Whirlwind FX Element review: Just when you thought RGB lighting couldn't get any better

Whirlwind FX Element Source: Whirlwind FX

Keyboards haven't changed much through the years. Sure, there accept been the advancement of the mechanical switch, the implementation of display tech, and everyone'due south favorite characteristic: RGB lighting. At the end of the solar day, a keyboard is still just a keyboard. Whirlwind FX wants to modify that with the Chemical element.

This mechanical keyboard has a party fox, allowing you to synchronize the RGB lighting with video games. Not but that, but the switches used are high-quality and the build is promised to be well worth the asking price, so how does it stack upwardly against the big boys from Razer, SteelSeries and other meridian manufacturers?

Smart Lighting

Whirlwind FX Element

Cyclone FX Chemical element

$100

Bottom line: The Chemical element from Cyclone FX is a dandy keyboard overall, just the lighting furnishings and software takes the experience to a whole new level.

Pros

Solid switches
Amazing lighting effects
Supports almost (if not all) games
Sturdy build
Slap-up value

Cons

Non-detachable USB cable
Software a little lacking

Whirlwind FX Element is ane awesome lightshow

Whirlwind FX Element Source: Whirlwind FX

Cyclone FX makes some unique PC products. Firstly, we accept the Lightstrip, which is pretty self explanatory. Information technology's an LED strip that can be installed within your PC and connected via software. Adjacent up is Vortex, which essentially blows cool and warm air to create atmosphere, depending on what'southward being played. Pretty radical and so far and the company decided to make a keyboard.

The Element isn't just any mechanical keyboard, however. This should be expected with the production catalog already established. It's one where the RGB lighting is center stage. While this characteristic of keyboards isn't everyone'due south favorite cup of tea, the Element keyboard promises to have it to some other level in all the correct ways.

Cyclone FX Element makes keyboard RGB lighting actually useful.

Unboxing the Element and it'south firsthand just how well built the keyboard is. There's very footling flex, thanks largely to the same aircraft-grade aluminum frame nosotros're seeing in more premium keyboards. The unabridged keyboard is blackness, aside from the carbon fibre effect and giant Whirlwind FX branding on the underbelly, which don't wait distasteful.

On the front, it'southward fairly compact. Whirlwind FX printed a logo in the meridian-right, which I would have preferred to have been used for the LED indicators — instead, they're located but above the arrow keys. You lot've got a total QWERTY configuration with number keypad. There aren't any additional macro or extra function keys, creating a standard layout.

I really similar the font and size used for the keycaps. Each character is clear and everything is evenly lit. It's articulate Whirlwind FX went with some more advanced lighting than what's present on most gaming keyboards out there.

For switches, Whirlwind FX chose to go with Kailh and added options for red and blueish, depending on preference. For review, we received a sample with the red switches. These aren't as noisy every bit blue and don't provide as much of a tactile feedback. The actuation point is fairly high at just i.7mm, making the Element a solid keyboard for typing and some reanimation in your favorite PC title.

While the keyboard is peachy to use out-the-box, using the official Whirlwind FX Engine software is where the magic is able to happen. Information technology's a fiddling confusing to see what software you need to download since it's chosen Vortex, but the single software package bachelor on the official website will work with the Element, every bit well as other Whirlwind FX products.

With the software installed, it'll start analyzing your screen from the become go. It'southward pretty impressive. Even if a game isn't fully supported with boosted functions — like health existence displayed or impairment taken indicators — you'll however be able to see each frame drawn out in RGB lighting as you play.

Whirlwind FX Engine is seriously good, but incomplete software.

Game effects can exist downloaded from within the software bundle. These are created by Whirlwind FX and the community, using nothing simply HTML and JavaScript. Even with the software doing its thing, the keyboard withal polls at more than 1200Hz.

The software is pretty straightforward to configure as well. You can set furnishings, configure them, come across data on polling rates, and more. It's not the virtually comprehensive software package around, but it does the job well and looks the part.

What yous might dislike well-nigh the Whirlwind FX Element

Source: Whirlwind FX

At that place's not a whole lot to dislike near the Chemical element. Whirlwind got most of it just correct. The braided cable, cut keycaps, RGB lighting, software back up, build quality, and switches are all fantastic. What bugs me is the cablevision itself, which cannot exist removed. It would have been nice to see a detachable USB-C cable.

An issue some gamers may encounter is the lack of macro and cardinal remapping support with the Whirlwind FX software. Strangely, with all the advanced features offered with this mechanical keyboard, there'due south no pick to configure macros or map keys inside the software itself. It's a shame since the overall bundle is really well designed and easy to use.

Should you lot purchase the Whirlwind FX Element?

The Whirlwind FX Element has some of the brightest and most alluring RGB lighting I've seen on a keyboard to-date, which is something I idea I'd never read myself write. But information technology's truly something else when you have it synchronized with whatsoever you happen to be playing at the time.

If you lot don't care for RGB lighting at all, this probably isn't the best utilize of your money. Only even if yous buy the Element and plough off all the lighting furnishings, it's still a solid mechanical keyboard. The build quality is nifty, reflected in the price, so too are the Kailh switches. It'due south but a shame about the non-detachable cablevision and lack of macro and key reprogramming back up.

Whether you happen to be typing upwardly a document and engaging with the enemy in-game, the Element is fit for the task and the choice between red and dark-brown switches opens upwards the door to mostly anyone. You may not have heard of Cyclone FX prior to reading this review, just y'all should totally shortlist the make if the Element isn't quite up your alley.

Smart Lighting

Whirlwind FX Element

A great keyboard with immersive RGB lighting

RGB lighting is commonly the last affair on your heed when shopping around for a new mechanical keyboard, just the Whirlwind FX Element is something special. It allows you lot to have the lighting reflect what'south happening on-screen and information technology'due south awesome.

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