Alienware and Cherry worked together to pile up what both companies are calling “the first real” mechanical keyboard on a gaming laptop. Starting on March 18, you will be able to purchase Alienware M15 R4 or M17 R4 laptops and upgrade them to a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard for an extra $ 150 at checkout.
The laptops will house a new type of Cherry switch called the MX Ultra Low Profile, which is 3.5 mm thick (compared to the 11.9 mm MX Low Profile switch). The switch is built with stainless steel wings that open and push down – imagine the way a DeLorean car door opens and closes. (Cherry provoked these new switches in a not so subtle way with a picture of the famous heavy car that is built with stainless steel). The rest of the key is made of thermoplastic polymer that can withstand high temperatures.
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Cherry
Cherry announces 1.8 mm of total travel for this switch, which the company says provides a satisfactory amount of feedback. The key design also improves typing accuracy, as well as self-cleaning with each press to prevent particles from messing with it over time. And, based on this tweet from Alienware, the switches seem to have that characteristic “thock” sound that is associated with mechanical keyboards.
As for their integration into the latest Alienware M15 and M17 R4 laptops, companies say the laptop designs did not need to be adjusted to accommodate the new Cherry switch. The lids still close tightly, which looks like proof of how thin the switch is.
When you purchase the Cherry update, you will get RGB key backlighting and AlienFX customization, along with full N-key rollover with anti-ghosting, so you won’t be overwhelmed when you press multiple keys at the same time. One thing to note is that when you upgrade the keyboard, all keys except the function line will have Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile options.
I didn’t get a chance to try these new switches, so I can’t vouch for how they compare not only with other Cherry MX switches, but also with the switches that Alienware normally uses. Admittedly, $ 150 is a steep addition to a laptop that will already cost a lot of money, but it can end up being a good investment if you are obsessed with mechanical keyboards.