Whirlwind FX Atom

Atomic power clicking up a storm

- CHRISTIAN GUYTON

WHIRLWIND FX’S flagship keyboard is the Element (currently the Element V2, to be precise), a full-scale mechanical keyboard that offers a unique form of reactive per-key RGB lighting. The Atom is essentially the same product trimmed down to a slender 60-percent form factor.

As you are probably aware, that means no numpad, no arrow keys, and no dedicated function keys. This is a barebones keyboard, offering just enough buttons to do everything a standard gaming keyboard should be capable of. Function keys and media controls are printed on the front sides of some keys, activated via simultaneous keypresses with Fn; for example, Fn-Q plays or pauses music on the Atom.

Whether or not a 60-percent keyboard is right for you comes down largely to personal preference, but there are some advantages offered by the Atom’s form factor. There’s very little bezel space, and the keyboard is just an inch and a half tall at its thickest point, with the rubber-coated feet folded away, making it easy to slip into a backpack for on-the-go use.