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Introduction
When we reviewed the NZXT Function 2 MiniTKL in the summer of last year, our reviewer liked the board but noted that it lacked the features of a true analog gaming keyboard. Today, we’re taking a look at an updated version of NZXT’s gaming keyboard line. With NZXT’s magnetic switches offering features like rapid trigger and other good stuff, there should be nothing holding this board back from being a great gaming keyboard. Read our NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL review to find out if it meets expectations.
At A Glance
NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL
Used by 3 players ()-
Bwipo
-
Stev0rr
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Fragstube
NZXT has made a really good gaming keyboard here. It looks premium, it feels premium, and it sounds premium. If you’re purely looking for raw gaming performance there are other options that do it just a bit better, but if you want a good mix between sound, typing feel, and performance, this is a board that comes warmly recommended.
Pros
- Very good build quality
- Top case section looks and feels premium
- Perimeter RGB looks gorgeous
- Great typing sound
- Good stabilizers
- Magnetic switches with rapid trigger and other gaming-centric features
Cons
- Switches are a bit less sensitive than on some competitors
- Plastic bottom plate looks out of place on the white version
Specs
| Form Factor | 75% |
|---|---|
| Switches | NZXT Magnetic Switches |
| PCB | Hotswappable |
| RGB | Yes |
| Height | 3.8cm |
| Width | 34.8cm |
| Length | 12.3cm |
| Weight | 1091g |
First Impressions
Keyboard
The keyboard itself has an interesting, minimalist look. There are no buttons or dials anywhere, and the designers seemed to have focused on achieving sleek lines. When viewed from the top, the rounded corners catch the eye. On the sides, there’s a slight bulge that helps with picking up the board.
Underneath those bulges are textured rubber grips. These might seem pointless, but I have a habit of using my pinky finger to make tiny adjustments to my keyboard when gaming. With some of the heavier boards with straight sides this can be a bit tricky to do, but here it’s very easy. The side grips along with the side bulges also really help you when you’re picking up the board. I’m aware these are minor design elements most people probably won’t use, but I personally like them.
Summarizing: to me, this board definitely looks the part. This is something that would fit in any setup, doubly so because it’s available in both black and white.
RGB
If you’re a fan of RGB, you’ll be very happy with the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL. The RGB lighting underneath the keys is consistent and looks great, but the real star of the show is the perimeter LED strip. This strip runs (as the name suggests) around the entire edge of the board. In my opinion, this makes for a classy, yet showstopping RGB display. The strip can (like all other RGB elements on the board) be configured to your liking, so you’ll be able to match the keyboard to any aesthetic you have going on.
As an added bonus, the RGB strip isn’t very visible when turned off. If you know what you’re looking for, you’ll obviously notice it, but it’s definitely not distracting or ‘in your face’ when it’s turned off.
Packaging
Inside the box of the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL, you will find:
- The keyboard
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- A keycap/switch puller tool
- A pack of 3 replacement NZXT Magnetic Switches
- User documentation
As far as I’m concerned, that’s everything you need to get started with a keyboard like this.
Features and Build Quality
Materials and Design
The top section of the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL is made out of aluminum. This feels and looks luxurious and premium, with nicely rounded edges and a high overall finishing standard. However, the bottom section uses a different material. Here, thick plastic is used instead of aluminum.
Personally, I don’t mind this all too much. It saves a bit of weight (which can be useful for traveling gamers) and it can be argued that the bottom section isn’t all that important for a gaming keyboard. The transition between the two materials is quite obvious though, and especially on the white version this looks a little bit jarring. It’s perhaps a minor nitpick, but I would’ve liked to see some better color matching here, or perhaps a full aluminum case.
With that said: the Function Elite MiniTKL feels like a very sturdy board. It doesn’t flex or bend in any way, so my complaints are mostly about the aesthetics.
Finally, I want to mention that NZXT have learned from their mistakes. In my review of the Function 2 MiniTKL, I noted that the top plate scratches very easily. That’s no longer the case, so there’s no need to fear if you’re planning on changing the keycaps or switches. You obviously should be careful with top plates like these, but you’ll no longer get swirling simply because you brushed it with a keycap puller.
