Before testing the keyboard, Penclic was an unknown brand for me. Therefore, I didn’t expect the Penclic MK1 mechanical keyboard would be any good. However, its performance really surprised me and I’ve used the keyboard for over a month. Let’s check it out.
Unboxing
Features & Performance
The Penclic keyboard features a tenkeyless design. This is useful for me because I almost don’t use the numeric keypad, so this will save me some space on my desktop. Besides, I also can place my mouse closer and don’t have to extend my arm to reach it.
Another advantage is that it has a very solid build despite the plastic body. It weighs about 2 lbs and has rubber feet on the bottom, so it always stands still on my desk in any case.
The 2 rubber feet can be extended to adjust the keyboard’s angle, but I don’t recommend you to put them up because they won’t help improve ergonomics. Conversely, they could put your wrists at risk.
It is pretty straightforward to start using the keyboard. You will just need to connect it to a USB port on your machine and everything is ready. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. You don’t need to install any driver or software at all. You can even control the backlight right on the keyboard. Just press the Fn + arrow keys to adjust the brightness or pulsating speed.
The Penclic keyboard uses Kailh Brown switches. The switches provide a very good tactile feedback but they’re a little louder than I expected. During the period of over 1 month, I realize that I can type faster and more accurately than when I used the MacBook’s keyboard.
The only downside is that the keyboard is not built for gamers. It lacks programmable keys and dedicated macros, and the white LED lighting is a little boring as compared to RGB lighting on some gaming keyboards.
Overall, the Penclic MK1 is a perfect mechanical keyboard for bloggers and reporters like me. It is very compact and the high-quality switches really help me type faster. However, you might have a hard time justifying its hefty price tag.
