What Is the Drop ENTR?
The Drop ENTR is a wired Tenkeyless (TKL) mechanical keyboard created by Drop that can be used in both office environments and gaming. It’s also one of their cheaper keyboards with a price of only 90 USD, so it’s pretty economical.
Drop ENTR Specs
For those asking for the specs of the Drop ENTR, here they are:
Keyboard type: Mechanical keyboard (noticeable clicks when pressing keys) Switch Type: Either Gateron Yellow or the Halo True Size: Tenkeyless Keyboard Lighting: Single color; usually White LED Backlit keys Onboard Memory: No onboard memory Media keys: None Passthrough: None Connectivity: Detachable USB-C Cord No Wireless Connection Keycaps: Doubleshot PBT Dimensions: 14.2 x 5 x 1.25 inches/36.1 x 12.7 x 3.2 cm Weight: 2.05 lbs/0.92 kg
Drop ENTR Features
And lastly, these are the features available on the Drop ENTR Mechanical Keyboard:
Key Roll-Over: N-Key Roll-Over Fully Programmable Keys: No Synapse: None Gaming Mode: None 1000Hz Ultrapolling: None Additional Game Keys: None On-The-Fly Macro Recording: None USB Pass-Through: None Dedicated Media Controls: None
Drop ENTR Review
As mentioned, the Drop ENTR may seem like a strange kind. So in this section, we’ll help you determine whether this keyboard is worth the buy for you.
Build Quality
First on the list of things we need to talk about the Drop ENTR is its build quality, and in that regard, it’s pretty sweet. The keyboard has a plastic top cover that sits atop a solid aluminum case. It’s great to type in and has next to no flex. In terms of keycaps, the Drop ENTR has the Doubleshot PBT keycaps, which have a slight wobble to them. The spacebar stabilizer, in particular, is the worst offender in that there’s a small rattle when pressed. Other than that, though, everything feels sturdy. On the keyboard layout side of things, the Drop ENTR is a tenkeyless keyboard, meaning there’s no number pad on the right side. Instead, there’s only a dedicated function key row and arrow key area. This makes the keyboard take less space than a normal-sized keyboard, which is great for gaming enthusiasts that want more space for their mouse. Last but not least are the things keeping the keyboard stable, AKA the feet. The feet of Drop ENTR are made of rubber, which makes it a bit hard to keep a stable typing space as the keyboard tends to move because of this. In addition to this, the ergonomics of the Drop ENTR are a bit bad, with only a single incline setting, and it’s not even that big of a change. The compact form factor helps in keeping hand movement minimal, which is probably the reason for the choice of a single incline only.
Design
In terms of design, the Drop ENTR has a few things going for it. It’s bigger than the Drop ALT. A gaming-specific version and comes in a myriad of different colors. Specifically, an all-black version with white backlighting, a silver version which is blinding white when looking at its picture on their website, and green. The green version is a bit weird since it looks more like a black/gray version, but we digress. The Drop ENTR also has backlighting, though it’s not as overt as other keyboard models. The backlighting only has 1 color, AKA white. This decision is a really big reason why buying the white version of the Drop ENTR is a bad idea. On the black and green versions, though, the white backlighting is a huge vibe and brings out the keyboard, especially in the dark. The backlighting has 4 brightness settings too, which can be controlled on the keyboard. However, they don’t have their dedicated buttons or switches there, which is a big minus.
Wireless Features
Unfortunately for everyone, the Drop ENTR is a fully wired keyboard and doesn’t have any wireless features. No Bluetooth, or anything fancy like that. It has a USB-C wire, and that’s it, moving on.
Responsiveness
The Drop ENTR is a wired keyboard, meaning that responsiveness isn’t an issue. Its N-key rollover also makes it great for both gaming and work due to this. However, the USB-C connector does have a slight risk of becoming loose with age, so it’s a good idea to have a spare or three USB-C connectors in stock.
