The Leopold FC900R is an acceptable mechanical keyboard, but it's limited on features. It's really well-built with a solid plastic frame and doubleshot PBT keycaps. You can get it with a variety of Cherry MX switches, and the unit we tested has Cherry MX Browns. It offers outstanding typing quality and minimal typing noise, but your experience may vary depending on which switch you get. Sadly, it doesn't have any backlighting and you can't set any macros; however, you can remap a few keys using the DIP switches underneath. It's sold through various retailers around the world, all of which can be found on the manufacturer's website, and you can buy it from mechanicalkeyboards.com in the US.
Our Verdict
The Leopold FC900R is disappointing for gaming. It lacks backlighting and you can't program any macros. However, it's available in a variety of Cherry MX switches, and the Brown switches we tested have a low pre-travel distance and are light to press.
- Excellent build quality.
- Can't program any macros.
- No backlighting.
The Leopold FC900R is wired-only and isn't design to be used with mobile devices.
The Leopold FC900R is good for office use. It's well-built with a solid frame and doubleshot PBT keycaps. The typing quality is outstanding and the Cherry MX Brown switches are quiet, but these depend on which switches you get. It has acceptable ergonomics with one incline setting, but it doesn't have a wrist rest.
- Excellent build quality.
- Outstanding typing quality.
- Quiet typing noise.
- Doesn't have a wrist rest.
The Leopold FC900R is unremarkable for programming. It offers outstanding typing quality with its doubleshot PBT keycaps and tactile Cherry MX Brown switches. However, it lacks backlighting, and you can't program any macros. Also, the ergonomics are only mediocre, and it doesn't have a wrist rest.
- Outstanding typing quality.
- Quiet typing noise.
- Can't program any macros.
- No backlighting.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 26, 2024: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed REALFORCE R2 in the Keystrokes section of this review.
- Updated Jun 21, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update introduces new Backlight Features and Backlight Clarity test boxes. We've also added a new Switches test box, added additional test comparisons to our Hardware Customizability test box that we introduced with our last Test Bench. For an in-depth look at our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated May 31, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.1. This update adds several new tests addressing Hardware Customization, Macro Keys And Programming, and Wireless Mobile Compatibility. We've also added new objective evaluations to the Typing Noise test, and we've simplified several tests and removed several others that were no longer relevant. For an in-depth look at all our changes, you can see our full changelog here.
- Updated Apr 22, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Leopold FC900R in Charcoal with Blue lettering and Cherry MX Brown switches. It's also sold with Cherry MX Blue, Red, Black, Silent Red, Clear, and Silver switches. It's available in many different color schemes, including various font colors, so you can choose the one that suits your setup the best. This is a full-size model, and there's also a TKL version, the FC750R, which is available in many of the same colors. You can see the label for our unit here.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Leopold FC900R is a good mechanical office keyboard with outstanding typing quality, but it's limited in features and isn't versatile. Other keyboards have macro-programmable keys and cost less, like the Ducky One 2 or the Razer BlackWidow.
See our recommendations for the best keyboards for writers, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best gaming keyboards.
The Ducky One 2 RGB TKL is better overall than the Leopold FC900R. All keys on the Ducky are macro-programmable, and our unit has full RGB backlighting, although there are some variants without any lighting. On the other hand, the Leopold is full-sized and has a NumPad.
The Ducky One 2 is better overall than the Leopold FC900R, but they're similar keyboards that are each available in a variety of switches. The Ducky has macro-programmable keys and some variants have backlighting, but the one we tested doesn't. Both keyboards have excellent build quality and outstanding typing quality.
The Durgod Taurus K320 is better than the Leopold FC900R for most uses. The Durgod has macro-programmable keys and has dedicated software. However, the Leopold is better-built and a better choice for office use because it offers a much better typing experience.
The GLORIOUS GMMK is better overall than the Leopold FC900R. The GLORIOUS has macro-programmable keys, RGB backlighting, and dedicated software. However, the Leopold offers a better overall typing experience with the Cherry MX Brown switches we tested, but they're each available in a range of switches, so your experience may vary.
Test Results
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