The Fantech Atom Pro 96 keyboard is my first keyboard that made me fall in love with the world of mechanical keyboards. However, I have a few complaints that I will share in this post, based on my experience using this keyboard for a few days.
Keep in mind that I use this keyboard as a visually impaired person, so if you understand how to customize a keyboard like using FN keys, etc., for someone like me, the software provided by Fantech is a bit difficult to access as I can only rely on OCR.
So here are some pros and cons of using the Fantech Atom Pro 96 keyboard:
Pros:
- 96% Keyboard with affordable price range.
There might be many other keyboards out there priced around 500,000–600,000 Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $36 USD) with even better features. However, in my personal opinion, the Fantech Atom Pro 96 has a unique appeal. As a Gen Z individual born in 2004, I belong to a small percentage of people who genuinely enjoy full-sized keyboards. Fantech stands out as one of the brands that not only caters to this preference but also offers a full-sized keyboard at an affordable price point within this range. Based on many keyboard review videos I watched, most keyboards in this price range are 75% or even only 65%, which I find unsuitable for numpad lovers like me. - Triple connection.
One of the attractions for me initially was the triple connection feature, which makes it easy for me to connect this keyboard to several devices simultaneously. Additionally, because this keyboard uses a detachable Type-C USB, it’s even more convenient. If the cable breaks, I don’t have to worry about how to use or recharge the keyboard, considering how dominant USB Type-C is nowadays. - Includes customizable knob.
Honestly, at first, I didn’t know what a knob on a keyboard was or why it would be useful. How interesting could it be to have a keyboard with a customizable knob? It seemed fun. Based on that, I ended up buying this keyboard, and as I type this article, I’m using the knob to control play/pause, next/previous on Spotify and other functions. I feel like I have an old MP3 player where you need to turn the knob to change the song instead of pressing a button. However, this keyboard also has dedicated buttons for play/pause, etc., from FN F5 to FN F8. - Can be used on Windows and Mac devices.
Another attraction of this keyboard is that it has a slider button right next to the knob I just mentioned. If you slide it to the left, it switches to Windows mode, and if you slide it to the right, it changes to Mac mode. - Dedicated semi-knob button for connection.
This is something unique. This keyboard also has a dedicated knob for switching connections. Unfortunately, in the unit I have, the knob is somewhat defective and easily comes off. While I can glue it or fix it in some way, this is one of the cons I’ll explain below.
Cons:
- Does not have dedicated PGDN, PGUP, HOME, and END buttons.
As I mentioned earlier, I’m a Gen Z who loves full-sized keyboards, and unfortunately, this 96% keyboard doesn’t have those important buttons. I understand that it’s only a 96% keyboard, but why not add those keys? For example, FN+arrows for PGDN, PGUP, HOME, and END, and FN combinations for adjusting brightness? I’m not sure if the keyboard software has settings for this, as I mentioned, the default software is not accessible enough for me, and I have to navigate using NVDA. - USB port in the middle.
Honestly, I really like that this keyboard has a detachable USB, but for some reason, this version has the USB port placed exactly in the middle of the top part of the keyboard. I remember seeing one in a video, and I think the version below this (83%) has the port on the side. But I could be wrong, so feel free to correct me. - Inconsistent knob.
I’m not sure if this is typical for every keyboard with a knob, but when I turn the knob on this keyboard quickly, it actually slows down the trigger action. For example, when I quickly turn it clockwise to change songs, it triggers slowly. However, when I turn it slowly, it works just fine.
Other details about the keyboard:
When purchasing, here’s what’s included with the keyboard:
- Fantech Atom Pro 96 RGB Mechanical Keyboard
- Switch Puller
- Keycaps Puller
- Detachable Type-C Cable
- User Manual
This keyboard is also anti-ghosting (unlike your crush) on all keys, so don’t worry if you have to press all the keys simultaneously; they will still be registered.
If you want to read the detailed manual for this keyboard, you can visit the website here to read it online, but if you want to download the PDF, click this link: Atom Pro96 Manual PDF.
That’s all from me—thank you for taking the time to read!
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