At first we would like to thank CHERRY for sending out a sample of their KW X ULP Office 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."

 

Ultra low profile high end keyboard with mechanical switches

Mechanical switches meet ultra-slim design. The CHERRY KW X ULP keyboard combines the attractive look of modern slimline keyboards with the advantages of a mechanical keyboard, making it a unique premium product. Its very low height is ensured by the high-quality CHERRY MX ULTRA LOW PROFILE switches. The keyboard can be connected wirelessly via Bluetooth® or 2.4 GHz radio frequency as well as via USB cable, offering you maximum flexibility. In the office, for gaming, as a frequent typist in the home office or as a programmer: you'll love this ultra-slim mechanical keyboard.

 

Proprietary CHERRY MX ULTRA LOW PROFILE switches

The CHERRY KW X ULP mechanical keyboard owes its slim design to its proprietary MX ULTRA LOW PROFILE switches, which are renowned for their fast response and reliable input. In addition to the extremely low height, the switches, which are exclusively manufactured in Germany, also ensure a precise and unique typing feel. Each key on the mechanical office keyboard can easily withstand up to 50 million rapid keystrokes.

In addition, the rechargeable CHERRY Ultra Low Profile Keyboard features high-quality polycarbonate key caps. Designed specifically for the CHERRY MX ULTRA LOW PROFILE switches, these are abrasion-resistant and guarantee long-lasting key labeling. Although they are extremely slim, they are subtly concave for comfortable typing and good grip. This makes the flat mechanical keyboard comfortable to use for gaming as well as in the office. The elegant look is rounded off by an anodized aluminum surface with silver edges.

 

A premium mechanical keyboard: not just slim, but also multi-device capable

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless or USB cable? The CHERRY KW X ULP keyboard cuts a fine figure in any situation and can be very easily, but above all quickly connected by any of these connection options. If you use the ultra-flat mechanical keyboard wirelessly, you can be sure that your data is transferred securely thanks to AES-128 encryption. Very practically equipped with CHERRY MX ULTRA LOW PROFILE switches, the keyboard can boast a total of four channels, allowing you to connect several devices at once. At the push of a button, you can easily switch back and forth between two Bluetooth® channels, a wireless channel and a wired channel. This means, for example, you can control a laptop, smartphone, game console and PC with just one keyboard. Colored LEDs on the F-keys mean you always know which mode you’re in.

 

White illumination with additional colored LEDs

The white key illumination of the CHERRY KW X ULP can be dimmed in 10 steps, so you can use the flat mechanical keyboard optimally in the office or when gaming, even in poor light conditions. Of course, you can also use the CHERRY Ultra Low Profile Keyboard completely unlit. The status keys CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, SCROLL LOCK, WIN and FN as well as the keys for the four channels have also been given a colored LED. This shows you at a glance whether the respective function is activated or not.

Below the CHERRY button, you’ll find a useful RGB LED that gives you information about the battery status while charging. Once the CHERRY KW X ULP is fully charged, you can type away on it for several weeks depending on the selected illumination and operating mode. The USB-C to USB-A cable required for charging is of course included.

 

Enjoy all the advantages of a gaming keyboard

The mechanical CHERRY KW X ULP may not look like a gaming keyboard, as slim and sleek as it is, but technically it is ideally suited for that as well. Incorrect inputs are reliably prevented by anti-ghosting, while full-N-key rollover enables simultaneous pressing and processing of an unlimited number of keys. Data transfer takes place with low latency on all channels. The CHERRY Ultra Low Profile Keyboard is also equipped with three flip-out feet, which can be used to adjust the tilt. For all these reasons, the CHERRY KW X ULP can easily be used as a slimline mechanical gaming keyboard.

 

Individual key assignment with CHERRY KEYS

With the CHERRY KEYS software, which is available free of charge, you can reassign the F keys and special keys in no time at all. Text modules, shortcuts, macros, open files/websites/folders/programs, system functions or multimedia functions can be intuitively assigned to individual keys. This useful little tool is as slim and unobtrusive as the low-profile mechanical keyboard itself.

 

Weight main product: 630 g

Dimensions product without packaging: 440 mm x 133 mm x 16 mm

Cable length: 150 cm

Storage temperature: -20 C - 65 C

Working temperature: 0 C - 50 C

System Requirements

Hardware:

USB-A

Bluetooth 4.0 or higher

USB 2.0 or higher

Operating system: Windows 10 or higher

Scope of delivery:

Keyboard

Nano-USB-Receiver

USB-A to USB-C Cable

Manual

Software support: CHERRY KEYS

USB dongle: yes, 2.4 GHz Wireless

Encryption in wireless mode: yes

Wireless range (m): 10 m

Connection via Bluetooth: yes

Encryption in Bluetooth mode: yes

Bluetooth protocol: Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth range (m): 10 m

Number of batteries: 1

Battery type: Li-Ion

Battery rechargeable: yes

Battery replaceable: no

Battery charging port: USB-C

Service life per key (in million strokes): 50 million actuations

Switching characteristics: tactile

Max. current consumption (mA) of keyboard: 500 mA

Keyboard format: Full-size (100%)

Integrated metal plate: yes

N-key rollover: Full-Key-Rollover

Anti-ghosting: yes

Key encryption: AES-128

Actuating force (cN): 65 cN

Forward travel (mm): 0,8 mm

Key stroke (mm) total travel path: 1,8 mm

Special key functions:

PC lock

Unmute/Mute

Volume up

Volume down

Gaming Mode

FN

Illumination: white

Adjustable feet: integrated

Status LEDs: in keys

Key technology: mechanical

Switches: CHERRY MX ULTRA LOW PROFILE

Keycap material: PC

 

In this article we will look upon a premium office keyboard from the well-known manufacturer CHERRY, featuring their latest CHERRY MX ultra-low-profile switches. These new switches are tactile, come with a 65 cN operating force, a 0.8mm pre-travel, and a 1.8mm total travel. What is amazing is that this technology does permit construction of low-height keyboards, while preserving a mechanical keyboard feel and the durability, considering that these come with a service life of 50 million actuations.

