Editor-DN
I own over two dozen mechanical keyboards, and my daily driver is an Angry Meow Cyberboard R4. While this particular keyboard isn’t designed to be portable—it weighs 7lb—I have a decent number of Bluetooth-enabled keyboards that I usually turn to for typing when I’m not at my desk. Connect to Pad Pro.
Most of these keyboards have a 65% or 75% design, and while I generally prefer full-size switches, they are a lot. That’s why I was surprised when Cherry announced it was making low-profile mechanical switches. The Corsair K100 Air was a great show, and Lofree’s Flow is one of the best options in this category.
The Willow Pro is a new entry in the segment, offering a unique full-size design that is significantly narrower than its competitors. Wombat is a sub-brand of KSI keyboards, and the Willow Pro is an interesting choice because it combines low-profile switches with a custom full-size design. Keyboard Priced at $144 on Amazon.and it is available through Wombat’s website Along with that
As always, let’s start with the design. The Willow Pro has a gray color scheme that contrasts well with the dual-tone white and gray keys, and the yellow spacebar and arrow keys pop the design a bit. The keyboard uses an aluminum top plate and plastic base, and there are no issues with build quality. The chassis has no flex, and after four months of use, there is no visible wear.
The main talking point is the unique setting; The Willow Pro has a tall design with the number pad on the right side overlooking the function and system keys above. This means your keyboard gets a full-size design without taking up too much space on your desk, and while it’s taller than most keyboards, it’s about as wide as 75% of most designs. is
That said, the positioning of the system keys isn’t ideal. I usually reach for the delete key with my little finger because it sits to the right of the backspace button, but in this instance, you get the number pad instead. Aside from that annoyance, I don’t see any issues with the design, and it’s a novel way to cram all the keys into a small profile.
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What I like about the design is that the bottom has magnetic rubber feet, so you can easily adjust the angle. I usually prefer a six-degree angle, and while the keyboard doesn’t go to that level, the feet have a four-degree angle, and it makes the Willow Pro much easier to use.
I’ve used several low-profile keyboards with mechanical switches, and the Willow Pro is very accurate in this area. The keyboard uses Gatron’s red low-profile linear switches, and it’s one of the best options you’ll find today. The switch has 50gf actuation with a total travel of 3.0mm, and it does a great job of mimicking the smoothness of a full-size switch.
It’s great for everyday use, and it provides all the benefits of a linear mechanical switch without taking up too much space. The sound profile is decent, but you get the hollowness in the sound that comes with the plastic bottom case. Given the price of the Willow Pro, the Wombat should have used an all-metal enclosure.
Other than that, there are no problems using Willow Pro. PBT Keys are durable, and have clear symptoms. There’s dynamic RGB lighting, but as the legends don’t glow, you get standard diffuse lighting. Like other low-profile keyboards, the switch is soldered.
You can use Willow Pro with Windows and macOS, with extra keys included in the box. Since the keyboard has Bluetooth connectivity, you can also connect it to an Android phone or tablet, and in my usage, I connected the keyboard to my iPad Pro 13 2024 most of the time.
Wombat has its own software utility, and you can customize macros with relative ease. I would have preferred the VIA integration instead because it allows more flexibility, but Wombat’s software isn’t as clunky as other brands I’ve used, and it has a decent level of customization.
The only issue with the keyboard is battery life. The Willow Pro has a 1000 mAh battery, and it’s on the lower end of the scale as these things go. With RGB lighting enabled, the keyboard doesn’t last a full day of use, and while I was able to get it to last two days between charges with the RGB effects disabled, it’s still not good enough. is
Overall, the design and build quality of the Willow Pro is good, and while full-size keyboards are plentiful these days – especially with low-profile switches – it’s good to see a manufacturer meet this niche. . If you don’t mind battery constraints, this is a great overall choice.
Wombat Willow Pro Mechanical Keyboard
The Willow Pro combines a great low-profile switch with a unique design. If you need a keyboard with a dedicated number pad and mechanical switches that doesn’t take up much space, this is a decent option.
