8BitDo Keyboard Review: Even Better Than it Looks

8BitDo have released a mechanical retro keyboard, inspired by the NES and Famicom consoles. In this deep-dive review we'll look at all of its components and see how it performs in some everyday scenarios.

Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
01:26 specs and hardware lesson
06:30 unboxing and impressions
12:54 sound test and comparisons
15:14 typing and gaming test
16:43 hotkeys and Super Buttons
18:09 emulation testing
20:42 summary (likes and dislikes)
22:59 conclusion

This was a review unit sent to me by the manufacturer. All opinions are my own, they did not see this review ahead of time, and no money was exchanged in any way.

Theme song written by Jim Gray of Our Ghosts:

This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

#8bitdo #mechanicalkeyboard #typing #emulation #nes

[RetroGameCorps]

For everyone suggesting to use the Super Buttons as foot paddles, I don’t think they are designed with that in mind. The cable is only 4’ in length, so it’s not long enough to reach around the back of the desk and be placed on the floor at a distance close enough to comfortably step on. Additionally, while the Super Buttons feel very secure and solid, I don’t think they can withstand foot presses over extended use. But thank you for the suggestion, and it’s certainly something I considered — I should have mentioned why it wouldn’t work in that way in the video.

[lockonandfire]

I know this probably sounds back handed, but genuinely it's great to see a keyboard review by someone who doesn't "do" keyboard reviews. I only know a little about the deep dark rabbit hole of mechanical keyboards, but I know there's a lot of jargon that gets thrown around about something so many people engage with but very few actually consider. Your review, as ever, was direct, considered, and approachable. Good stuff.

[FractalShoggoth]

"I think people just really appreciate that attention to detail that I bring to reviews."

Yes.

[therealsniffer]

Just got this in the mail yesterday! Hands down my absolute favorite keyboard I've ever used. Aesthetically and functionally it's beautiful. Big W for 8Bitdo again

[duckhead]

One note about the WIN key- you can change what they keys do within the macOS settings! There used to be a little toggle for swapping them because of the prevalence of standard keyboards.

[Exiled_Rouge]

$100 for a decent wireless mechanical KB is very good. Most in that price range don't even have the same feature set either. This is probably the best value in mechanical KBs overall.

Really enjoy this change of pace in reviews. Wonderful.

[HoradoTerror]

More tech related reviews like this, please!

[SpookySkeletonGang]

I'm fairly into keyboards and normally wouldn't be interested in boards like this, but that famicon board looks INCREDBILE and I would 100% buy those keycaps separately if they were for sale.

[DaveyBabyyy]

Love this! You’re the gold standard when it comes to retro handheld coverage and it’s great to see your skill set applied to a broader range of products.

[alinayossimouse]

In macOS you can remap the modifier keys directly in the system preferences, so you could easily swap the positions of alt and cmd for this particular keyboard without 8BitDo's official software.

[penroseinspace]

The Box White switches are quite different from the typical blues. The mechanism provides a crisper click and tactile feedback, unlike the loose rattly feel of the Blues. This tactile quality is sort of reminiscent of older keyboard mechanisms like the buckling spring switches found in IBM boards, which aligns well with the retro theme.

I actually think the board would be leagues worse if it came with blue switches, so the Box Whites are a great choice (though I would have loved it if they used Box Pinks, the slightly more tactile version)

[Kevakazii]

I think you're missing a trick with the super buttons. Use them with your feet. Have the cable running down the back of your desk with the buttons. It keeps your hands on your controller or KB&M and allows for 2 extra inputs.

[auralynn]

Okay, so, things to know about keyswitches: "clicky" switches weren't designed to be clicky, they were designed to be hysteretic - that is, exhibiting hysteresis, a discrepancy between actuation position and reset position; they were designed to reset only after you released the key back past the activation point, thus reducing accidental re-inputs. This makes them especially good for typing up an essay or novel, but less preferable for gaming since you can't just flutter the key on and off with a feather touch and barely any movement.

Reds are at the opposite end of the spectrum where you just have no frelling clue what the key is doing until you see it on-screen and that counts double for keys you didn't even realize you clipped because they yield absolutely no tactile or audible feedback when actuated. I find them physically painful to type on because my hands are constantly tense from struggling not to clip extra keys.

[FloridaManRacer]

FYI For anyone who is worried about the numeric key pad not being on this keyboard, they have recently added a $44 numeric key pad for anyone who would like to add that to their setup. It plugs in using another wireless dongle, but also has the very neat feature of working as a standalone calculator as it has an LCD screen built in. just figured I'd help spread that info for future viewers who see the pros/cons segment at the end and worry about that not being an option for this keyboard.

[tlund]

I pre-ordered this and received it Friday and I gotta say it's a damn impressive keyboard. I've got it set up on my work computer and even just aesthetically it stands out and looks great. I've programmed the big buttons for a couple Premiere Pro hotkeys I use all the time and so far I'm loving it!

[Zinkolo]

I saw an article on this today and I instantly had to buy it.
This is the keyboard and mouse I want and a perfect replacement for the ones that just died on me

[sniperoth]

TBH while that might look expensive compared to other (trash) keyboards on Amazon, it's actually a steal compared to mechanical keyboards of similar quality

[ninetendopesaitama]

Wanted a mechanical keyboard and this keyboard (nes Version) from 8bitdo checks all my boxes. Pre-ordered it and I'm pretty sure they won't disappoint me. ☮️

[quinnarmstrong]

So happy you're doing this! It's on my wishlist and your seal of approval is all I need :)

Also, a big thank you to everything you've taught me since I caught the retro modding/emulation bug. I'm glad you're exploring things you want to cover!

[TVsBen]

On macOS if you go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Modifier Keys, you can swap Command and Option. No need for 8bitdo software to remap. I use Windows-focused mechanical keyboards all the time because they tend to be cheaper than Mac-specific, and the muscle memory can remain.