80retros XT1981 by X Click Inc Barebones Mechanical Keyboard

Step back into the golden age of gaming with the 80retros XT1981 by X Click Inc Barebones. This keyboard is a perfect blend of retro aesthetics and modern technology, designed to offer an exceptional typing experience. With its 70% layout, QMK/VIA support, and hot-swappable PCB, it caters to gamers, office workers, and keyboard enthusiasts alike. The keyboard's wired connectivity ensures a stable and lag-free performance, making it ideal for both high-speed gaming and efficient office work. Its ANSI layout standard and gasket mount design further enhance its appeal, making it a versatile and reliable choice for anyone looking to elevate their typing experience.

Main Features

The 80retros XT1981 stands out in the market with its unique combination of retro design and advanced features. The 70% layout, featuring 71 keys, offers a compact yet functional design that saves desk space without sacrificing essential keys. The hot-swappable PCB allows users to easily change switches without soldering, providing a customizable typing experience. The keyboard supports QMK/VIA firmware, enabling extensive key remapping and macro programming. This makes it highly adaptable to various user needs, from gaming to professional work. The gasket mount with gasket socks ensures a softer and quieter typing experience, reducing fatigue during long typing sessions. Additionally, the south-facing VIA support and 5-pin compatibility make it compatible with a wide range of switches and keycaps, further enhancing its versatility.

Construction Details

The 80retros XT1981 boasts a robust and aesthetically pleasing design. Crafted from CNC aluminum, the keyboard's case is both durable and stylish, featuring an electrostatic coated finish for added protection and a premium look. The polycarbonate default plate and plate-mounted stabilizers contribute to a stable and consistent typing experience. The keyboard's dimensions are 380 x 147 x 36mm, and it weighs 2.0kg, providing a solid and substantial feel. The typing angle of 6 degrees, along with the front height of 21mm and rear height of 35mm, ensures ergonomic comfort, reducing strain during extended use. The inclusion of high-quality foam materials, such as Japanese Inoac Poron and Rogers Poron, enhances the keyboard's sound dampening and overall build quality.

Personalization Options

The 80retros XT1981 offers extensive personalization options to cater to individual preferences. Users can remap keys and create custom macros using the QMK/VIA firmware, allowing for a highly tailored typing experience. The hot-swappable PCB enables easy switch changes, letting users experiment with different switch types to find their perfect match. Aesthetic customization is also a key feature, with the ability to change keycaps and add backlighting for a personalized look. The keyboard's south-facing VIA support ensures compatibility with a wide range of keycaps, including those with unique profiles and designs. Additionally, proprietary software from X Click Inc provides an intuitive interface for managing customizations, making it easy for users to tweak settings and create their ideal keyboard setup.

Special Features

The 80retros XT1981 includes several special features that enhance its functionality and user experience. The keyboard features a USB pass-through, allowing users to connect additional devices directly through the keyboard for added convenience. Dedicated media controls provide easy access to volume adjustments and media playback, making it simple to manage audio without interrupting workflow or gameplay. The unique retro-inspired design elements, combined with modern technology, make this keyboard a standout choice for those who appreciate both form and function.