Custom PC - UK (2020-08)

F

ilco’sMajestouchrangeis oneof
thestalwartsofthemechanical
keyboardmarket,offeringsimple,
high-qualitykeyboardslongbeforetherecent
trendformechanicalgamingkeyboardstook
off.No-nonsenseandbuiltliketanks,they
tendtohavefairlyunflashydesignsand
relativelybasicfeaturesets.TheConvertible2,
then,is a littledifferent.
Okay,soa firstglanceatthedesign
ofthiskeyboardshowsit’snotallthat
different,asthefamiliarchunky,all-black
stylingis aspresentasever.However,this
tenkeyless(TKL)keyboardhasa trickup

MAJESTOUCH CONVERTIBLE

2 TENKEYLESS/£140inc VAT

SUPPLIER keyboardco. com

its sleeve, which is the ability to convert

from a simple wired configuration into a

Bluetooth-connected mode.

Open up the battery compartment on the

back, pop in the two supplied AA batteries and

you can set up the keyboard to connect to up

to four Bluetooth devices. Setup is decidedly

clunkier than the likes of the Logitech K780,

but it works well enough. Once it’s paired,

you can plug in your USB connection again

and carry on with permanent power while

connected to all your devices. For some

reason, the keyboard requires the batteries to

initially set up the Bluetooth connection.

Outside of this Bluetooth feature, there’s

not too much to the Majestouch convertible.

Its TKL layout means you get a more compact

keyboard than full-sized keyboards, but

without the highly compromised experience

of the KB Paradise V60. A numpad is certainly

useful, but if you’re not regularly doing

numerical data entry, you can easily do without

this feature and get the benefit of more desk

space, while also enabling you to bring your

mouse closer to the keyboard.

You get a smattering of multimedia controls

via secondary functions of some of the F keys,

and there’s a button for putting your PC to

sleep, but that’s your lot. Given the relatively

high price of this keyboard, it’s a little surprising

to find that it lacks backlighting. Forget RGB or

even your single-colour LEDs, this keyboard

eschews the lot.

Aesthetics aside, the lack of lighting does

make for a less practical keyboard, as you

won’t be able to see the key legends in those

moments where you might need to use the

keyboard in a dark room, such as dimming the

lights to watch a movie or play a creepy game.

The keycaps themselves aren’t particularly

special either, being made from standard

ABS plastic, with the legends printed on the

keycaps. Inside, the keyboard is built around a

solid steel switchplate, giving the whole unit a

very rigid feel with plenty of weight to it. This

construction makes for a reassuringly stable

typing platform that doesn’t slide around

or flex.

You can get Filco keyboards with a whole

range of Cherry MX keyswitches, depending

on your personal preference. Our review unit

was equipped with Cherry MX Red Silent

switches, which offer the same 45g linear

action of standard Cherry MX switches, but

internal cushioning prevents the hard clack of

the switch when it bottoms out. The switches

are far from silent, as the name suggests –

they still clack as they spring back up, but this

design does make a noticeable difference to

the volume of the noise, and typing on them

still feels great.

Conclusion

The Filco Majestouch Convertible 2 is a

great-quality mechanical keyboard, and the

addition of a Bluetooth connection will be

a boon for some folks too. It isn’t the most

elegant bit of design, and it certainly doesn’t

come particularly cheap, but it’s a well-made,

reliable option if you’re looking for a well-built,

quality typing keyboard.

SPEC

Connection Wired and wireless

Cable Rubber, 1.8m

Material Plastic

Switch type Cherry MX Red Silent (other Cherry

MX switch types available)

Backlighting None

Extras DIP switch programming, key remover,

alternate Ctrl, Caps Lock and right Windows key

VERDICT

Perhaps a bit niche in its appeal, the Filco is

stilla fantastic-quality mechanical keyboard.

MAJESTIC

• 
  

  Conveniently
  compact design

  
  


• 
  

  Very robust build quality

  
  


• 
  

  Useful Bluetooth
  convertibility

  
  

MISERABLE

• No backlighting


• Slightly utilitarian
  design


• A little pricey

DESIGN

20 / 25

FEATURES

20 / 25

OVERALLSCORE

81 %

PERFORMANCE

23 / 25

VALUE

18 / 25

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