Drop CSTM80 Is a Great Keyboard for Everyone
I’ve been wanting to get into custom keyboards for a long time, but I was intimidated by their apparent complexity. I’m not the most patient person, and going through the tedious work of sorting through and finding expensive pins, keycaps, and everything else a custom keyboard needs, and then putting it together myself, seemed like more work than it was worth. Until I came across the Drop CSTM80.
This newest keyboard from Drop intrigued me from the start. A hot-swappable keyboard that I could easily customize with different bezels, plus the added option of adding weight to the keyboard itself, sounded so tempting that I decided I was finally ready to dive into the realm of keyboard enthusiasts. Drop sent me the device to test ahead of its November 6 release date, and I’ve been using it ever since.
Easy setup
When you first look at custom keyboards, there are a lot of questions: “Oh, what does that do?” and “Where should I start?” Drop eliminates much of this confusion by laying out everything you need to know about the CSTM80 on its website .
Hot-swappable keyboards are not a new product. I previously tested the Razer Blackwidow V4 at 75% and liked it more than I expected, but the Drop offers added versatility by supporting more switches and keys. It can be overwhelming to sort through the many options available, but Drop sorts them well, allowing you to find exactly what you’re looking for.
The CSTM80 supports both 3-pin and 5-pin switches, so you can purchase new switches in any configuration. The company also offers audio samples for each switch that you can listen to online so you know exactly what they’ll sound like in action before you buy. (You can also buy them with lube if you want smoother key presses.
Change at the touch of a switch
The CSTM80 I received came with Gateron Brown switches. While I like the way they sound, I listened to samples online and found that I was more drawn to the sound of the Holy Panda X’s smeared switches, so I picked up some to swap them out.
I went back in, a little worried about replacing the switches. Even though the keyboard is hot-swappable, the keycaps and switches are still difficult to remove and replace. That wasn’t the case here, however: Using the included key and switch removal tools that Drop provides in the keyboard packaging, I was able to immediately begin removing the keycaps and switches. It only took a few minutes to go through them all. Before I began installing the new switches, I quickly inspected the empty board with a can of compressed air to make sure there was no hair or dust in it.
Once the replacement switches were lined up, they could easily be inserted one at a time, followed by the keycaps. Another ten minutes passed and I was done. Even as a newbie, it only took me about 30 minutes to figure out and replace the CSTM80 switches, which I consider a huge win.
Feel and comfort
The CSTM80’s aesthetics match its ease of use. This keyboard just feels good to the touch. It’s smaller than the full-size one because it doesn’t have a number pad, and while I use those keys from time to time, the extra space on my desk is worth it. The default weight was fine for me, although I can see the benefit of adding one of the available weighted elements to it if you prefer a more student build. That’s not to say there wasn’t a learning curve for me: starting with the Ducky One Mini gaming keyboard, I found the CSTM80’s design to be less upscale, which took some getting used to.
I really like the optional faceplates you can buy that allow you to change the style of your keyboard without having to buy a new one – a great option if you like to mix things up every now and then.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a durable mechanical keyboard that’s easy to customize, you’ll be happy with the CSTM80. It sounds and works great, and it quickly became my daily driver, despite my love of Ducky keys.
You can purchase different variants of the CSTM80 keyboard directly from Drop. A fully assembled version is available for $149, but the basic version can be purchased for $99 and comes equipped with the switches and keys of your choice. Alternative cases are available for between $25 and $60, although as of this writing they are currently sold when purchased with the keyboard.
Pros:
- Feels and sounds great
- Easy to set up
- Removable front panel makes cleaning easy
Minuses:
- A bit more expensive than other keyless options.