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  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Backlighting
    5. Cable & Connector
    6. Wireless Versatility
    7. Extra Features
    8. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Keystrokes
    2. Typing Quality
    3. Typing Noise
    4. Latency
  6. Software and Operating System
    1. Software & Programming
    2. Keyboard Compatibility
  7. Comments

Drop ALT vs Dream Machines DreamKey

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Drop ALT
Dream Machines DreamKey

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 09, 2022 04:32 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 29, 2023 03:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Drop ALT Picture
Dream Machines DreamKey Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Compact (65%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

  • ALT (Black)
  • ALT (Gray)
  • DreamKey (Black)

Review

See Drop ALT Review
See Dream Machines DreamKey Review
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Our Verdict

Drop ALT

Dream Machines DreamKey

The Drop ALT and the Dream Machines DreamKey are mechanical gaming keyboards, but they have different features. The Drop is a 65% size compact board that has a better build quality, more incline settings for better ergonomics, and significantly better latency. It also has a USB passthrough feature. The Dream Machines has companion software to customize the board, and every key is macro-programmable. Also, it has a Windows key lock feature, which the Drop lacks.

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Black
ALT
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Black
DreamKey
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Gray
ALT
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Black
DreamKey
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Black
DreamKey
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Black
DreamKey
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Black
DreamKey
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.3
9.0

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
All

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
9.1

Latency 
 

8.0
6.9

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Drop ALT Top Picture
Dream Machines DreamKey Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (65%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.3" (3.3 cm)
1.5" (3.9 cm)

Width  

12.7" (32.2 cm)
17.2" (43.7 cm)

Depth 
 

4.4" (11.2 cm)
5.4" (13.7 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.57 lbs (0.711 kg)
2.70 lbs (1.224 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

9.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Drop ALT Build Quality Close Up
Dream Machines DreamKey Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
6.5

Side Picture  

Drop ALT Side Picture
Dream Machines DreamKey Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

-5°
4°

Medium Incline 
 

0°
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

5°
12.5°

Wrist Rest  

No
No
Show Text 

Backlighting 
 

9.5
9.6

Backlighting Picture  

Drop ALT Backlighting Picture
Dream Machines DreamKey Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Drop ALT White Shot
Dream Machines DreamKey White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Drop ALT Brightness Max
Dream Machines DreamKey Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Drop ALT Brightness Min
Dream Machines DreamKey Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Good
Poor

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.0 ft (1.5 m)
5.8 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Drop ALT Extra Features
Dream Machines DreamKey Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
No

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
All

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Drop ALT Bundle Picture
Dream Machines DreamKey Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Cherry MX Brown
Kailh Box Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

51 gf
50 gf

Actuation Force 
 

44 gf
43 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.9 mm
1.9 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
3.7 mm
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.0
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Quiet
Quiet
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.0
6.9

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

8.1 ms
16.8 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
9.1

Software Picture  

Drop ALT Software Picture
Dream Machines DreamKey Software Picture

Software Name  

No Software
Dream Machines DreamKey

Account Required 
 

No Software
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
6+

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

No
Software

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
Okay

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

8.2
7.2

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Full
Partial

Linux  

Full
Partial

Android  

No
No

iOS  

No
No

iPadOS  

No
No
Show Text 

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Black
ALT
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Black
DreamKey
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Gray
ALT
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Black
DreamKey
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Black
DreamKey
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Black
DreamKey
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Black
DreamKey
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Back to Top

Drop ALT

Dream Machines DreamKey

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Drop ALT vs Dream Machines DreamKey: Main Discussion

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