Image credit: Josie Clark for Kyusai
I’ll cut right to the chase and tell you that the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR is far and away the best gaming keyboard I’ve ever used. As a former pro-Counter-Strike player and tech enthusiast, I’ve used dozens of wired and wireless decks in my time. With its magnetic switches, 8,000Hz polling rate, stellar battery life, leading design, and compact form factor, I am confident that this is a must-buy and a great start for the new union between the two companies as they enter this new chapter. Read Kyusai’s Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR review further down the page to find out more.
Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR price & availability
The Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR is now available in countries like the US and the UK, as well as territories across wider Europe, for $249.99 / £199.99 / €229.99. That positions this esports-centric gaming keyboard firmly in the upper mid-range, with its most well-known competitors in this bracket being the Logitech G Pro X TKL, SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL, and Corsair Vanguard Air 99.
Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR design & features
The Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR is stunning. It’s incredibly compact and has a sleek footprint on my desk. I greatly appreciate the weight of the deck, too. It comes in at just 960g, so if you’re someone looking for a keyboard to bring to a LAN, then this one fits the bill. I greatly appreciate the five-layer sound-dampening as well as the brushed metal aesthetic on the top plate and sides, which adds a premium look and feel.
There’s no faulting the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR’s features. This Tenkeyless gaming keyboard features an 8,000Hz polling rate available both wired and wirelessly with its triple connectivity modes: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and hard-wired via USB-C. Key to the user experience are the Cherry MK Crystal magnetic switches, which deliver the best sound and feel that I’ve come across in all my time as a PC gamer.
True to its namesake, there are no Hall Effect sensors with the magnetic switches inside this gaming keyboard. Instead, it’s TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance), which is claimed to capture your input within 0.1mm of precision for lower power use and stronger in-game performance. Smooth, linear, and ultra-responsive.
Battery life is paramount with any wireless gaming keyboard, and the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR features an 8,000 mAh battery, which is said to be rated for up to 300 hours in Bluetooth mode. I primarily used this board in its 2.4 GHz mode with the wireless dongle. As someone who uses it all day, every day (for both work and play), this claim is accurate; I charge this keyboard around once every two weeks.
My only complaint with the wireless performance of the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR is that there’s no obvious indicator for when the battery gets low. The only thing is a small flashing light on the back, which doesn’t denote what percentage of the battery is left. This meant there have been a few times where it’s died on me and I’ve had to reach for the USB-C lead to keep going. It’s not a big deal, but it’s worth mentioning.
Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR performance
I’ve been using the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR as my main keyboard in my working life as a Cloud Technical Engineer, and when gaming, particularly when playing semi-professional VALORANT at an incredibly high level (I’m Immortal rank, by the way). As someone who has previously played professional-level Counter-Strike and is incredibly adept at most shooters, I can tell you straight up that you need a leading response time, low actuation, and switches that don’t feature any excess travel. The Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR delivers here.
My VALORANT team is now entering the Premier playoffs, and I feel that the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR has been instrumental in this. In my first Premier game with this keyboard, I went 21/8 with a K/D ratio of 2.6 and a 228.2 ADR. As well as Riot Games’ shooter, I have also played the likes of Fortnite‘s Ranked Zero Build mode, Warzone, and more of the best battle royale games to great success, too. In other words, if you’re looking for a competitively priced deck that you can bring to a LAN, work on, or play with more casually, then this is the one I stand by the most. It’s genuinely hard to beat, and I can’t imagine it’ll be topped by anything any time soon.
FAQs
The Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR release date was January 29, 2026.
The Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR price is $249.99 / £199.99 / €229.99.
Yes, TMR gaming keyboards like the Cherry XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR offer superior responsiveness and rapid-instant actuation, making them ideal for esports games like CS2 and VALORANT.
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