuation, and a lifetime of 70 million keystrokes.

UNLIMITED ACCURACY FOR SPLIT-SECOND REACTIONS

1000 Hz polling rate makes for instant registration of every keypress, while full N-key rollover means zero missed keystrokes – no matter how many you press at once.

CRISP RGB LEDS

Six-zone color customization. Numerous backlight and typing effects. The K4 features an impactful RGB lighting, using elevated DIP LEDs for crisp illumination of every key.

NO SOFTWARE. NO HASSLE

Switch settings and LED modes on the fly and say goodbye to cumbersome software. All adjustments are made directly on the keyboard.

PRO-GRADE DURABILITY

The K4 is built to provide long-lasting performance at the highest level of competitive play. With a metal plate construction, reinforced PCB, and casing along with highly durable key switches, you’ll leave nothing to chance.

 

Product Specifications:

 

Model name: XG-K4-RGB-TKL-RETRO

Available layouts: Nordic, UK, US, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian

Illumination: RGB, 16.8 million colors

Keys: 88, tenkeyless (US 87)

Key switches: Mechanical Kailh Red RGB

N-Key Rollover: Full

Anti-Ghosting: 100%

Special keys/shortcuts: Illumination settings, Media controls

Connection: USB

Weight: 1.05

Size: 356 x 141 x 39 mm

Cable: 2 m, braided

Warranty EU/US/ASIA: 2/1/1 years

 

Quite recently, Xtrfy was acquired by CHERRY to form a new brand: CHERRY XTRFY; this new organization aims to provide new successful products for the gaming, esports market and we wish them good luck!

In this article we will concentrate upon another retro-looking keyboard from the brand, carrying the name K4 TKL RGB RETRO. This is the tenkeyless version of the K4 keyboard, smaller in size to provide even more space on the desktop and leaves the NumPad aside, which is rarely used while gaming.

 

The K4 TKL RGB RETRO is shipped inside a compact cardboard enclosure, which carries a color scheme like computers in the Commodore 64 era:

 

 

 

On the side of the box, we will get to see a small product description, in multiple languages:

 

 

 

The product code name, along with the product serial numbers can be noted nearby:

 

 

 

Some main highlights are written on the opposite area:

 

 

 

Even the product name is written with old computer fonts!

 

 

 

The main features are explained in more detail on the back:

 

 

 

After removing the top packaging layer, we will end up with another, black box:

 

 

 

The inside contents are fully protected by foam material, on all sides:

 

 

 

Besides the mentioned layer, the K4 RGB TKL RETRO keyboard is also wrapped inside a transparent plastic bag:

 

 

 

The bundle is kept at a minimum with this model, which means an envelope with documentation:

 

 

 

Besides the Quick Start Guide, we will also receive an XTRFY case sticker:

 

 

 

The Quick Start Guide does show some of the actions we can perform by using the function keys, while the rest of the stuff is found in the complete manual, available in electronic format:

 

 

 

The keyboard really brings out a retro vibe, with the light, dark grey color scheme, but also the red accents, which carry over to the USB cable as well!

 

 

 

The keyboard incorporates Kailh Red RGB switches, which are non-removable to keep the costs low and have an actuation force of 50g, while bottoming out at 60g. Their linear behavior is ideal for gaming, while the keycaps are made from thin ABS. The switches carry the regular MX-style stems so you are free to customize further by buying extra sets:

 

 

 

The Esc key does sport a red color, to be easily visible:

 

 

 

The F1 to F8 keys do offer multimedia controls:

 

 

 

 

F9 will help with opening the Email client, F10 will take care of the default web browser, F11 will lock all keys, while F12 will open Calculator:

 

 

 

The Insert key can help by adjusting the effect of cycling background colors; Home can be accessed for setting fixed background colors for the keys; the Custom color zones mode is accessible when pressing Fn+PgUp; via Fn+Del we can enable Wave effects, Breathing effects with Fn+End, while Typing effects are available via Fn+PgDn:

 

 

 

The Custom color zones are configurable via the digit keys, from 1 to 6:

 

 

 

The Windows Lock key is also housing the XTRFY logo and can be found between the left CTRL and ALT keys:

 

 

 

Spacebar comes with the XTRFY logo in the middle:

 

 

 

The directional keys help with adjusting the LED brightness, but also for setting the RGB LED effect speed:

 

 

 

The top cover does also include a dark grey XTRFY logo:

 

 

 

Here is a photo on the side of the keyboard, which shows the angled design:

 

 

 

In the frontal area of the keyboard, we do not have any extra interfaces, such as USB hubs:

 

 

 

The bottom area comes with a textured black plate, while the feet are offered in the same light grey color as the top cover:

 

 

 

The middle sticker will reveal the product serial number:

 

 

 

The kickstands come with rubber tips, so moving the keyboard on the surface will work on won’t produce any unpleasant sounds:

 

 

 

 

The cable is fully braided for additional durability:

 

 

 

The custom USB connector is also integrated with the color scheme:

 

 

 

 

With the K4 RGB TKL RETRO, the keycap letters are perfectly visible and the light bleeding through offers a nice effect as well; here are some shots with the keyboard connected to our test machine:

 

 

 

 

 

 

After customizing the LED lighting with our own preference, we started gaming World of Warcraft, Gotham Knights, AION Classic but also Need for Speed Unbound; the keyboard felt responsive and we did really enjoy the typing experience of the Kailh Red RGB, which, by the way, come with a 70 million actuation lifespan! The keyboard can be used for productivity work as well given the fact that we get access to the usual apps via keystrokes such as calculator, web browser, email, or default video player.

 

This keyboard comes without integrated software and all configuration options for RGB can be done via function keys; the only downside in this regard is the lack of macro configuration options, but not a lot of people are using pre-programmed keys anyway.

 

In terms of appearance, the K4 TGB TKL RETRO looks killer, with the legacy color scheme and the bright LEDs which make the lettering look good even in a well-illuminated environment.

 

The K4 TKL RGB model is also available in black and white, to cover all customer preferences.

 

The keyboard is currently available online for about 99 Euros, which we think that is a good price considering what we are getting!

CHERRY XTRFY K4 TKL RGB RETRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is Recommended for:

 

 

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