The Drop SHIFT is a fairly versatile keyboard that delivers great features in a slightly compact size. It's remarkably well-built with an aluminum body and doubleshot PBT keycaps, and it should be a very good addition to any gaming or office setup. It has full RGB backlighting and offers some extra features, like hotkeys for media control and a USB passthrough. It also has excellent latency, which is great for fast gaming. Unfortunately, it doesn't have any dedicated software, so the only way to really customize it is by coding your own firmware or using Drop's keyboard configurator offered on their website. On the plus side, it provides an outstanding typing experience, and it's available with many different types of switches, which are hot-swappable so you can easily pull them out and replace them.
Our Verdict
The Drop SHIFT is a great keyboard for gaming. It has amazing latency for fast movements, and the Cherry MX Brown switches on our unit have a short pre-travel, though some other models have a much shorter one. This keyboard is remarkably well-built and has full RGB backlighting. However, it doesn't have any dedicated software, and the customization options aren't very user-friendly.
- Short pre-travel and amazing latency.
- Feels remarkably well-built and solid.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Lacks a wrist rest.
- Doesn't have any dedicated software.
- Customization options aren't user-friendly.
The Drop SHIFT is a wired keyboard that isn't recommended for use with mobile devices.
The Drop SHIFT is great for office use. This slightly compact model has remarkable build quality with stable keys that feel good to type on. The Cherry MX Brown switches on our unit offer nice tactile feedback, while also feeling light and responsive. They're also quiet enough to use in a noise-sensitive environment. However, typing could cause fatigue over time, as this keyboard lacks a wrist rest and has a rather tall profile.
- Feels remarkably well-built and solid.
- Remarkable typing quality.
- Typing noise is quiet.
- Lacks a wrist rest.
The Drop SHIFT is a very good choice for programmers. It feels remarkably well-built and offers an outstanding typing experience. The Cherry MX Brown switches on our unit give good tactile feedback and feel light to type on, but it's also available in a variety of other switches if you prefer. Unfortunately, it lacks a wrist rest for better comfort, and it doesn't have any dedicated software, so customizing it can be a bit more complicated.
- Feels remarkably well-built and solid.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Remarkable typing quality.
- Lacks a wrist rest.
- Customization options aren't user-friendly.
- No dedicated macro keys.
The Drop SHIFT is a bad choice to use with a home theater PC. It's wired-only, meaning you need to run the cable from the couch to your PC, which isn't ideal. It also lacks a trackpad, so you need a mouse to navigate the user interface. On the plus side, it has full RGB backlighting to use in the dark.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Wired-only.
- No trackpad.
- Not as compact as other models.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Drop SHIFT mechanical keyboard in Space Gray with Cherry MX Brown switches. It's also available with clicky Cherry MX Blue, linear Kaihua Speed Silver, clicky Kaihua Box White, tactile Halo Clear, and tactile Halo True. You can also choose to purchase just the frame (sold as 'Barebones') and add the switches yourself. Drop sells a variety of keycap style sets, too, so you can get the ones that suit your preferences the best. Aside from typing experience, we expect our results to be valid for the other variants. You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Drop SHIFT feels remarkably well-built and offers an outstanding typing experience compared to many other keyboards we've tested. It has the same number of keys as a full-sized keyboard but comes in a more compact size, which is great if you want to save some space on your desk. Also, it features hot-swappable switches, meaning you can easily pull them out and replace them, which is great. Unfortunately, it doesn't have any dedicated software and the customization options aren't user-friendly and can get fairly complicated. For more options, check out our recommendations for the best keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best RGB keyboards.
The Drop ALT and the Drop SHIFT are very similar keyboards. However, the ALT is a smaller, compact model without function keys, while the SHIFT is a compact full-sized keyboard with all the standard keys. That said, both options have similar build quality and ergonomics. They are available with the same Cherry MX, Kaihua, or Halo switches, and both offer an excellent typing experience. They also share the same customization options through Drop's website and the QMK toolbox, which aren't very user-friendly.
The Drop SHIFT and the Keychron K3 are two great gaming keyboards, though they're fairly different. The Drop is a wired-only model that has all the same keys as a full-sized keyboard but in a slightly more compact layout. It feels a lot more solid and durable, and it offers a much better typing experience. It also has better latency, so it should feel more responsive for fast gaming. On the other hand, the Keychron has a 75% compact layout with function and arrow keys but no Numpad. You can use it wired or wirelessly, which makes it a lot more versatile for other types of uses.
The Ducky One 2 SF and the Drop SHIFT perform somewhat similarly but have different designs. The Ducky is smaller and doesn't have a Numpad, while the Drop is similar to a full-sized model but with a slightly more compact layout. Both options are great for gaming and are also versatile enough for office work or programming. The Ducky is available with different Cherry MX switches, and all of its keys are programmable, though you have to record macros directly on the keyboard. On the other hand, the Drop is available with Cherry MX, Halo, or Kaihua switches, and it has a much better latency, which is great for fast gaming.
The Obinslab Anne Pro 2 is a better gaming keyboard than the Drop SHIFT, and it's also more versatile overall. The Obinslab is a compact 60% keyboard that can be used wired or wirelessly. It's available in an even wider variety of switches than the Drop keyboard, and the Gateron Brown switches on our unit provide a better typing experience overall. It also has better latency, and it comes with the ObinsKit software for easy customization. On the other hand, the Drop is somewhat bigger and has all the same keys as a full-sized model. So it could be a better choice if you prefer having dedicated arrow keys or a Numpad.
Test Results
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