Mice & Keyboards by stefan @ 2024-07-14
The MX 3.0S Wireless is great in terms of connectivity options and really stands out thanks to the aluminum construction. The plastic sides will eventually pick up fingerprints due to the piano black finish, while the minimal space between the keys makes sure that no extra space is lost on the desk.
At first, we would like to thank CHERRY XTRFY for offering a sample of their CHERRY MX 3.0S Wireless Gaming Keyboard for testing and reviewing.
“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.”
THREE CONNECTION MODES TO MATCH ANY GAMING STYLE
To meet the needs of demanding gamers, CHERRY has integrated a unique new technology in the MX 3.0S Wireless. CHERRY Advanced Wireless Technology offers three different connection modes to match any gaming style: the brand-new, dongle-based Low Latency Mode (LLM), regular Bluetooth mode for the highest wireless compatibility, and cabled mode. Low Latency Mode (LLM) is designed to offer an interference- free and extremely low-latency connection of less than 1 millisecond, finally allowing wireless gamers to directly compete with gamers using wired keyboards. CHERRY Advanced Wireless Technology also allows the user to connect the keyboard to multiple devices (five in total) for ultimate flexibility. Thanks to the intelligent charging technology, gaming sessions will not be interrupted when the keyboard is connected to the USB charging cable.
CHERRY MX SWITCHES FOR UNRIVALED FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE
To achieve unrivaled performance, the MX 3.0S Wireless relies on the hugely popular CHERRY MX switches in one of four variants: MX Red, MX Brown, MX Blue, or MX Black. Each one of these mechanical switches has slightly different characteristics, making sure you can choose the switch that best fits your gaming style. Every CHERRY MX switch is exclusively manufactured in Germany and offers a lifespan of over 50 million actuations, with an extremely high precision thanks to CHERRY’s patented Gold-Crosspoint technology. Furthermore, the MX 3.0S Wireless supports all modern features you need in a gaming keyboard, including Win Lock, high-speed key recognition, full N-key rollover, and 100 percent reliable anti-ghosting.
SLEEK DESIGN IN TWO COLOR SCHEMES AND DURABLE, LASER-ENGRAVED KEY CAPS
The MX 3.0S Wireless features a sleek and modern aluminum housing with extremely small bezels, decreasing the footprint of the keyboard on the desk. Rubber round feet ensure a solid grip and allow the angle of the MX 3.0S Wireless to be adjusted to the user’s preference. To ensure a perfect match with other gaming hardware, the keyboard features full RGB illumination with stunning presets and a software tool to use any of the available 16 million colors to create your own lighting effects. CHERRY is offering the MX 3.0S Wireless in two color schemes: either a deep-black housing and keys, or a stunning aluminum housing with bright white keys. To make sure the inscriptions on the keys remain legible even after long and intense gaming sessions, CHERRY has equipped the MX 3.0S Wireless with abrasion-resistant key caps.
Model name: MX 3.0S Wireless
Available layouts: US, UK, German, French
Illumination: Customizable RGB
Keys: 105+5 (US 104+5)
Key switches: CHERRY MX Red or Brown
Keycap material: ABS
N-Key Rollover: Full
Anti-Ghosting: Yes
Special keys/shortcuts: Browser, CHERRY Key, Calculator, FN, Last track, Next track, Play/Pause, Unmute/Mute, Volume up, Volume down
Connection: USB-A
Cable length: 1.8 m
Weight: 1051 g
Size: 430 x 140 x 36 mm
Warranty EU/US/ASIA: 2 years
CHERRY XTRFY has sent us another interesting mechanical keyboard for review, sporting triple connectivity options (wired, Bluetooth and Wireless), with a minimalist aluminum chassis for a professional look, a choice between two colors (black and white), but also two switch types (MX Red and Brown).
The MX 3.0S Wireless keyboard is shipped inside a medium-sized cardboard box, which shows a photo of the product in operation, but also highlights the RGB functionality.
