Bloody B930 Overview
The B930 is an 87 key model, which means there is no numpad on the right side of this keyboard. This compact design is quite popular in the gaming world, and frees up quite a bit of space on your desktop. With this compact design, Bloody has configured the B930’s Function keys to interact with the FN key for added multimedia controls. The FN key can also be used to adjust the brightness of the LED lighting, and to cycle through the six on-board lighting effects.
From the top down, we see that the B930 has a small perimeter around the keys, which is a bit different from many of the frameless designs we have seen lately. The top plate of the keyboard is a thin aluminum sheet that has been coated with a black paint surface. The edges of the aluminum plate are at an angle and have been polished to provide a nice chrome border to the keyboard. At each corner of the aluminum top plate is a small machine screw that give a bit of an industrial look to the keyboard. A small Bloody logo sits above the arrow keys, and sits next to the Gaming Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicators.
The side profiles of the B930 show off the ladder-shaped key design that is incorporated to assist with ergonomics, and give a bit of added comfort. The sides of the B930’s body are home to a lighted panel that glows in sync with the rest of the keyboard, and can be adjusted via Bloody’s optional software application.
Neither the top or bottom edge of the B930 is really remarkable in any way, and with no included or optional wristrest available, what you see is what you get. Centered along the top edge of the keyboard is a reinforced rubber connector for the braided USB cable, which then terminates in a molded red plastic plug with a Bloody logo imprint. The cabling for the keyboard is quite flexible and soft, which is not always the case, and we appreciate the braided cabling choice.
Flipping the B930 over reveals no surprises, just four rubber feet in the corners to keep the keyboard in place. Two extendable legs offer a bit more of an angle when extended, and their red rubber feet are a nice visual touch.
We would be remiss if we didn’t take a bit of time to focus on the Light Strike (LK) Libra switches that Bloody uses on the B930, and many of their other keyboards. The LK Libra switches come in two styles, and apart from their feedback, the two are identical in their operation. Our review sample came equipped with the Brown model of switch, which features a linear motion and no tactile feedback, unlike the Orange switches that feel similar to a Cherry MX Blue switch.
Where the LK Libra switches really set themselves apart from traditional mechanical switches is their low latency, thanks to their optical light beam technology. Instead of metal to metal contacts that register key presses, the LK Libra switches utilize optical sensors to trigger their activation, resulting in a response time of just 0.2ms, at an actuation point of just 1.5mm. The instant detection that is provided by the LK Libra switches equates to zero digital latency, for the fastest response time. The LK Libra switches also feature a stabilizing bar on every switch, not just on larger keys like the space bar and shift keys, which results in tighter, more precise keypresses.
The “Crystal Prism” found on the LK Libra switches is another great feature, and helps to eliminate an often unwanted side-effect of illuminated switches. This lighting method reduces the amount of light that bleeds out beneath the keys, and helps keep just the keycap legends illuminated.