CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Review: The World’s First Ultra-Wideband Gaming Keyboard

Wireless gaming keyboards and I—it hasn’t been a love story for a long time. Wireless technology has long been the norm for mice, headsets, and controllers, but when it came to keyboards—of all things—I’ve steered clear of wireless models for years. Too often, noticeable latency or dead batteries have pulled me out of my flow right in the middle of a session. With the CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact, unveiled in June, a keyboard has now landed on my desk that aims to dispel exactly these reservations—using a technology that simply hasn’t been seen in a keyboard before: Ultra-Wideband. After several weeks of intensive use for writing and gaming, I’m sharing my thoughts in this CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact review.

Technical Specifications of the CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact

Product	K63W Pro Compact
Switch Type	Mechanical (Low Profile)
Available Switch Types	CHERRY MX LOW PROFILE 2.0
Switch replaceable	No
Replaceable keycaps	Yes
Material	Plastic
Keycaps	ABS
Dimensions (L x W x H)	307 x 135 x 30 mm (70 percent)
Weight	820 grams
Battery	6,000 mAh
Battery life	up to 1,100 hours
Connectivity	Ultra-Wideband (wireless); USB Type-C (wired)
Backlight	Per-key RGB
Construction	Gasket-Mount
Polling rate	8,000 Hz (wired & wireless)
Release	July 2, 2026
Price	€179.99 (MSRP)

CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Review: Design and Build Quality

The CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact features a form factor that CHERRY itself calls a “70-percent layout,” and one that I quickly grew to love in everyday use. The idea behind it: The full F-row is retained, while the side elements—the numeric keypad, navigation keys, and wide bezels—are consistently omitted. The result is a compact keyboard measuring 307 x 135 x 30 mm that takes up surprisingly little space on the desk and, above all, leaves significantly more room for mouse movement.

Anyone who plays fast-paced shooters at low DPI and makes sweeping arm movements will immediately appreciate this extra space. A clever feature is the buttons in the lower-right corner: They can be switched between arrow keys and functions like Shift or Ctrl, or—via the Mod-Tap setting—even used as both at the same time. This allows the board to cleverly compensate for the lack of a dedicated arrow key block, which is a design limitation.

Weighing in at 820 grams, the K63W Pro Compact has a comfortable weight. It sits firmly on the table without slipping while typing or during intense gaming moments, yet remains portable for a keyboard of this size. At the heart of the design is the genuine gasket-mount construction, which CHERRY uses to give the keyboard a softer, more cushioned keystroke feel. In practice, this works surprisingly well—more on that in the hands-on section. Visually, the keyboard has a understated and clean look: a dark chassis, gray and black keycaps, and per-key customizable RGB lighting that adds just the right amount of gaming flair without being obtrusive.

As impressive as the build quality is, I do have one criticism: the keycaps are made solely of ABS plastic. For a keyboard priced in the premium segment, I would have expected higher-quality PBT keycaps, such as those found on the Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless or the Logitech G512 X.

As is well known, ABS keycaps tend to become glossy on the most frequently used keys after prolonged use and lose their matte finish. And unfortunately, this becomes apparent very quickly with the K63W Pro in summer temperatures. For such a high-priced model, this is an avoidable drawback.

Features of the CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact

CHERRY pulls out all the stops when it comes to features, and its true unique selling point lies in the wireless module. According to the manufacturer, the K63W Pro Compact is the world’s first gaming keyboard with an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) connection. Unlike traditional 2.4-GHz wireless connections, which share an already crowded frequency band with countless other devices, UWB transmits short pulses across a very wide frequency spectrum. According to CHERRY, this ensures precise signal timing, less interference, and a more stable connection—especially in environments where many wireless signals are present.

This ties in with the second highlight: a true polling rate of 8,000 Hz, in both wireless and wired modes. The keyboard thus reports its inputs to the computer up to eight times per millisecond. This is a value typically found almost exclusively on wired keyboards, but one that is now making its way into more wireless keyboards. Just how beneficial this really is remains to be seen. But professionals will certainly appreciate it.

Under the keycaps are CHERRY’s MX LOW PROFILE 2.0 switches, the revised second generation of the company’s proprietary low-profile switches. CHERRY has refined the design and precisely applied a high-quality lubricant at the factory, which is intended to ensure smoother typing, better acoustics, and a lifespan of over 100 million keystrokes without any loss of quality.

These low-profile switches belong to the same switch family we’ve already seen in earlier low-profile keyboards like the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile —though they’ve been significantly refined. The package is rounded out by RGB lighting that can be customized via a dedicated key. One thing to keep in mind is the shorter UWB range: Compared to 2.4 GHz, Ultra-Wideband doesn’t transmit quite as far. For a desktop device like a keyboard, though, that’s not a problem. Only couch gamers who want to control their PC from several meters away might run into limitations here.

Battery Life of the CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact

When it comes to battery life, CHERRY has really delivered. The CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact features a generously sized 6,000 mAh battery, which is a remarkably high capacity for a 70-percent-sized keyboard. CHERRY estimates the maximum runtime at up to 1,100 hours—a figure that sounds utopian at first and was, of course, measured under ideal conditions. In practice, as with all wireless keyboards:

If you set the RGB lighting to maximum brightness and simultaneously use the full 8,000-Hz polling rate over wireless, you’ll fall well short of this peak value. However, this isn’t a specific criticism of CHERRY, but simply a matter of physics that applies to every wireless keyboard. One thing is clear: If you tune the keyboard for maximum performance, you’ll need to recharge it much more frequently.

