Metadot has built a reputation for creating uncomplicated and clean-looking, loftier-quality keyboards under the Das Keyboard brand. With a focus on perfecting the typing feel, the company has built a loyal following since 2005 later arguably pioneering the commercial mechanical keyboard market as we know it today.

With every new iteration they've been careful -- if non overly conservative -- to tweak the formula just enough. Das' minimal approach ways its keyboards don't carry all the bells and whistles y'all'll observe in many similarly priced units. But as mechanical keyboards have exploded in popularity, especially gaming-oriented ones, you could say they've felt the pressure to spread their wings farther.

The 2022 Das Keyboard Professional, for case, introduced an oversized volume rocker and dedicated media keys to the series. Before this yr Metadot launched a new brand and product line dubbed Sectionalisation Aught, developed specifically for the pro gaming and eSports community, and they also launched a Kickstarter campaign for a cloud-continued, open API RGB mechanical keyboard.

The new Das Keyboard Prime number 13 is a return to their minimalistic roots, delivering simply the essentials combined with a dandy typing feel. There are no dedicated media keys this time around or macro keys that can exist programmed yet you like, although i much-requested, long overdue feature did make the cut: LED backlighting.

The Das Keyboard Prime 13 measures 457mm long, 172mm deep and 23mm thick while weighing in at ane.26kg. That'southward about the aforementioned as the Das Keyboard 4 Professional and -- no surprises here -- information technology besides features the series' distinctive shape, with an extended rectangle in the upper right corner.

Most of the keyboard's structure is plastic while the acme is clad with an aluminum faceplate providing the feel of a premium production that's durable and well built with no flex whatsoever. Hardwired to the board is a six.five ft. braided cable that terminates with dual gilded-plated USB connectors. Underneath are the usual twin fold-out feet and rubber anxiety to keep it from moving while typing.

As usual -- except with the Partitioning Zippo -- the Das Keyboard Prime 13 is a plug and play affair, there'southward no software to install and it'll work seamlessly with Windows, macOS and Linux systems.

Long gone are the days of the fingerprint-prone glossy exterior. Aesthetically, the Prime 13 is distinctly understated, even more so than previous models, with Metadot going full monochromatic this time effectually -- the Das logo has dropped its red accents. The end result is elementary yet elegant. If you tend to favor sober over flashy then you'll appreciate the Prime number 13'due south minimalist pattern.

Something to continue in heed is that the Prime 13 doesn't include a wrist rest, a virtually essential inclusion for some, but not a big deal for others -- I fall in the latter group.

The lath is offered with Cherry-red MX's pop brown mechanical switches, which have a overnice tactile feedback merely produce less sound to annoy workmates compared to the blueish variety.

The keyboard features a standard 104-key US layout with sleep, brightness adjustment and media controls residing beyond the acme as function keys -- instead of having dedicated media keys, like the Das Keyboard iv Professional person. Ports have besides been reduced from a couple of USB 3.0 and audio jacks, to a single USB two.0 laissez passer-through port along the top edge of the board just in a higher place the number pad.

The black fundamental caps are constructed of thermoplastic with white laser-etched inscriptions for the LED backlighting to come through. Speaking of which, while backlighting is certainly a welcome improver, information technology's not really my favorite implementation. F1 and F2 cycle through the six effulgence levels. But given how Crimson MX switches have the LED on the upper edge of the switch itself, keys only light up the top half of the legends on keys with shift functions. This could have hands been fixed by better positioning the symbols on each private cardinal and then they are evenly lit by the LED underneath.

Coming from regular use of i of Das' prime competitors, the Lawmaking Keyboard, I also prefer how the latter uses a white backplate underneath the keys to more than evenly disperse the light that's reflected off keys. I would rather have centre-illuminated keys with no light spilling at all but that'due south simply how backlighting works on Cherry MX switches.

The board features N-Key rollover meaning every keystroke will register no matter how many other keys are simultaneously depressed. This is advantageous to gamers, who might demand to manage complex key combinations, though go on in mind that NKRO is merely available through the PS/2 connection. If you connect via USB, so you "simply" have 6KRO -- non that you lot'll always need more than that.

Keys feel smooth, feature a clean font, and resistance when pressed is exactly the same all across the lath, providing for a consistent typing experience. Using the Prime 13 for the past couple of weeks reaffirmed my preference for brown switches over dejection and clears. They require less actuation force than clear switches while delivering tranquillity, not-click activation, and a nice tactile bump on every keystroke.

The Das Keyboard Prime 13 is unquestionably a high-quality mechanical keyboard that should appeal to anyone with an eye for simplicity and performance. I would accept no problem recommending it to anyone despite a minor annoyance with the backlighting and the downgrade to a single USB 2.0 port.

With a MSRP of $150, however, it'll have plenty of competition in the market and those with specific needs and wants (macro keys, RGB backlighting, etc.) now have many alternatives to choose from.

Pros: Superb typing feel from Cherry MX brown switches. Sturdy structure. Media, sleep and brightness controls through function keys. Das' simple, elegant blueprint finally gets backlighting.

Cons: Merely i USB 2.0, a downgrade from the two USB 3.0 ports constitute on the Das Professional 4. Keys with shift functions not evenly lit due to how Das has positioned the symbols.