When I tried Gaming PC giant NZXT’s first foray into the mechanical keyboard space, Function (8/10, WIRED Recommended), impressed with its thoughtfulness and beginner-friendliness. As a first in the space, it left a strong impression with some useful features. Its successor, Function 2, focuses on improving the rough edges for enthusiasts.
At first glance, the Function 2 looks nearly identical to the original. It has the left-side volume roller we loved about the original, the same convenient physical button on the left, and it comes with the same tool for replacing all the switches and keycaps on the board. The big changes are mostly under the hood: NZXT has increased the polling rate from 1,000 Hz to 8,000 Hz, switched to using new linear optical switches, and added additional sound damping for a significantly quieter experience. Overall, it’s a more luxurious and customizable experience.
Photo: Eric Ravenscraft
Soft simplicity
For those who like their keyboards to click and clank like a dark, stormy night, Function 2 may be a bit of a disappointment, but for my taste it’s a nice improvement: the new optical switches are softer and quieter, even before you factor in the extra layer of soundproofing at the base.
While a traditional switch has metal contacts connected by a plate on the bottom of the key, an optical switch contains a tiny beam of light. When you press the keycap, the light goes out and the key is activated. This method is slightly more responsive, so there’s less time between when you press a key and when your computer recognizes it.
Photo: Eric Ravenscraft
But in my experience, the more noticeable effect came from the keyboard’s customizable actuation points. In the NZXT CAM software, you can set whether the switches actuate at 1mm or 1.5mm. It might not seem like a big deal, but that 0.5mm difference makes a big difference if a key is pressed accidentally.
