I did not know how much I would love the tenkeyless Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard until I tried it. When it comes to PC peripherals, few things make as big of an impact on your daily experience as your keyboard. Whether you’re gaming, working, or just browsing the web, a quality keyboard goes a long way in making those hours at your desk more enjoyable. So when Drop announced its new CSTM80 customizable mechanical keyboard, I was eager to get my hands on one to see if it lived up to the hype.
After using the tenkeyless CSTM80 daily for the past few weeks, I can confidently say this is one of the best new keyboards I’ve ever used. But it’s not just the typing experience that makes it great. The Drop CSTM80 offers unrivalled customization options to make it truly your own. This keyboard can literally transform to match your style, sound preferences, and performance needs. And the best part? Swapping components is a breeze thanks to the brilliantly designed quick-release magnetic top panel.
Let’s start with aesthetics because this keyboard is gorgeous. My review unit came with an attractive Laser Purple panel that contrasts nicely with the black bottom. The front-facing abs keycaps also feature a white font that beautifully plays off the top panel colorway. Of course, the colour combos are entirely customizable when ordering. You can choose a top panel from six different colours and then select keycaps to match or contrast.
But custom colours are just the start. The top panel on the CSTM80 is magnetically attached, allowing you to swap it out in seconds without any tools. So, if you ever want to change up the look, just order a new top panel. The minimalist design looks right at home in any setup. I especially like the floating keycap look, enabled by the north-facing switch layout. And unlike many “gamer” keyboards, the CSTM80 doesn’t have any over-the-top edges or aggressive styling. It’s refined while still having a modern vibe.
“The Drop CSTM80 offers unrivalled customization options to make it truly your own.”
Of course, aesthetics are only skin deep, and to make it in the modern world of mechanical gaming keyboards, you need to offer a robust overall experience. Thankfully, the CSTM80’s real party trick is its extensive customization options. As the name implies, this keyboard is built from the ground up for modification. And swapping parts is simple thanks to the tool-less magnetic top panel.
Out of the box, the pre-built model I reviewed came with lubed and filmed Gateron Yellow switches and Doubleshot PBT keycaps. The typing experience with this setup is excellent, with the linear switches having smooth, consistent travel with minimal noise. The PBT keycaps also feel great under the fingers, giving the full setup a truly premium feel.
But if that’s not your speed, the CSTM80 makes it simple to customize the switches and keycaps to your preference. The hot-swap PCB supports both 3 and 5-pin switches, opening up a world of options for light, clicky, tactile, or linear switches. And with the standard ANSI layout, finding replacement keycap sets is no problem. While it may be daunting to some, you can always dive into these aspects of the Drop CSTM80 when you feel ready.
During testing, I played around with changing the keycaps and switches to get a feel for how it all worked. The entire process took under 10 minutes thanks to the tool-less design. It is amazing that anyone who picks up the keyboard can make it feel brand new with time and some imagination. No matter your switch or keycap preferences, the CSTM80 custom keyboard, with its top case, can adapt.
Of course, more advanced keyboard enthusiasts can take things even further. The removable top panel provides easy access to the PCB, plate, and stabilizers for modification. I didn’t dive too deep into hardcore modding for this review, but the potential is there. Drop makes a keyboard that can adapt if you ever feel the need, although that level of modding may be for the enthusiasts only due to the complexity.
Drop offers some options, but even beyond that, some examples of possible mods include changing the steel plate to a different material like aluminum, FR4, or polycarbonate to change the feel of typing. You could also try clipping, lubricating, and patching the stabilizers to reduce rattling. Adding sound-absorbing foam is another way to change the acoustics. You could even switch to a soldered PCB for the ultimate custom build instead of a hot-swappable. The options are endless. Even if you decide you want to stick with what ships, it is fantastic to know the choice is there should you ever want to go down that road.
And thanks to the clever top panel mounting system, all of these mods can be done without fully disassembling the keyboard. The removable panel provides convenient access while still keeping the frame intact. For keyboard enthusiasts who love tinkering, the CSTM80 is a dream come true for easy modification. You can tailor the keyboard to exactly match your preferences in terms of sound, feel, and performance.
With so much focus on customization and modding potential, you might wonder how this thing performs for gaming and typing. Thankfully, Drop did not drop the ball here (pun intended). The pre-built model I tested had a premium feel during typing sessions. The Gateron Yellow switches have a wonderfully smooth 4mm travel and bottom out with a satisfying thock thanks to the steel mounting plate. The PBT keycaps also have a nice textured finish that helps fingers grip.
After long bouts of writing and editing, I had no fatigue or discomfort to speak of. The typing experience is up there with keyboards twice the price. Gamers should also enjoy the snappy, responsive feel thanks to the linear switches. Just don’t expect as much clicky feedback as you’d get from a tactile switch, but as I mentioned above, this can be changed if you feel the urge for a click.
The only performance knock is that the stabilizer tuning was just average out of the box. The larger keys like spacebar, enter, and shift had a bit more rattle than I prefer. But this is an easy fix for tinkerers willing to lube and mod the stabilizers, which again is quite simple on the CSTM80. I had no issues with keys not working as intended or simply not registering, and thankfully, there were no problems with ghost keystrokes I have seen on some gaming keyboards in the past.
Considering everything that’s included at $149 for the fully assembled model (or $99 barebones), the CSTM80 offers excellent value. In terms of typing comfort, premium feel, aesthetics, and customization potential, few keyboards can match it at this price point.
The tool-less magnetic top panel really sets it apart from the competition, making it easy to swap out any component. For keyboard enthusiasts who like to make mods, try out new switches or keycaps, and customize the top case, the Drop CSTM80 Custom Keyboard is a dream. And for everyday users who just want a sharp-looking keyboard with a fantastic typing experience, it fits the bill, too. The Drop CSTM80 is an easy recommendation that is only reinforced by its mod-ability and value proposition, making this one of the most exciting keyboards I’ve tested in a long time.
