Review on 🎮 ENTR Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard – Aluminum Case, Doubleshot PBT Keycaps, N-Key Rollover, USB-C, White LED Backlight, Fast & Linear Gateron Yellow Switches (Silver/White) by Kurt Manning

Drop is a brand that knows how to sell their products. I've been pounded by their Facebook and Instagram ads for years, and I've always wanted to touch the Drop's mechanical keyboard to see what the noise is. Enter ENTR. I bought a $99 Drop ENTR keyless mechanical keyboard and have been using it as my primary keyboard for over a month. While it's not the most glamorous product we've looked at, I can see why mechanical keyboard fans turn to Drop when they're on a budget. with the Halo True switches. As the cheapest product in the Drop line, the ENTR backlight is white only. That may put off some buyers who have been spoiled by years of RGB gaming keyboards. I personally don't mind not having RGB here, but the white color scheme doesn't go well with the green/grey combo on the board. Thanks to the plate, the white light has a yellowish tinge. It is very similar to the IBM of the 1980s. This aesthetic feel has made a comeback these days, so it could be a boon for those looking for a retro keyboard. Additionally, Halo True switches are ideal for almost any setup as they are relatively dense in weight yet effective at keystrokes. They are resilient with a muffled silencer so as not to be intrusive or awkward to others. The sound coming out of this mechanical keyboard is deceptively restrained in volume and presence. I actually think this color combination would make a great office keyboard. From a distance and up close, ENTR has a sophisticated class and professional demeanor. In fact, that's how I feel about most Drop mechanical keyboards. Encased in an anodized aluminum body with dual PBT keycaps, the keyboard is easy on the eye and durable on the fingertips. It's also a bit heavier than it looks thanks to the metal body. This keyboard can only be raised one height above a flat position on a desk. I think this angle is suitable for most typing or gaming occasions to relieve tension in a certain position for a long time. Besides, it is beautiful and sturdy with no wobbling or bending due to the solid body material. I won't know for sure how well the keyboard will perform in day-to-day use until a few years have passed, but at least with the dual PBT keycaps I have a little more confidence that it will keep its looks longer. Drop claims that ENTR can sustain over 80 million keystrokes out of the 87 keys on this board. Speaking of keystrokes, these Halo True switches were pretty fun to play around with. There's a definite sense of retaliation as the keyboard seems to offer resistance to your finger as you type. The coolest thing about these switches is that when you're trying to type with minimal impact, ENTR registers the command when the key moves just a little bit down. It's pretty fun to watch as you type in slow motion. It's a big departure from the sound and feel of something like my Azio Retro keyboard or the slightly tappy opto-mechanical switches on my Razer Huntsman. The keyboard layout doesn't have ten keys, which means we don't have a number pad. Drop is not known to make full-size keyboards, so this is the norm for them. The button icons are also fairly minimalistic, lacking secondary features like media controls or backlighting when typing. I personally love this aesthetic choice on my keyboard and have since memorized my keyboard shortcuts when working with the Mionix Wei keyboard. I'm also a fan of the font solution Drop uses on their keyboards. With the exception of number shift commands like the $ and @ signs, every letter and word on the keyboard suits my style perfectly. Finally, Drop ENTR connects to the computer via a USB-C port. You can bring your own cable to the party as this mechanical keyboard features a detachable connection. It's amazing for customization with coiled aviator cables. Drop has a slight compatibility issue with many of their keyboards due to the power output. Thankfully, the ENTR doesn't seem to have suffered the same fate as its siblings in their current keyboard lineup. You can't go wrong with Drop ENTR. I personally think tenkeyless is the perfect environment for almost every user in the world. 65% Keyboards are getting more popular by the day, but when it comes to versatility and aesthetics, keyless keyboards like these can bring a little efficiency. For $100, ENTR is a quality typewriter that hasn't disappointed my high expectations for a fashion brand. Anyway, now I'm worried that ENTR is just a gateway for me to overspend on other drop products like shift and alt that I've been eyeing for a very long time!