On the side, we will be informed on the type of switch used (in this case the MX Red with a smooth and direct typing experience, a linear characteristic and a life expectancy of about 100 million actuations), but also on the keyboard layout:
The attached sticker will list the box contents, the production date written as a code, the code name but also the product serial number:
The layout type is also displayed on the box, along with a description of the MX switches technology:
A side view of the keyboard does show the interesting chassis design:
On the bottom area of the box, we will learn about the main product characteristics, box contents but also the system requirements, in multiple languages:
After removing the top cover, we will note the sponge-like material which covers the entirety of the inside contents:
The protective material is also present inside; we have cut-out compartments for both keyboard and its accessories; the keyboard is also wrapped in a plastic bag:
We will receive an USB cable, two kickstands but also the WiFi dongle:
The cable is USB-A on the computer side and USB-C on the keyboard side:
The kickstands have an unusual look versus the keyboard we have reviewed previously; these ones do screw into the chassis of the MX 3.0S Wireless:
On their bottom, we will note small rubber feet:
The supplied USB dongle is compact, while the plastic chassis comes in red:
On the USB connector, we will note laser etching with the model code name and FCC ID:
The CHERRY logo is also present on the product:
The large leaflet does describe the usage modes, how to charge the battery but also how to work with the extra key functions and RGB effects:
The chassis of the MX 3.0S Wireless is entirely made of aluminum, with a few exceptions such as the side covers and the elements between some of the keys; we are dealing with a full-sized layout and the top row of the keys incorporate multiple functions:
Near the CHERRY key, which can be pressed for 3 seconds to open a web link for installing the CHERRY software, we can access Volume controls, but also disable RGB lighting:
The RGB LED brightness can be altered, along with the speed of the presets:
Some other functions are available such as Windows Lock key, we can open the default browser, the default file explorer or we can adjust the current RGB effect:
The last set of keys does allow you to launch the Calculator application, while the multimedia keys are doubled with functions regarding the three of the supported interfaces. The keyboard is able to work with three different Bluetooth channels and we can switch between it with Fn + 1, 2 or 3, when BT mode is activated:
The keyboard is equipped with three different LEDs, in order to show the status of the current connection and battery charge:
On the frame, we will note the CHERRY logo and a dedicated cut-out for the optional wrist rest:
The sides of the chassis do show the plastic covers, which feature a piano black finishing:
In the front, we will note the same aluminum body, with a black cutout in the central area:
This console does feature the On/Off button but also the USB-C connection:
On the back, the aluminum chassis is present again, with the battery in the central area:
The central sticker informs the user on the product code name, serial number, but also the battery power rating:
The small circular rubber feet are a total of 6 and can be removed:
The supplied feet can be screwed into the aluminum chassis:
After connecting the keyboard to a spare USB port of our test computer, the RGB lighting will start showing with the default profile. The lighting is visible not only via the key legends, but also between the keys, for a nice overall effect!
The CHERRY dedicated software will immediately detect the keyboard and allow configuration; we have options to work with the RGB options but also key remapping:
From the left side, we can select the current profile:
Depending on the selected RGB profile, we have different configuration options; LED brightness is available for customization as well:
The Actions area does allow the user to select different functions to the existing ones for the keys:
The Device Settings area does allow the user to choose the keyboard layout, but also look at the firmware version:
The Settings area will display some more info:
The MX 3.0S Wireless is great in terms of connectivity options and really stands out thanks to the aluminum construction. The plastic sides will eventually pick up fingerprints due to the piano black finish, while the minimal space between the keys makes sure that no extra space is lost on the desk.
We have tried the MX 3.0S Wireless for writing some articles, but also in games such as Days Gone, Mad Max, Escape the Backrooms and The Callisto Protocol; the MX Red is great to type on, but we noted a more pronounced noise when bottoming out, due to the lack of dampening layers. While gaming, you won’t really notice this aspect, because most of the time you will be concentrated on the action and eventually wear a pair of headphones for more immersion.
The RGB lighting looks good and can be controlled by either using the keyboard shortcuts or by installing the CHERRY software utility. Key remapping is possible through the same application and allows firmware updates.
What we really like about CHERRY XTRFY is that they often try to break the barrier and come up with other interesting design ideas, while other manufacturers try to keep it safe.
The MX 3.0S Wireless Black can be found online for about 179 Euros.
We would like to thank again to CHERRY XTRFY for making this review possible!