If the Cybrix29 is a test run for gauging interest in split layout keyboards from KiiBOOM, I sure hope that it succeeds. Better yet, I sincerely hope that a split keyboard comes in this format. It’s quite rare to see prebuilt split layout mechanical keyboards, and it’s even rarer for them to be affordable. The Cybrix29 has all the right elements for half of a keyboard, so having the other half be just as well-built and designed as this one would be the icing on the proverbial cake.
The KiiBOOM Cybrix29 is a very strange keyboard, at least at first. Upon taking it out of the box, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Where’s the other half of this keyboard?” I liked what I had in my hands, but I couldn’t break myself from thinking that something was missing from the box.
There wasn’t. KiiBOOM’s Cybrix29 is meant to be a small keyboard. It’s a Hall Effect Gaming keyboard that looks like a half-sized keyboard but functions like a numberpad. Think of a smaller-format keyboard whose sole purpose is to accomplish smaller tasks. Need a keypad with multiple macros for your day-to-day tasks? Need a mini-keypad for playing simple games involving WASD and a few other keys? Read on.
Check out the KiiBOOM Cybrix29 Mechanical Keyboard on KiiBOOM’s site! (non-affiliated URL)
The Cybrix29 is a very unique, and in some cases weird, keyboard. Imagine chopping your keyboard in half and only using the left-hand side, all the while adding three knobs at the top. That’s the Cybrix29 – a small little keyboard featuring 29 keys and three knobs. It’s more of a utilitarian novelty than a full-on artsy mechanical keyboard, but it contains some of the traditional elements that you would expect from a KiiBOOM prebuilt mechanical keyboard.
Part of what makes the Cybrix29 unique is its construction. By that, I mean the materials that make up its case. In true KiiBOOM fashion, the Cybrix29 has high quality CNC-machined aluminum on the top half of the unit along with translucent acrylic at the bottom. The CNC aluminum is smooth to the touch and feels premium, just like KiiBOOM’s earlier aluminum keyboards. The translucent acrylic, on the other hand, gives me a glimpse of the keyboard’s innards. It’s a nice touch that keeps the keyboard light, durable, and perfectly portable.
Yes, the Cybrix29 is wired only, but I am completely fine with that. I would rather my peripherals be wired so that they last as long as possible without worrying about plugging it in or even impacting the battery’s health. The other benefit of the wired requirement is that you can simply plug it in and go to work on whatever you want to have accomplished. No needing to download additional drivers, no needing to pair, no worrying about battery life. Just plug it in, and it works!
If you do want to customize it for macros and such, you’ll need to install KiiBOOM’s driver. There’s no VIA compatibility at this time, but KiiBOOM’s driver is pretty intuitive and gave me easy access into customizing the little keyboard and its knobs however I saw fit. The layout is easy to understand, the Hall Effect features are clearly listed, and it doesn’t take up too much space on my computer’s hard drive. Best yet, it’s compatible with PC and Mac, so it works with most consumers’ setups!
Hall Effect, you say? Yes, the Cybrix29 is a Hall Effect keyboard, meaning that you get all the accoutrements and goodies associated with having a keyboard with magnetic switches. The two biggest benefits of Hall Effect switches are their insanely high durability (hundreds of millions of presses per switch!) and their customizable pre-travel. This lets you customize how far down you need to press to activate the switch. If you prefer to press all the way down, just to make those keypresses sound and feel impactful, you can adjust the switches to behave that way. If you play high-intensity games that require twitchy inputs for things like peeking and other minute movements, you can adjust the pre-travel to behave like that, too.
To date, I have yet to review a Hall Effect keyboard from KiiBOOM. On their Cybrix29, they’ve equipped it with their KiiBOOM Duskrise Magnetic switches. They have a decently sensitive actuation force of ~35gf, resulting in a smooth yet light typing experience. They’re made of softer plastics to produce a lovely thock sound. Because of the aluminum case, the thock is relatively loud, but it’s still satisfying.
I struggle to recommend the Cybrix29 for most players and consumers. If you’re looking for a macropad, you’re probably better off using something with greater compatibility with your workflow. If you’re using Elgato or a streaming platform, you need something that can be seamlessly integrated for those complex tasks. If you’re needing a simple numberpad for traditional tasks (think word processing, the occasional Excel/spreadsheet work), the Cybrix29 will feel like overkill for your desk seeing as it has magnetic switches and more keys than you might need.
If you’re a gamer on the go, though, the Cybrix29 will come in clutch. There’s nothing like taking a little wired keypad to play your favorite games without needing a full mechanical keyboard. The fact that this little keyboard is so dang portable makes it a must have over a typical gaming laptop’s keyboard. For other tasks, I can see a world in which the Cybrix29 helps a bit with some of my day-to-day work, too.
If the Cybrix29 is a test run for gauging interest in split layout keyboards from KiiBOOM, I sure hope that it succeeds. Better yet, I sincerely hope that a split keyboard comes in this format. It’s quite rare to see prebuilt split layout mechanical keyboards, and it’s even rarer for them to be affordable. The Cybrix29 has all the right elements for half of a keyboard, so having the other half be just as well-built and designed as this one would be the icing on the proverbial cake.