Hotswap
Like most boards released in this day and age, the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL has a hotswappable PCB. However, it should be noted that the board uses magnetic switches. As such, you can only swap the switches in this board with compatible (NZXT) magnetic switches. Magnetic switches have a different build than traditional mech switches, so don’t expect to load your trusty Cherry MX Reds in here. This is the case for all boards with magnetic switches, so this isn’t a criticism of the board. It’s simply something that’s good to know in case you’re new to these types of boards.
Keycaps
The included double-shot PBT keycaps feel great to me. They have light texturing on them, which I like, and they feel nice to use under all circumstances. The font that’s used is thin and neutral, and all letter cutouts are clean and sharp.
The caps aren’t the thickest though. Additionally, when you turn them around, you can spot some rougher edges. However, given that this is a set of caps that comes with a mass-produced gaming keyboard, these are flaws I can easily look past, as I simply don’t expect boutique quality keycaps in a board like this. The top parts of the caps (which is what you’re interacting with when gaming) feel very good, and that’s all I expect.
Customization
Using NZXT’s CAM software, users can customize the board to their liking. This goes for the RGB lighting but also (more importantly) for the performance. NZXT’s own magnetic switches have features like Rapid Trigger, and you can control their behavior on a per-switch basis in the software.
Additionally, users can rebind keys (and assign them to two layers; the first layer and the function layer) and create macros in the software. Everything you’d want to customize on your keyboard as a gamer can be found in CAM. The software itself is clear, easy to use, and responsive.
Switches
The NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL comes with NZXT’s very own magnetic switches. These are pre-lubed switches with a dual-rail switch structure on the side, making them less prone to wobble and giving them a more stable feeling.
In my reviews, I always emphasize the fact that I am not a switch connoisseur. I’ve tried many and I know what I like, but I don’t have shelves full of the latest and greatest boutique switches. If you’re someone who does then your experience may be different, but I really like these switches. They feel smooth and sound nice, and I appreciate the fact that NZXT hasn’t gone with extremely light switches.
I will say that there are two or three switches that felt a bit rougher than others, indicating that the lubing process might not always be consistent. However, this didn’t really bother me during actual use, mostly because there were only a couple that felt somewhat ‘off’. I simply swapped them with the included replacement switches and that solved the issue.
Typing and Gaming Experience
Gaming Experience
The Function Elite MiniTKL is the first NZXT board that comes with the ‘full suite’ of industry-standard features. These magnetic switches allow you to tweak the actuation point, enable Rapid Trigger, assign multiple actions to one keystroke, and much more.
NZXT has even implemented their own version of Snap Tap and have called it ‘Snap Overrides’. This technology prioritizes the last input when two inputs are registered at the same time, making things like counter-strafing extremely easy.
It’s worth noting that some of these features (like Snap Overrides) are banned from certain games. For example, if you play CS2 with Snap Override on, the game will kick you until it’s turned off. Features like Rapid Trigger are definitely allowed though, and they can and will make you a much more consistent player.
It’s good to see that the engineers at NZXT have embraced these kinds of features but it has to be said that the implementation isn’t at the absolute top level. For example, the lowest actuation that you can set is 0.6mm. That is definitely sensitive enough for the vast majority of gamers, but Wooting (for example) allows you to set it at 0.1mm. Similarly, the Rapid Trigger implementation feels just a bit less sensitive than on some other boards.
Does that mean that the Function Elite MiniTKL is a bad gaming keyboard? No, absolutely not. I’m talking about very fine margins here, and unless you are comparing boards side by side you probably won’t notice any difference. Getting the Function Elite MiniTKL over any mechanical gaming keyboard will still represent a huge upgrade to your gaming setup, and the differences between these well-implemented analog boards are marginal.
Polling Rate
The NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL can be used with polling rates up to 8000Hz. This is definitely in the ‘cool to have, but not necessary at all’ category for me, at least when it comes to keyboards. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot notice a difference between a well-made 1000Hz keyboard and a well-made 8000Hz board.
