Das Keyboard DeltaForce 65 Review: A Keyboard With Odd Layout Choices

A series of shallow grooves on either side of the lower half of the case. They seem to mimic the side sculptures on some limited-run custom keyboards, and they have a functional purpose, making it easier to pick up the keyboard. The design is mirrored in the aluminum knob in the upper right corner, which has a similar motif. I really like that these designs are not only decorative but actually have a functional purpose during regular use.

To go further into the aesthetic choices of this keyboard, it loses me a bit keycaps. I’m not a big fan of the camouflage design. The shapes don’t always line up across the keycaps, and it looks clunky overall. However, the print quality is top-notch, with no blurring or fading, even next to the keycaps. Because the keycaps are white, with multicolored printing on top, RGB light is able to bounce between the white plastic plate and the white underside of the keycaps, appearing brighter and spreading more evenly across the keyboard.

With a polling rate of 1,000 Hz (meaning the keyboard sends 1,000 messages to the computer per second), the DeltaForce 65 feels snappy and responsive. This combines with relatively light Gateron red switches to create a keyboard that’s effective for gaming and still comfortable to type on. It doesn’t compare High-end gaming keyboard with hall effect switch And the 8,000-Hz polling rate, which is going to be faster and more customizable, but for casual gaming, it’s more than enough.

The keyboard’s compact size is ideal for gaming, saving a significant amount of space compared to a full-size keyboard. This allows for more room for the mouse and allows your hands to sit closer together for faster movement between the mouse and keyboard. To lose the function row up top, you can hold the FN key and press the corresponding number key (eg, FN+1 = F1), and the FN key can be used with some other keys for home, pause, print screen and other move keys. The top right knob is easy to reach and has a satisfying notch. It is programmed to adjust volume by default, but can be remapped to almost anything else.

Software Quirks

Photo: Henry Robbins

As far as programmability goes, the VIA is the star of the show here. DeltaForce65 uses an open source system known as QMK for its programmability, and VIA is an in-browser interface based on QMK that allows seamless, fast customization of keyboard layouts. The system is incredibly powerful and intuitive to use, and is a common feature of many modern mechanical keyboards.