IOGEAR Mechlite Nano Keyboard Review

The IOGEAR Mechlite Nano keyboard is a budget-friendly product that “won’t break the bank or cramp your setup.” While it’s got style, with its two-color keycaps and volume knob, and adopts the best-of-both-worlds 65% layout, does it do enough to stand out from the sea of other sub-$80 options? 

Every little helps

Despite its budget focus, IOGEAR has bundled a USB-C cable, keycap puller, and detailed manual in the Mechlite Nano’s environmentally-friendly box. This is always great to see, as it makes a good first impression. 

Buy the IOGEAR Mechlite Nano on Amazon.com

Speaking of first impressions, I was pleasantly surprised by its aesthetic as I removed the keyboard from its box. The two-tone keycaps both look great and are PBT, which is always a win. As someone who normally swaps out keycaps for a $20+ alternative, it’s nice to be able to stick to stock for once.

The next highlight is the form factor. 65% is trending right now, balancing size and functionality. There are dedicated arrow keys and a few extras below the volume knob, but no number pad or F-row. The size makes it much more ideal for gaming, as there’s a greater area for a mouse to be swung.

Get connected

Connecting the Mechlite Nano keyboard to a PC or other compatible device can be done either through the provided cable or via Bluetooth. While there’s no 2.4 GHz connection here, I honestly don’t mind, as even on more expensive keyboards, I normally end up plugging them in anyway! For those who need 2.4 low-latency wireless, though, the lack of this feature may be a deal-breaker.

Once connected, the keyboard can be customized through a dedicated app. This allows macros to be assigned, key bindings to be changed, and the full per-key RGB lighting to be customized. However, the software isn’t mandatory and the keyboard can be used without it, which is always a plus.

Life’s a switch

Beneath the keycaps sit red keyswitches. Red switches — regardless of the brand — are known for being a light linear option that is well-suited to gaming. They are quick to actuate and reset, making them great for games where users have to be quick with their fingers.

While tactile options are often preferred for exclusively typing, I’d always go with a linear for gaming. With the Mechlite Nano, IOGEAR has chosen wisely. 

With that said, while the Mechlite Nano is clearly geared toward gaming, it’s still perfectly fine to type normally with. The keys feel responsive when typing quickly and I experienced no issues with keys not being registered or registering multiple times, as can be the case on other boards which struggle at higher WPMs.

The downside

My only issues with the board are the overall sound. It has a hollowness and the resonance of pinging from some keys can be unpleasant when left untreated.

Despite the general hollowness, I found the stabilized keys to be perfectly fine. There was no offensive rattle from the spacebar, which is always my main concern when it comes to the more budget keyboards out there.

Fortunately, for those who aren’t so picky about noise and can either ignore it or drown it out using headphones, the underwhelming sound of the Mechlite Nano will be a non-issue.

Mechlite Nano review sample was provided by IOGEAR.