Professional’s Score
Execs
- Amazingly simple customization
- Fashionable lighting
- Semi-standard format for keycaps
Cons
- Costly base worth and add-ons
- No adjustable ft
- ABS keycaps
Our Verdict
The CSTM65 lives as much as its identify, being extraordinarily simple to disassemble and customise. It’s a strong center floor between a full {custom} keyboard construct and an everyday retail design.
Finest Costs At the moment: Drop.com CSTM65 Keyboard
One of many first mechanical keyboards I ever owned was purchased from Massdrop. Extra just lately the web retailer is simply going by Drop.com, and much more just lately it’s been acquired by an ever-hungry Corsair. I think about it’s the latter that’s pushed it into making inexpensive, extra accessible designs just like the CSTM65.
This board is all about customization: The switches, the software program, and even the case could be upgraded with none particular instruments or information. It’s center step between an everyday mechanical board and constructing your individual…although it doesn’t supply an incredible worth.
Additional studying: See our roundup of the perfect mechanical keyboards to find out about competing merchandise.
Unassuming appears
If the CSTM65 appears acquainted, that could be by design. Its 65 p.c format, lack of branding, and all-black appears appear nearly deliberately imprecise, as if meant to attraction to keyboard customers who wish to eschew the garish colours and logos of gaming boards. However there are a few distinctive touches, together with shine-through keycaps with legends on the underside to take full benefit of south-facing LEDs. It’s a pleasant, stealthy look, if that’s what you’re into.
This board is all about customization: The switches, the software program, and even the case could be upgraded with none particular instruments or information.
When it comes to {hardware}, it’s fairly customary for boards on this market. It’s wired with a braided USB-C twine within the field, hot-swap swap sockets for altering out the important thing really feel (you get both primary Gateron Brown tactile or Yellow linears by default), and a few goodies like inside sound-absorbing foam and a gasket-mounted PCB. Once more, fairly typical, however there’s nothing to complain about besides maybe a higher-than-average price ticket.
Crack it open
However there are a number of different components that spotlight this board’s customization focus. The 65 p.c format isn’t technically customary, but it surely’s about as shut as it may be at this dimension. Solely the 1.75u proper Shift secret’s off from ANSI, and that’s a standard sufficient inclusion for {custom} keycap units (together with Drop’s many branded choices). A barely bigger model of this board, the CSTM80, is available in a regular tenkeyless (TKL) format.

The trendy weighted backside piece is aluminum out of the field, however you may improve this with metal or brass (bought individually).
The trendy weighted backside piece is aluminum out of the field, however you may improve this with metal or brass (bought individually).
Michael Crider/Foundry
The trendy weighted backside piece is aluminum out of the field, however you may improve this with metal or brass (bought individually).
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
The actual wow issue is the case. Unplug the cable, elevate up the perimeters, and the highest comes proper off, secured with a sequence of magnets. You possibly can swap it out for different colours and accented designs obtainable from Drop, or perhaps a swanky aluminum alternative. With a number of uncovered screws eliminated, you may get to the keyboard’s inside circuit board, foam layers, and the underside of the case, which additionally holds a replaceable weighted piece. The one within the field is aluminum, however you may improve it with chunky and heavy brass.

The highest of the case pulls off simply from its magnetic mount, and the remainder is definitely accessible with a screwdriver.
The highest of the case pulls off simply from its magnetic mount, and the remainder is definitely accessible with a screwdriver.
Michael Crider/Foundry
The highest of the case pulls off simply from its magnetic mount, and the remainder is definitely accessible with a screwdriver.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
It’s nearly as simple as any keyboard could be to work on and improve, much more so than any gaming board and even Keychron’s custom-focused Q sequence. When you’re into extra intense customization, you may even take away the plastic plate and the screw-in stabilizers. Like I stated, it is a very good center floor between constructing your individual keyboard from the bottom up and going with a costlier custom-style or boutique construct.
That stated, there are a number of corners reduce. The default plastic case doesn’t really feel nice — it’s somewhat flimsy, other than the brushed aluminum backside plate. It’s additionally missing any adjustable ft, an odd omission on a keyboard in any other case so completely satisfied to be tweaked. And the keycaps, whereas strong, are nonetheless ABS plastic as a substitute of a extra premium PBT. That’s a let-down coming from Drop, which definitely is aware of keyboard followers will likely be in search of the latter.

Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
I get the sensation that CSTM boards are provided extra as a place to begin for Drop.com prospects, hopefully enticed by extra elaborate keycaps and different equipment. Which is okay…however I’ve to judge it as a product wholly by itself. And at this worth level, I might have most popular to see rather less plastic.
Efficiency
With none modifications in any respect, the CSTM65 is a good if unspectacular board. Gateron’s linear Yellow switches are fairly good, although rather less steady than I choose (my favourite switches use a stem with a circle or sq. outer rim to chop down on wobble). The stabilizers are likewise nice, although there’s undoubtedly a little bit of chatter within the area bar regardless of the beneficiant inside padding.
Because of the semi-standard format I used to be in a position to make use of the board instantly for my typing-heavy workload with ease. And as a wired board it really works nice for gaming, although it lacks the devoted options and per-game profiles of devoted gaming keyboards. Since Drop didn’t promote it as a gaming board, I received’t penalize the board for missing them, one thing I can’t say for different boards with a {custom} focus.

The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are placing…even when they’re a disappointing PBT plastic.
The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are placing…even when they’re a disappointing PBT plastic.
Michael Crider/Foundry
The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are placing…even when they’re a disappointing PBT plastic.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
These south-facing LEDs (which means they’re on the underside of the swap relative to the keyboard, in the direction of the consumer) are notably vivid and vivid, with a bit of additional fashion due to the shine-through keycaps with legends on the underside. It’s an understated, trendy contact that I recognize, even and not using a ton of animation choices you’ll discover from some Corsair boards. Talking of which…
Software program
In response to the promotional web page, the CSTM65 is appropriate with QMK, VIA, and Vial programming instruments. I wasn’t capable of get the keyboard to indicate up on the VIA and Vial web-based interfaces, a problem that appears to be repeated with different consumers. However happily Drop has its personal custom-made programming software obtainable for Home windows.

Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
It’s one, providing a simple at-a-glance interface for customizing as much as 4 layers. Lighting is a bit more sparse, however there are a handful of built-in animations that ought to tide you over if you’d like a light-weight present, and RGB-based choices for strong colours and respiration. These could be set and adjusted with key combos, no software program work required.
Not displaying up in By way of (even after I loaded up the {custom} definition) is annoying. I can solely hope that it’s a firmware situation, and could be fastened with an replace. But it surely was simple sufficient to customise the keyboard format and lighting as-is, which is greater than I can say for some boards on this worth vary.
Costly upgrades
Drop.com is asking $130 for the CSTM65, which is fairly dear for a board with a plastic case and no wi-fi possibility. You possibly can get our prime gaming keyboard choose, Corsair’s personal K65 Plus Wi-fi, for somewhat extra. You possibly can additionally get one thing just like the Keydous NJ80-AP, which is much less simple to customise however comes with much better components out of the field, plus wi-fi.
However let’s look at a few of the customization choices, since this is likely one of the board’s massive promoting factors. With solely the instruments within the field plus a screwdriver, you may improve the case prime, the weighted backside, the keycaps, the switches, and the plate (the half in between the circuit board and the switches). All of those can be found on Drop.com’s website.

Drop.com provides a set of easy-to-swap-out components for this board, however they don’t come low cost.
Drop.com provides a set of easy-to-swap-out components for this board, however they don’t come low cost.
Drop.com
Drop.com provides a set of easy-to-swap-out components for this board, however they don’t come low cost.
Drop.com
Drop.com
However they don’t come low cost. A brand new plastic case prime in a handful of colours is $25, $35 for the good inexperienced one with a little bit of printed bling, or a hefty $59 for a black or grey aluminum one. Metal or brass weights for the underside are $49 a bit, and an aluminum, brass, or carbon fiber plate ranges from $25 to $49. For a “absolutely upgraded” model of this keyboard, you’re taking a look at an additional $100 or extra…and that doesn’t even contact the reasonably primary keycaps or switches.
You will get the CSTM65 or the CSTM80 in barebones packages with out the switches, prime, or keycaps, however you’ll rapidly discover the components including up anyway, particularly if you’d like a few of Drop’s themed keycap units. Simply the 70 switches and a 65 p.c keycap set will put you over the pre-assembled retail worth, even if you happen to go for the most affordable third-party components.

Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
For that type of cash there are much better choices, obtainable in all kinds of layouts and kinds. They’re not as simple to switch, however they’re not that a lot more durable both, and so they include wi-fi capabilities. Like a few of the different branded Drop keyboards I’ve tried, the worth proposition is missing.
Is the Drop CSTM65 value it?
I’m not saying you shouldn’t think about this keyboard. It does make sense if you wish to customise a board with unimaginable ease, and also you’re intimidated by extra advanced builds. And also you don’t notably care about gaming options or wi-fi…and also you’re not on any type of restricted price range. It wouldn’t damage if you happen to’re already a fan of Drop.com as a website, since that’s the one place to search out a few of these components.
The CSTM65 is smart if you wish to customise a board with unimaginable ease, and also you’re intimidated by extra advanced builds.
Besides, I’d suggest ready for a sale. I’ve seen the CSTM65 go for $100 even over the course of this assessment interval, and that makes its compromises much more palatable.