Anne Pro Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Review
The Anne Pro is a 60% wireless mechanical keyboard with full-key rollover, anti-ghosting and full RGB lighting. It comes in both black and white, with the option of 3 gateron switches. For $60, does this wireless mechanical keyboard hold its own?
What's in the box?
- Anne Pro wireless keyboard
- Bluetooth adapter
- Micro USB cable
- Keycap puller
What I like
The Anne Pro comes in two colors, black and white, with the option of purchasing different colored cases online through various sellers; which is great for those who enjoy consistency in their office or workroom.
You have a choice between three types of Gateron switches; brown, red and blue for the typing experience you prefer. I went with the reds as they offer a solid typing and gaming experience without the loud clickiness of blue switches.
With the Anne Pro, you're able to connect the keyboard up to four different devices. You can easily switch between devices with a macro and turn off bluetooth altogether to use the board plugged in or to disconnect when you're traveling with it.
Full-sized keyboards take up a lot of space, the Anne Pro is a 60% keyboard that gets rid of the function keys and number-pad. This makes it a perfect choice for those who travel and enjoy having the same typing experience at home, work or school.
RGB lighting is a big feature these days and the Anne Pro absolutely delivers with a broad spectrum of colors and you can customize each key to be a different color. There are also effects you can add, such as light trails as you type or breathing effects.
What I don't like
Bluetooth connectivity isn't always the smoothest way to connect devices and the Anne Pro's only way of wireless connectivity is through Bluetooth. I've experienced severe latency issues with the Anne Pro, to the point where I'd pull out a USB cable and connect it that way. This makes gaming wirelessly almost impossible, which is unfortunate as a big market for mechanical keyboards are PC gamers.
Although the Pro has key macros you can use to turn on and switch between RGB effects, you're going to need to use the Obins app on your iPhone or Android device. The app is still a big work-in-progress and makes connecting between the Anne and your computer a hassle. Macros that I've tried assigning or key changes won't go through and that's a big drawback when the keyboard is advertised as fully customizable.
There is no way to fully turn off the keyboard unless the battery dies. This means that even when you aren't using the board, the battery is still technically draining. There are mods that you can do to install a hard-switch to the case, but for most users it's just not a viable choice.
Should you buy it?
Yes. I think the Anne Pro is worth the price of admission. There aren't many choices in the market when it comes to wireless mechanical keyboards and for $60 it offers a lot that the competition doesn't.
The smaller form factor at 60% may be a turn-off to some users, but if you rarely use the number-pad and function keys, it's worth a try. It only took me about a week to transition from a full-sized keyboard to a 60% board and it's honestly hard to go back now.
I'd like to see the next version of the Anne Pro to include a dedicated wireless adapter specifically made for the board , since bluetooth connectivity gets spotty. An updated app that allows for quick and seamless RGB editing and macro updating wouldn't't hurt either.