Das Keyboard's new DeltaForce 65 mechanical keyboard offers solid build quality and typing experience but is marred by problematic layout choices and software quirks. Priced at $200, the compact 65% keyboard uses Gateron Red switches and a gasket mount system. Reviewers note persistent issues with key combinations that limit its functionality.
Das Keyboard has released the DeltaForce 65, a $200 mechanical keyboard aimed at modernizing the company's offerings. This model abandons past gimmicks in favor of a straightforward design, featuring Gateron Red switches with a 45-gram actuation weight. The switches provide a smooth, light typing feel, though they feel somewhat wobbly and produce a thin, plasticky sound due to the flex-cut printed circuit board and sound-dampening foam.
The keyboard employs a simple gasket mount system, offering a relaxed typing experience with some flex but lacking the bouncy feel of competitors like the Mchose GX87. Stabilizers are plate-mounted and screw-in, lubricated from the factory, though the left side of the space bar rattles slightly. The lightweight aluminum case includes three PCBs connected by ribbon cables, positioning the USB-C port close to the desk and isolating it from main board flex. Grooves on the case sides aid in lifting, and an aluminum knob in the top right handles volume by default but is remappable.
Aesthetically, the white keycaps feature a camouflage design with high-quality multicolored printing, enhancing RGB lighting diffusion. The 1,000 Hz polling rate ensures snappy responsiveness, making it suitable for casual gaming in its compact layout, which saves desk space. Function keys are accessed via FN combinations, such as FN+1 for F1.
Programmability relies on QMK and VIA, an open-source in-browser tool, but the DeltaForce 65 lacks official support. Users must download a JSON firmware file from Das Keyboard's site to enable customization, risking issues if the site is unavailable. While VIA allows remapping keys, adjusting RGB, and creating macros, significant layout flaws persist. The shift keys are conditionally mapped to function for tilde input via Shift + Esc, causing Shift + Backspace to malfunction—registering as Delete in Firefox or doing nothing in Chrome and Google Docs. Other intended combinations, like Win + Esc for backtick and Fn + Backspace for Delete, also fail. These issues appeared in two tested units, with Das Keyboard attributing them to the review sample, yet they remained unresolved.
Despite strong internal assembly, hot-swap sockets, and endorsement of user customization, the layout problems prevent full use as intended. The reviewer praises the modernization but finds the disjointed experience frustrating.