Vortex TAB 90M Review: Full sized keyboard in a smaller package
Some weeks ago, I received my new mechanical keyboard. After living with the board for more than three weeks and having typed a lot on it, I am happy to write my review of the keyboard.
If you are just getting into the mechanical keyboard world or want an awesome replacement for your old keyboard and want to save a little bit of desk space, then you should definitely take a look at Vortexgear’s Tab 90M.
Packaging
The Vortexgear Tab 90M comes well packaged in a beautiful box which includes the keyboard, extra modifier keycaps and a USB-C cable.
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Form factor
If you have seen other Vortexgear products in the past, you know they bring some special form factors to the keyboard market. This is also the case for the Vortex Tab 90M. The Tab 90M has a smaller form factor than a full-sized keyboard while still having the advantage of a full-sized keyboard. By comparison, the Tab 90M is 2 units wider than a TKL and 2 units smaller than a full-sized keyboard. This way you save a little bit of space on your desk while still having access to all your keys and a numpad.
Specifications
The Tab 90M comes with a variety of different Cherry MX switches and features double shot PBT, VSA profile keycaps. The VSA profile is Vortex’s modification to the DSA profile keycaps, I really like those keycaps, they are thick and have nice legends. The keyboard’s base is CNC machined from aluminum and gives the board a nice weight. You connect the Tab 90M with a detachable USB-C cable, which I love.
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Extra features and OS-support
Just as all the Vortex boards, the Tab 90M is on-board programmable and you can easily switch between different operating systems, including Windows, Mac and Linux. You also have the ability to use different layers. I primarily use Mac and am very satisfied with the Mac support. The option and command keys are flipped with the Windows and alt key, just like on Mac keyboards. You also get volume controls on F10-F12 when in Mac mode.
Extra keycaps
There are extra modifier keycaps included with the keyboard. Including Mac modifier keys, although I don’t really like those Mac keys because of how they differ from the other keycaps. The normal keycaps are double shot with white labels while the extra included keycaps are dye subbed with black labels, which are hard to see on a black/dark grey keycap. The other colored keycaps are super cool if you want a little bit of colorful personalization though.
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In the above image you see the difference between the standard keycaps and the extra included ones. The one on the left is one of the extra included keycaps, which are dye sublimated while the one is the right is the standard keycap, which is double shot. In the images below you can see why I don’t really like those Mac keys. If Vortexgear reads this, please include extra keycaps with white labels instead of these black labels.
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Conclusion
With all that said, I really love the Tab 90M and it will be my daily driver from now on for some time. I love the modern, minimal look and the smaller form factor while still maintaining all the keys of a full-sized keyboard. I can recommend this board to anyone. If you are interested, you can get this board from most of the well-known shops.
Where to buy
USA: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4558 (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4558)
Europe: https://candykeys.com/product/vortex-tab90M-ansi (https://candykeys.com/product/vortex-tab90M-ansi) or https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/vortex-tab90m-ansi-mx-clear_933/ (https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/vortex-tab90m-ansi-mx-clear_933/)
If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be happy to answer them.