The onslaught of 60% mechanical gaming keyboards proves that there’s definitely a market for keyboards like the WhirlwindFX Atom, whose extremely compact form factor might be exactly what small desk owners and travelholic gamers have been searching for. But with rivaling manufacturers like Corsair, Razer and Cooler Master rolling out their own takes on small-form-factor gaming, this little-keyboard-that-could has some stiff competition. How exactly does it stay ahead of the game? By keeping things thin, great-looking, and relatively affordable – while delivering a performance that will impress even full-sized keyboard purists.
WhirlwindFX Atom – Design and Features
I’ll say this now: getting used to the 60% form factor takes time. Not only are these compact keyboards missing the numeric keypad, but unlike their TKL counterparts, they ditch the arrow keys and special keys altogether. While many of us don’t really utilize those special keys as much, many users who make the switch will miss those dedicated arrow keys.
But for every key missing on a 60% keyboard, it makes up for in reclaimed space. To gamers specifically, it is a boon. After all, most gamers only use a limited number of keys and often only in the WASD area.
Among the many things I appreciate about the Atom is that not only is it compact, but it’s also thin at 1.89 inches. At least, it’s thinner than the Corsair K65 RGB Mini that I tested and reviewed prior when its feet are put away. Don’t get me wrong; there are at least a dozen or so compact keyboards out there that have much thinner profiles, and some of those are compact mechanical keyboards. But not many of those deliver the same satisfying travel and bounce as the Atom.
When its feet are out, it does stand much higher than the K65 RGB Mini. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, that angled setup only makes the keyboard more comfortable to use – unlike the K65 whose lack of feet doesn’t really help its already thick profile. It doesn’t feel at all like much pressure is being put on my wrists, even with the absence of a wrist rest.
Speaking of which, I would love for Whirlwind (and other manufacturers) to complement their 60% keyboards with matching wrist rests. No amount of compactness, after all, is worth sacrificing our wrists for.
I’ve heard complaints of the rubber feet on the Atom being wobbly, and I can confirm that the left foot of the brown tactile unit I tested has that issue. However, I can also attest that the feet on the blue clicky version (which I received by mistake instead of the actual blue switches I requested) are pretty stable and bear no issues. This could just be a matter of quality control on Whirlwind’s part.
We now live in a USB-C dominated world so thank goodness Whirlwind opted for a USB-C to USB-A cable, which by the way is beautifully braided and flexible enough without being too pliable. It should last folks a long while, even if it does endure more than its share of bending, twisting and tangling.
As should the keyboard itself. The Atom is outfitted with double shot ABS keycaps as well as premium lubricated stabilizers for rattle-free actuation. It also has a 50 million keystrokes rating.
I also appreciate the aesthetic direction the company has taken here. Without making its keycaps thinner than those on the K65 RGB Mini, WhirlwindFX has designed the Atom so that it gives the illusion of having a floating keycap look, which lends to its classier aesthetic.
Of course, this being a gaming keyboard, you can’t expect it to not have RGB lighting. Much like its big sister, it boasts dynamic RGB lighting with per-key customizations as well as access to an ever-growing library of dynamic, content-reactive, and game-specific lighting themes via WhirlwindFX’s SignalRGB app. It’s a dream for RGB addicts.
WhirlwindFX Atom – Software
WhirlwindFX’s new app, SignalRGB, is a step up from its predecessor, the Whirlwind Engine. At least, to an extent. It keeps mostly the same look and interface as the Whirlwind Engine, with the same Dashboard, Devices, Effects and Media Settings tabs and mostly similar features and functionalities.
If you’re a WhirlwindFX user, this new software will certainly be familiar to you. Only this time, it seems to have added to its expansive library of lighting themes. The list of game-specific lighting themes, for example, now includes presets for newer titles like Among Us, Valorant, Cyberpunk 2077, and Valheim.
Sadly, WhirlwindFX didn’t take this app rebranding as an opportunity to allow key remaps and macro recording. Much like its predecessor, SignalRGB doesn’t offer any capabilities to reprogram any keys – nor does the Atom itself.
It’s definitely an omission, but forgivable if you’re not one to remap keys or record macros. That said, an opportunity to not have to use the FN key for certain functions in specific programs would have been welcome. As would have been an onboard memory considering the keyboard’s travel-friendly aspect. On both, the Corsair K65 RGB Mini definitely has the advantage.
That isn’t to say that SignalRGB is devoid of any major improvements. It has multi-brand hardware compatibility, with support for peripherals from the likes of Razer, Corsair, SteelSeries, and Logitech G. This means that you can use the same software to control the RGB lighting on all your gaming peripherals, no matter the brand or line.
WhirlwindFX Atom – Performance
The WhirlwindFX Atom is an undeniable pleasure to use. Testing both the blue clicky and the brown tactile versions (there’s a third one with red linear switches), it’s proven itself extremely satisfying to type and button-mash on – with the blue switch model delivering a more gratifying bounce back, while the brown offers a quieter operation. Whichever you choose will come down to personal preference.
The Gateron mechanical key switches are truly impressive, touting speedy actuation and high accuracy while being smooth. They do the job well, especially when coupled with the Atom’s full N-key rollover and 3,000Hz polling rate. The Atom is, without a doubt, a high-performing keyboard, which it proves in faster-paced games like Doom: Eternal, Rocket League, and Sayonara Wild Hearts.
Interestingly, while Gateron switches are supposed to have a slightly higher actuation point than Cherry switches, I found the ones on the Atom to have a lower actuation point, which means it takes a deeper press for a key to register. WhirlwindFX hasn’t specified the actuation point on the Atom, but the Corsair K65 RGB Mini’s Cherry MX Speed switch (which has an actuation distance of 1.2mm) definitely takes a much lighter touch, which makes it the better candidate for productivity tasks.
Rest assured those slightly deeper presses won’t affect your game, however. The WhirlwindFX Atom is as fast and as accurate as some of the best full-sized gaming keyboards on the market, and its 100% anti-ghosting feature will ensure that you won’t have any missed presses.
