WhirlwindFX Atom Gaming Keyboard Review: A Decent Razer Alternative

These days in that location's no shortage of nifty gaming keyboard options out there, simply might I impress upon yous the consideration for one detail option, called the Atom lx% gaming keyboard from WhirlwindFX?

It'south not the RGB lighting or the small-scale 60% formfactor that makes the Atom a desirable option. It's not the double shot ABS keycaps, or the USB-C connectedness. Because these are all things that can be found on other keyboards besides.

Now, those things are still nice features of the WhirlwindFX Atom sixty% gaming keyboard. Just as I stated above, come for the keyboard and stay for the integrations. Because information technology'due south the game integrations that WhirlwindFX has cooked upwards that make this keyboard a piddling bit special.

To the betoken where I would consider this a decent culling to Razer Chroma. All the same assuming a statement that may be, as Razer Chroma is more or less the pinnacle of integrated RGB lighting for better game immersion, WhirlwindFX is not to be tossed aside.

With the Atom yous go 3 unlike options for switches, which includes Crimson Linear, Bluish Clicky, and Brown Tactile. I take the Cherry-red Linear switches on the model I tested, and I really similar the feel of the keys when pressed.

Overall it'due south provided a great typing experience and then far.

The WhirlwindFX Cantlet keyboard is small-scale in size but large on lighting

The gaming integrations are the star of the show here. In fact I'll go so far as to say that these are the leading feature of the keyboard. And I don't call back WhirlwindFX would disagree with me there.

It knows that what actually separates it from other gaming keyboards out there is the lighting integrations. As at that place really aren't many other options out there that play special furnishings for games. I matter to keep in mind hither is that Razer Blush undoubtedly has more available game profiles. Both officially made by Razerandby the community of users. You tin even create your own custom profiles.

With WhirlwindFX there are a few similarities hither. You lot can create your own custom profiles. If you lot know how to apply the HTML5/javascript creation system. There's also a collection of fifty top games that already have integration profiles created.

Including Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2, Valorant, Phone call Of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone, League Of Legends, Amidst Us, and even Genshin Touch on.

Some games get more furnishings than others

If there is ane downside to the lighting effects on this keyboard it's the lack of effects for some of the games. While they exercise provide a cool and unique visual style to your gaming experience, some integrations do unfortunately experience lackluster.

Games like Valorant for example announced to have a more extensive set of integrations available. Games similar Destiny two on the other hand do not, as it only has like three effects. Which is a fleck of a letdown for me personally since Destiny 2 is 1 of the PC games I play the nigh. And this seemed like a perfect opportunity to accept effects popular upwardly for things like usage of supers and other abilities.

What's squeamish is that WhirlwindFX makes it easy to request integration support. On the page with all of its integrations, at that place'southward a form at the very lesser you can fill out to asking support for games y'all don't already encounter on the list.

Y'all could as well use this as a method to contact them almost adding more integrations to a game that does already have integration furnishings. And peak of all that, you can click on each game to bring upwardly a quick YouTube video that shows what the all the integrations expect like.

Just in instance you're curious to see them earlier downloading.

The software is a footling touch and become

Part of the beauty of the RGB game integrations is the software. WhirlwindFX calls their installer SignalRGB, and it'due south more than simply a hub for adjusting the brightness of the LEDS and selecting the game integration y'all want to use.

Information technology also -provides a mode for the keyboard to more or less work withAnygame. How does it practise this? Quite simple really. Information technology uses smart screen assay. Basically the software can come across the colors that are on screen at whatever given time and then it applies effects to the keyboard based on those colors and the stuff that'southward happening.

As an example, over the weekend I watched the Snyder Cut of Justice League. And in that flick there's a scene where Aquaman and Bruce Wayne are hanging out in a snowy landscape. The software's smart screen analysis was able to recognize the snow and the on-screen colors and use that to create a sort of snow fall/flicker upshot.

If all you take is the keyboard itself, the effects are probable less exciting for when you're watching videos. Simply the smart screen analysis is quite interesting for when you lot're playing a game that doesn't have an actual integration.

The software feels like it could use a picayune bit of fine tuning

Now the downside. Unfortunately, I seemed to exist having some weird issues with the SignalRGB software. More times than not, if this was running in the background while playing Destiny 2, it would kick me out of the game screen and back to the desktop.

To be clear, information technology wasn't causing the game to crash. It was just pulling me dorsum to desktop so I'd have to click back to the game. The reason this became more of an issue is considering I need the software running to become the in-game effects. Just I institute it virtually-impossible to keep the game window open for longer than a minute or ii.

This results in me having to close the software program entirely. The keyboard of class still works. Equally exercise the RGB backlights on the keys. I just won't get any special effects. That being said, those integration effects are the whole reason to buy this keyboard.

So it was a little bit of a letdown that it wouldn't work properly for one of my favorite games. That isn't to say this happens with all games. I didn't seem to have the event with Genshin Impact. Merely this is still something that consumers should be aware of.

The aura lighting really is fantabulous

Information technology's piece of cake to overlook something like this, simply the lighting on this keyboard really is a piffling bit brighter than other keyboards I've been using recently. That'southward all thanks to the apply of a white backplate under the switches.

This makes for a sort of reflective surface for the LEDs that creates an aura result. Helping the RGB lighting spread across the keyboard more than and shine through the spaces in the keys a trivial improve.

Overall it makes for a more visually appealing experience. Even if y'all don't use much of the lighting effects, and tend to continue the backlighting simple during regular utilize, it notwithstanding looks better and makes the keys easier to run into. This also actually helps when y'all're on your PC late at night in darker situations.

I'm a night owl and tend to play games pretty tardily. And a lot of that time I like the lights off and then it feels more immersive. Because of the aura lighting, all of the keyboard is a little more visible and I don't have problems seeing annihilation I'm pressing.

Super easy setup and great portability

While I don't personally have this keyboard anywhere, as I no longer have LAN meetups with friends like I used to, this keyboard is extremely portable and like shooting fish in a barrel to ready.

That makes information technology a great option if yous demand something that is easy to cart around from LAN to LAN. Or if yous just split your game time betwixt more than ane location oftentimes enough. Its small formfactor allows for like shooting fish in a barrel storage in a bag. And the USB-C cable that comes with it is braided and fairly durable. And so plugging information technology in and unplugging it all the time isn't going to vesture it downwardly much. If at all.

If you lot're the type of person who plays games abroad from abode, the WhirlwindFX Atom is a very dainty option for both at home and on the go.

Should I buy the WhirlwindFX Atom 60% gaming keyboard?

Before taking the plunge on this one, I'd highly recommend you look at what games have lighting integrations available. The games you play nearly may not have any integrations at all.

Or you lot could be in the same gunkhole as me. Where a game you play a lot is supported, merely but offers a few much less heady integration effects. That should weigh in heavily here. Because information technology isthe chief reason to buy this keyboard.

There are other reasons to get it of course, the aura lighting, the quality construction, and the portability are all great features. And you could always create your own profiles for lighting if yous know how.

All-in-all, information technology's a decent gaming keyboard for $99. Especially since some of the lighting integrations are pretty cool. Cyberpunk 2077 in particular has quite a few of them and they really add to the gameplay experience.

That being said, something like the Razer Huntsman Mini is on sale for $99 right now. And there is a good chance that Razer Chroma may accept more than effects to offer you, so consider that too.

WhirlwindFX Atom lx% Gaming Keyboard