While NZXT has successfully impressed me with its mouse sequel, the keyboard market is a whole different battleground, especially at the price point that the Function 2 keyboards are targeting. Today I’m providing my full thoughts after using NZXT’s new keyboard for both typing during workdays and gaming in the evenings.
Enter the sequel
Rather than copying and pasting its previous keyboard, NZXT has implemented a number of modern must-have features. The Function 2’s inclusion of optical switches is great to see, as this is a gaming-focused board and the quicker response time and increased longevity will be appreciated.
Additionally, there’s the tunable actuation point, allowing users to fine-tune exactly when the key’s function activates. This can be significant in first-person shooters where strafing and stopping quickly can make the difference between winning and losing gunfights.
The use of optical switches does mean that users will be limited when looking to swap to something new. However, many would argue that pushing the envelope requires leaving older standards behind, so I’m not knocking NZXT here.
8,000 Hz is here
The Function 2 also boasts an 8,000 Hz polling rate, a relatively new feature that remains widely unadopted by the rest of the competition, especially on cheaper boards. While I’m not totally convinced of the benefits, it’s still good to see 8,000 Hz as an option, and without sending the price skyrocketing.
When it comes to typing feel and sound, the Function 2 is a marked improvement over the original, but it’s still not perfect. I feel like further tuning could be done during the final stages of production, though perhaps that is simply not doable with a mainstream board that is being produced en masse and quickly.
Room for improvement
While the keyboard feels solid and the doubleshot PBT keycaps are appreciated, there’s still room for improvement when it comes to lube application and sound dampening, though the attempts here are commendable.
I should also mention how the RGB lighting, on my sample at least, is dimmer than expected. I’ve ensured that the brightness is set to the maximum, but it is still relatively dim when compared to much cheaper boards. It’s by no means a deal-breaker, but I feel that it’s worth mentioning for those who are massively into RGB.
Final Verdict
At $139.99 for the full-sized version and $129.99 for the MiniTKL, NZXT makes a strong argument for why you should pick up one of its boards when compared to the competition. It incorporates many modern must-have features that gamers may well be looking for in 2024. Overall, it’s a solid option with few downsides and NZXT has done well to follow up the original Function with a compelling successor.
Disclosure: NZXT Function 2 sample provided for review.
Positives and Negatives
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Optical switches.
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8,000 Hz polling rate.
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Clear improvements over the original Function.
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Good quality materials.
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Limited switch compatibility.
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Sound tuning could be better.
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Dim RGB lighting on my unit.
