Vortex Core 40% Mechanical Keyboard - Unboxing & Review

Today we check out the tiny Vortex Core 40% mechanical keyboard. This thing is tiny, but still packs a punch for functionality. It bit too small for me, but definitely a form factor that's popular amongst the users.

Timestamps :
Unboxing - 00:20
Size comparisons : 00:30
Design - 1:13
DSA keycaps - 2:29
Layout - 3:00
Layers - 4:21
Programmability - 6:32
Disassembly & internals - 8:54
Keyswitches & sound comparisons - 10:20
Conclusion - 11:35

As usual, all keyboards are already opened and tested for a period of time, and then repacked for the unboxing.

[tenv]

_"I'm a capslock kind of guy"_

a wot

[gammoron]

now we are waiting for some 1% keyboards to come up

[marco_evertus]

TKL is the most I can do, I really admire people who can use 60% or 40%.

[leonk]

A quick tip for everyone using a keyboard without dedicated number keys having the same problem with mouse - numbers - mouse -numbers etc:

Install autohotkey and setup a script that makes one of the extra buttons of your mouse switch the mapping of your keyboard so you have numbers. You can then let it set up a numpad on the left of the keyboard, making you able to type in numbers whilst keeping your hand on the mouse. You can also use this trick for other stuff where you would switch between simple keyboard inputs and mousing

[majsus]

Timestamps :
Unboxing - 00:20
Size comparisons : 00:30
Design - 1:13
DSA keycaps - 2:29
Layout - 3:00
Layers - 4:21
Programmability - 6:32
Disassembly & internals - 8:54
Keyswitches & sound comparisons - 10:20
Conclusion - 11:35

[keeswillems]

Dude your channel is awesome. You keep popping up in my recommendations and while I only have 1 mechanical cheapo keyboard I just keep watching the vids. Now I just subbed because what the heck

[cube_cup]

I can't believe a keyboard with so many states doesn't have a lock key for them.
Replace Caps Lock with just 'lock'.
Lock + shift is capslock
Lock + fn1 is fn1 lock
Lock + fn is fn lock
Lock + shift + fn1... well, you get the idea.

[kawanghi]

The slightly raised (uneven) right space bar really bothered me...

[sirvosterzo]

So, it's not for gaming. It's not for programming. It's not for video editing. It's not for writing. It's basically useless, and yet I want it so bad.

[Ice_fnt]

The 2 percent keyboard: wasd and the space bar

[gazwandsoxthedog]

Nice review. Thank you for your time and effort you put in. I have enjoyed all your efforts so far, and look forward to viewing any further reviews you publish 👍

[DevoidVessel]

That'd work great as a travel keyboard

[disruptityourself]

Just a little correction. At 9:16 you mention being able to see some artifacts from the router bit. CNC routers are just routers mounted for xyz movement, primarily wood and soft materials. Something like Aluminum would have been made with an industrial 3 Avis CNC mill most likely. For which the term would be the endmill.

[lilyyt]

had this keyboard for 3 days now and the typing experience with brown switches is so satisfying and i found it easier to transition to this layout over the ducky one 2 mini

[DJDiarrhea]

I'm using a custom 40% and honestly what let's this keyboard down the most is the keymap. What really makes 40s usable is are layers you can use without thinking twice about, for that the layer toggle key needs to be accessible. Mine for example is the left half of my split spacebar. Something like that with the layer toggle being a 1u at the edge of the board is spectacularly impractical.

[SportLairVids]

he starts typing at 10:32 for anyone who’s wondering

[MeowTow]

I think anything less than 60% is too far.

[laplantamichay]

me 4 months ago: lmaoooo 40%? Who uses that anyway haha
me now: i need one please

[Vajranoid]

can you assign two different functions to the splitted space bar in games?

[theramblingsofastoner_]

I picked up one of these boards a while back for sending messages on Xbox lol. Your video was helpful for the Layer programming. Thanks!