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OnePlus, the leading smartphone manufacturer has now ventured into the world of mechanical keyboards with the launch of its latest creation, the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro. After months of anticipation, the company has finally revealed its first mechanical keyboard that is designed to meet the demands of gamers, content creators, and anyone who spends a considerable amount of time typing.
OnePlus has partnered with Keychron, a well-known manufacturer of mechanical keyboards, to bring the Keyboard 81 Pro to life. The keyboard bears a strong resemblance to Keychron’s Q1 Pro and shares several features with the latter, including the 75 percent laptop-style layout that is hot-swappable, the programmable rotary dial on the top right, and support for RGB lighting. However, OnePlus has added its touch to the Keyboard 81 Pro by incorporating its trademark gray and red colors into the keycaps and the transparent rotary dial. The keyboard also has a height adjust bar on the top edge, which enables the user to tilt it at an angle of their preference.
OnePlus has also claimed to have integrated a “keyboard first” alert slider into the Keyboard 81 Pro, which is nothing but a redesigned toggle slider on the side at the top of the keyboard that switches it between USB and Bluetooth modes. The Keyboard 81 Pro also boasts a double-gasket construction that makes the keyboard feel light to type on and an aluminum case that offers a premium feel.
The keyboard will be available with two kinds of switches, the tactile “Winter Bonfire” switches, and the linear “Summer Breeze” switches, both of which OnePlus claims to be its original designs. The keycaps are double-shot, with an OEM profile, and for the Winter Bonfire model, made of durable PBT plastic. The Summer Breeze version of the keyboard features keycaps made of a “brand new material” called “Marble-mallow.”
OnePlus has not yet disclosed the battery life of the Keyboard 81 Pro, but Keychron’s Q1 Pro, which has a 4,000mAh battery, offers up to 300 hours of use with backlighting off and up to 100 hours with backlighting on. It is safe to assume that the Keyboard 81 Pro will have similar battery life.
If you are a fan of OnePlus’ minimalistic aesthetic for a mechanical keyboard, the Keyboard 81 Pro is worth considering. With its sleek design, customizable features, and premium feel, it is sure to impress. The keyboard will be available for order starting in April, and the price has yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more updates from OnePlus.