Besides wired functionality, the keyboard can operate on wireless via the dedicated USB dongle, but also on Bluetooth with two dedicated channels.

 

The KW X ULP keyboard is shipped inside a compact cardboard packaging, which shows the keyboard in operation right from the top cover:

 

 

 

Here we will also learn of the keyboard layout, along with the used ultra-low-profile switch:

 

 

 

On the side of the box, CHERRY liked to showcase how slim this keyboard really is:

 

 

 

The opposite area includes a small sticker with the product serial number, the code name but also the manufacturing date:

 

 

 

On the back, we will learn of the main product highlights, the box contents but also the system requirements:

 

 

 

After lifting the top cover, we will get to see that the keyboard is wrapped inside a protective paper layer:

 

 

 

The users need to be careful at the warning found inside, in order not to damage the product prematurely:

 

 

 

The keyboard is accompanied by documentation, but also the USB cable:

 

 

 

The guide is quite large, explains the pairing process depending on the chosen interface, we get notes on the battery indicator but also which are the individual functions of the top row of keys:

 

 

 

The USB cable does have an interesting red/black color scheme, with an USB-C connector on the keyboard side and an USB-A on the computer side. There is no braiding on the cable since this product was thought as an office/productivity peripheral at its base:

 

 

 

Thanks to the slim design and the anodized/milled top aluminum plate, the keyboard looks very professional, and we are presented with a full layout. Extra keys we will find in the top right corner, over the numeric pad:

 

 

 

A closer look does reveal the brushed aluminum even better, while the keycaps are made of polycarbonate with laser etching and UV coating labeling. With the first set of function keys, we can switch between the available interfaces:

 

 

 

Next, we do have multimedia controls, but we can also open the Internet browser:

 

 

 

Moving further, we will be able to modify the LED brightness, open the Calculator application, the default Email program, but also lock current session:

 

 

 

The keyboard does allow modifying the volume levels, but also directly mute; the last key is RGB enabled and allows monitoring of the current battery charging levels, but also helps with disabling Windows keys:

 

 

 

A nice CHERRY logo is placed between the directional keys and the Delete/End/Pg Dn area:

 

 

 

The milling quality on the aluminum top cover is top-notch, as noted when looking in the corners:

 

 

 

 

On the frontal side of the keyboard, we will find some more interfaces:

 

 

 

The wireless dongle is fitted right into the casing, for easy transport:

 

 

 

Moving further, we will note the USB-C port:

 

 

 

Finally, we will note the keyboard on/off switch:

 

 

 

The bottom area of the keyboard is manufactured from a dark grey plastic, in order to keep the weight to a minimum; small rubber feet are present in the corners, in order to help with keyboard stability on the surface:

 

 

 

The applied sticker will reveal the internal code name of the product, the serial number, but also the power rating:

 

 

 

The kickstands do feature rubber pads on their tips, which is to be appreciated:

 

 

 

 

The wireless dongle is small, in order not to obstruct the nearby USB ports, especially when used along with a laptop computer:

 

 

 

On the opposite side, we will note some laser-etched inscriptions:

 

 

 

As soon as we turn on the keyboard or connect the USB cable while the keyboard is off, the RGB led on the CHERRY key will signal the battery charging status; it will light up red when battery is critical, yellow will displayed when its half charged, while green is shown only when charging has been fully completed:

 

 

 

The keycaps look great with the white backlight and are easily readable even in a room without any light:

 

 

 

Some of the function keys do light up differently, highlighting that the selected option is activated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

For additional usability, we can remap keys via the CHERRY KEYS utility:

 

 

 

Depending on the selected action, we will have additional options available for configuration:

 

Run Program

Open File/Folder

Open Web Page

System

Macro Recorder

Text Block

Multimedia

Button Disable

 

The new MX ULP switches from CHERRY are not a marketing gimmick, but they do really deliver by providing a very pleasant typing experience and we have recently found that these are also featured in some of the latest high-end laptops. These are quite durable as well and CORSAIR even built the K100 Air model based on these since last year…CHERRY though has addressed this model mostly for office use, and the dedicated function buttons are meant to help this business/productivity segment.

 

The 0.88mm of travel is quite impressive and makes typing a minimal effort, while keeping the fingers in an optimal position and to reduce the strain. Even if the KW X ULP does not have RGB backlighting, the white light is pleasant to the eyes, while the different colors for function keys does bring an interesting effect.

 

The KW X ULP does not fall short on the connectivity segment either, being able to offer wireless and two channels on Bluetooth besides the wired mode. The customization in the application is lighter than we do see with CORSAIR software, but all is needed for office work is present.

 

The only negative aspect with this product is the price, which is around 248 Euros at the time of the review. If it will go down soon to about 200 Euros, then it will be much more attractive for the mainstream crowd. This is clearly a premium product, and we won’t hesitate to offer this keyboard our Editors’ Choice Award!

CHERRY KW X ULP Office Mechanical Keyboard is Recommended for:

 

 

 

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