Image: Michael Crider/Foundry
8BitDo made a name for itself by selling controllers that are shockingly cheap while being just about as good as first-party versions, burying the legacy of companies like MadCatz in the past. Their first mechanical keyboard follows that pattern, as the Retro is a solid, customizable wireless board, a good deal, and stylish as hell with its NES looks. Today Woot has it for $30 off retail.
When I reviewed the Retro keyboard, I praised 8BitDo for nailing all the basics while also delivering on its Nintendo-inspired aesthetics. The keyboard has Bluetooth and dongle-based wireless, PBT keycaps, and even an add-on section with two massive NES-inspired macro buttons. Said buttons, and the rest of the keyboard, can be programmed with the 8BitDo Windows app.
Best of all it’s packing hot-swap switch sockets, my must-have feature for mechanical keyboards. Yes, even the big extra buttons are hot-swap. So if you’re not a fan of the noisy Kailh Box White switches, you can sub in any MX-compatible switch you like.
At its $100 retail price the 8BitDo is already a darn good deal. But right now Woot is offering it for $69.99, a 30 percent discount. And unlike many Woot listings, this one is good for multiple days — more than two weeks, at the time of writing — and it’s a new keyboard, not refurbished.
Both colors are offered, the grey and red based on the American NES and the more burgundy version based on the Japanese Famicom. Go grab one for yourself if you want to see what all the fuss is about, or maybe get a gift for your Nintendo-obsessed friend or family member.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer
Michael is a former graphic designer who’s been building and tweaking desktop computers for longer than he cares to admit. His interests include folk music, football, science fiction, and salsa verde, in no particular order.
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