PC gaming peripherals are, frankly, very expensive. It is very easy to spend the cost of a PC purchase on a mouse, keyboard, and speaker setup. Especially if you are looking for good quality equipment with a few extra features. It's not often that a wireless mechanical keyboard with swappable switches and RGB lighting is rated as cost-effective.

Unless it's the Vissles V84, which packs all these features for $109/£100.

The Vissles V84 is a 75% tenkeyless board, not sacrificing things like arrow keys and function rows. There are several different configurations of this model, depending on your choice of pre-installed switches; at Vissles' recommendation, I pre-installed their in-house designed VS II linear switches.

The white keys contrast strongly with the black frame and look out of place. Also, the white PBT caps remind me of teeth, which is eerie to type on. Thankfully, the tooth comparison fades in use, thanks to the RGB lighting penetrating nicely into the lower caps. At least until you meet someone with an RGB grille.The RGB lighting can be further customized with PC software, with cool effects and smooth switching.

VS II switches are smooth and firm, with a slight stickiness around the edges. The keys are clearly felt when pressed, even though very little force is applied. It is also fairly quiet in terms of noise level, more subdued and less clunky. The keys around the space bar sometimes produce a louder clacking sound, but it is still one of the quieter mechanical keyboards I've used and could be a great choice for streamers and office workers. But if you're not a fan of switches, the really handy thing about this keyboard is that you can easily replace the switches without having to buy a new kit.

Despite the RGB lighting, there are a few things that make this keyboard feel more like a typist's keyboard than a gamer's. One of them is that it does not ship with a specific wireless dongle and relies on Bluetooth (which is very good and responsive) for wireless connectivity, but it is also in the keys. They are beautifully staggered and feel very comfortable to type on. I did a speed test, and even though I have only been using this keyboard for a short time, I was able to easily exceed 100 wpm.

However, gamers who like to place their keyboards at odd angles may find it uncomfortable or a little different, so it may be worth a try first. I prefer to place mine at a slight angle and personally have had no problems. There are also magnetic feet that can be used to increase or decrease the slope of the board, which some may want to avoid because of the intentional overlapping construction of the keys. Also, people with long fingernails may not be suited for this board, as they could accidentally touch the top key.

The construction itself is very solid and a bit heavy. It is a nice touch that the keyboard does not move when placed on a desk or in one's lap, but it detracts a bit from portability. When you pick it up, you may wonder, "What the heck is in this thing? For example, the USB input dimple in the plastic would be super useful if it were real. It would be like being tricked by a fake pocket in your jeans. So naturally, I took it apart.

The first step in this process is to remove the frame that surrounds the outside of the keyboard. This is supposedly to prevent dust and hair from getting inside, which is also what gives it the toothy look I mentioned earlier. In my opinion, the keyboard looks much nicer without it, but it would be easy to paint it if you wanted to customize the look (in fact, I did.)

Next I removed the keycaps and unscrewed the board; after unplugging the two internal cables, I managed to cut the keyboard in half. One half consists of a black plastic plate and battery, the other is a metal top plate with keys.

Despite the battery life for its size, the battery half of the keyboard was the lightest. It weighed only a fraction more than the other part, which consisted of the front panel with a few keys left over. In other words, the weight of this device seems to be entirely due to the quality of the keys themselves.

Even if we were to open it up and find it full of bricks, it is hard to complain about a keyboard with this feel at this price. Not to mention that there are options to further customize it or use it as a Bluetooth device (with changeable keycaps) that is fully compatible with a Mac for those who need it. In addition to the device's versatility - interchangeable switches, wired and Bluetooth connectivity - is its portable size. If you are looking for a small mechanical board that can be used for a variety of applications at an affordable price, the Vissles V84 is a great choice.