Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice Keyboard Review by Zeroair.org

• Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard
• Keycap puller
• Switch puller
• USB to USB-C cable

Package and Manual

I don’t have another section that would cover a carry case, but the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard does have one. It’s a very nice case, too.

This Hexgears logo is a PVC patch, but it’s sewn in.

The handle is very firmly attached and has a good grip. I’d love to see this handle on some other bags! It’s that good.

Below you can see the zipper. There’s just one pull and it’s the type of zipper that offers a bit of protection, though I do not think it’s waterproof.

Inside the case, there’s a nice set of features, too. The keyboard can be held in place with a couple of Velcro straps. On the top side is a zippered storage section. You could use this for keyboard stuff, or really, it’d be great for EDC supplies, too!

This case is specific to the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard – there’s a molded section on the bottom side that keeps the board from rattling around in there.

One thing I will add about this case, having carried it back and forth to work a few times, is that it’s bulky. I don’t necessarily need the top mesh pouch for all the accessories. And while the padding is great, there’s a lot of it.

Size

Keyboard size: 365 x 157 x 42 mm
Keyboard weight: 3001g

The size is clearly visible from all the photos here. But the weight is not – the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard is a hefty keyboard. That is not a complaint. The weight sits on these rubber feet very securely, and the weight really keeps the board in place. It’s a great combination. (Which is to say that I wouldn’t want it to be lighter!)

Build Quality and Disassembly

 

I’ve said already and you can see in the size specifications above, this is a hefty board!

Normally I’d do a bit of disassembly. In fact, I usually take keyboards apart fairly thoroughly.

Regardless of disassembly, the build quality here is very good. Very solid!

I love that there’s a dedicated arrow cluster. Arrows are practically mandatory for me!

The back ships with a cover over the Hexgears log. Note that the back is also fully covered in the splatter pattern, too!

I didn’t take apart the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard though – when I first looked at these screws, I thought they were security screws. Turns out they’re unusual for keyboards (which are usually just Philips) but they’re still standard Hex screws.

PCB

As stated above, I didn’t take this board apart. If there’s super high interest, (and now realizing that it’s just Hex), I can do that!

Case

The case is fully metal. The top is metal, the sides are metal, the bottom is metal. So metal!

Even the switch is anodized in this splatter pattern! More on that switch later.

The black bit you see below is the USB to USB-C adapter. That bit is plastic.

The case also has two sets of feet. One is “less” removable (though they’re stickered-on, so could be removed). These are the shorter feet.

The other set of feet just go on the back edge of the board to give a higher rise. These feet are magnetic! I have never seen this type of foot attach this way, and I love it. If you wanted, you could throw a bit of two-sided tape in there and they’d be attached just like the rubber feet, but the magnets were secure enough for my usage (if you slide the board around a bunch these feet might flip off once in a while but I doubt it.)

These feet can also be magnetically connected to the back edge for “storage” if you don’t want to use them.

Layout and Keycaps

The Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard uses an ergonomic layout. It’s an 83-key board, also known as ‘TKL” or “ten keyless.” This just means there’s not a number pad to the right of (everything.) That said, the board, at 83-keys, still has a full host of switches, including a function row and arrows.

The board is divided approximately in the middle of the letter area. This is a logical division and is set up for where right and left hands would normally type. (I doubt I really have to explain the split to you – it’s quite logical.) That said, one thing I found fun is that the split allows for two “B” switches. I guess someone did the math and division of labor for right and left hand is approximately equal for hitting “B.”

I don’t think the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard is programmable, so you wouldn’t be able to reprogram one of those b’s to something else. Or to program the split spacebar to be anything but space. A common thing to do with split spacebar is to have one be “space” and one be “enter” or access a function layer. I (and probably most people) use the space bar with just one thumb (even if you’re an amazing typist… no judgment).

The Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard features double-shot PBT keycaps. PBT is great and should last a very long time!

The “double” part of this double shot is white and makes up the lettering. This also allows the LED color to shine through.

Life ain’t nothing but Switches and money

This keyboard is labeled to have Kailh Box Pro switches. The website ordering section offers Abyssal (Silent Linear) and Ice Cream (Linear.)

Specifically, they are “5-pin mechanical Cone switches.” I believe (“guess”) that this is for the added benefit of stability in the typing process. And no complaints from me about this aspect of the board!

