The ongoing Computex 2019 computer trade fair in Taipei is a mix of everything related to computer hardware. Today, two major mechanical keyboard manufacturers have unveiled their latest products: AZIO Iris, SteelSeries Apex Pro, and SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (tenkeyless).
The AZIO Iris is a gorgeous mechanical keyboard with a vintage ting to it. AZIO showed the prototype for the Iris keyboard on the show floor. On the contrary, the Apex and Apex Pro keyboards by SteelSeries follow the conventional design of RGB keyboards but with OmniPoint mechanical switches support that enables automatic variable-actuation sensitivity, which means you can set your preferred actuation point as per your liking. That’s great, isn’t it?
AZIO’s Iris Keyboard With Stunning Vintage Design
The AZIO Iris keyboard owes its design inspiration to the vintage Leica and Fujica/Fujifilm cameras. The Iris keyboard has analog dials and switches, making it look classic and absolutely stunning. One of the quirky design features is that there are two separate units: keyboard and numpad. We are not sure if all would appreciate this design, but it sure looks different. The polished steel on the keyboard frame is clubbed with leather-finish at the bottom.
Under the hood, the AZIO Iris keyboard has CherryMX switches and RGB lights beneath the deck. For connectivity, it does not support a wired USB connection. Instead, it lets users use either a wireless USB dongle or Bluetooth connectivity. The finished version of the Iris keyboard is expected to come with support for up to three Bluetooth devices with multi-switching. It is rechargeable via USB type-C cable.
The knob on the top left side of the keyboard looks like a wheel from vintage cameras with a Leica-like dot on top that indicates the option selected. The knob is used for selecting three modes – off, Bluetooth, and RF. On the right side, we get an analog wheel that is used for different functions. The outer wheel adjusts volume, the inner wheel adjusts light while the D-pad on the inside tweaks playback controls.