Rapoo A83 Air Mechanical Wireless Keyboard, White

An ode to the Rapoo A83 Air

About that name

‘Air’ is what it says on the box. You’d expect something that would blow away if you left a window open. Pick up the Rapoo A83 Air and you’ll feel a kilo of metal in your hands. The name refers to the keystroke, not the keyboard itself. Just stay nice and heavy, will you?

Why the Rapoo A83 Air?

Light key travel saves your fingers some effort

The Rapoo A83 Air uses a linear switch with an actuation force of 38 grams. By way of comparison, an average membrane keyboard easily requires 55 to 60 grams per keystroke. If you type for a whole working day, that difference adds up to thousands of keystrokes.

What’s more, the key registers at just 1.2 mm, whilst the total travel is 2.8 mm. So you don’t need to press the key all the way down for it to register. Once you get used to that, you’ll type more lightly and with less strain on your fingers.

Compact and close-set

The Rapoo A83 Air’s 75% layout retains the arrow keys and the function row, but omits the numeric keypad. As a result, the keyboard is 315 mm wide instead of the 43 cm or so of a full-size keyboard. Your mouse sits closer to your body, within shoulder width, which can help reduce tension in your neck and shoulders.

Sturdy, so it doesn’t shift

Weighing just over a kilo, the Rapoo A83 Air stays put wherever you place it. That may sound like a minor detail, but a lightweight keyboard that slides around forces you to make small adjustments that you unconsciously carry out throughout the day.

Gasket mount and damping

The Rapoo A83 Air features a gasket mount design, with multiple layers of damping material between the keycap plate and the chassis. In practice, this results in a softer keystroke and a lower, fuller sound compared to a keyboard where the keycap plate is screwed into place.

Hot-swap without soldering

All 83 positions are hot-swappable. If you don’t like the typing feel, simply pull out the switches and fit others in their place. No soldering iron required. By default, the A83 Air is fitted with a linear Rapoo x Kailh Mint switch with an actuation force of 38 grams and a total travel of 2.8 mm.

Get the most out of the A83 Air

Three ways to connect

You can pair the Rapoo A83 Air via Bluetooth 5.0, via the 2.4 GHz receiver or simply with a USB-C cable. In total, you can pair five devices and switch between them. When connected via cable, the keyboard achieves a polling rate of 1,000 Hz.

Long-lasting battery

The 3,800 mAh battery lasts up to 630 hours with continuous use. If you switch on the RGB lighting, this time will be noticeably shorter.

Backlighting and macros

All keys feature RGB backlighting in 16 million colours, with adjustable brightness. Using the A HUB software for Windows and macOS, you can programme each key and set up macros.

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PBT keycaps

The Rapoo A83 Air’s keycaps are made from double-shot injection-moulded PBT. This material is less prone to glossing than the cheaper ABS, and the lettering won’t wear away, as the characters are formed from a second layer of plastic rather than being printed on top.

Three typing angles

The underside features fold-out feet with two settings: 4 and 6 degrees. Together with the flat position, this gives you three angles to choose from, so you can find the position that keeps your wrists most relaxed.

Combine with a wrist rest

At 30 mm in height, the Rapoo A83 Air sits higher than a flat keyboard. This is typical of a mechanical keyboard and is easily accommodated: a wrist rest brings your wrists to the same height as the keys, so you don’t have to hold them up. If you place the keyboard flat and use a wrist rest, you’ll type in a neutral posture.

Pros and cons

•  Light key travel: 38 grams per key
•  Compact; the mouse stays within shoulder width
•  Muffled, full-bodied typing sound
•  Stays in place due to its weight
•  Hot-swap: change switches without soldering
•  PBT keycaps that won’t wear out
•  Three connections, five devices
•  Battery life up to 630 hours
•  Wrist rest recommended for 30 mm height
•  No numeric keypad

Key specifications

How happy will this make me?

About the switches

Product features

•  Gasket mount with multi-layer damping
•  Hot-swap on all 83 positions
•  PBT double-shot keycaps
•  USB-C wired, 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0
•  Pairs with up to five devices
•  1,000 Hz polling rate (wired)
•  NKRO anti-ghosting
•  3,800 mAh battery
•  Three typing angles (flat, 4 and 6 degrees)
•  A HUB software for Windows and macOS

What’s in the box?

• 1 x Rapoo A83 Air keyboard
• 1 x USB nano receiver
• 1 x USB-C cable
• 1 x Quick Start Guide

Frequently asked questions