DESIGN
Drop CTRL
This keyboard features dedicated arrow keys and a function key row. It’s slightly larger in all dimensions and heavier than the Drop ENTR, despite the fact that they’re both TKL keyboards. The Drop CTRL keyboard is extremely well-made. It boasts a sturdy aluminium frame and a metal baseplate with no flex, as well as high-quality, double-shot PBT keycaps. The keys wobble slightly, as with other Drop keyboards we’ve examined, with larger keys like the Spacebar and Enter keys bouncing slightly more than tiny keys. However, it is not particularly obvious while typing. There are also six rubber feet available on the bottom that help to keep the keyboard in place.
While the Drop ENTR keyboard has only white backlighting, the Drop CTRL keyboard features complete RGB backlighting. When adjusted to display only white lights, there is a distinct reddish colour. Using hotkeys, you may modify the illumination directly on the keyboard. These hotkeys, however, are not labelled on the keyboard and are only mentioned in the user manual. Drop’s QMK firmware interface on their website also allows you to change lighting choices and flash the settings onto your keyboard. However, it is not a user-friendly procedure.
The Drop CTRL keyboard is ergonomically sound. Because of its TenKeyLess size, your fingers may not have to stretch as far for specific keys as they would on a full-sized keyboard, but it has a constant slope and a tall profile, so typing for extended durations may cause tiredness. Wrists may help you avoid wrist fatigue, but they are not provided. The drop does, however, sell wrist rests separately on its website. The drop also states that this keyboard features removable, magnetic feet for adjusting the incline, but ours did not. According to photographs on Drop’s website, these feet may only be available in the Space Gray colour variation.
Drop ENTR
Drop ENTR is a TenKeyLess keyboard with dedicated arrow keys and a function key row. It should not take up much room on your desk and has excellent build quality. It has a strong metal case with a plastic top cover that feels great and has nearly no flex. The double shot PBT keycaps wobble slightly, and the spacebar stabiliser rattles slightly, but everything else seems strong. The bottom has two rubber feet that are surprisingly effective at keeping it from slipping, and the plastic incline feet also keep it in place pretty effectively, despite feeling cheap in comparison to the rest of the keyboard.
The Drop ENTR keyboard has excellent white backlighting. There are four different brightness settings that can be managed directly from the keyboard, and you can also turn off the backlighting if you want to take a vacation from it. The Drop ENTR keyboard is ergonomically sound. Its single inclination setting adds only a little height, and it lacks a wrist rest. However, because of its modest size, you should not have much wrist fatigue while typing.
CABLE AND WIRELESS VERSATILITY
Drop CTRL
The Drop CTRL comes with a standard rubber USB-C cable. The Drop CTRL keyboard is a wired-only device that cannot be used wirelessly.
Drop ENTR
It features a high-quality rubber cable that is somewhat wavy but not too awful. When plugged into the keyboard, the cable connector wobbles somewhat. This keyboard is exclusively wired and cannot be used wirelessly.
FEATURES
Drop CTRL
There aren’t many extra functions on the Drop CTRL keyboard. There are hotkeys for media controls and backlighting adjustment, but they are not labelled and are only mentioned in the user manual. You cannot reprogram keys on the keyboard directly, but you can use the QMK firmware, which is accessible on Drop’s website. We also discovered that tapping the Fn and Windows keys simultaneously does not trigger a Windows key lock, as it does with some of the other Drop keyboards we’ve tested. You can plug your power cord into any of the two USB-C ports on the back of the keyboard, located in the top left and top right corners. The drop indicates that the extra port can be used as a USB passthrough.
Drop ENTR
The Drop ENTR keyboard lacks numerous extra functions, like macro-programmable keys. It supports media hotkeys, and you can lock the Windows key by hitting FN+Windows Key, preventing you from accidentally minimising your game.
PERFORMANCE
Drop CTRL
Our unit’s Cherry MX Brown switches are light to type on and have a tactile bump. They also have short pre-travel distances and will not create tiredness when typing for extended periods of time. If you want a different feel, this keyboard is also available in a variety of switches, and it’s hot-swappable, so you can replace any of the original switches with switches that are more suitable for your needs. The Drop CTRL has low latency and should feel responsive enough for day-to-day use. Competitive gamers, on the other hand, may prefer a lower option.
The Drop CTRL has very good typing quality. The double shot PBT keycaps are comfortable to type on, and while there is some minor wobbling in the keys, it isn’t visible while typing. The Cherry MX Brown switches provide superb tactile sensation while being lightweight. The quality of your typing will vary depending on the switches you obtain. Unfortunately, because it is a rather high-profile board, there is no provided wrist support, which may lead to wrist fatigue for some users when typing for lengthy periods of time.
