This keyboard has everything

My new favorite keyboard

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Jared Newman   |   June 19, 2024

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Last month, I bought a new mechanical keyboard with nothing but its looks in mind.

The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard N Edition is one of several homages the company pays to tech and gaming history, this one shamelessly borrowing the Nintendo Entertainment System’s two-tone gray and red accents. Its other keyboards resemble Nintendo’s Japanese Famicom system, the Commodore 64, and the IBM Model M. They’re all reasonably priced at $100, but recent sale pricing on the Nintendo-themed models—just $70 on Woot— are what finally got this retro gaming nerd to cave.

But while the aesthetics drew me in, the keyboard’s actual features have me hooked, This is the main keyboard I’ll be using at my desk for the foreseeable feature, even if my Roland TR-808-themed Code keyboard looks a little cooler.

What 8BitDo’s keyboards get right

The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard range has a few bells and whistles that I didn’t fully appreciate until I started using them:

Volume knob: I previously relied on keyboard shortcuts to control system volume, but the 8BitDo keyboard has a dedicated control knob that’s more convenient, especially while gaming. Volume knobs have become more commonplace on mechanical keyboards in recent years, and I can no longer fathom buying a keyboard without one.

Shortcut keys: 8BitDo’s keyboards have a pair of programmable keys to the right of the space bar, plus a separate pair of oversized buttons that connect to the keyboard via an auxiliary cable. I’m using the keyboard’s “A” and “B” keys to quickly launch the Windows snip tool (normally Win+Shift+S) and the text extractor in Microsoft’s PowerToys app (normally Win+Shift+T), both of which are clumsy to invoke otherwise.

Mapping the shortcuts is easy: Press the star key in the top row, hold the desired shortcut keys, then press the button you want to program. (8BitDo’s companion software offers more control—including support for multi-step keyboard macros—but it’s a hassle to use and only works with Windows.)

Connectivity options: 8BitDo’s keyboard is rare in supporting the full trifecta of wired USB-C, wireless USB, and Bluetooth. I prefer USB over Bluetooth because it’s more responsive and reliable, but Bluetooth pairing is more convenient for phones, tablets, and streaming devices. The keyboard has a slot in back for stowing the wireless USB dongle, and a knob lets you switch between the three connection modes.

On top of all that, the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is just enjoyable to type on, with a sturdy frame and Kailh Box V2 White key switches that give off a deep, satisfying click when you press and release them. I felt comfortable using it right away.

Some things you might not like:

  • It’s loud. 8BitDo doesn’t offer any other key switch options besides those extra-clicky Kailh Box V2 Whites. If you want quieter typing on this particular keyboard, you’ll have to buy an entire set of alternative switches and hot-swap them yourself.
  • It’s bulky: There’s no way around the thickness of mechanical keys, but 8BitDo’s keyboard is also on the tall side with its full function row and upper control bar. It won’t be my first choice for travel, but I already have a foldable keyboard for that.
  • It’s Windows-first: You can use this keyboard with a Mac, but with Win and Alt keys that map to Cmd and Option, respectively. You’ll probably want to remap all the modifier keys in the Mac’s System Settings menu for a more familiar layout.
  • There’s no number pad, though a separate number pad module is coming soon.

Most of these attributes are positives for me, as I’m into hefty keyboards with obnoxiously clackety keys, and my desk tray has no room for a full-sized keyboard anyway. Mechanical keyboards come in a wide range of sizes precisely because everyone’s preferences are different.

As of now, though, there’s only one keyboard that looks like an NES out of the box, and I’m glad it’s more than just a visual gimmick.

Previous keyboard coverage on Advisorator:

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    Jared