Review: Fantech MK871 RGB Keyboard
January 2019 Update: My Tab key got messed up– good thing the switches are replaceable! I just took the switch from the Scroll Lock key knowing I’d never use it and switched that up with my Tab key then BAM! Good as new as they say.
The MK871 RGB is the only tenkeyless keyboard from Fantech’s Pantheon mechanical keyboard line. I bought this since my Logitech G410 Atlas Spectrum broke out of the blue so most of my comparisons are gonna be against that. Check out Fantech’s official site for the list of the MK871 RGB’s features here and for a download link of its software here.
The Typing Experience
As you might have already known, the MK871 RGB makes use of Outemu Brown or Blue switches which they claim will last for more than 70 million key presses. There’s not much wobble for each key, and it makes use of brackets to supposedly increase stability.
It is interesting to see that what they printed in the box is not the same with what they used with the actual product.
I guess it doesn’t look as cool with the brackets
For its price point, the MK871 RGB has a pretty uncommon feature which is the ability to replace the switches!
Although Fantech did not include extra switches for use, it is still a pretty cool feature to have.
Do note that the MK871 RGB uses these generic stabilizers for their longer keys: Backspace, Enter, Left and right Shift and Space bar.
Pressing on these ruin the typing experience quite a bit since they do not feel like the rest of the keys in the board, plus they make a loud springy sound which does get distracting when you’re typing without any music playing in the background. Although I hardly noticed this while gaming.
Now I personally haven’t had the experience to type on any keyboards making use Cherry MX Browns, but I do have experience with Outemu Blues and Romer-G switches. What I will say is typing on the MK871 RGB feels closer to the Romer-G’s than Outemu Blues since the Romer-G switches are pretty silent like the Browns and require less actuation force.
Here is the diagram that Fantech has prepared for both switches, although you will see that it’s missing actual actuation point and actuation force values.
To me it feels so much better typing on browns instead of blues. Your friends will thank you for it too 
The Form Factor
It’s great; the keyboard does not flex at all. You even have this chamfered edge (although thin) that goes all around the keyboard adding to its premium feel.
Here are the product dimensions prepared by people from Fantech themselves.
I got this photo from the user manual that came with the keyboard, but it is missing the cable routing they have at the back of it.
The Software
The software’s not really that good. It’s kinda lame that you have to click Apply after each time you change the lighting mode, whereas when I was using my G410 Atlas Spectrum, I’d choose a lighting mode then the software instantly shows me what that looks like, and my keyboard lights change too helping me in making my decision whether to apply the effect or not. I guess I got really spoiled from Logitech’s software.
At this point, no changes are made to MK871 RGB’s lighting
After clicking Apply, pop up appears then lighting changes
You could set three Profiles from the software to fix lighting, macros, etc. Changing the colors using the Fantech’s software is really cumbersome since you have to click on one key, change its color from the limited options, then move on to the next key, then to the next key, then to the next key…
Again, with Logitech, you could simply select multiple keys at a time, pick a color for your selection, then BAM! Move on to the next set of keys.
I think it’s also lame that you have to go to the software to click Apply after choosing the Profile you customized. You’re better off just clicking on FN+1~5 for the preset gaming profiles on the MK871 RGB then you can start recording your color theme by hitting FN+HM. By this point the Caps lock, Windows and Scroll lock keys will start blinking meaning it will begin to record your key presses. You could then start customizing the key’s color by pressing on each key cycling through all the colors, then by stopping when you get to your desired color. Hit FN+HM again to stop recording.
One thing I noticed is if you have Neonlight on then you switch to one of your customized gaming profiles, the color of your gaming profile keys change according to what color you were at when you switched. The colors you set will go back once you change your lighting profile to something else.
Another thing to note is that you can’t set the color of Capslock. It changes each time you turn it on, off then back on again. It’ll kinda ruin the color theme if you have one set up.
The Verdict
Overall the MK871 RGB is a great keyboard especially around the PhP2,200 ($40) price point. It really is great for what it is, the switches feel surprisingly nice where the only area I had an issue with were the keys that used the generic stabilizers. Now, the only real downside of the MK871 RGB is its software. In fact, just as I was taking software screenshots for this review, the lighting I setup previously was wiped out from FN+1 with the last screenshot from the software part of the review! I feel like Fantech could have included a little tutorial on how to properly use their software in their user manual as it’s not entirely as user friendly or as intuitive as the competition’s. Having said that, its competition is worth twice the MK871 RGB’s price.
Pros
+ Replaceable Outemu switches
+ Customizable RGB lighting
+ Excellent build quality
+ Multimedia function keys
+ Competitive pricing
+ Sturdy braided cable with cable management
Cons
– Unintuitive software
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