Planck EZ Glow Keyboard Review: Compact Innovation Meets Silent Precision
The Planck EZ Glow is a keyboard that challenges traditional layouts and norms, delivering an exciting and unique experience for enthusiasts and productivity power-users alike. Pair it with Cherry MX Silent Red switches, and you have a match made for silent, efficient performance. Let’s dive into what makes this combination a standout option.
Design and Layout: A Minimalist Marvel
The Planck EZ Glow's ortholinear layout immediately grabs your attention. Unlike traditional staggered layouts, all keys are aligned in a grid pattern, which feels strange at first but quickly becomes intuitive. Its compact 40% size ensures that you’re only working with the essentials, making it perfect for portability and those looking to declutter their workspace.
The Glow version adds just the right touch of flair with customizable per-key RGB backlighting. Whether you’re coding late at night or gaming in style, the lighting options elevate the keyboard’s aesthetic without being overpowering.
Cherry MX Silent Red Switches: A Whisper-Quiet Experience
For this build, I opted for Cherry MX Silent Red switches, and they’ve been nothing short of fantastic. These linear switches deliver smooth keypresses, and the "silent" dampening significantly reduces noise, making them ideal for shared workspaces, nighttime sessions, or simply keeping things quiet.
Typing on these switches feels effortless. The 45g actuation force strikes a perfect balance, ensuring that extended typing or gaming marathons remain comfortable and fatigue-free. While they may lack tactile feedback, the overall smoothness and quiet operation make up for it.
Customization and Flexibility
The Planck EZ Glow stands out for its open-source QMK firmware, which allows for endless customization. Remapping keys, setting macros, or creating custom layers is straightforward, giving you the tools to truly make the keyboard your own. As someone who enjoys tweaking and optimizing my setup, I found this level of control incredibly satisfying.
Learning Curve and Adaptation
It’s worth noting that the ortholinear layout does come with a learning curve. If you’re transitioning from a standard keyboard, it might take a week or two to fully adapt. However, once you do, the benefits of the grid layout become apparent. The increased typing efficiency and ergonomic benefits are well worth the initial adjustment period.
Verdict
The Planck EZ Glow with Cherry MX Silent Red switches is a keyboard for those who love to explore and customize. Its unique layout, compact design, and silent operation make it a joy to use once you’ve adapted to its quirks. While it’s not for everyone—especially those who rely heavily on a full-sized board—it’s a refreshing departure from the ordinary.
