We're big fans of mechanical gaming keyboards here at TechRadar. We appreciate anything from multi-color backlighting all the way to dedicated macro keys, but it's the various tactile switch types that get our fingers excited. Little did we know that we would be experiencing a brand-new switch for the first time at Razer's booth at IFA 2016.
It can be found in Razer's latest mechanical gaming keyboard, called the Ornata. The company calls the switch tech 'Meca-Membrane', and it lies in-between - you guessed it - mechanical and membrane.
Like the SteelSeries Apex MX800 and Cherry MX Board 6.0, the Ornata features a low-profile design. This means that the height of the keys is lower than what you would find on, say, a Corsair K70 or Razer's own BlackWidow X Chroma. Using the supplied magnetic wrist rest, which is decked in a plush leather material that feels lifted from a sports car, the Ornata feels equally suitable for Overwatch sessions that stretch into the night or bashing out homework.
Razer says that it gained the know-how needed to develop the switch tech after bringing its manufacturing lines, which were used to create its Green switches, in-house. Flipping off one of the keycaps reveals a square-shaped plastic-and-metal stem that resembles Logitech's Romer-G switch, which is found in the company's G810 keyboard and also aims for a hybrid membrane-mechanical feel.
'Meca-Membrane' retains the tactile feel of Razer's Green switch, which is basically Cherry's MX Blue switch in disguise. There's an audible click, but the Ornata's keys much more effortless to type on due to their shorter switch stem, sculpted shape and reduced keycap size. We were able to swiftly and accurately without losing the reassuring feedback that accompanies Razer's Green or Cherry's MX Blue switches.
Elsewhere, the Ornata's features impress. Its customizable RGB Chroma backlighting is simply gorgeous - it doesn't so much bleed between keys as flow between them like a rainbow of multi-color lava, each key floating like an island bathed in a constantly shifting hue.
There aren't any dedicated macro keys or other gaming-related features to speak of, which feels more like a savvy design choice than a missed opportunity. The Chroma backlighting provides the visual appeal, especially when synced with Razer's other peripherals using the company's Synapse software.
There's a lot to like about the Ornata. There simply isn't another low-profile mechanical keyboard on the market like it. Cherry's MX Board 6.0 is comparable in terms of its solid build quality and low-profile wrist position, but it's only available with its own linear Red switch which is far less satisfying to type on. The QS1 switch found in SteelSeries' Apex M800 is great for typing, but it's too prone to registering accidental keypresses for serious typing sessions.
On the other hand, the Ornata's click isn't quite as pronounced and the travel not as deep as other mechanical keyboards with full-sized OEM keycaps. However, if you're interested in having the tactile feel of a clicky Blue switch combined with low-profile keycaps, then the Ornata might be just what you're looking for.
from www.techradar.comIFA 2016: Razer's Ornata is the most promising low-profile gaming keyboard yetIFA 2016: Razer's Ornata is the most promising low-profile gaming keyboard yet
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