Attack Shark K86 – Low price, high capabilities

Today’s review will be about a keyboard from our Chinese friends. It’s not a well-known fact that products from their sites are characterized by a high quality-to-price ratio (at least for the most part). The Attack Shark K86 – as it is referred to, already at first glance seems to belong to such products. How will it be in practice? I’ll check it out!

A few words of introduction

At first glance, the Attack Shark K86 looks like a standard model without a number block (TKL). However, it’s only an illusion, the manufacturer, if you can call it that, decided to put here some interesting features… For it is unusual to find a display, potentiometer (and it’s configurable!), Bluetooth + 2.4 GHz or hotswap, and all this in a keyboard costing about 230 PLN. There is also RGB backlighting (including side backlighting) and a physical switch to change the mode for Windows, and MAC. Below are the specifications of the model in question.

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz and USB-C (wired)
• Switches: White Whale Axis Linear with an activation force of 42 g +/- 2 g
• Size: TKL (87 keys)
• Backlighting: RGB dot + side illumination
• Hotswap: Yes (Kailh 5-pin)
• Keycaps: PBT
• Weight: 785 g +/- 5%

Construction and performance of the Attack Shark K86

Structurally, of course, there are no water features. The case as well as the frame is made of plastic, and it is of correct quality. In addition, it has a rough texture, so it is quite pleasant to the touch. The rigidity stands at an average level, it is relatively easy to bend. The mount plate is also made of plastic, what’s more, between it and the PCB, under the PCB and in the case itself there are silencing foams.

Another interesting piece of information is that there are basically no screws in the keyboard. After removing the frame from the case, you can simply pull the PCB along with the switches and overlays out of the case. This, of course, does not bode well for durability if by some miracle the hero of today’s review falls off the desk. However, the PCB itself is neatly done, the soldering also makes a good impression. The overlays are, of course, PBT. They are of not bad quality, but the font printed on them is ugly and looks like it was done on the knee. Also present on the bottom of the case are feet for adjusting the angle in two levels. This, however, surprises no one anymore.

The switches are, as you can learn from the product sheet, “Blue Whale Axis”. These are switches with linear characteristics, the force required for activation is 42 grams (+/- 2 grams). They are characterized by a reasonable smoothness of operation (although a slight roughness can be felt), I did not experience a spring sound, a phenomenon quite common in cheap switches. However, there are no other switches to choose from in the offer. What is worth mentioning is the stabilizers, they are really solid for the price shelf (and I have encountered worse in much more expensive models). What’s more, they have not skimped on lubrication. Below sound test.

Backlighting and functionality

Also on board were multicolored illumination not only located under the keys, but also on the sides of the keyboard. What’s more, they can be controlled independently from the software or the display-operated interface. The whole thing looks impressive, the backlighting is bright and vivid, the overlays, however, do not let the light through. The white color falls into a glow of pink color. This is not a defect, of course, it is a feature of RGB LEDs. This is because in order for the white color to appear, the diode must mix all 3 base colors. This works out better for some and worse for others.

Attack Shark K86 also graced with two-stage feet or a physical switch between layout for MAC and Windows (not so obvious, many keyboards don’t even have a keyboard shortcut for such a function) located on the bottom. There was no shortage of channels for running a cable, should one decide to use the keyboard wired. Something worth mentioning is the ability to upload images or GIFs to the display, but note that this can only be done in wired mode. The wireless connectivity itself is not objectionable, the only thing I could complain about is that every time the keyboard is awakened, the display reloads, displaying an animation.

Software and summary

The software does not raise any major objections. Although the interface may scare you off, the program itself legitimizes a huge number of functions. In addition to such mundane ones as changing the backlight or programming macros, we can change the functionality of the keys and save on a total of 3 layers (you can switch between them), it is possible to upload GIFs and images to the display, design your own animations both displayed on the screen and those on the backlight. Well, what’s not here, in fact, there is something for everyone. What’s more, it’s cloud-based, so it’s possible to save the configuration to an account.