A Closer Look - K481 & P311

Arctic K481 Wireless Keyboard

Taking a look at the K481 Wireless Keyboard, the first thought that came to mind was "compact". I actually think it will be too compact for the majority of users, as it was even too small for my hands. To give you some perspective, I am a mere 165 cm and my small hands are probably too big for the unit. In terms of build quality you could say that you get what you pay for. Considering the small price tag for a wireless keyboard, the construction quality is adequate, but far from what one may be used to from even the most affordable units from Logitech, Razer or Microsoft.


All the keys are flat and ARCTIC will not win any design awards with the K481, but that is not the goal here anyways. In the rear there are no flip-out stands, just a little bulge in the top to give the unit a bit of a tilt for easier typing.


Taking a look at the layout of the K481, it is obvious, that ARCTIC had to shuffle things around considerably to keep the unit as compact as it is. The numpad is completely gone - assimilated by the main key block. The enter button is much smaller, while F11 and F12 are missing completely. Of all the keys, the tab key has suffered most as it is smaller than a one cent coin. For those - like me - who like to tab their way through a user interface, the button may be source of much frustration.

To the right of the keyboard is an embedded, multi-touch capable mouse pad. Two separate buttons below it mimic the left and right mouse buttons. The pad feels alright, but is recessed too much for comfortable use and - in my humble opinion - too small as well. Above it, you will find four function buttons for basic control over audio playback.


You will also find a tiny switch here, allowing you to turn the unit off and conserving the batteries in the process. These are simply placed in the upper edge of the unit and secured by the foam lined plastic cover.

Arctic P311 Bluetooth Headset

The P311 Bluetooth headsets make a much better impression and look quite good. We got one in black and the other in a two-town black/grey, but ARCTIC also offers these in flashy blue, green and blue. Before you go ahead and scream "why?!", this is actually quite smart. Consider the standard American family: Parents, a son and a daughter. The parents won't care about the color, but odds are, the girl and boys will want their very own headset to use during the family movie night. For such a scenario the colored versions are perfect.


As these are Bluetooth headsets, you can use the P311 for other enabled devices like the PS3 or even your phone. The functionality to accept and end a call, along with the volume control is embedded into one of the ear cups. This is also the one you connect the cable to, allowing you to charge its batteries with any unit equipped with a USB port.


The P311 can be folded together neatly to fit into the included pouches. This should make storing these quite easy and keep them dust free if not used for extended periods of time.