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Drop ALT vs Drop CTRL
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Drop ALT
Drop CTRL
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated May 09, 2022 04:32 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:06 PM
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Amazon.com
ConnectivityWired
SizeCompact (65%)
MechanicalYes
ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
Switch TypeMechanical
Variants
- ALT (Black)
- ALT (Gray)
- CTRL (Black)
- CTRL (Gray)
Our Verdict
Drop ALT
Drop CTRL
The Drop CTRL and the Drop ALT are similar hot-swappable mechanical keyboards, but the CTRL is TenKeyless, while the ALT is a compact (65%) sized keyboard. The ALT also has lower latency, better RGB color mixing for its backlighting, and it has an additional incline setting. Both keyboards feel very well-built and offer very similar typing experiences with the Cherry MX Brown switches we tested, but they're available in a range of other switch types. Unfortunately, neither has customization software, but you can adjust settings on either keyboard using the QMK firmware tool on Drop's website.
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Black
ALT
Searching
Finding storeBlack
CTRL
Searching
Finding storeGray
ALT
Searching
Finding storeGray
CTRL
Searching
Finding storeMain Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
8.3
8.4
Backlighting
9.5
8.5
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
Compact (65%)
TenKeyLess (80%)
Height
1.3" (3.3 cm)
1.7" (4.4 cm)
Width
12.7" (32.2 cm)
14.5" (36.9 cm)
Depth
4.4" (11.2 cm)
5.5" (14.0 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
N/A
N/A
Weight
1.57 lbs (0.711 kg)
3.88 lbs (1.758 kg)
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
PBT
PBT
Ergonomics
7.0
6.0
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
Straight
No
Split Keyboard
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Minimum Incline
-5°
5°
Medium Incline
0°
N/A
Maximum Incline
5°
N/A
Home Row Height
34.5 mm (1.4")
Wrist Rest
No
Hardware Customizability
8.5
Customizability Overview
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
Yes
Stabilizer Fixation
Plate-Mounted
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
6.25u
Size Of Right Mod Keys
1.25u
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
3-pin Cherry
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
Backlight Features
9.5
8.5
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Brightness Min
White Shot
RGB
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Effects
Yes
Yes
Software Controllable
No
No
Color
RGB
Color Mixing
Good
Backlight Clarity
7.0
White Shot
Cable & Connector
Connectivity
Wired
Wired
Detachable
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Length
5.0 ft (1.5 m)
4.9 ft (1.5 m)
Connector (Keyboard side)
USB type-C
USB type-C
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
Macro Keys And Programming
0.0
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
Onboard Macro Programming
No
Macro Programming With Software
No
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
No
No
Control Knob
No
USB Passthrough
Yes
Yes
Numpad
No
No
Windows Key Lock
No
No
Lock Indicator
Caps Lock
Caps & Scroll Lock
Macro Programmable Keys
No
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
Cherry MX Brown
Cherry MX Brown
Switch Type
Mechanical
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Key Switches
Cherry MX Brown
Cherry MX Brown
Mechanical
Yes
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Operating Force
51 gf
52 gf
Actuation Force
44 gf
43 gf
Pre-Travel
1.9 mm
2.0 mm
Total Travel
4.0 mm
4.1 mm
Typing Quality
8.5
8.5
Typing Noise
9.0
7.5
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
52.4 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
Noise
Quiet
Latency
8.0
7.2
Latency Video
Latency Wired
8.1 ms
12.7 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Picture
Software Tour
Software Name
No Software
No Software
Software Windows Compatible
No
No
Software macOS Compatible
No
No
Onboard Memory
No
No
Profiles
No Profile
No Profile
Account Required
No Software
Cloud Sync
No
Macro Programming
No
Ease Of Use
No Software
Computer Compatibility
8.2
10
Windows
Full
Fully Compatible
macOS
Full
Fully Compatible
Linux (Ubuntu 22)
Full
Fully Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Android
No
Not Compatible
iOS
No
Not Compatible
iPadOS
No
Not Compatible
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
0.0
Android
No
Not Compatible
iOS
No
Not Compatible
iPadOS
No
Not Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible
Check Price
Black
ALT
Searching
Finding storeBlack
CTRL
Searching
Finding storeGray
ALT
Searching
Finding storeGray
CTRL
Searching
Finding store
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Drop ALT
Drop CTRL
Comments
Drop ALT vs Drop CTRL: Main Discussion
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