• 2 min read
8BitDo’s retro desk trio nails the NES look
8BitDo’s NES-style keyboard, mouse, and numpad pair retro design with solid specs, from hot-swappable switches to a PAW 3395 sensor.
Image: TechRadar
TechRadar is recommending 8BitDo’s Retro lineup as a cohesive NES-style desktop setup, built around a matching keyboard, mouse, and numpad in the familiar off-white-and-red color scheme.
According to the source, the appeal is not just nostalgia. The keyboard includes hot-swappable Kailh switches and PBT keycaps, features usually associated with enthusiast mechanical boards rather than themed accessories. The R8 mouse also brings competitive hardware, including a PAW 3395 sensor and 8,000Hz wired polling, while the numpad adds a separate calculator mode instead of feeling like an afterthought.
TechRadar says buying the three devices together also avoids a common problem with retro gear: a single themed accessory can look out of place, while a full matching set feels intentional. The devices also benefit from 8BitDo Ultimate Software, which keeps mouse and keyboard macros and profiles in one app.
There are a few caveats. The keyboard’s Kailh Box White V2 switches are described as genuinely loud, making it a weaker fit for shared offices or thin-walled apartments unless users plan to swap in quieter switches. The source also notes that the numpad does not yet support macro programming through 8BitDo’s software, so it currently works more as a numpad and calculator than a full macro pad.
For buyers who want a desk setup that echoes a 1985 living room, TechRadar’s view is simple: this is about as complete an NES-themed desk kit as you can currently put together.
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Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via TechRadar
