Cherry KW 7100 Mini BT for Mac – Review

The Cherry KW 7100 Mini BT goes head to head with the large Mac range from Logitech. It has opted to stick with the smaller rounded edges in line with the signature Apple look. The keyboard certainly performs admirably and checks all the right boxes.

Design

The Cherry KW 7100 Mini BT for Mac puts in a lot of effort to keep pace with the Magic Keyboard line of Apple itself. But, it does have to cut some corners to keep its cost down. The keys is one area where it makes this sacrifice. You will not find the ultra low-profile switches that Apple uses. Instead, you will see more traditional scissor rubber domes, which are almost retro-inspired.

Even though they are made from plastic, they look like rubber due to their light grey color, high protrusion and simple legend. They are soft, whether in feel or style, but not mushy at all fact. As a matter of fact, you will find them quite stable. The keyboard has a 60% design, while its border is made of lightly textured white plastic.

Surprisingly, the plastic is very sturdy and manages to hold up to hard presses and twists on a lap and even on uneven and soft surfaces. Basic white has also been used on the underside and there is also a protrusion for hosting the two pull-out feet and battery compartment. The feet are able to maintain angles of 110 degrees. There is a power toggle on the back right corner, a tiny reset button to clear connection memory and a connection LED.

Performance

You will have very little to complain about when it comes to the Cherry KW 7100 Mini BT. There are absolutely no issues in pairing and it reacts instantly. Plus, it also boasts an excellent battery life. Even if you have been using mechanical switches, you will have no trouble getting used to the classic rubber dome. The slightly taller keys of the keyboard give you a familiar feeling, allowing you to use it comfortably all day long.

The keys are slightly indented, but you will never get stuck. They are slim enough that you can naturally glide your fingers from one key to the next. While Bluetooth is generally considered the worst wireless protocol where input devices are concerned, you will not face any issues here. There is no input lag, whatsoever.

Battery and Software

The Cherry Keys software does not really come in handy here. The keyboard does not have any RGB and since it is a Mac-focused board. It means there is not much you would want to change. You cannot even enable or disable a backlight. This is actually good for battery life when you are using a Bluetooth connection. You only need some AA batteries and you are good to go.