The Laboratory by RF Is A New DIY Keyboard Store In Orchard
Mechanical keyboards have been all the rage for the past few years. If you’ve bought one, but feel like your mechanical keyboard is missing a little personal touch look no further than The Laboratory by RF at Cathay Cineleisure.
Located in the heart of Orchard Road, The Laboratory by RF is now Singapore’s largest keyboard customisation store. From barebones to switches and keycaps, you can customise your dream keyboard here in under an hour.
The store
The moment you step into the store, you’ll be greeted by the huge variety of pre-assembled keyboards on display. From Keychron, known for its value for money, to chil.key which is rarely in stock, The Laboratory by RF features products from a total of 16 well-known brands for you to choose from.
They also display samples of the different barebones, switches and keycaps for you to try before settling on the components you want. This is definitely a keyboard geek’s paradise.
The customisation process
The lab-themed store’s layout ensures a fuss-free customisation experience. You’ll be given a checklist to indicate your preferred keyboard components, and all you have to do is hand the completed list over to the staff at the end of the process.
The first step is to pick the barebone – AKA the base of the keyboard – that suits you. Considering various factors like desk space, typing style and personal preference, you’ll be able to choose from barebones of 4 different sizes: 65%, 75%, 87% Tenkeyless and 100%.
The second step is to choose your preferred switches. You can select from linear, tactile or clicky switches for your keyboard here. It all boils down to personal preference on how you want your typing experience to feel and sound, but the general rule of thumb is linear switches for gaming, tactile switches for work, and clicky switches for casual browsing and typing.
The third step is to choose the keycaps that best match your aesthetics and needs. With a variety of keycaps in different types, themes, and colours on display, you’ll be spoiled for choice. All that’s left to do is to assemble your own keyboard at the assembly area and test it out to make sure that everything is functioning correctly. Now you’ve got yourself a spanking new, customised keyboard in under an hour!
The prices of the barebones available at The Laboratory by RF start at around $80. The full set of switches costs about $20 and the prices of the keycaps average at $50. A simply customised keyboard with just the basic functions would set you back about $150. There are, of course, more premium options, which will set you back more.
The Laboratory by RF Lets You Create Custom Mechanical Keyboards In Singapore
The next time you find yourself in town with some time to kill, head down to The Laboratory by RF to go through the mechanical keyboard customisation process firsthand, or simply just try out their keyboards for the ultimate ASMR experience.
Address: 8 Grange Road, #02-18 to #02-23A, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Singapore 239695
Opening hours: 12pm to 9pm daily
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