Introduction

Vortexgear, or simply Vortex as more popularly referred to in the enthusiast keyboard community, is a brand we have covered before, and each time has been with a different form factor. Be it the 40% CORE,75% Race 3, or long 78% ViBE, the company has never failed to interest those who wanted something other than the norm of full-size or TKL form factor keyboards. However, Vortex is perhaps best known for their 60% Poker series of keyboards developed in collaboration with iKBC and taking on a form of its own with new versions shown off at Computex this year in the Pok3r Ultra Slim and Poker 4. The latter is still in development, but the former is ready for retail and has a new name, too! Thanks again to Vortex for sending along a review sample for us to examine.


The new POK3R V2 is, as the name suggests, a take on the existing POK3R (or Poker 3), which itself had already received an RGB variant update in between. Ultra Slim, its original name, would have arguably fit better in my opinion as it leaves no doubt over the main change here. With the adoption of the Cherry MX Low Profile Red switch and a complementing case and keycap design, it is meant to provide a small form factor in all three dimensions while keeping the high degree of onboard configuration support with the popular 60% form factor (among those who crave a smaller keyboard, anyway). There is RGB lighting onboard, and we will be sure to explore this keyboard in detail in this review by beginning with a look at the specifications below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

This is my fourth Vortex keyboard in for review, and each time, the packaging has been different. Somehow, the colorful box you see above with the brushed texture that can only be felt and not seen is the tamest of the lot, too. The company definitely explores different ideas for packaging freely, noting that first impressions can be quite strong, and delivers a box that is petite, which complements the keyboard inside. It comes with a plastic wrap on the outside to minimize dust, and the box itself has an 80s neon aesthetic to it with the POK3R V2 name and switch type on the front. This design continues on the back, and it is only on the sides that we actually barely see the Vortex name. A double flap in the center on the front helps keep the contents inside in place during transit.


Opening the box, we see the keyboard itself in a shaped plastic clamshell on top for the keycaps, and the cardboard all around for further protection. Underneath the keyboard is a separating layer of cardboard, which keeps the provided detachable keyboard cable separate from the keyboard. The cable is black, 5' long to go with the smaller form factor of the keyboard, and terminates in a gold-plated USB Type-C connector on one end and a USB Type-A connector on the other, which is indicative of the use of Type-C connectivity on the keyboard. There is no manual included in the box, and Vortex says the manual will be up on their website soon. I was sent a PDF version, but given the extent of onboard programming here, a hard copy should have really been included with the keyboard.