Vissles LP85 is a stylish, well-built, optical-mechanical keyboard that will suit any home or office. The keys are soft and easy to use, it has great connectivity, and could be the Apple Magic Keyboard-killer you've been waiting for.

Specifications
  • Brand: Vissles
  • Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Backlight: RGB
  • Media Controls: Integrated function keys
  • Battery: 2,000mAh
  • Switch Type: Optical-Mechanical
  • Number of Keys: 85
  • Compatible Devices: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iOS
Pros
  • Ultra-thin, stylish design
  • Ergonomic key spacing
  • Fast and smooth key actuation
  • Excellent build quality, both case and keys
  • Stickers in the box!
Cons
  • No keyboard riser/adjustment legs
  • Smallish battery
  • Currently no ISO keyboard configuration
Buy This Product
Vissles LP85

When you consider buying a new keyboard, you'll encounter one word over and over again: mechanical. And for a good reason, as mechanical keyboards are great, work brilliantly, and can even make your typing faster.

But what if you don't want a clicky-clacking mechanical keyboard? That's where the Vissles LP85 Optical-Mechanical keyboard steps in, delivering the precision of a mechanical board with the fast and smooth actuation of a full-optical keyboard.

The Vissles LP85 combines excellent optical switches with a really outstanding low-profile design to deliver a delightfully stylish keyboard that won't look out of place in any office, anywhere. Throw in a splash of RGB lighting, the option to switch between Windows and Mac configurations, and you have a great keyboard on your hands.

Sounds good, right? Keep reading to find out what we loved in our Vissles LP85 Optical-Mechanical keyboard review.

Vissles LP85: Ultra-Thin, Ultra-Smooth Optical Keyboard

The Vissles LP85 is an ultra-thin 75% optical-mechanical keyboard. It comes with a wonderfully ergonomic design, with each key well-crafted and set into the solid aluminum frame.

vissles lp85 keyboard connectivity close long

One of the first things that strikes you when unboxing the Vissles LP85 is its size and build quality. The Vissles' X Optical switches are only 5.4mm high, allowing Vissles to go with an ultra-thin design. How thin, you say? The LP85 stands just 12mm high from base to the top of its slimline keycaps, which actually makes it the world's slimmest 85-key keyboard and more than a match for Apple's Magic Keyboard.

Oh, and there are stickers in the box. Who doesn't love stickers?!

Back to the keyboard. The LP85 weighs in at 547g (19.29oz), so it is perfectly portable, and you won't notice the additional weight if you throw the LP85 in your school or office bag. On the underside, you'll find two silicone feet running the length of the board, helping to keep it stabilized and centered as you type.

vissles lp85 keyboard side view with coins

However, there are no height adjustment legs or otherwise, which I would consider an oversight. As beautiful as the keyboard is and as flat to your table as it lies, you don't always want to use a keyboard at that angle. The LP85 is designed as an ultra-thin keyboard, so the decision to forgo risers makes sense in context, but you're more than likely to find yourself reaching for something to prop up the keyboard to deliver a better typing angle. The board itself does rise from 7.85mm at the front to 12mm at the rear, but that gradient is nowhere near what you would find with integrated legs or risers.

vissles lp85 keyboard connectivity close long

We loved the Vissles V84 when we reviewed it, and one of its most handy features returns to the LP85. Although many portable keyboards now include the option to switch between a Windows and Mac layout, not all do. It's just a handy little extra that means you'll only need one keyboard to switch between your computers when the time comes. Press Fn + A for Windows or Fn + S to switch to Mac to switch between modes.

One thing to note about the LP85 is that while these are optical-mechanical switches, you can't swap out the keycaps like you can on a regular mechanical board. The ABS keycaps, though, are lovely. In addition, Vissles opted for a soft-touch fingerprint-resistant coating with a slightly concave feel, again adding to the comfort and ease of use.

vissles lp85 keyboard side view with riser

Under each key, you'll find an RGB light, with the LP85 supporting 19 different RGB lighting configurations, such as rainbow swirls, random patterns, and much more. Thankfully, there is also the option to switch to a single RGB color mode (of which there are an additional eight modes), but all things considered, the LP85's RGB lighting is quite nice compared to some of the more flashy options you see.

Vissles LP85 Connectivity and Battery Life

The Vissles LP85 has a decent if not exceptional 2,000mAh battery. The keyboard will stay up and running for days before you need to recharge it, which is jolly handy if you're going to use the LP85 as a portable keyboard, away from your desk or other easy to reach power sources.

vissles lp85 keyboard connectivity slider usb port

Connectivity comes from a USB Type-C port found at the rear of the keyboard, alongside which you'll find a small switch allowing you to swap between wired and wireless modes.

