Fantech has a lineup of mechanical keyboard under their Maxfit series of keyboards. The Maxfit Air is their newest keyboard in that series featuring a low-profile option that cater for those that prefers an ultra-thin design. The Maxfit Air starts at S$83, and comes in either 83-keys or 99-keys.
Unboxing
Here is what you will find the box:
- Maxfit Air keyboard
- 2.4G dongle
- Type-C cable
- 2-in-1 Keycap/Switch Puller
- Non-accented keycaps
- Quick start guide
- Stickers
Build quality and design
The Maxfit Air that I have is the 83-keys variant which is better known as a 75% layout. There is only one design choice for this keyboard, featuring monochrome keycaps with RGBY accents keys. This clearly takes inspiration from GMK Dualshot.
The low-profile frame of the Maxfit Air is clean and modern with refined edges accompanied by a premium aluminium frame. The build quality is good as the whole keyboard feels strong and firm. Given the slim side profile, you can see the switches from the sides, and with RGB lighting the light will be exposed from that view.
With regards to switches you can choose between two types – (1) linear [red], and (2) tactile [brown]. There are no specifications on the weight of the switches, but they do feel like an average actuation weight, nothing too heavy or light.
The USB-C port is located on the left-hand side of the Maxfit Air, housed alongside the on/off switch. And on the other end of the keyboard, you’ll find switch toggles that you can choose between Mac/Win as well as the three modes of connectivity. There is also a recessed area to store the 2.4GHz USB dongle underneath the keyboard. The rubber feet offers two angles of height.
Typing acoustics & experience
Given the Maxfit Air is a low-profile keyboard, the acoustics from this keyboard isn’t going to as full as other regular profile keyboards that we’ve tested here. I did not go into the internals, but it looks like the Maxfit Air uses either an integrated plate or sandwich mount. The typing feel is more on the stiff side, but the sound is more consistent throughout each keys of the keyboard.
Acoustics wise, you shouldn’t be expecting too much from the Maxfit Air as it does sound pretty flat and dull due to the combination of mounting style and use of a low profile switch. You can take a listen at the stock sound test below:
Connectivity and battery
Maxfit Air supports three modes of connectivity – (1) wired via USB, (2) Bluetooth 5.0, and (3) 2.4GHz wireless. I like that there is a physical switch to toggle between macOS or Windows keyboard use, and it is good that it caters to both camps even on the design of the keyboard.
And as with all Fantech products, you still don’t get a singular software or app that works for all their products. Instead, there is a separate software that you have to download specially for the Maxfit Air in order to perform customisations such as key mappings, RGB lighting, and macros. It would have been nice if Fantech finally creates their own software given they have many products launched already.
Lastly, Fantech says that if you don’t enable RGB lighting, the Maxfit Air is expected to last for up to 400 hours on a single charge. But if you like to have RGB enabled, you might be looking at somewhere around 90 hours or so.
Conclusion
The Maxfit Air is targeted mainly for those who wants a really slim and good-looking keyboard yet functional in many aspects (software compatibility and connection). Acoustics here is pretty much a secondary goal of the Maxfit Air.