The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard C64 Edition hits the nostalgic notes while still boasting most of the features modern Mac buyers look for at a reasonable price.

The days of buying a keyboard just for its functionality are long gone. They all let you type words into a computer, but there’s much more to a great keyboard than that.

The relatively newfound fondness for mechanical keyboards has seen a torrent of options reach the marketplace. But even then, somehow, some still stand out from the crowd.

The wordily-named 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard - C64 Edition definitely fits into that category. And then some, in fact.

Fans of the personal computers of yesteryear will instantly recognize the Commodore 64 aesthetic. Those of us old enough to remember the C64’s heyday will feel right at home tapping away on this thing like it’s 1982 all over again.

But for the newbie fans of retro gear, 8Bitdo made sure to give this keyboard the works. It’s hotswappable, features the much-vaunted N-key rollover, and even boasts double-shot ABS keys atop the Kailh Box White switches. Version 2 of those switches, if you must ask.

So, with all of that said, and a price point of $110 RRP, there’s a lot to like. But the question as to whether it should be your next Mac keyboard is a little more complicated.

I’ve spent some considerable time with 8Bitdo’s retro keyboard. And, as ever, I have thoughts.

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: Specs

You’ve seen the keyboard — it’s in the images throughout this post. And you’ve likely seen it pop up more than a few times in your socials. It’s a photogenic keyboard.

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: All keyboards should have a knob

So, assuming you’re familiar with the looks, I’m going to start out with the cold, hard specs. And there are plenty of them to go around.

Starting with the most obvious, this keyboard has 87 keys, all of them hot-swappable. That means that you can swap the included Kailh Box White v2 switches for whichever you prefer.

Atop those switches, you’ll find double-shot ABS caps which can, again, be swapped out. These keys should last a long time, legibility intact, thanks to that design.

Moving on, the keyboard has three modes of connectivity. There’s good old-fashioned Bluetooth as well as an included USB-A wireless dongle. A USB-C port handles wired connectivity.

If you do go wireless, you can expect up to 200 hours of use per charge. That’s almost a month of most people’s workdays before the charging cable comes out.

Keeping the swift pace up, 8Bitdo includes a volume knob for media control and another knob for switching modes. A retro-looking LED light confirms power status, too.

Next to those two knobs, the keyboard has three shortcut buttons. Perfect if you want to ditch some complex shortcuts for a single button.

This keyboard also boasts N-key rollover support, so it can register multiple key presses simultaneously. Some keyboards are limited here, but this keyboard can register every key, even if pressed at the same time.

Finally, the rub. 8Bitdo sells this keyboard as being compatible with Windows PCs and Android devices. You don’t need to be eagle-like to spot the lack of a Mac mention there.

I, of course, have been using this keyboard with a Mac just fine. But there’s a complication that I’ll detail shortly.

Complication aside, I don’t think it’s controversial to say that 8Bitdo ticked most boxes with this thing. I can’t imagine too many keyboard buyers wanting a feature this model doesn’t have.

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: USB-C is available for wired connectivity

In fact, there are some things that few people are likely to use. You’ll get a pair of "Super buttons" and a "Super Stick" included.

The buttons are giant red buttons that can be configured to do your bidding. The stick is an arcade stick, presumably to complete the retro arcade-y look. It, too, can be configured to trigger shortcuts and other actions.

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: In use

My use of this C64-alike keyboard has been spread across two different MacBook Pros. When they were plugged into my monitor, this was the keyboard I used.

As the specs list might suggest, there’s a lot to like here. That starts with the chunky retro keys that are a joy to press — and easy to find when touch typing.

The Kailh Box White switches don’t require too much pressure to activate. The keys and switches make for a satisfying thunk when they bottom out.

That being said, they aren’t my favorite switches. I prefer a little more click with my clack, so to speak.

Thankfully, that’s easily fixed by swapping in my choice of switches. Another reason I won’t touch a keyboard without hotswappable switches these days.

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: Fans of old keyboards will love this one

While I mainly used the keyboard in wired mode, the wireless connectivity worked as expected. Both Bluetooth and the included wireless dongle worked a treat, with no sign of cutouts or other nastiness.

However, one thing that can’t be so easily fixed is the lack of official Mac support.

While the keyboard will work with a Mac, the lack of Mac-specific design is hard to ignore when you look for Mac keys.

They simply aren’t there. Because 8Bitdo doesn’t officially support the Mac, there are no Mac Command or Option keys in the box. You’re stuck with ALT and Windows keys, whether you like it or not.

While the functionality is easy to get back by remapping the keys at the macOS level, it’s less than ideal.

The problems continue when you try to set up the Super Buttons and Stick. Because you’ll need the 8Bitdo software for Windows to do it. Not ideal, really.

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: Compromised, but retro gold

Whether or not you choose to buy 8Bitdo’s C64-like keyboard will come down to one thing. Does its rather lovely aesthetics make living with the lack of real Mac support worthwhile?

I can’t answer that for you, but I do know that this keyboard would get a full extra point from me if Mac support were added.

As it stands, the (deep breath) 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard C64 Edition won’t have a place on my desk long-term. I could swap the switches for one I prefer, sure.

But I can’t swap out the keys to add Mac-specific ones without ruining the Commodore 64 look. And without that, even this keyboard’s myriad features aren’t enough to earn it a spot on my desk.

But if 8Bitdo decides to make a Mac version, it’ll have my money. My normal keyboard just seems so boring now.

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: Pros

• A gorgeous, retro design
• A physical volume knob
• All the features most people could want

8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard review: Cons

• No official Mac support
• Somewhat mushy Kailh Box White switches

Rating: 3 out of 5

Where to buy the 8Bitdo Retro C64 Mechanical Keyboard

You can buy this keyboard online, with Amazon regularly offering a discounted price of $94.99. It usually sells for $109.99.