Lofree Edge Review｜Low-profile mechanical keyboard with shockingly thin and comfortable keys[PR]

Lofree, which made its name with FLOW, has released another new keyboard.

Its name is Lofree Edge.

The crowdfunding campaign launched on “Kickstarter” on April 25, 2024, attracted 2,060 backers, making it a very popular product.

Now it is available for purchase from the official Japanese website.

The price is 39,600 yen (including tax), The price is 39,600 yen (including tax), and can be purchased at a 10% discount (35,640 yen (including tax)) by using our exclusive coupon code “ryo10”.

The easy-to-use 75% lewout is the same as FLOW, but it has evolved to be even “thinner” and “lighter”.

What is even more surprising is that despite its thinness, the keyboard does not lose any of the feel or sound of a mechanical keyboard.

This article is an in-depth review of the Edge, Lofree’s definitive low-profile mechanical keyboard.

Lofree Edge is provided to us for promotional purposes through a business partnership between this site and Shenzhen Lofree culture co. For the purchase of products from this article, this site will receive a profit under the performance-based reward program.

This article is written in Japanese and simultaneously translated into English for worldwide distribution.

Lofree Edge Review

The Lofree Edge was released not long after FLOW’s release, which had such an impact that it changed the conventional wisdom of low-profile mechanical keyboards.

Although it did not succeed FLOW, its content showed the “future” of low-profile mechanical keyboards.

With this thinness and key feel, the thin pantograph keyboards that have become mainstream in recent years can easily switch to this type of keyboard. to a thin pantograph keyboard.

Specifications and Contents

Number of keys	84
Constituent materials	Magnesium alloy/Carbon fiber/PBT
Battery capacity	2,000mAh
Supported OS	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android
backlight	White LED only
connection terminal	Type-C
Bluetooth connection name	EDGE84@Lofree
Number of multi-function keys	16
Connection method	Wired (USB Type-C) / Bluetooth
Continuous operating time (without backlight)	Approx. 200 hours
weight	Approx. 490g
Time to full charge	Approx. 3 hours
Maximum connection distance (Bluetooth)	Max. 15 m
Dimensions	318mm x 154mm x 16.5mm
Keymap changeable	modifiable

Overall view of keyboard

Now let’s look at the keyboard itself.

First, take a look at its beautiful exterior.

← Can slide left and right →

Click here to see the opening.

Check appearance and contents

Edge arrived in a matte black box.

The silver obi is fashionable.

After opening the package and removing the main unit, a carbon fiber keyboard stand was laid on the bottom.

This is called “Zero” and is made by reusing carbon fiber scraps from Edge manufacturing.

When assembled, it looks like this.

Other items included replacement keycaps.

About Key Caps

本体前面をぐるりと覆うフレームは、カーボンファイバー製となっており、その特徴的な紋様が光に当たるとキラキラと光って非常に綺麗です。

キーキャップは黒よりもグレーに近いカラーとなっており、印字は白字の昇華印刷となっています。

Only the ENTER key has an orange legend, which is a nice accent.

キーキャップはダブルショットPBTです。

Legend has an angular shape that looks like a simplified Gothic typeface, which is likely to be used on a gaming keyboard.

As a comparison, if you compare it to the FLOW keycap, you will see how thin the Edge keycap is.

As for the shape, all Rs (rows) are arched, and I was very impressed with the way they fit my fingertips.

In terms of size, it is also slightly smaller than FLOW, measuring 17.8 mm x 17.8 mm for the 1u key.

The thickness is 4.3 mm with the stem included and 3.7 mm without the stem, which is also extremely thin.

The stem shape is a cross stem compatible with Cherry MX/Choc V2/Lofree Shadow.

Replacement keycaps can be purchased on the official website.

View keycap ▷▷▷

About Key Switches

At Lofree Edge, the newly developed Kailh POM Switch 2.0 has an overall height of only 9.8 mm.

Details about the adopted keyswitch “Edge Kailh POM Switch 2.0 (Linear)

Keystroke distance	2.4±0.25mm
Distance to reaction	1.3±0.30mm
pressing pressure	40±10gf
Spring Length	15.5mm
Number of operating life cycles	Approx. 50 million times

In terms of size, it is about 13 mm x 13 mm, which is quite thin and small.

Also, perhaps to make the keyboard body thinner, the switch plate was not present, and the key switches were soldered directly to the board.

Backside of the keyboard body

Then we will look at the rear.

The material is a magnesium alloy, which feels metallic to the touch but is very light!

At first glance, it looks like just a hole, but the hidden letters “Lofree” are very cool. The hidden letters “Lofree” are very cool.

A rubber non-slip surface is placed on the front side of the back, and there is only one tilt angle.

The fact that the product is stamped with the technical certification mark of each country indicates that it was designed and developed with an eye toward global deployment.

Keyboard back to side

On the back of the keyboard is a USB Type-C port for charging/wired connection, with a 3-way switch next to it for BT (wireless)/ON (wired)/OFF.

You can see the “Lofree” engraving on the right side.

Lofree Edge keystroke sound and feel review

First, please see here.

…very nice.

I am sure that many people will like this thin, “cotch” sound.

As for the key feel, in a word, I got the impression that it was “just right.

This seems to be largely due to the gasket mounts used by Edge.

