Cherry has been making keyboards since the dawn of the computer age and was one of the first companies to specialize in third-party keyboards for gamers. Despite being based in Germany, the company was originally founded by Walter Lorain, in 1953, in the basement of a restaurant in Highland Park, Illinois, USA.
The company has been making computer keyboards since 1973 and relocated its HQ to Germany, in 1979. Acquired by a private equity firm called Argand Partners in June 2021, Cherry has been ramping up new product launches with more keyboards, mice and even microphones, all aimed at serious gamers.
As well as making gaming keyboards, Cherry is the brand behind the industry standard MX keyboard switches, which it developed in the early 1980s. It’s been exciting gamers ever since. Recently, the company announced a range of new keyboards designed for office and home use, something of a departure from its gaming-centric offerings. The KW 300 MX, KW 550 MX LP, and KW X ULP 2.0 MINI models are available now and I decided to take a look at the new KW 300 MX to see what’s on offer.
Compact Keyboard Layouts
The three new keyboards feature compact layouts, quiet typing and sustainable designs that make them suitable for users who want a combination of performance and ergonomics without loud and clacky keys or garish backlights. Available with multiple switch options, all are made using eco-friendly materials, and have wireless connectivity.
The new Cherry KW 300 MX keyboard is the first model I’ve seen from Cherry that’s made with both Mac and Windows users in mind. The keyboard comes with a set of modifier keycaps for macOS and can be switched between Windows and macOS. It features a compact 82-key layout and can be ordered with a choice of MX2A Silent Red switches or MX2A Brown switches, which have a soft feel and quiet sound.
The KW 300 MX uses hot-swappable switches, which means, if you don’t like your original choice of switch, you can buy different switchers and install them in a matter of minutes without using a soldering iron.
Dimmable White Backlights
The keyboard has dimmable white backlighting, although the LEDs are all north-facing, which is a slight nuisance because the numbers and special characters on the lower part of some of the keys aren’t fully illuminated under low light conditions. Perhaps a slightly different keycap design would fix the keys affected.
A rotary knob on the right of the keyboard functions as a power switch for the Cherry KW 300 MX. A long press toggles the keyboard power on or off, preserving the battery charge. The rotary control can also be given a short press which toggles its function between working as a volume control or a dimmer for the keyboard’s backlights. It’s a nice touch.
The Cherry KW 300 MX feels like it was designed for comfort and performance, making it easy to type on, even for those people who can’t touch type. The KW 300 MX is suitable for office and home use or almost anywhere that a quiet typing experience is essential. A library, perhaps.
The keyboard connects using either Bluetooth 5.2 or a USB-C cable. Additional features include a 1000 Hz polling rate for gaming use, anti-ghosting, N-key rollover, plus AES-128 encryption.
Cherry makes its own software for customizing its keyboards, but Cherry Keys is only available at the moment for Windows users. It would be good to see the company produce a version for macOS users.
Pricing and Availability:
The Cherry KW 300 MX mechanical keyboard is shipping now and is priced at $149.99 from Amazon
Tech Specs:
- Cable length 1.8m / 5.91 ft.
- Keycap material: PBT.
- Legends: Double-shot injection molding.
- Adjustable feet: Yes.
- Backlights: White, north-facing.
- Key technology: Mechanical
- Total key travel: 4mm.
- Pre-travel: 2mm.
- Warranty: 2 years.
- Software support: Cherry Keys (Windows only).