Fujitsu Realforce R2 Keyboard (Full, Black, 55G)

Product Information

Coming in a dye-sublimated PBT build, the keycaps are pretty high-quality. There are sub-legends also printed on a few of the keys, so you can preview what keys are on the lower layers. Distributor branding for ' Ark', a Japanese computer store who introduced the XE#### range of Realforce keyboards. Note: The 91UDK-G does not have grey keycaps. It's unknown what the 'G' represents for this model, but it might refer to 'Gamer' as this keyboard comes with WASD replacement caps.

Straight out of the box, the Realforce R2 RGB announces itself with sheer weight alone. This is a heavy puppy at 2.98 pounds, topping even the 2.92-pound Corsair K95 RGB Platinum, which features more media controls, macro keys, and a wrist rest. However, that’s the only way it stands out. Until it’s plugged in, the Realforce R2 RGB is strikingly ordinary. The electro-capacitive switch produces a more satsifying noise and a slightly less pronounced tactile bump. I’ve never felt like I could type faster than with this switch. Data point recognition and extraction accuracy cannot be guaranteed due to limitations on technology.

The Realforce opted for an right-angle triangular shaped profile with a darker gray accent plate on the top right of the keyboard. The side profile looks as though there are several layers to it, giving it a more interesting depth. The overall build quality of the keyboard is pretty good with dye-sublimated PBT keycaps and a unique case design. Instead of the usual box shape, the keyboard has a more sophisticated shape and structure which I enjoy. Topre introduced their Realforce line of keyboards in Japan with the Realforce 106 (Model LA0100), released in June, 2001 for a price of 16,800 yen. At the time, they were producing 500 of these keyboards per month [2]. The first tenkeyless board introduced was the Realforce 89 (Model ND0100). These early keyboards both had PS/2 connectors and were in Japanese JIS layout. It's unfortunate that Topre only use a single digit for the year as it makes it a nuisance to identify, but in most cases it's pretty obvious, especially with Realforce branded keyboards as they were only manufactured after 2000. Recently released Realforce keyboards generally have well documented release dates anyway so it shouldn't be too difficult to identify the year.

Keyboard is a Korean model with Hangul characters printed alongside the English letters on the keycaps.

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Topre REALFORCE keyboards are high-end keyboards built for maximum programming and gaming performance. Designed for comfort and efficiency, REALFORCE keyboards feature Topre’s best-in-class capacitive key switches which allow for durability and reduced user fatigue. The keyboard itself feels outdated in a lot ways. Extremely high price point, a non-detachable power cable, and poor stabilizers make this keyboard not satisfying and very clunky to move around.

Both the RF/Topre R2 and the Leopold R2 suffer from some stabilizer rattle in the other wide keys. Fortunately, the only wide keys I use frequently other than the spacebar are the Right Shift and Return/Enter keys. I notice the rattle mostly form the Right Shift. This is an interesting contrast with my Northgate Omnikey 101 keyboard with SKCM white Alps switches. The Northgate has wire stabilizers on all the wide keys and they do not rattle. While technically rubber dome, the Topre switches actuate via electro-capacitive design, which means it uses a magnetic field to figure out how close the switches are to determine when to register the keystroke. REALFORCE keyboards includeFujitsu Computer Products of America’s industry leading technical support, a 2 year advanced exchange warranty and U.S. certifications. The 101, 103U, 104U and 106U make up Topre’s line of ANSI layout Realforce keyboards. The 101 is basically a copy of the IBM Enhanced Keyboard layout. It probably has the same 30 grams / 45 grams weighting as the 86U. The 103U adds a single Windows key between Ctrl and Alt on the left, and a Menu key on the right between Alt and Ctrl. The 103U is also the only known Realforce model that has Chinese Zhuyin characters. The 104U is perhaps the most popular full sized Realforce keyboard in the west. Unlike the 101 and 103U, it exists in popular uniform 45 grams weighting. The 104U, along with the 106U, are the only full size ANSI Realforce variants with models that have DIP switches. The 104U is also the only Realforce variant that has models with high profile spherical keycaps. The 106U, not to be confused with the JIS layout 106, is an ANSI keyboard produced for the Korean market. The addition of the left 한자 (Chinese character) and right 한/영 (Korean-English) keys is the only layout difference between the 106U and 104U keyboards. The 106U is the only known full size ANSI keyboard with a red mounting plate.

In August, 2012, Topre announced that they would be ceasing production and sale of a number of full size keyboards, including the Realforce 106, 101, 103U and 103UB as they have been largely superseded by the 104U, 104UB and 108U keyboards [4]. Some additional personal preferences for possible future models from Realforce include an option for a detachable cable, complete programmability via QMK or something similar, a 60% form factor version, and keycap sets for the R2 and other RF models. Unlike the Realforce RGB, the R2 does not use Cherry MX compatible stems or keycaps; instead, the traditional Topre slider design and keycaps are used. This allows the R2 models to continue using PBT keycaps instead of the double-shot ABS keycaps that were chosen for the Realforce RGB. The R2 and its components are made and assembled in Japan [6]. Oh, and the cable is cheap rubber, and impossible to detach. That’s another oddity for one of these high-end keyboards. Bottom line Topre keycaps also come in their own unique profile, which makes typing on them feel quite interesting.

Keycaps can be removed easily with most standard keycap pullers with perhaps the only exception being some plastic ring-pull varieties which can be difficult to attach to the keycap. Some Realforce keyboards come with a Topre keycap puller which is not particularly ideal for larger cap removal and should be used with caution as it has been known to slip off and scratch the keycap during removal attempts. Home row indicators on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys are the homing bar design. On APC models: Actuation Point Change (APC) technology, allowing the user to select from 3 different actuation points (1.5, 2.2, or 3.0mm)The keycaps are sort of a mash between Cherry and OEM keycap profiles, which makes them slightly shorter than usual. It’s an excellent shape if you find most mechanical keyboards make you raise your wrists too high when typing. However, I do wish the Realforce R2 had absorbed at least some of the lessons from the school of great gaming keyboards, namely having some damn media keys. I realise I've been utterly spoiled by other keyboards in this respect, as the R2 is a completely media free zone. I really missed being able to turn the volume up and down without Alt-Tab-ing out of my game, and it made me yearn for my best gaming keyboard champion, the Fnatic miniStreak, which still manages to cram some media controls into its row of Fn keys despite its tenkeyless form factor. Topre also make keyboards that are not marketed under the 'Realforce' brand. See the list of Topre OEM keyboards for details. At the Tokyo Game Show, held in September, 2017, Topre revealed a new line of Realforce keyboards [6]. Dubbed the 'Realforce R2', the new keyboards borrow features from the previously released Realforce RGB, including the case and PCB design, and on some R2 models, the APC (Actuation Point Changer) feature. The initial announcement comprised of 8 Japanese-layout models. The 2 standard and 2 standard + silenced models were released in October and November respectively. The 4 APC models were released in December, 2017. This makes each keystroke feel rattily and bit unstable. I have difficulty understanding why Topre skipped out on installing stabilizers on these keys, as they impact the typing experience tremendously.