Functionality and Ease of Use
When it comes to functionality, the Drop ENTR is pretty decent. The keys respond well when pressed, there’s good feedback on the switches, and overall it’s great to type on. In addition to this, the fact that the user can easily plug the Drop ENTR into a PC using the USB-C cord is a good thing as well. One thing that’s a bit sad about the Drop ENTR is the fact that it doesn’t have any Wireless features. This means no Bluetooth or other methods to connect to a PC or another device. This makes the Drop ENTR drop a bit on the functionality part of this review.
Switch Quality
The Drop ENTR Mechanical Keyboard has 2 choices in terms of switches for users to pick from. They can choose either the Gateron Yellow or the Halo True. Both are tactile switches of excellent quality. Gateron switches tend to have a 50 million keystroke lifespan, while the Halo True is also comparable. Overall, good picks for base switches. There are some units of the Drop ENTR that don’t have lubed switches, though, which is a good thing that they added in a keycap puller. However, for those that want to customize their keyboards, there’s only one question that needs to be asked: Is the Drop ENTR Hot-Swappable?
Is It Hot Swappable?
Unfortunately, the Drop ENTR Mechanical Keyboard’s various switches cannot be hot-swapped based on the user’s preferences. The keycap puller included with the keyboard is only there to help in cleaning and maintenance. Kind of sad to be honest, though the switches are pretty good, it’s always a plus if the mechanical keyboard can be customized to the user’s liking. Something that the Drop ENTR Mechanical Keyboard doesn’t give to users.
Drop ENTR vs Other Drop Keyboards
If you’re wondering what other keyboards this brand has on offer, here are others you might want to check out.
Drop ENTR vs Drop CTRL
Both the Drop CTRL and the Drop ENTR are TKL Mechanical Keyboards, but they have their key differences. For one, the Drop CTRL has a bigger switch type range and can be hot-swapped to the user’s leisure. The Drop CTRL also has the honor of having RGB backlighting when compared to the ENTR’s white backlighting. However, the Drop CTRL’s latency is lower when compared to the Drop ENTR, which can cause some problems for a few users. In addition to this, both Drop ENTR and CTRL don’t have any customization software attached to them. But at least Drop CTRL has settings that can be adjusted via QMK Firmware, which gives the Drop CTRL the win overall.
Drop ENTR vs Drop ALT
Meanwhile, the Drop ALT is overall the better keyboard when compared to the Drop ENTR. For one, the Drop ALTs keys are macro-programmable, and it has full RGB lighting. In addition, the Drop ALT has lower actuation force, and higher travel distance, making it great for those on the go. Yes, the ALT doesn’t have any companion software like the Drop ENTR. However, the fact that it has customizable settings that can be changed through the Drop Website makes it superior to the Drop ENTR. All in all, the Drop ALT is the better keyboard, but the Drop ENTR is way cheaper. Either way, it all depends on what the user wants. If they want a keyboard with additional functions, go Drop ALT. If they want utility and a decent price, go Drop ENTR.
Drop ENTR vs Keyboards from Other Brands
Whether you want an alternative or just want to see how it fares against other keyboards, read on!
Keychron K6
The Keychron K6 is one of the best keyboards to get on the market right now, that’s no question. However, when compared to the Drop ENTR, that claim is a bit dubious. The ENTR is a bit better in terms of build, and depending on the user, both the Halo True and Gateron Switches feel better to type and game in. They’re also more responsive because the Drop ENTR is a wired keyboard. However, the Keychron K6 is better when it comes to connectivity. After all, the Drop ENTR is a wired keyboard and doesn’t have any wireless options at all. Meanwhile, the Keychron K6 has several methods of Wireless connectivity, making it very versatile. In addition to this, the Keychron K6 also has full RGB Backlighting, making it more attractive to RGB fans compared to the Drop ENTR. All in all, both are really good keyboards, but if you want better responsiveness, go Drop ENTR. If you want better connectivity options, go Keychron K6.
