When I tried it PC gaming giant NZXT’s first foray into the mechanical keyboard space, the Function (8/10, WIRED Recommends), impressed me with how well thought-out and beginner-friendly it was. It had useful features that left a good impression as a first product in the space. Its successor, the Function 2, is all about refining the rough edges for enthusiasts.
At first glance, the Function 2 looks nearly identical to the original. It has the same left-side volume rocker I loved about the original and the same convenient physical buttons along the left side, and it comes with the same tools for changing every switch and key on the keyboard. The big changes are mostly under the hood: NZXT has increased the polling rate from 1000Hz to 8000Hz, switched to using new linear optical switches, and added additional sound dampening for a substantially quieter experience. It’s a more luxurious and customizable experience overall.
Photography: Eric Ravenscraft
Soft simplicity
If you like your keyboards to click and clack like a dark and stormy night, the Function 2 may be a disappointment, but for my tastes it’s an excellent upgrade. The new optical switches are smoother and quieter, even without taking into account the added sound-dampening layers on the base.
While more traditional switches have metal contacts that are connected by a plate on the bottom of the keys, optical switches contain a small beam of light. When you press the key, the light is interrupted, which activates the key. This method is a bit more sensitive, meaning there is less time between when you press a key and when the computer registers it.
Photography: Eric Ravenscraft
However, in my experience, the most noticeable effect came from the keyboard’s customizable actuation point. NZXT CAM softwareYou can configure whether the switches actuate at 1mm or 1.5mm. It may not seem like much, but that extra 0.5mm makes a huge difference when it comes to accidental key presses.