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

Peter Donnell / 10 years ago

Final Thoughts

Price

The Mad Catz STRIKE M is $99.99 from the Mad Catz webstore, not exactly cheap, but it does pack a huge range of features that help to justify the investment.

Overview

Mad Catz have really gone all out with the STRIKE M and packed it full of features. You don’t have to be a genius to see that there is a lot of demand for a high-performance, feature packed mobile keyboard, especially with the ever-growing trend to use tablets for both work and gaming while on-the-go, as well as home applications such as Android powered consoles, smart TVs and HTPCs.

This keyboard isn’t ideal for full-time day-to-day use, but it’s a solution to many common problems that mobile users face on a daily basis, with the added benefit that it could be used for day-to-day desktop use if you really need to. I can’t stand typing on my tablet, but when I’m travelling and only have my tablet or smart phone in my backpack; carrying this keyboard with me is a whole lot easier and lighter than lugging around my laptop. If I need to stop and write out a few emails, then I can do so with ease. Practical boring uses aside, the STRIKE M is surprisingly capable as a gaming keyboard and if you’re using Bluetooth or USB OTG you can pair it with a mouse of your choosing to complete the set, perhaps even the RAT M which we reviewed earlier this year. The built-in mouse isn’t ideal for gaming, but it’s perfect for HTPC use and browsing the web.

Chuck the STRIKE M in your backpack and you’re good to go, keep it next to your couch and you’ve got a very versatile HTPC or micro console controller at your finger tips; it’s very handy for navigating my multimedia setup, NAS, remote desktop, my Nvidia Shield in console mode and I can even use it for text entry on the PlayStation 4. There is a wide range of applications for this keyboard and while the price does seem high, it doesn’t take long to squeeze lots of extra value from it.

Build quality is really nice; sure it’s mostly made from plastic, but it’s very well put together, feels durable and it is very well designed. The style is very unique and despite the small size, Mad Catz have done a great job of packing in loads of extra features such as the dedicated multimedia controls, volume wheel, on-the-fly device switching, LED backlighting and let’s not forget the added value you get from the included carry pouch and tablet stand.

Pros

Great build quality
Unique design
Supports a wide range of devices
Versatile
Capable gaming device
Dedicated multimedia controls
LED backlighting
Long battery life

Cons

Smaller ergonomics take a little getting used to

Neutral

The price is a little high, but you do get a lot of features in return

“The STRIKE M is easily the most versatile Bluetooth keyboard I’ve ever used, from gaming to multimedia playback, it’s got a little something for everyone. It would be nice if it were a little cheaper, but it’s versatility goes a long way making it well worth the investment.”