The Iqunix L80 Formula nearly tops my prefab keyboard ranking
15.2.2022
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
The Iqunix L80 Formula surprises with its fresh colours and design. However, the feature-strong keyboard suffers from its switches.
Our store is offering more and more keyboards that aren’t just black with RGB lighting. I’m talking about classic «gamer keyboards». Iqunix provides the L80 Formula, a keyboard with both a special shape and unique colours. My test did reveal many convincing features. However, the acoustics and typing feel aren’t up to par.
A cheeky design and many features
The first thing that caught my eye on the L80 Formula was its keycaps. I like the white, red and grey-blue colour scheme. Furthermore, the stepped pattern on the front and sides breaks with other conventional designs. This does make the keyboard look a bit clunky, but it has its own style – and a cool one at that. At the back right, lime lettering adorns the L80’s ABS plastic housing. So that’s what the L stands for – Lime.
The 80, on the other hand, is supposed to indicate the keyboard’s form factor. Iqunix calls the L80 Formula an 80 per cent keyboard. However, to me, this points towards a so-called Tenkeyless keyboard. Where only the number pad is missing. Like this one:
The Iqunix is more of a 75 per cent keyboard in my opinion. But the Shenzhen, China-based company obviously defines it differently. Here’s a comparison with one of my 75 per cent keyboards, the Thera75:
In addition to the keyboard, the following things are included in your delivery:
- a cleaning brush.
- a keycap and switch puller.
- extra keycaps for Mac.
- a colour-coordinated coiled cable.
- a 2.4 GHz dongle for wireless connection.
Besides the 2.4 GHz connection, Bluetooth 5.0 is also on board. There’s a switch at the bottom that allows you to change between wireless and a wired connection. Wirelessly, the L80 can connect to up to two devices – Mac and PC – simultaneously. This always worked reliably during my test. I also didn’t experience any connection problems, and I couldn’t detect any input lag with the 2.4 GHz connection. There was a slight delay with Bluetooth due to the technology, which makes the connection unsuitable for most games.
An LED between the G and H keys indicates your selected connection and provides information about the battery charge status. More precisely: of both batteries. Two 2000 mAh batteries are installed. They’re supposed to provide 300 hours of use with the 2.4 GHz connection and no RGB lighting.
The bottom also contains feet that adjust the tilt angle in two steps. In total, you have three settings at your disposal. This should help anyone find their ideal typing position.
The keyboard features RGB backlight. However, it’s weak even at maximum brightness. This is due to the keycaps. Their labels are printed on and not transparent.
Good keycaps, difficult typing
As with the F96 I recently tested, Iqunix relies on keycaps made of PBT plastic. Imprints are made with the sublimation printing method. During this process, dye is vaporised into the keycaps, making them long-lasting. Imprints on the keycaps are uniform and clear. The texture of the keycaps is slightly rough, providing good grip. Overall, they’re great keycaps for a prefab keyboard.
Cherry MX Red, Blue and Brown are to choose from – the same as for the F96. My test model uses Cherry MX Red. But thanks to the hot-swap board, I can easily exchange buttons – without soldering.
The installed switches are linear and trigger at two millimetres and 45 grammes of force. The total travel distance is four millimetres. Those of you who read my articles regularly know that I am not a fan of Cherry switches (any more). Overall, I find them too scratchy when pressing down. I can both feel and hear it; The spring that returns the button back to its original position after it’s been pressed makes an annoying pinging noise – the so-called Spring Ping. The leaf that is bent to trigger the signal also produces a pinging sound – the so-called leaf ping.
Long keys such as Enter, Shift and the space bar are stabilised with so-called coaster stabilisers. Iqunix lubricates them properly, so they don’t rattle when you push them down. What’s troublesome about Coastar stabilisers is that there’s usually a plastic bit stuck into the keycap when you remove one. In return, they sound very good for stabilisers on a finished keyboard, but hear for yourself:
Although the stabilisers sound alright, Spring and Leaf Ping are easily audible. They aren’t quite as pronounced as in the recently tested F96. This is because the L80 is made of ABS plastic and the F96 is made of aluminium. The aluminium case generates more reverb than the plastic one. Noises on the L80 are more muffled. But not so quiet as to be characterless. They still reverberate a bit. This is despite the fact that Iqunix puts insulation foam between the steel top plate and the PCB, as well as between the case and the PCB.
I assume that the switches are mainly responsible for this pinging noise. In fact, when I swap a Cherry MX switch with an Alpaca V2 switch I modded, the pinging noise is less pronounced.
Overall, the typing feel is typical for a so-called tray mount keyboard. This denotes keyboards where the top plate and PCB are firmly screwed to the bottom part of the case. The L80 doesn’t give way when I type, nor when I apply strong pressure to it. So it feels rather hard.
Verdict: various distinct features with a snazzy look
The L80 Formula is a cool keyboard with a fresh design. It has a variety of features such as the Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless function, RGB, a hot-swap board and PBT keycaps.
Due to their structure, typing feels rather hard on this keyboard. That doesn’t have to be a negative, I just prefer a softer typing feel. Acoustically, the well-audible spring and leaf ping bother me the most. I therefore recommend that you use switches other than Cherry MX buttons. Or wait to buy the keyboard, as versions with switches from TTC will be released soon. Leaf and spring ping are much less pronounced there. Further, you could improve its acoustics by modding the keyboard. Sort of like what I recently did with Logitech’s «League of Legends» keyboard.
Overall, I can recommend the Iqunix L80. It offers many features and is well-made for what it costs.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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