Ducky One 2
Next on the list is the Ducky One 2, which is slightly better when compared to the Drop ENTR. This is because of 2 main reasons. The first is the fact that the Ducky One 2 has better ergonomics. Well, compared to the ENTR at least. The Ducky One 2 has an additional incline setting when compared to the ENTR, and it generally feels better to type in. In addition to this, the Ducky One 2 has macro-programmable keys, something that the Drop ENTR lacks. The fact that the user can program the keys of the Ducky One 2 to do whatever they want them to do is a huge win on the competing keyboard’s corner. The user can program up to 6 profiles on the keyboard and can be easily accessed even when switching PCs. However, the ENTR does have a bit of white backlighting, in addition to feeling more solid. Last but not the least, the Ducky One 2 has switches that can be hot-swapped, unlike the Drop ENTR. This makes the Ducky One 2 a better keyboard for enthusiasts that want to customize their keyboards to their preference. The Ducky One 2’s keycaps could be changed according to the user’s preference as well, adding to the keyboard’s versatility. Overall though, the Ducky One 2 takes the cake for versatility due to the macro-programmable keys and the hot-swappable switches. Meanwhile, the ENTR has the edge in build quality due to how solid the keyboard’s form factor is.
Ducky One 2 RGB TKL
Next is the Ducky One 2 RGB TKL, which is basically like the Ducky One 2, but with RGB lighting. The RGB version of the Ducky One 2 is pretty much similar to its non-RGB counterpart. It has macro-programmable keys, and hot-swappable switches, you name it, it’s there. In addition to this is the fact that this keyboard now has RGB backlighting, making it superior to the ENTR in the backlighting area. However, the Drop ENTR still wins on the build quality in this case due to its good form factor, so it checks out. Pretty much the same thing here. If you want the ability to modify your experience, get the Ducky One 2 RGB TKL. If you’re looking for a simple plug-and-use keyboard with no muss, no fuss, get the Drop ENTR.
Glorious GMMK Pro
Next on this list is the Glorious GMMK Pro. Both are mechanical keyboards, so they’re pretty similar, they have the same clicky sound when the keys are pressed and have the same PBT keycaps. Ergonomics-wise, they’re also similar, but the Glorious GMMK Pro doesn’t have any way of increasing their base incline. One thing that the Glorious GMMK Pro has the advantage of is the fact that it’s a 75% keyboard. In this regard, the Glorious GMMK Pro has the advantage due to the less space taken. This means that the keyboard wouldn’t get in the way of mouse movement, something essential in a lot of games. It doesn’t stop there, as it also has RGB Backlighting and macro-programmable keys. There’s even a programmable/clickable knob for extra utility. Overall, a very versatile keyboard and a good one to get. Especially for people that like to modify their PC peripherals as the Glorious GMMK Pro has hot-swappable switches and keycaps.
Varmilo VA87M
Last but not least is the Varmilo VA87M, which has the same things the ENTR has, but with additional stuff layered in. They both have the same form factor, with minor differences, and they use PBT keycaps which makes them pretty good. In terms of stability, the Varmilo VA87M does have rubber feet attached, so there are some issues there, though not as bad as some would suggest. Both are wired keyboards with white Backlighting, so no issues there. The difference between the two wired keyboards is that the Varmilo VA87M uses a Mini USB instead of a USB-C. However, the ENTR does have the edge on the Varmilo VA87M in terms of price. This is mostly because the Varmilo VA87M has a wide selection of switches to cater to the preferences of users. In the Drop ENTR’s case, they use either Gateron Yellow or the Halo True, both great switches. In terms of options, the Varmilo VA87M takes the cake from the ENTR. However, both are pretty similar, and if the user’s looking for an affordable keyboard, the ENTR is their best bet.
Check Out Tthe Drop ENTR Today!
Overall, the ENTR Mechanical Keyboard is a decent keyboard to get if the user just wants to get a usable keyboard. This means they don’t want any additional RGB, they don’t have the time to get switches and keycaps, et cetera. They only want to get a keyboard to type and game on, and they’re done. If that’s what you’re looking for, then the ENTR is for you. If you’re looking for a keyboard that you can modify to your liking, though, it’s best to look at another keyboard instead.