Our Drop CTRL keyboard’s Cherry MX Brown switches are quiet and unlikely to irritate anyone around you. We expect the clicky Kaihua Box White or Cherry MX Blue switches on this keyboard to be louder.
Drop ENTR
Our keyboard features Halo True switches, which provide tactile feedback and are weighty to type on. Although the force necessary to actuate a key is relatively little, it is almost the same as the force required to move a key in the first place. This results in a heavy-feeling typing experience that may induce finger fatigue. The pre-trip and total journey distances, on the other hand, are modest and should give a rather responsive typing experience. If you dislike the tactile feel, it is also available with linear Gateron Yellow switches.
It offers excellent typing quality. The double-shot PBT keys are comfortable to type on, and any minor wobbling isn’t visible. The force necessary to trigger a key is relatively light, but because approximately the same amount of effort is required to move a key in the first place, it results in a heavy-feeling typing experience that may induce more finger fatigue. Our Halo True switch device is very silent when typing and should not disturb anyone around you.
SOFTWARE
Drop CTRL
Although there is no customization software for the Drop CTRL, you can modify the backlighting directly on the keyboard using a sequence of hotkeys provided in the user manual. Drop’s website also allows you to adjust lighting and key bindings with their bespoke QMK firmware tool. After selecting the adjustments you desire with this programme, you must download the firmware and flash it to your keyboard. Unfortunately, for beginners, this technique is not very user-friendly and does not qualify as software for our review. Although the Drop CTRL keyboard is fully compatible with Windows and Linux, the Scroll Lock and Pause/Break buttons do not function on macOS.
Drop ENTR
It does not come with any software, and you cannot alter the settings via their website using modified firmware, as you can with the Drop ALT. This keyboard is fully compatible with Windows and Linux; however, macOS does not support the scroll lock and pause keys.
COMPATIBILITY (GAMING)
Drop CTRL
The Drop CTRL is an excellent gaming keyboard, although it has a high latency when compared to most dedicated gaming keyboards. Having said that, it’s quite well-made, and the Cherry MX Brown switches on our model are light and quick. It’s also available in a variety of various switches, and it’s hot-swappable, allowing you to change the switches without soldering. Unfortunately, no dedicated modification software exists. However, you can design custom button mappings and adjust backlighting options on Drop’s website using QMK firmware and then flash them to your keyboard.
Drop ENTR
For gaming, the Drop ENTR keyboard is adequate. Our unit’s Halo True switches feature a short pre-travel distance and should be sensitive enough for gaming. The actuation force is greater than that of most tactile switches, and the amount of force necessary to move a key in the first place may be tiring. It’s also available with Gateron Yellow linear switches, which provide a different feel. There is no software to alter the settings and no macro-programmable keys.
COMPATIBILITY (OFFICE)
Drop CTRL
The Drop CTRL is useful in the office. It comes in a variety of switches and is hot-swappable, so you can instal the switches you desire. We chose Cherry MX Brown switches because they are light enough not to be exhausting and have a pleasing tactile bump. This keyboard, however, lacks inclination options and has a somewhat high-profile design. It also lacks wrist support; thus, you may get wrist tiredness when typing for extended periods of time.
Drop ENTR
The Drop ENTR keyboard is ideal for usage in the office. Its Halo True switches are silent to type on and should not irritate any nearby coworkers. The typing quality is good, and it’s pretty comfortable, but the amount of power required to move the keys may be tiring after a long day of typing, while Gateron Yellow switches are also available, which may feel different.
PROGRAMMING
Drop CTRL
Drop CTRL is useful for programming. The entire keyboard has a premium feel to it, and the Cherry MX Brown switches on our device provide good typing quality. This keyboard is also available with a variety of other switches, and it’s hot-swappable, so you can use the switches you like. It also has complete RGB backlighting and keys that light up separately. Unfortunately, no wrist rest is included, and no specific customising software is available. You may still programme macros and change key bindings, but you must use the QMK firmware, which is available on Drop’s website.
Drop ENTR
For programming, the Drop ENTR keyboard is adequate. It’s well-made and has good typing quality, yet the amount of force necessary to move the keys may rapidly fatigue your fingers. There are also Gateron Yellow linear switches available, which may have a distinct feel. However, there is no wrist rest; the compact design aids in limiting hand movement. Unfortunately, none of the keys is macro-programmable, and no software is available to customise the settings.
CONCLUSION
Drop CTRL and Drop ENTR are TenKeyLess Mechanical Keyboards that are comparable. The CTRL is available with a broader selection of switch types and is hot-swappable. It also has full RGB backlighting, whereas the ENTR just has white. The ENTR, on the other hand, has one inclination setting and marginally shorter latency. There is no customization software for either keyboard, but you may change the settings on the CTRL keyboard using the QMK firmware available on the Drop website.
