There has been a trend in recent years where even the best mid-range gaming keyboards are all-rounders. Enter the NZXT Function 2, which has lofty ambitions for its price point, but largely scores across the board for advancing what a deck can do without the sky-high sticker speed that usually follows for these types of features.
That’s because the NZXT Function 2 has dual controls, where you can choose between a light and responsive 1.0mm or a solid and full 1.5mm. This may not sound too extravagant, nor is it the first gaming keyboard to do this, but it can completely change the sound and feel of the board, which is useful when switching between work and play, or when loading into a certain game profile.
It’s certainly solid, but then you have to consider the 8,000Hz polling rate, something rarely seen on a gaming keyboard, especially if the keyboard retails for under $150. While we’ve seen the best gaming mice from the likes of NZXT, Razer, and others with this feature, it’s rarely appeared on a deck. That’s many times as responsive as we usually see with gaming keyboards; they tend to average 1,000 Hz. It’s something I never thought I’d ever see on a keeb, but it makes more of a difference than you might think.
Included in the box is not only a key cap removal tool, but also a key switch removal tool as you can swap out both the cap and the switch. You get a handful of 35g yellow linear and 45g red linear optical switches included, so you can opt for a heavier, louder and more tactile gaming keyboard or live on the quieter side if you prefer.
Feature 2 specifications
Layout: Full size (MiniTKL available)
Switch type: Optical
Switches: NZXT Swift
Backlight: Yes
Anti-ghosting: Yes
N-key rollover: Yes
Discrete media keys: Yes
Link: USB-C
Weight: 910g | 2 pounds
Price: $140 | £140
The standard optical switches installed in the board have an actuation force of 40g, allowing you to experiment with lighter or heavier switches under specific keys. It’s also commendable that not only is the tool thrown in, but also a spare set of sockets, which many companies would sell for an additional fee.
With two sets of switches in the box, weighing 35 grams and 45 grams, you can mix and match quite easily around the keys you’ll be using more often. This could, for example, consist of swapping the WSAD keys for the lightweight 35g yellow ones, as I did, while preferring the rest of the board to be on the heavier side. This way you can tailor your setup completely to your own preferences, and everything comes together well.
The experience is further enhanced by the NZXT CAM software, making additional adjustments easy to perform. Via CAM you can change the RGB lighting (which is per key) and remap your buttons to your liking. More importantly, you can switch between the two activation settings and change the polling rate from 125 Hz to a maximum of 8,000 Hz. This is set to 1,000 Hz by default, so you can dial in on the go. The software also allows you to set macros, disable Windows and FN keys, and save profiles.
Speaking of the RGB lighting, it’s good, but not great. There’s a dedicated button that cycles through four brightness settings, but the peak isn’t as decadent as you’d hope; as far from vague as from exciting. It probably doesn’t matter much if you’re playing in a darkened room, but you won’t be blinded like a Razer Chroma or Corsair iCue can, if configured correctly.
Where the NZXT Function 2 loses some favor with me is where it goes more unconventional. For example, the volume rocker and dedicated media bar are on the left side of the deck, and it’s something I’ve had a hard time getting used to over the weeks of daily use. I kept reaching to the upper right, where I was greeted with nothing more than aluminum sheet. As for the cons, this keyboard has by far the worst palm rest I’ve ever used.
The wrist rest is not only rubbery and smooth, but also rock hard. I noticed that I was more comfortable with my hands on my wooden desk, which is something I haven’t experienced in my years of testing gaming keyboards. I can appreciate that it is magnetic and stays in place, I just wish there was a bit of padding or texture that made it really nice to use, but your mileage may vary.
Buy as…
✅ You want a competitively priced optical mechanical keyboard: the NZXT Function 2 is cheaper than many other optical keyboards from brands like Razer and Corsair, while offering similar functionality.
✅ You want a hot-swappable gaming keyboard: the NZXT Function 2 has keys and switches that can be changed with various options in the box.
Don’t buy if…
❌ Comfort is a priority: While it’s commendable that the wrist rest is magnetic, its rock-hard rubber design just doesn’t make it very comfortable for everyday use.
❌ Strong RGB is a must: Although there are four lighting levels and different patterns to choose from, the lights aren’t too bright, even on the maximum setting.
Gaming on the NZXT Function 2 is a great experience and once you spend some time setting it up it really does feel a cut above other mechanical decks I’ve used. I immediately noticed things being more responsive in games like Far Cry Primal and The Finals, but I also noticed that I was typing faster while working (even as I write this) compared to my daily driver Razer Huntsman V3 Pro whose Function 2 shares very similar DNA for much less money.
Then we come to the sound deadening which is now double-layered compared to the original function. I haven’t used its predecessor, but I can tell you that this board is significantly quieter than my other optical keyboards, such as the aforementioned Huntsman V3 Pro and my previous Corsair K70 RGB OPX, which is also more expensive than NZXT’s current offering, while boasting a similar feature set.
Overall, the NZXT Function 2 gets a lot right with its 8,000Hz polling rate, dual controls, hot-swappable switches, and solid construction, especially for its sub-$150 price point. If you’re looking for a custom keyboard, but Don’t want to spend too much or do tap modding, then this is an excellent choice for gamers who are okay with the few minor drawbacks.