The Edge has a cushioned material on the top and bottom of the board, which is sandwiched between the bottom case and top frame.

This makes the board itself “float”, which has the effect of softening the impact of keystrokes.

By this mounting method, I have the impression that the keys are tuned to have an exquisite “not too hard and not too soft” feel. I was impressed by the “not too hard, not too soft” feel of the keys.

I replaced the keycaps with FLOW keycaps and typed, and was surprised to find that the typing sound changed considerably.

About Lofree Configurator

Edge is the first Lofree to release its own software, the Lofree Configurator.

At the time of release, it is only available for Windows; a Mac-compatible version is planned for release in 2024.

The following four items can be changed with this software.

• Lighting (Edge is monochromatic LED only, so color change is not possible)
• Change keymap
• Macro Registration
• Other settings

Of note is the ability to change keymaps and register macro keys.

The key map can be changed to any position except for the function keys, which can be changed to the key layout of your choice.

In addition, macro registration has the potential to automate certain s lines of work, since it can be registered in the form of a “recording” of not only keystrokes but also mouse operations.

Other settings, such as the polling rate for USB connections, can be configured.

Advantages of Lofree Edge

Now, based on the above, let’s summarize the benefits of Edge.

Ultra-thin and lightweight for portability

After all, Edge’s superior portability is one of its major advantages Edge is very portable.

With a body as thin as a Macbook Air at 5.4 mm at its thinnest point, it is hardly bulky when placed in a bag.

また、500mlのペットボトル1本分以下の重量となっているため、カバンの重さを気にせずに持ち運ぶことができるでしょう。

In other words, being portable means that you can work in any environment without disrupting your own typing style.

Also, Wireless connection approvals have already been obtained in the U.S., EU, and Japan, so you can use our products with peace of mind.

It is a very nice feature to be able to connect wirelessly right away just by turning on the power.

Also, for those who use it for gaming use, it would be attractive to be able to play on your familiar “Edge” with “1000Hz polling rate” when you go to e-sports bars, etc., as long as you have a USB cable.

Excellent key feel

One of the reasons you want to get Edge is that it has a good key feel is the feel of the keys.

Conventional wisdom has been that a thinner, lighter body often means a loss of key feel.

The Apple Magic Keyboard is certainly a great product, but because of its thinness, it can only employ scissor-style keyswitches, and the keystrokes are quite shallow, so it cannot be called a “comfortable” keystroke experience.

Edge, on the other hand, offers a stroke of 2.4 mm without sacrificing key feel.

Once you experience the “gasket mount” that absorbs and diffuses the impact of keystrokes, you will be so impressed that you will never be able to return to other keyboards.

Includes dedicated software that allows keymap changes

Edge, in response to user feedback during FLOW, New keymap changes are now supported. Edge now supports new keymap changes in response to user feedback from FLOW.

This allows you to place any key in the desired position. (However, function keys cannot be moved.)

In addition, macro keys can be registered, making it possible to automate specific operation flows with a single button.

Ultra-low latency connections are possible

Edge is, 1000 Hz polling rate for wired connections when connected to a wired connection.

Especially in the gaming scene, it is said that “latency” from input to operation is the difference between victory and defeat, so the realization of an ultra-low latency connection is now a prerequisite for choosing a keyboard.

In this respect, Edge will be a safe choice.

Disadvantages of Lofree Edge

After all, before purchasing a product, one must make allowances for disadvantages.

The four disadvantages of Edge that I have found are as follows

No ISO layout provided.

First of all, it is unfortunate for users in Japan that Japanese-language layouts are not available.

Edge is only available in ANSI array (US layout) models.

This can be a major disadvantage for non-English speaking users.

If you are using a typical notebook computer, the key layout is unique to that country, and many of you may not even have touched the US layout.

For Japanese speakers in particular, “ro” may not be an option because it does not exist for those who use “kana-uchi” (Japanese syllabary).

Another disadvantage is that it takes time to get used to the US layout if you are using it for the first time, since different keyboard layouts have different symbol positions.

Lofree Configurator currently supports Windows only

Unfortunately, Lofree Configurator, which is responsible for keymap and other changes, is only available for Windows at the time of release.

The Mac version is scheduled for release in 2024. The Mac version is scheduled for release by the end of 2024.

This will be a very vexing problem for those who wish to make keymap changes.

Key switches cannot be replaced.

Edge keyswitches are soldered directly to the board and cannot be replaced.

It is not possible to replace the key switch if the person is able to remove the solder, nor is it possible to replace the key switch, as it is physically difficult to disassemble.

Printing on default keycaps is a matter of taste.

This is a matter of taste, though, As for the printing on the keycaps that come by default, there seems to be a difference in preference This is a matter of taste, but it seems that there are different tastes in the default keycap printing.

It is not the commonly used Gothic typeface, but a further simplification of the Gothic typeface.

Although this font is often seen in the gaming scene, I am sure that many people will get the impression that it is “exclusively for gaming,” so this area is a bit worrisome.

This area may not be a concern if replacement keycaps are provided in conjunction.

summary

This is a review of Lofree’s newly released Edge keyboard.

This product, which could be a game changer for thin keyboards, will probably be very popular.

Crowdfunding in Japan is also undecided at this time, so why not take advantage of this opportunity to purchase the product for $129.00?

We are confident that you will be satisfied with our product.