Wireless connectivity comes from Bluetooth 5.0, meaning you can also connect the LP85 to three different devices without reconfiguring each time. Perfect for swapping between your desktop, laptop, and a tablet or smartphone on the go.

Vissles LP85 Optical Switches Are Great For Typing

Vissles have opted for optical-mechanical switches (known officially as Vissles LK525 low profile optical switches) on the LP85, which makes a difference to both how you type and the speed with which you can type. The biggest difference between a traditional mechanical keyboard switch and an optical keyboard switch is actuation force, i.e., how hard you have to push the key to register a stroke.

An optical-mechanical uses light to track your key movement. You use less force to register your keyboard inputs, helping you to type faster and theoretically allowing greater accuracy due to the increased responsiveness.

vissles lp85 keyboard corner view

Switching from a full mechanical keyboard to the optical keyboard did take a little getting up to speed. If you're accustomed to the tactile resistance of a mechanical keyboard (and especially if you use switches that require a bit of effort to use), the sudden ease of actuation feels both odd and pleasant simultaneously, your fingers gliding across the low profile keys with new-found ease of movement.

What is for certain is that the LP85 could well become an excellent option for gamers, as with most optical-mechanical keyboards. Faster key actuation means faster inputs, and when you're gaming, input speed is everything.

vissles lp85 keyboard connectivity close

Talking actuation, the Vissles LP85 comes with N-key rollover (NKRO) with 50g actuation force (at 50±10gf), an average of 0.2ms response, and 1.2mm pre-travel (at 1.2±0.30mm) and a total travel of 2.5mm (at 2.5±0.30mm).

But if you think you're getting away from the trademark mechanical keyboard click, think again. The LP85 comes with a satisfying click for audible feedback, and while it isn't as loud as, say, the Cherry MX Blue, you're definitely not using a sound-dampening membrane. It's a higher-pitched click than you will find on some mechanical keyboards, too, as the slimline design leaves little room for thudding or additional movement that can cause undue sound.

vissles lp85 keyboard long view

For example, I found the clicking quieter and more gentle than with a Cherry MX Red mechanical keyboard also sitting on my desk, but noisier than a Cherry MX Brown, which, of course, does not have a tactile click.

I spend most of my time with my fingers pressed into a keyboard of some form, so comfort is everything, and the LP85 is a comfortable keyboard. The key spacing on the LP85 closely resembles the Apple Magic Keyboard, a keyboard considered very comfortable by many. Vissles' efforts to match the key spacing have paid dividends because you get the fluidity and precision you want without overstraining your hands between keys. As someone who doesn't have massive hands, ergonomic keyboard design is important to maintain speed of typing, and the LP85 nails it.

Something potential purchasers should know is that currently, the LP85 keyboard is only available in ANSI configuration. Currently, there are no plans for an ISO configuration, but that may well change in the future.

The Vissles LP85 Is a Fantastic Ultra-Thin Optical Keyboard

Since 2018, Vissles has been slowly building its keyboard-building reputation, improving bit by bit with each new keyboard release. The Vissles LP85 is another excellent keyboard from the manufacturer, delivering a smooth and comfortable typing experience, tasteful RGB lighting, brilliant build-quality, and more into a well-designed and aesthetically pleasing package.

vissles lp85 keyboard with stickers

But, the LP85 isn't without fault.

The lack of integrated keyboard arms is a slight annoyance that means you'll have to carry something around with you at all times if you want to maximize your comfort. I'm using the LP85 at my desk and have some small extra risers, but it's definitely a consideration before you buy. The keyboard also lacks the customization options of the V84 in terms of key-remapping, while the ultra-thin design of the LP85 means the battery is also much smaller. Another thing that may somewhat irritate Mac users is the placement of the LP85 function key, slap bang in the middle of the left-hand Option and Command keys. Again, it's only a small issue, but one that regular Mac users should be aware of.

Furthermore, at the time of writing, the lack of an ISO configuration will put some potential European users off, though I have to say that this hasn't been an issue during testing and review (I'm in the UK).

So, how much does the Vissles LP85 cost?

At the time of review, the Vissles LP85 Ultra-Thin keyboard is available on Kickstarter for $99, rising to $139 once the campaign ends and the product enters full production. Both prices are more than acceptable for a keyboard delivering comfort, style, and precision, though picking up at the lower price sweetens the deal just that little bit more.