Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. M Keyboard Review

Performance

The STRIKE M is very compact unit, it’s much smaller than your typical desktop keyboard, it actually has more in common with the ergonomics of laptop/netbook. The keys are nicely spaced and despite the tiny form factor, you can still comfortably navigate the most important keys of all; WASD.

The keyboard comes bundled with a fold out tablet / phone stand which is slim enough to fit into the padded carry pouch alongside the keyboard.

Here you can see it’s a perfect fit for our Nvidia Shield Tablet; just enough tilt to provide a good viewing angle on the screen when sat at a desk or table.

The keyboard is equipped with white LED back lighting and while it does eat through the battery a lot quicker this way, it looks gorgeous; perfect for typing in a darker environment.

Gaming on the STRIKE M is a strange affair, especially given that a lot of mobile games don’t fully support keyboard and mouse inputs; of course this keyboard can still be used on a desktop PC and that’s exactly what I did. Playing something like Battlefield 4 on this keyboard is a little strange at first, but since I only need a small section of the keyboard, I actually found it to be quite comfortable to use. It was a little tricky for things like League of Legends, as I found that when things got a little heated I would hit the wrong key; although I suspect you would get used to the more compact layout over time.

Typing is tricky, especially since I touch type and I’m so tuned into my current full size keyboard. I find that I have to watch the keys to be able to type smoothly and while my typing is slower on the STRIKE M compared to my full size mechanical keyboard, it’s a vast amount faster than typing on the touch screen of my tablet; it’s not as good as a full size keyboard, but it’s certainly an improvement over a touch screen.

The built-in mouse is really cool and while it’s not going to be your go-to option for a game of Counter Strike, it’s more than enough for navigating websites, documents and even works really well on games like Broken Sword 2 on my tablet. It’s a nice option for HTPC users, or those who use devices like the Mad Catz Mojo, or the Nvidia Shield in their living room; you can sit back on the couch, browse files, navigate through movies, send emails and even play some casual games all from the one keyboard and its compact size means that it can be tucked away in your backpack and taken on the go with you. One of the best features is that you can pair the keyboard with up to four devices and swap them at the touch of a button; your tablet, console (such as PS4), PC and your smart phone can all be setup with ease.