LOFREE Block Keyboard Review: Retro Design Meets Modern Performance

Lofree has always been a unique presence among peripheral brands. Unlike many brands that neglect original design and simply imitate, Lofree emphasizes product design and often integrates unique ideas of lifestyle aesthetics. It is one of the few peripheral brands with excellent original design capabilities. However, as many of Lofree’s earlier products—such as the Potato Chip Mouse and Lipstick Keyboard—were aimed at a female audience, some practicality-focused male users considered Lofree products to be more about looks than substance.

Recently, Lofree launched a retro-inspired keyboard called LOFREE Block, which gives off a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of school computer labs. I was instantly drawn to its design and decided to try it. To my surprise, the real experience far exceeded my expectations, and it’s quite different from the typical impression of Lofree products. Here’s a detailed review of LOFREE Block, including its strengths and weaknesses.

Appearance and Design

LOFREE Block adopts the increasingly popular 98-key layout, which is more compact than the traditional 104-key layout by merging some function keys above the numeric keypad. This design shortens the keyboard’s length, giving more room for mouse movement while maintaining a tighter visual look without the bulkiness of a full 104-key keyboard.

Unlike most 98-key keyboards, LOFREE Block features a bold retro "forehead" design—a large area above the key cluster without keys, reminiscent of 1990s keyboards used in banks and hospitals. Back then, large keyboards were preferred for their all-in-one functionality, and this big forehead often integrated card readers or other devices.

With personal computers becoming household items, slimmer bezels replaced bulky designs. LOFREE Block revives this classic big-forehead style, pairing a gray-white top section with warm-white keys, creating a truly vintage aesthetic from the 90s.

One standout feature is the two orange knobs on the upper right corner: the left knob controls system volume, while the right knob switches keyboard modes. Rotary knobs have become trendy, but few 98-key keyboards manage to include two knobs without sacrificing key positions. Though some users feel the orange color doesn’t match the retro tones, the contrast prevents the design from looking too plain. If Lofree offers alternative knob colors, that would be even better.

LOFREE Block comes with custom PBT dye-sublimated keycaps full of retro elements—typewriter-inspired backspace and enter keys, Macintosh-like option keys, Morse-code-style function keys—all in the classic retro white-gray tone, perfectly aligning with the "BACK TO CLASSICS" slogan.

The black strip between the main area and numeric keypad is a visual status panel. It displays battery, connection, and caps-lock indicators. Note that it’s made of acrylic, which is prone to scratches, so clean it with a microfiber cloth.

The keyboard feet also have a unique circular ring design. Even with the feet opened, LOFREE Block remains relatively flat due to its low-profile rectangular housing, offering only an 8° tilt.

Hardware and Performance

LOFREE Block features custom TTC linear "LOFREE Block switches" with 43gf actuation force, 50gf bottom-out force, 1.6mm actuation travel, and 3.8mm total travel. Similar to red switches, they offer slightly shorter travel. The all-POM structure (POM top, bottom, and stem) combined with light factory lubrication ensures smooth keystrokes, while the 22mm spring gives excellent feedback, placing its feel among the top tier.

The large keys, while crisp, have slightly hollow sound tuning, falling short of the very best stabilizers.

LOFREE Block supports hot-swappable sockets compatible with 99% of mainstream switches, allowing easy customization with tactile or silent switches.

For connectivity, LOFREE Block offers wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless modes, switched via the right knob. Instead of dedicating positions to each wireless mode, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz share one wireless setting, with Fn+1/2/3/4 used to switch devices. This makes sense since Bluetooth is better for office use (low power, higher latency), while 2.4GHz is better for gaming (low latency, higher power).

The 2.4GHz receiver compartment and USB-C charging port are conveniently placed at the top. The receiver even has a pull tab for easy access, and charging can be done without flipping the keyboard over.

Lighting and Structure

LOFREE Block features simple white backlighting to complement its retro look.

The internal structure uses the popular gasket design, but with a slightly stiffer tuning due to a traditional silicone ear-mount style, non-slotted PC plate, and minimal flex room. It strikes a good balance between typing comfort and gaming responsiveness.

Lofree’s attention to detail is evident even inside—the positioning plate and silicone pads are branded with the company’s logo, a touch that increases cost but shows dedication to craftsmanship.

The internal foam layers include silicone, IXPE switch pads, and Poron bottom foam, resulting in a clean sound profile with a hint of "mahjong-like" clackiness, especially when paired with the LOFREE Block switches.

Interestingly, Lofree places the PCB and battery within the big forehead area instead of the bottom, enabling a slimmer profile. The front height is only 19mm, which is quite low for modern gasket keyboards.

Battery Life and Accessories

Thanks to a low-power MCU, the 2000mAh battery achieves 6–8 weeks of runtime with the backlight off—comparable to some keyboards with 6000–8000mAh batteries. There’s room for a bigger battery, so a 4000mAh upgrade would be perfect.

In terms of accessories, LOFREE Block comes only with a USB-C charging cable—no keycap puller or switch puller. Considering it’s a hot-swappable keyboard, basic tools would have been appreciated.

Conclusion

Pros:

• Beautiful retro-inspired design with great details
• Smooth LOFREE Block linear switches with unique sound profile
• Clever big-forehead layout for slimmer profile
• Low-power design with solid battery life

Cons:

• Slightly hollow sound on large keys
• No keycap/switch puller included

Overall, LOFREE Block combines retro aesthetics with modern performance, delivering a user experience that exceeds expectations. For those who appreciate vintage design, it’s one of the best keyboards available today.