During testing, the battery life really impressed me. Even with the backlighting on and a high polling rate, I can go several days without having to constantly worry about the charging port. And if the battery does happen to run low, it’s no big deal: Just plug in the USB cable and keep playing seamlessly. The keyboard charges while in use. For stationary use at a desk—which is what this keyboard is designed for—battery life is effectively a solved problem.

Above all, the enormous capacity ensures that the annoying low-battery warning won’t yank you out of the game in the middle of a long session. Otherwise, it’s a bit of a shame that there’s no direct battery level indicator. The Cherry Xtrfy “button” next to the F12 key does indicate the level with a color, but it doesn’t actually explain which color corresponds to which value.

App Integration via Cherry Utility

The K63W Pro Compact is configured—from RGB lighting and polling rate to the aforementioned Mod-Tap mappings for the switchable keys—using CHERRY XTRFY’s proprietary software called Cherry Utility. This is also where you set up the three profiles and customize the key assignments to suit your personal preferences. The basic functions are easy to configure, and parameters relevant to competitive gaming—such as the polling rate—are quick to locate.

Anyone coming from the extensive software suite of a major manufacturer like Logitech’s G Hub—as we saw in our review of the Logitech G512 X —should adjust their expectations regarding the range of features slightly. The K63W Pro Compact’s focus is clearly on pure performance. Ultra-wideband, 8K polling, and the typing feel take center stage—not a barrage of flashy software gimmicks.

For the target audience of competitive gamers who want to set up their setup once and for all and then be left in peace, this streamlined approach makes perfect sense. And while the most important features are there, the software’s capabilities don’t go very deep. The proprietary software for the magnetic Cherry XTRFY K5 Pro TMR (review) goes significantly further. The software is okay, but it’s certainly not among the best solutions on the market.

Hands-On Test and Typing Feel

It’s precisely here—in the typing feel—that the CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact surprised me the most. I’m a big fan of low-profile keyboards and actually use the NuPhy Air 75 v3 every day. The K63W holds its own very well in this regard and offers a similarly satisfying and well-executed typing feel, even though the keyboard is slightly taller than its NuPhy counterpart. Nevertheless, I find it exceptionally comfortable from an ergonomic standpoint.

The combination of the redesigned MX LOW PROFILE 2.0 switches and the true gasket mount creates a typing feel you simply wouldn’t expect from a flat keyboard: a softer, more cushioned keystroke and an astonishingly deep, rich sound. Not quite as creamy as NuPhy’s Nano Blush switches, but very pleasant and smooth. In terms of sound, the board is in a similar league to the excellent Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless, while remaining significantly more compact.

When gaming, you really get to see what the 8,000-Hz polling rate can do. In fast-paced shooters, input feels immediate and direct; every movement is executed without any noticeable lag. Can I really tell the difference between the UWB wireless connection and the cable? Honestly: no. And that’s exactly where the double-edged sword of this whole concept lies. Ultra-Wideband technology looks impressive on paper and solves a real-world problem of overcrowded 2.4-GHz bands.

In practice, however, I’ve never once experienced an overloaded 2.4-GHz frequency band on my own setup that would have caused me any noticeable connection issues—even though I use a wireless mouse, headset, controller, and more.

For most gamers, UWB is likely to have more of a niche appeal. It’s a technological statement whose benefits aren’t always immediately apparent in everyday use. However, those who play in an environment with dense signal traffic—such as at LAN events or in a household full of wireless devices—will actually benefit from it. The Asus ROG Strix Morph 96 Wireless (review) also offers comparable high-level wireless performance in the 75–96 percent range, albeit without the UWB feature.

In my daily routine of switching between office work and gaming, the CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact has proven to be a reliable companion. Its compact design, great typing feel, and uncompromising performance make it a keyboard suitable for both long typing sessions and competitive matches.

Sound Test: CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact:

Sound Test: LOFREE Flow 2:

Sound test: Cherry XTRFY K5 Pro TMR:

Still, I’m not entirely fond of the texture of the ABS keycaps. They feature a non-slip surface that I’ve never felt before. The sensation is hard to describe. It’s almost as if the manufacturer applied an anti-slip coating here. That sounds good at first, but it doesn’t allow for quite as smooth a movement as you’re used to with other high-quality keycaps.

At least, if you want to, you can easily swap out the keycaps. Caps from other LP keyboards can be used without any issues. Cherry Xtrfy uses the nSA profile here. If you’re generally interested in flat keyboards, you’ll find a significantly more affordable—albeit less gaming-focused—alternative in our review of the Lofree Flow Lite.

CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact Review: Conclusion

The CHERRY XTRFY K63W Pro Compact is a bold statement to anyone who has been skeptical of wireless gaming keyboards up until now. The keyboard combines a true technological first—Ultra-Wideband connectivity—with an uncompromising 8,000-Hz polling rate, a massive 6,000-mAh battery, and a surprisingly excellent typing feel, thanks to the redesigned MX LOW PROFILE 2.0 switches and the genuine gasket mount. The compact 70-percent layout is well-thought-out and frees up valuable space for the mouse.

However, there are still some noticeable drawbacks. First, the ABS plastic keycaps, which are simply outdated in this price range and tend to become glossy over time. Added to this is the coating, which doesn’t allow for a truly “smooth” glide across the keys. Second, the price: At 179.99 euros, the K63W Pro Compact is quite expensive for what it offers, especially compared to other high-quality wireless keyboards. And third, let’s be honest: The practical benefits of ultra-wideband aren’t immediately apparent to every gamer. I, too, haven’t been able to identify any significant advantages here over classic 2.4 GHz wireless keyboards. However, if you’re looking for the most technologically advanced, most compact low-profile wireless keyboard with a first-class typing feel—and are willing to pay for it—you’ll find an outstanding piece of hardware here.