There are micro keyboards and then there are keyboards that are much smaller. They are commonly referred to as macro pads since they are typically constructed as a collection of programmable macro keys or buttons.
Mini-keyboard from Nordic Game Supplies A 25-key macro pad designed to resemble the left side of a normal keyboard, The Shrimp is a little different. The W, A, S, and D keys, as well as the 21 keys that surround them, are meant for gamers who prefer the mechanical keyboard feel. The business refers to it as a 20 percent gaming keyboard.
Structure of the Shrimp
The Shrimp is a 25-key macro pad that is intended to resemble the left side of a keyboard. It also has two tactile push knobs and one media button. It boasts ABS keycaps with primary and secondary legends that shine through. It includes four rubbery feet on the bottom and a USB-C port in the middle of the back border. If we judge it just on the basis of build quality, it appears to be quite well-made and durable and is therefore definitely worth the price.
The Shrimp is available in four colorways, including “Vitello,” which has a white case with blue and gray accents and white keycaps. It also has a white and gray wrist rest. “Pinkey” sports a light pink case with matching light pink keycaps and tangerine orange and marigold yellow embellishments. A pink-on-pink wrist rest is included. “Monochrome” sports a black case, gray and black keycaps, white accents, and a wrist rest that is black on black.
The wrist rest includes a lightly-padded surface coated in textured leather and four rubberized feet on the bottom for traction. Once added, it lies flush with the macro pad and increases The Shrimp’s overall depth by 3.52 inches (100mm). It has a very high-end appearance (and feel), and it adds ergonomic comfort that complements the keyboard’s lower-profile keycaps.
Typing with Keys on a Shrimp
The 25 keys on the Shrimp are set up to resemble the left side of a typical keyboard. Although it lacks a function row, it does include secondary side legends on several of the keys and second-layer functionality (accessible by pressing the Fn key). Gateron G Pro Yellow switches, which are linear switches with a 50g actuation force, are already installed on the keyboard. Currently, there is only one switch option available, but according to the manufacturer, a hot-swap PCB variant will “probably” be made in the future.
The keyboard looks and feels fantastic; in fact, I kind of wish it were full-size because it feels so amazing. The keycaps are constructed of ABS, but they have a matte surface and big legends that greatly enhance the overall design. They also feel and seem more upscale than ordinary ABS keycaps. They sport a Cherry profile, which means they’re somewhat shorter than OEM keycaps and have contoured tops that make it easy for you to type without moving your fingers nearly as far.
Although the Gateron G Pro Yellow switches were a little heavier than I’m used to, I wasn’t really typing on the keyboard; instead, I was using it for gaming and shortcuts.
A Shrimp on the Phone
The Shrimp has two push-activated, tactile, notched dials. Despite being composed of plastic, the dials seem incredibly sturdy and well-built. However, they do protrude a little past the keycaps, which could make them less durable for travel.
The Shrimp’s per-key RGB lighting is controlled by the left dial; spinning it changes the brightness, while pressing it cycles through 16 pre-loaded lighting effects. As there are only three brightness settings (high, medium, and off), it feels like a waste of the dial’s capability.
The 16 lighting presets are executed fairly effectively; they aren’t just a collection of dull variations on the same old spectrum cycling. There is a nice selection of effects, some of which are key-activated.
Pressing the right dial launches your default media center and adjusts the system volume. Mute/unmute is controlled via the media key adjacent to the right dial.
The conclusion
The Shrimp is an intriguing gaming peripheral because it falls between two extremes: it’s not quite a keyboard and it’s not quite a macro pad (if you want one, check out the Elgato Stream Deck+ or Adafruit MacroPad RP2040). It is set up as a keyboard, so basic remapping would also remap the same keys on your primary keyboard. While it can be remapped using third-party software, it would require some work to convert it into a specialized macro pad. If Nordic Game Supply decides to develop specialized software, The Shrimp could undoubtedly be a terrific tiny macro pad.