A nice bonus feature is that the switches are hot-swap. So if you don’t like these or whichever ones you opt for in the ordering process, you can swap them very easily! Hexgears includes a switch puller, but you’ll need to buy your own replacement switches.

Switches bigger than 1.5U (or so) have stabilizers.

Connectivity

Briefly, here are the connection options: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired.

The included wired support is for USB-C, which is nice and current. This C port is on the back center.

This included USB-C cable is very nice! This accordion section allows freedom of movement and a nice distance from some USB port.

 

If you do need to switch from wireless to wired or back, you can press FN+5 for wired. This is useful for plugging the device in and then switching to typing on some other wireless/Bluetooth device.

Bluetooth is, of course, a little more work. Before getting started, I always recommend fully charging the keyboard. There’s a physical switch on the left side to turn the board on. I think that’s all the switch does – on or off. That’s nice and simple, which I like. Once the board is on, you don’t have to select between

Holding Fn+1/2/3 (1, 2, or 3) for 3 seconds will operate the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard to save a device in that Bluetooth slot. At this point, I open the Bluetooth menu on my MacBook and see the device, which has a “Pair” clickable beside it. Click Pair. Pairing should then be nearly automatic. The device will be named “HXG KB1” where “1” in that name is the slot to which the device is paired.

After being paired, switching between any of the three Bluetooth-connected devices is as simple as holding Fn while clicking 1, 2, or 3. As far as I can tell, there’s no way to see which of the three Bluetooth is active from the keyboard. But then, I’m not sure any board offers this!

Using the wireless option means you’ll need to put this USB adapter in place. This thing tucks away nicely on the bottom of the board if you never need it. If you don’t use Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, you can use actual wireless for wireless connectivity. That’ll require the little (included) USB plug. Just plug that into your computer and press FN+4 to get the wireless option!

Interestingly, it has a USB-A side and a USB-C side, too!

One more note about connectivity – the battery inside this metal case is 5800mAh. That’s a big ol battery and should give VERY good “disconnected” usage times!!

User Interface and Operation

The user interface, as I always say on keyboard reviews, is the switches. Pretty obvious right?

Most specifically, the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard is an ergonomic keyboard. That means there are two sections and they’re angled such that they should be in a more comfortable and natural position for typing while seated at a desk. I find that to be “perfectly true enough.” This is the first mechanical ergo board I have used and for me, the experience has not been groundbreaking. I have adjusted fairly easily to typing on a split board at this angle, but switching back and forth is easy enough too. I do have some “middle column” idiosyncracies that do cause me to reach for the T with my right hand and some other things like this, but it’s still all good.

Aside from that mention of “user interface” it’s worth noting that the board still offers many switches from the “right cluster.” Print Screen, Pg Up/down, etc are present. This is great and means you’ll probably be able to get by with this fancy keyboard for work fairly easily.

I’ll also add about the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard that it’s well suited for both PC and Mac. The Tab switch allows switching – hold FN and TAB for 5 seconds to switch. (The board will work with whatever system no matter what setting you have here, it’ll just be better suited if you pick the right one!)

Programmability

I’m a little surprised (such surprise, that is, that I fear I am probably missing it) that the Hexgears Monarch F2 Alice keyboard is not programmable. Or doesn’t offer any programming options. I don’t need “fully programmable” (in fact, that terrifies me). But being able to add a macro or assign the left space to tab or layer or something would be very useful!

I also do not see any mention of programming macros in the manual.

RGB

Each switch has North-facing LEDs. The manual covers how you can speed up and slow down, change color and enact a number of color styles and features.

As far as I can tell, this is not really “RGB” or at least most of the colors are disabled. What colors there are (4, I believe) match the purple/pink/white anno theme of this board and keycaps. I am ok with this. I think if you buy a board with this design you’re already drinking the juice, and being “limited” to those four (matching) colors probably speeds your setup of this board. So nice touch, Hexgears!

The LEDs can be bright or dim or off, and as mentioned above, the keycap icons shine through very nicely.

I believe the FN key may be white in all modes!

Conclusion

What I like

• Ergo is very neat
• Blue splash anodization is a neat touch
• USB-C
• Very sturdy because of the weight
• Metal case
• Hot-swap switches make customization easy
• Mac compatibility

What I don’t like

• Cost – at $250 this isn’t necessarily an impulse purchase for many buyers!
• Unsure about programming macros.

Notes

• This keyboard was provided by Hexgears for review. I was not paid to write this review.
• This content originally appeared at zeroair.org.  Please visit there for the best experience!
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