Aiming to dominate the office environment, the Cherry Stream 3.0 has whisper quiet keystrokes and robust laser etched keycaps.
Product on Review: CHERRY STREAM 3.0
Manufacturer & Sponsor: CHERRY
Street Price: UK: £19.99 US: $24.99
In our endeavour to find the latest and greatest in computer peripherals, it can be easy to overlook the cheaper options available to the mass market. CHERRY, renowned maker of mechanical switches, have been a long time player in the keyboard industry and make some of the finest quality products around, for example, the MX Board 6.0.
Though, not everyone is in need of a mighty gaming keyboard, and simply want a good quality keyboard for work/office use, which means lots of typing. At the £20 price point, the market is dominated by Logitech/MS/HP offerings or an abundance of generic tacky gaming type keyboards. The CHERRY STREAM 3.0 comes in as a refreshing reminder that ‘cheap’ doesn’t need to mean ‘low quality’. Using whisper silent ‘SX’ key switches which is a type of membrane switch rated for 20million keystrokes. The keycaps are abrasion proof laser etched to ensure durability, spill resistant, features 6 media keys and is a low profile design.
Overview by Cherry
Robust elegance with laser-etched keys CHERRY STREAM 3.0 never stops working. Specially developed for continuous use in the office: Abrasion-proof inscription of key caps, whisper keystroke, splash water-protected and ultra-flat, ergonomic design.
Technical Specifications
Layout (country or language):
Product dependant, see table “Models”
Colour: Available in Black or Pale grey
Weight (product): approx. 936 g
Total weight (with packaging): approx. 1205 g
Cable Length: approx. 1.80 m
Storage Temperature: -20°C to 65°C
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C
Current Consumption: max. 25 mA
Warranty: 2 years
Interface: USB
Product approvals:
cURus cURus
VDE GS VDE GS
c-tick c-tick
VCCI VCCI
CE CE
FCC FCC
System requirements: USB connection
Dimensions (product): approx. 472 x 176 x 18 mm
Packaging dimensions: approx. 485 x 220 x 30 mm
Reliability: MTBF > 80,000 hours
Keyboard:
Key technology: SX
Service life, standard key: > 20 million key operations
Inscription technology: Laser
Product dependant, see table “Models”
Colour: Available in Black or Pale grey
Weight (product): approx. 936 g
Total weight (with packaging): approx. 1205 g
Cable Length: approx. 1.80 m
Storage Temperature: -20°C to 65°C
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C
Current Consumption: max. 25 mA
Warranty: 2 years
Interface: USB
Product approvals:
cURus cURus
VDE GS VDE GS
c-tick c-tick
VCCI VCCI
CE CE
FCC FCC
System requirements: USB connection
Dimensions (product): approx. 472 x 176 x 18 mm
Packaging dimensions: approx. 485 x 220 x 30 mm
Reliability: MTBF > 80,000 hours
Keyboard:
Key technology: SX
Service life, standard key: > 20 million key operations
Inscription technology: Laser
Packaging & First Look
The packaging is clean and simple, featuring an image of the contained product.
At the back the primary features are listed in various languages, with the CHERRY logo making an appearance.
The accessories are, non existent, with exception of the user manual.
The CHERRY STREAM 3.0 is a low profile full sided keyboard featuring 105+6 keys on most models (104+6 for US). There is a slight glittery texture to the finish that not only looks good, but feels good quality.
Closer Look
At just 18mm tall, it is one of the lowest profile fullsize keyboards we have looked at and it is hard to appreciate that in the images.
This side view again helps give a perspective to its low profile nature.
The surface texture of the keys was very difficult to pick up with the camera so we had to get the perfect lighting balance to get it to show clearly.
There are 6 additional media keys for volume controls and play/pause/skip.
The underside is mostly plain with a few rubber feet as well as the stands, something that I think will be used by many to give a more comfortable gradient while typing.
The silent low profile switch is termed SX and is a membrane type rated for 20million keystrokes.
Software
The CHERRY STREAM 3.0 is made to be entirely plug and play, and so does not require the software to function. Though should you wish to use it, they have made available a simple software suite available to download that allows you to reprogram the F keys. This includes Text/keystroke macro recording and program assignment. The software is not very well developed and not as user friendly as it could be, but maybe this is somewhere CHERRY may improve in future.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & Observations
All you need to get going with this keyboard is a spare USB port. The cable is a decent 2m long and does away with the niceties such as a braided cable, but that would be expected at this price point. In use the low profile nature may take a little getting used to, or many may choose to raise the angle by using the attached stands. The key presses feel soft, precise and have a quick spring back which makes for good, fast typing. The other thing to note is how quiet the keys are, even with other membrane keyboards that tend to have a quiet actuation, the keycaps may still rattle and cause a fair bit of noise in use, with the CHERRY STREAM 3.0 however, the keykaps are static and do not rattle or cause any additional noise.
The included media keys work as expected, though feel a touch too spongy, and though the downloadable software can reprogram some keys, it would have been good to side step that and see additional keys/functions included, such as an open calculator or open internet keys, just to make life a little easier.
As a keyboard aimed at office use there is a lack of almost vital aspects that would otherwise make it game worthy. This includes anti-ghosting capability. The STREAM 3.0 seems to sit at around 2-3 key presses simultaneously, this makes it practical for typing, but virtually useless for gaming.
Conclusion
The CHERRY STREAM 3.0 is fairly surprising in consideration to costing just £20. I have used some fairly decent cheap keyboards, like many and each are capable of delivering the ideal performance for an office/internet machine. Though the keycaps wear rather quickly, and they are often noisy even if they are membrane, and then they actually feel cheap too. The CHERRY STREAM 3.0 doesn’t feel cheap. The keys are extremely quiet even with firm key presses/key bashing and the quality laser etched keycaps feel robust.
The only parts that feel cheap would be the media keys, and it is a shame that they didn’t choose to include a few extra functions too. Maybe CHERRY will develop the software a little to have a more friendly GUI, expanding on the programmability. Also it is a shame that the STREAM 3.0 doesn’t feature 6 key rollover (6KRO) that will enable it to be that bit more versatile for casual or ‘lite’ gaming. At this price however, it is a fantastic, high quality low profile keyboard that ticks many boxes. Ideal for the low price workhorse system, or office environment.
The CHERRY STREAM 3.0 proves that you don’t need to spend a lot to get a top quality keyboard that is ideal for general home/office use.
Pros.
+ Attractive aesthetic
+ Low profile/ comfortable to use
+ Near silent typing
+ Robust, laser etched keycaps
+ Spill proof
+ Dedicated media keys
+ Price
Cons.
– Only 2-3 simultaneous key presses
+ Attractive aesthetic
+ Low profile/ comfortable to use
+ Near silent typing
+ Robust, laser etched keycaps
+ Spill proof
+ Dedicated media keys
+ Price
Cons.
– Only 2-3 simultaneous key presses
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