Arbiter Studio Polar 65 Hall Effect Keyboard

[VSG]

The Polar 65 is a new keyboard from a new brand that's decided to make a name for itself using Hall effect magnetic switches. It is available in nine different colors, adopts the 65% form factor, has customizable switch actuation and a rapid trigger mode for gaming, and has software support for fine tuning the user experience.

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[Onasi]

Pretty good for the price, Hall switches are a relative rarity. The review doesn’t test for it, I know, but I assume the latency is very low? Wooting is seemingly the champion here so far, wonder if this gets close-ish.

 

[Fungi]

Pretty good for the price, Hall switches are a relative rarity. The review doesn’t test for it, I know, but I assume the latency is very low? Wooting is seemingly the champion here so far, wonder if this gets close-ish.

Should be the same internals as the EGG KB65HE which optimum has measured.

 

[VSG]

Pretty good for the price, Hall switches are a relative rarity. The review doesn’t test for it, I know, but I assume the latency is very low? Wooting is seemingly the champion here so far, wonder if this gets close-ish.

Extremely low, the switches themselves have no perceivable latency.

 

[bonehead123]

I'm really getting soooo friggin sick of seein all these chopped off, mini-me KB's....seems like anutha one gets released every single day of the week nowadays...

barf...yuk....puke...

Doesn't anyone make any new, REAL ( ie.. full-sized) KB's anymore...

Yea yea I know...gamr bois gotta have their gamr toyz and couch potatoes gotta be lazy, but just sayin....

 

[progste]

I'm really getting soooo friggin sick of seein all these chopped off, mini-me KB's....seems like anutha one gets released every single day of the week nowadays...

barf...yuk....puke...

Doesn't anyone make any new, REAL ( ie.. full-sized) KB's anymore...

Yea yea I know...gamr bois gotta have their gamr toyz and couch potatoes gotta be lazy, but just sayin....

I used to think like that but after ditching the numpad I realized how little I was using it and how much space it took.
You don't need full size keyboards, especially when you can set the keys for any function you want using VIA or similar software.
Though these brands usually have a full size option (like keychron Q6).

 

[ITISTIME]

I'm really getting soooo friggin sick of seein all these chopped off, mini-me KB's....seems like anutha one gets released every single day of the week nowadays...

barf...yuk....puke...

Doesn't anyone make any new, REAL ( ie.. full-sized) KB's anymore...

Yea yea I know...gamr bois gotta have their gamr toyz and couch potatoes gotta be lazy, but just sayin....

I use a RK100 96% keyboard. Its a full keyboard but it has all of the keys next to each other so it makes it a bit slimmer.

 

[sLowEnd]

I'm really getting soooo friggin sick of seein all these chopped off, mini-me KB's....seems like anutha one gets released every single day of the week nowadays...

barf...yuk....puke...

Doesn't anyone make any new, REAL ( ie.. full-sized) KB's anymore...

Yea yea I know...gamr bois gotta have their gamr toyz and couch potatoes gotta be lazy, but just sayin....

The numpad is absolutely crucial for my work computer, so I understand the potential desire for a numpad, but I don't require a numpad in my personal computer very often at all. There are also a lot of people out there doing just fine on compact laptops that lack numpads.

 

[bonehead123]

The numpad is absolutely crucial for my work computer, so I understand the potential desire for a numpad, but I don't require a numpad in my personal computer very often at all. There are also a lot of people out there doing just fine on compact laptops that lack numpads.

I gotzta have a numpad for both, as I do a TON of spreadsheets, data analytics, charts, tables, figures, numerical annotations ect....so I'd be completely lost without it... and my memory aint as good as it used to be, so key combos/function keys don't cut for me either...PLUS, I have rather large hands & fingers, so the extra real estate of a full, 104 key layout allows me to do my thing with very few errors or finger fudgin....

As for lappies, my answer is NOT...there's no friggin way I can do much of anything on them, that's why I have (wireless) KB's & rodents at the ready anytime I have to be within 10 miles of one...

 

[Vario]

The numpad is absolutely crucial for my work computer, so I understand the potential desire for a numpad, but I don't require a numpad in my personal computer very often at all. There are also a lot of people out there doing just fine on compact laptops that lack numpads.

I use a separate numpad (GTC-0077).

I'd like a TKL that has F1-12 keys but tighter placement on the right side (so arrows, del, home, ins, pause, end pgup/down, etc are closer together). The right alt, right shift, and right cntrl keys are worthless

 

[VSG]

Please move generic discussions on keyboard sizes elsewhere.

 

[Frizz]

Great review.. I wonder how this sounds with the new Gateron Jade HE Switches, Wooting needs some credit for pioneering this tech!

 

[bug]

I used to think like that but after ditching the numpad I realized how little I was using it and how much space it took.
You don't need full size keyboards, especially when you can set the keys for any function you want using VIA or similar software.
Though these brands usually have a full size option (like keychron Q6).

I can understand ditching the numpad (I haven't used it seriously since the days of MK and MK II, but it's still useful when entering numbers, e.g. security tokens for various websites). The thing is, this looks cramped as hell, I think it's as awkward to use as a laptop keyboard. What's wrong with ditching the numpad, but keeping the arrow keys and the keys above them in place?
I mean, if I saw this on a store shelf, I would think it's more than a toy. I wouldn't pay enough attention to notice its switches. Then again, I'm assuming the manufacturers did their due diligence and concluded this where they should begin.

 

[progste]

I can understand ditching the numpad (I haven't used it seriously since the days of MK and MK II, but it's still useful when entering numbers, e.g. security tokens for various websites). The thing is, this looks cramped as hell, I think it's as awkward to use as a laptop keyboard. What's wrong with ditching the numpad, but keeping the arrow keys and the keys above them in place?
I mean, if I saw this on a store shelf, I would think it's more than a toy. I wouldn't pay enough attention to notice its switches. Then again, I'm assuming the manufacturers did their due diligence and concluded this where they should begin.

That would be an 80% keyboard (also known as TKL, tenkeyless) which is a nice inbetween.
But for me the 65% is even better since it takes up less space on the desk, I can just position it better when I write and keep the mouse closer.
The arrow keys are right under the enter key and pg up/down and right next to the fn key(to access home/end and others), so it's great for navigating websites.

 

[mechtech]

A con for me would be the cord on the left side. I have a large desk and PC is on the right, I guess I could get a 3m cable though.

 

[bug]

That would be an 80% keyboard (also known as TKL, tenkeyless) which is a nice inbetween.
But for me the 65% is even better since it takes up less space on the desk, I can just position it better when I write and keep the mouse closer.
The arrow keys are right under the enter key and pg up/down and right next to the fn key(to access home/end and others), so it's great for navigating websites.

You can find pros and cons to everything. My point was this is non-standard layout, everyone will need to adjust first.
My other point was that it looks cramped, but you can argue that's subjective.