If you’re looking for a new mechanical keyboard with some retro flair, here’s a deal worth mentioning: The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is discounted to $70 at Amazon subsidiary Woot. This is the lowest price we found. This deal has been available for a few days, but is $30 off 8BitDo’s list price and $10 off the wireless keyboard’s previous low price. Unfortunately, the deal only applies to the Fami Edition of the device, whose color scheme and Japanese characters are inspired by Nintendo’s Famicom console released in Japan in the ’80s. 8BitDo sells another variant modeled after the US NES, but this costs $20 more at the time of writing. (A third model based on the Commodore 64 is also in preparation.)
8BitDo
This is the lowest price we’ve seen for this recommended wireless mechanical keyboard.
$70 at Woot
While it’s not a formal choice in our guide to the best mechanical keyboards, the retro mechanical keyboard earned a spot in our retro gaming gift guide last year. The vintage aesthetic is the main reason to think about it: if you’re into old technology, there aren’t many options for this type of look. Still, this is a solid keyboard in its own right. Its tenkeyless form factor should be convenient for most people, and it can connect via Bluetooth, a wireless dongle, or a detachable USB-C cable. Although it is made of plastic, the case doesn’t look that cheap. The PBT keycaps are clearly structured and the keys feel largely stable without any major rattling when making larger inputs such as the space bar. It also features a silly but fun pair of NES-style “Super Buttons” that you can program to carry out various commands.
Be warned, though: it’s a bit louder. The retro mechanical keyboard comes with clicky Kailh Box White V2 switches that are generally satisfying to operate, but whose high-pitched sound might be found annoying by your spouse or colleague. This fits the retro style, but the keyboard is best stored in the home office. There’s also no backlight or adjustable feet. However, the switches are hot-swappable, so you can easily swap them out later for a different feel.
Ultimately, whether the retro mechanical keyboard is worth purchasing will depend on how much you like the old-school design. If you want something more low-key that costs less than $100, we recommend Keychron’s V Max series in our buying guide. But 8BitDo’s board still represents good value for money, and this discount only makes that worse. According to Woot, the offer is valid for another six days or until the device sells out.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and Subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.