Again, it’s good that it’s there, as it shows that NZXT are with the times, but don’t buy this board thinking that getting an 8000Hz keyboard will make you perform noticeably better.
Typing Experience
NZXT has placed a lot of emphasis on the typing experience. They use pre-lubed switches and screw-in stabilizers, but it doesn’t end there. The plate, for example, is gasket-mounted. This means the plate is suspended within the case using soft gaskets. This minimizes contact between the plate and case, which in turn reduces vibrations and pinging sounds, leading to a more pleasant sounding keyboard.
Gasket-mounted boards are also known in the enthusiast scene for offering a more flexible typing experience, but as is often the case with gaming keyboards, the gaskets here are mostly added for the sound. This makes sense, too: magnetic switches in gaming boards are extremely sensitive, so any excess movement of the plate might cause them to malfunction.
Inside the case itself, NZXT has added pretty much everything you can think of in order to improve the typing experience. There’s sound-dampening foam in the case and even a ‘tape mod’ at the back of the PCB for a poppier sound.
All of this results in an extremely pleasing typing experience, and I have to say that the Function Elite MiniTKL is playing in the highest leagues (gaming keyboards leagues, that is) when it comes to this aspect. The stabilizers feel and sound good, the switches are smooth, and you get a nice, poppy sound when typing. I also couldn’t detect any case ping or other unwanted noises. It’s a very satisfying experience.
Sound Test
Alternatives
NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL vs Wooting 80HE
The Wooting 80HE has more sensitive and precise switches, and as such, is theoretically the better gaming keyboard. Additionally, Wooting’s customization tool is web-based and more expansive than NZXT’s CAM, which also gives it a leg up.
With that said, the NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL feels a lot sturdier and more robust. Additionally, it also sounds a lot better. When it comes to RGB lighting, the Function Elite MiniTKL also takes the cake if you ask me.
If you’re deciding between these two boards, it’s mainly a question of what your preferences are. Do you want the best gaming performance you can buy? Get the Wooting. If the overall typing experience is your priority, the NZXT Function Elite is your best bet.
Read our Wooting 80HE review
NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL vs Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL
Like the Wooting, the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL is more precise and offers more customization options. As such, if pure performance is your main priority, you should get the Razer.
The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL’s sound and overall typing experience is severely lacking versus what the NZXT offers though, and if that’s what you’re looking for (while still getting some really good gaming performances) then the NZXT is a better choice.
Read our Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL review
NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL vs Meletrix BOOG75
To me, the NZXT feels snappier when gaming. As I mentioned in my review though, the differences between boards like these are small, so you might not even notice a difference. The NZXT does have a lot more options, so if you’re comparing the gaming performance of these boards I would give it to the NZXT Function Elite.
When it comes to the overall typing experience and feeling, it’s a close call. The BOOG75 has a different sound that some might prefer, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it objectively ‘better’. The BOOG75 is deeper, while the NZXT Function Elite has more ‘pop’ to it. The BOOG75’s stabilizers do sound better though, and the case doesn’t have any plastic parts to it. As such, I would personally give the ‘overall typing feel’ edge to the BOOG75.
Read our Meletrix BOOG75 review
Conclusion
NZXT has made a really good gaming keyboard here. It looks premium, it feels premium, and it sounds premium. If you’re purely looking for raw gaming performance there are other options that do it just a bit better, but if you want a good mix between sound, typing feel, looks, and performance, this is a board that comes warmly recommended.
It comes with all of the bells and whistles (Rapid Trigger, customizable actuation, …) that you’d expect from a modern gaming keyboard, and there are very few objective flaws to be found. It is on the pricier side (an MSRP of $199.99 is nothing to sneeze at, but it’s not extreme for an analog board either) so if you’re not looking to take advantage of the performance benefits that these boards offer, I’d steer you towards more affordable mechanical boards. However, if you’re looking for your next dedicated gaming keyboard this could very well be it.
This product was received for free from the manufacturer and given to our reviewer to test and review. Brands and manufacturers have no editorial control over our reviews. For more information, check out our review FAQ.
