This article will help you find the best between Drop ALT vs CTRL.
DESIGN
Drop ALT
The Drop ALT mechanical keyboard has a 65% compact design and dedicated arrow keys. It doesn’t take up much desk space and is almost the same size as the Ducky One 2 SF. If you prefer a larger model with a numpad, consider the Drop SHIFT. The board is also available in a TenKeyLess variant called the Drop CTRL. The Drop ALT has excellent build quality. It has a very sturdy aluminum frame that is completely rigid. The double-shot PBT keycaps are comfortable. However, the keys wobble slightly. The inclination feet are magnetically attached to the board. The rubber beneath the feet, along with the weight of the aluminum frame, prevents it from sliding about easily.
The ergonomics of this keyboard are adequate. It comes with magnetically attached incline feet that are easy to remove and stay in place nicely. You may also flip them around to put them on a downward slope. Unfortunately, it does not include a wrist rest, which is disappointing, given the greater profile of the keys. The illumination on the Drop ALT keyboard is fantastic. It’s incredibly bright and looks amazing even in bright lighting. An RGB strip wraps around the frame, which is a lovely touch. Hotkeys can change the brightness and effects directly, but the user manual must understand the full list of hotkeys. You may also modify the RGB illumination via Drop’s internet interface and save the changes to your keyboard. It is not, however, user-friendly and is not considered dedicated software.
Drop CTRL
This keyboard features dedicated arrow keys and a function key row. It’s slightly larger in all dimensions and heavier than the Drop ENTR, even though they’re both TKL keyboards. The Drop CTRL keyboard is extremely well-made. It boasts a sturdy aluminum frame and a metal baseplate with no flex, as well as high-quality, doubleshot PBT keycaps. The keys wobble slightly, as with other Drop keyboards we’ve examined, with larger keys like the Spacebar and Enter keys bouncing slightly more than tiny keys. Yet, it is not particularly obvious while typing—six rubber feet on the bottom help to keep the keyboard in place. The Drop CTRL keyboard is ergonomically sound.
Because of its TenKeyLess size, your fingers may not have to stretch as far for specific keys as they would on a full-sized keyboard, but it has a constant slope and a tall profile, so typing for extended duration may cause tiredness. Wrists may help you avoid wrist fatigue, but they are not provided. Drop does. However, sell wrist rests separately on their website. The drop also states that this keyboard features removable, magnetic feet for adjusting the incline, but ours did not. According to photographs on Drop’s website, these feet may only be available in the Space Gray color variation.
Whereas the Drop ENTR keyboard has only white backlighting, the Drop CTRL keyboard features complete RGB backlighting. When adjusted to display only white lights, there is a distinct reddish color. With hotkeys, you may modify the illumination directly on the keyboard. These hotkeys, however, are not labeled on the keyboard and are only mentioned in the user manual. Drop’s QMK firmware interface on their website lets you change lighting choices and flash the settings onto your keyboard. Yet, it is not a user-friendly procedure.
CABLES AND WIRELESS VERSATILITY
Drop ALT
The provided USB-C cable is basic, and when plugged in, the connector wobbles slightly. There are USB-C ports on both sides of the keyboard, and you may connect to your computer using either one. The Drop ALT keyboard is a wired-only gadget that cannot be used with wireless devices.
Drop CTRL
The Drop CTRL comes with a standard rubber USB-C cable. The Drop CTRL keyboard is a wired-only device that cannot be used wirelessly.
TYPING EXPERIENCE
Drop ALT
The Cherry MX Brown switches on our equipment provide decent tactile feedback and are light to press due to the lack of effort required to engage the key. The pre-travel and total travel distances are consistent with the specified 2mm pre-travel and 4mm travel distances for the Cherry MX. Still, they may vary per unit due to manufacturing tolerances. It is available in several switches, including clicky and linear, so you may select the ones you want.
It has really good typing quality. The double shot PBT keycaps are comfortable, and the Cherry MX Brown switches provide strong tactile feedback, but the board is available in various switches. Because of the high profile of the keys and the lack of a wrist rest, you may feel exhausted after lengthy periods of typing. Our unit is peaceful and will not bother anyone around you. The latency of the Drop ALT keyboard is low. Most gamers and regular tasks will be fine, but competitive players may notice a delay.
Drop CTRL
Our unit’s Cherry MX Brown switches are light to type on and have a tactile bump. They also have a short pre-travel distance and will not create tiredness when typing for extended periods. If you want a different feel, this keyboard is also available in various switches, and it’s hot-swappable, so you can replace any of the original switches with switches that are more suitable for your needs. The Drop CTRL has very good typing quality. The double shot PBT keycaps are comfortable to type on, and while there is some minor wobbling in the keys, it isn’t visible while typing.
The Cherry MX Brown switches provide superb tactile sensation while being lightweight. The quality of your typing will vary depending on the switches you obtain. Sadly, because it is a rather high-profile board, there is no provided wrist support, which may lead to wrist fatigue for some users when typing for lengthy periods. Our Drop CTRL keyboard’s Cherry MX Brown switches are quiet and unlikely to irritate anyone around you. We expect the clicky Kaihua Box White or Cherry MX Blue switches on this keyboard to be louder. The Drop CTRL has a low latency and should feel responsive enough for day-to-day use. Competitive gamers, on the other hand, may prefer a lower option.
SOFTWARE AND OPERATING SYSTEM
Drop ALT
There is no dedicated software for the Drop ALT. Nonetheless, QMK firmware is accessible on their website, but we do not consider its dedicated software. It is, however, not very user-friendly. It allows you to program macros and adjust the RGB lighting, but you must first download the profile and install it on your keyboard. The board works well with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Drop CTRL
Although there is no customization software for the Drop CTRL, you can modify the backlighting directly on the keyboard using a sequence of hotkeys provided in the user manual. Drop’s website also allows you to adjust lighting and key bindings with their bespoke QMK firmware tool. After selecting the adjustments you desire with this program, you must download the firmware and flash it to your keyboard. Sadly, for beginners, this technique is not very user-friendly and does not qualify as software for our review. Although the Drop CTRL keyboard is fully compatible with Windows and Linux, the Scroll Lock and Pause/Break buttons do not function on macOS.
CONCLUSION
The Drop ALT is a wired keyboard that is not intended for use with mobile devices. Because it is a wired-only keyboard, the Drop CTRL is not intended for use with mobile devices or tablets. The Drop ALT is ideal for usage in the office. Our unit’s Cherry MX Brown switches provide strong tactile feedback and outstanding typing quality. It’s well-made, and you can adjust the foot position to produce a negative inclination. However, it does not include a wrist rest, and typing on it may cause tiredness.
The Drop CTRL is useful in the office. It comes in various switches and is hot-swappable, so you can install the switches you desire. We chose Cherry MX Brown switches because they are light enough not to be exhausting and have a pleasing tactile bump. This keyboard, however, lacks inclination options and has a somewhat high-profile design. It also lacks wrist support. Thus you may get wrist tiredness when typing for extended periods. We hope with this blog, you now know which one to pick between Drop ALT vs CTRL.
