Vissles LP85 Review: ‘A solidly built and great performing keyboard’

VISSLES LP85 KEYBOARD REVIEW.

After being wowed by the Vissles V84 Pro, I was eager to look at what else the company had in the works. Enter the LP85, an ultra-slim optical-mechanical keyboard. This clicky, highly portable keyboard clearly aims to rival the likes of Apple’s Magic Keyboard and similar solutions from Logitech. Does it succeed? This is my Vissles LP85 review.

Diving in

The Vissles LP85 box includes the keyboard itself, USB-C cable, a manual, a separate cheat sheet to quickly reference for shortcuts, and some stickers. The keyboard is protected by a plastic sheet which can be kept as a dust cover when the board isn’t in use.

The heft and rigidity of the LP85 make an excellent first impression. It feels very premium, matching similar products from the likes of Apple. The LP85, however, has the unique party trick of RGB lighting. Plugging it in via USB causes the keyboard to light up with rainbow colors. This lighting can be customized with 19 effects. You can keep the rainbow colors or switch to one color. The direction of the RGB animation can also be changed, in addition to the brightness and speed.

Let’s get typing

While the RGB is a great addition to this type of kit, the LP85 has other strengths. The 75% layout is my personal favorite, striking the perfect balance between functionality and size. The full-size arrow keys are much better than the half-sized keys seen on competing products. For those who don’t need a number pad, cutting those keys provides more room to swing your mouse, which is great for gamers or those working with limited desk space.

The “X-Optical Switch” used here emits a satisfying click. It’s present but not too loud. It’s much more subtle than the infamous Cherry MX Blue, so I don’t think people nearby will get annoyed by it. For those hoping to use this in a setting where absolute silence is mandatory, for example a library or shared office, then it may be too loud. Otherwise, it’s fine.

Three devices at once

The Bluetooth connection makes pairing it to multiple devices simple, with me easily connecting to my PC, tablet, and phone and being able to quickly switch between them. The LP85 works with both PC and Mac, too, and changing between them is just a shortcut press away.

The ultra-thin design isn’t just good-looking, it also makes the LP85 portable. It’s easy to stow away into a backpack or laptop case pocket. The thinness also means that a wrist rest isn’t necessary and I found it comfortable to type on at the single flat angle. However, others may prefer to type on an incline and it would have been good to see Vissles include some heightened feet in the box, as seen with its V84 Pro.

Black or white

Visually, the Vissles LP85 looks fantastic. My unit rocks the grey aluminum case and black keycaps, but there’s also a white keycap version. If it suits your setup, the white version is the one that I’d recommend. While I like the black keycaps, the ABS plastic used is likely to develop shine from finger oils in a shorter space of time. Vissles do claim that the keycaps are “lined with a fingerprint-resistant, soft-touch coating,” but I’ve heard that before and have been disappointed. Vissles isn’t alone on this, but it’s worth noting.

For anyone hoping to game with the LP85, I’m happy to report that the wired mode provides the low latency connection that gamers expect. I couldn’t see any perceivable difference using the LP85 for gaming, even in highly-competitive first-person shooters, so it gets the thumbs-up for gaming.

Vissles LP85 Review: The final verdict

At the time of writing, the Vissles LP85 is available for $99. However, the caveat is that it’s currently in a Kickstarter phase. While Vissles has produced great products in the past and has a proven track record, it would be remiss of me to avoid mentioning the risks of Kickstarter. For those who aren’t interested in supporting a Kickstarter, the MSRP will be $139.

With its solid build quality, fantastic performance across multiple devices, and RGB lighting, the LP85 does a lot to stand out. If you can snag it for $99, it’s a great deal. At $139, it becomes less competitive with other products on the market.

I’d call the LP85 another big win for Vissles and I’m excited to see what the company comes up with next. It might not be as well-known as other brands, but its products have earned their place on my desk and, with the LP85, in my laptop backpack.

V84 Pro review unit was provided by Vissles.