by Cherry switches are reliable, unfailing, and the standard by which many of us judge all other switches. So what happens when Cherry changes them? Inside the Cherry-made Xtrfy K5V2 you find the new MX2A Red switches – a new and improved version of the Cherry MX Reds we’ve come to know so well over the years.
The MX2A Reds are an improvement in several ways. First, they are factory lubed. If you’re a regular reader of our keyboard coverage here at PC Gamer, you’ll know that lube makes switches smoother with a satisfying clack. That’s certainly true of the Reds MX2A, too. Each key moves effortlessly with each strike from my fingers.
The MX2A switches come with a “lubrication ring point pin” which is applied to the new ‘socket dome’ in the bottom housing. If that sounds like jargon, so be it, but in reality it means that every switch leaves the factory floor with a big puddle of grease on it, and it should stick around for the life of the switch. To compare with some original MX Reds, I’ve pulled my Corsair K65 off the shelf. The scratchiness and rattling seen on the admittedly aging Corsair is missing from the MX2A switches in the Xtrfy.
Other upgrades with the MX2A switch factor into a more consistent key press, including: new barrel spring, housing socket dome, guide ribs, and stem geometry. That last one is important, because the MX2A is much less wobbly than older MX Reds.
Specifications Xtrfy K5V2
Size: 65%
Connectivity: USB Type-C to Type-A
Keys: abs
Switches: Cherry MX2A Red
Hot swappable: Yes
Media controls: Shortcuts via Function Keys
Lights: RGB lighting modes + on-board control
Software: Nothing
Price: $140/£139/€139
All of these changes result in a much smoother key press than previous Cherry MX Red switches. I’d also like to say that they’re generally less clangey, although it’s hard to quantify how much of that is the new switch itself or the keys and stabilizers used on this exact Xtrfy model. Overall it’s a much better change than the original MX Reds. That’s good news for gamers, as we’re likely to see a lot of them at the end of gaming keyboards from multiple brands.
But how does the typing experience on the Cherry Xtrfy K5V2 compare to our current favorite keyboard, the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless? To put it simply, I prefer the Scope II 96 when it comes to typing. The lack of wobble in the PBT keys via ROG NX Snow switches is as impressive now as the day I first tried it. However, bearing in mind the feel of the last generation Cherry MX Reds and a few other keyboards I have close at hand, the Cherry’s light and light keystrokes are still quite good overall.
On to the keyboard itself. This is a compact slab with a 65% layout. That means it’s only 325 x 112 mm and doesn’t come with a numpad or the usual cluster above the arrow keys. It retains arrow keys, however, as well as Page Down, Page Up, and Delete keys. The rest of the missing keys can be accessed through the many shortcuts on this keyboard.
End, Home, and the F1 – F12 keys are accessed by pressing the Function key. To make up for the lack of physical media keys some shortcuts have been thrown in along the top of the alphabet. All sensible enough shortcuts for any compact keyboard. There are also shortcuts for moving and using the mouse, which are less common but can be handy.
What I find the most is that there are a lot more shortcut keys for functions that have a vague intent. One key is mysteriously machined with a fingerprint blazoned on it, says another K-LED. Color BG, K-Mall, K-Fast, K-Masc, E-speed + … the list goes on. All I mentioned controls the RGB lighting on the board, and the reason there are so many pre-programmed keys to do that is because of Cherry’s lack of dedicated software to control this keyboard. Some people might like that, but if you’re looking for simplicity I’d look elsewhere.
Programming RGB lighting is a process of trial and error. You hold down one key, you hit another key, and the color of the key you’re holding may change. That means you’re changing the overall lighting style, it probably also means you’re changing the color the keys light up as you type. I have yet to stop it completely. The instruction manual loosely explains which key does what, but doesn’t explain exactly how they all work together. After trying to change a static color on a handful of keys, I ended up settling on one of the default lighting modes instead.
Buy if…
✅ You don’t want another piece of lighting software on your computer: Forget the proprietary apps to control RGB lighting across your peripherals, the Cherry Xtrfy K5V2 takes care of all that with a few keyboard shortcuts. Although the learning curve is a bit steep.
✅ You love Cherry MX Red switch and want more of the same: Like the Red switch you only know better stuff. That’s the MXA2 Red switch included in the Xtrfy K5V2.
Don’t buy if…
❌ You don’t mind some software: The onboard controls are fine, but a bit clumsy compared to the full control available via an app.
❌ You need a cheap compact mechanical keyboard: There are plenty of compact wired keyboards of the same size available for a lot less money than this, but you still won’t find the newer Cherry switches inside.
There are a few other things to consider with this keyboard. For one, how long it took me to comment on the translucent housing. Don’t be fooled by the sleek looking exterior, this thing is built like a tank and I couldn’t get it to flex a bit. And I am Seriously strong. It seems a little strange to have a case designed favorably towards RGB lighting out of the country on a keyboard that is also meant to appeal to the naturally software skeptics among us. Those things don’t often mix. But it may appeal to a niche audience, and the black selection is not always so significant. Oh, there’s also a weird magnetic removable logo above the arrow keys, which I assume is so you can 3D print your own replacement.
The keys are made of ABS plastic, which feels a bit of a waste of money, but they are easy to replace thanks to the MX cross-stress. The switches themselves are also hot swappable with the removable USB Type-C to Type-A cable. All of these should see this keyboard last a long time – at least until those switches wear out around the 100 millionth click mark.
You’ll have to part with $140/£139/€139 to get yourself in on the Xtrfy action. That’s cheaper than the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile I recently reviewed, which is a similarly compact board, although I was less impressed with the Xtrfy. It’s a neatly packaged gaming keyboard with plenty of functionality for its lack of software, which some might want to hear, but it still feels like a lot of money for fewer keys than most.
