Gaming Keyboard Final Thoughts

The miniSTREAK is a great mechanical keyboard for the money. I was expecting the keyboard to be marketed at a higher price because of its tenkeyless design and genuine Cherry MX switches. The Cherry MX Brown switches have been proven to be very reliable, so I have no concerns about reliability in the long run. The Fnatic OP software is simple to use, although it is only an early access preview at the time of this review. When it is fully complete, we should see some very nice improvements in terms of functionality.

miniSTREAK Conclusion

Cherry MX switches have been around for many years, so they had plenty of time to perfect these switches for long-term usage. I am very glad to see them on the miniSTREAK especially at this price range. We received the one with Cherry MX Brown switches, but the company does offer this keyboard with Cherry MX Red, MX Red Silent, and MX Blue variants.

When it comes to appearance, the miniSTREAK looks very simple and elegant with its sand-like metal plate and vibrant RGB lighting effects. The key cap fonts are very legible, and I think the company made the right choice of reversing some of the key switches to allow light to pass through the secondary key functions. The signature plate on the back is a nice touch, but not many people would notice it since it is not in the most visible area.

The Cherry MX Brown switches are very well built and have a 50 million click life cycle. This is pretty standard among mechanical gaming keyboards, so they should last until your next upgrade. The body construction is very solid with no flexing of the body thanks to the anodized aluminium and polycarbonate materials. Even though the keyboard weighs in at 704 grams, it should still maintain a good grip on the surface without moving around while gaming or typing.

Functionality wise, the miniSTREAK works well as a gaming keyboard. Depending on your switch preference, whether you prefer one switch over another, your gaming experience may be different. Most people prefer red switches as they are lighter and have a linear design. This makes them easier to press without causing fatigue to the fingers. I did not find any major bugs to the OP software, but I am looking forward to the completed version in the near future.

As of August 2018, the Fnatic miniSTREAK gaming keyboard with Cherry MX Brown Switches sells online for $99.99 (Best Buy). Like I mentioned earlier, this is a very affordable price considering the TKL design with RGB illumination and genuine Cherry MX switches. With that said, I would highly recommend the miniSTREAK for anyone in the market right now who is looking for an affordable Cherry MX based TKL gaming keyboard.

Pros:

+ Good value
+ Great build quality
+ Genuine Cherry MX switches
+ Available in MX Red, Red Silent, Blue, and Brown switches

Cons:

– Signature plate is not in the most visible area

Ratings:

• Performance: 9.75
• Appearance: 9.25
• Construction: 9.25
• Functionality: 9.00
• Value: 9.00

Final Score: 9.25 out of 10.0.

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.