Xtrfy K4 Lite Review: ~7 Years of Near-Daily Use
I have used this Xtrfy K4 Lite TKL as my primary desktop keyboard for roughly seven years, almost every day apart from a few months when I was travelling. I bought it with my own money around 2019 for what I remember as roughly DKK 250. I no longer have the receipt, so both the purchase year and price are estimates.
After years of Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls Online, Skyrim, study work and general computer use, every original key still works. I have had no double inputs, no missed registrations, no dead switches, no loose keycaps and no cable problems. That durability is easily the best thing about it.
The main weakness is just as clear: it is loud. The sound is intrusive enough that I sometimes worry about waking my girlfriend when I type or game late at night. Cleaning underneath the keycaps is my second-biggest complaint.
Affiliate disclosure: This review contains a paid Amazon link to the newer CHERRY XTRFY K4V2, not the older K4 Lite reviewed here. If you buy through it, Jon Tests may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I bought my K4 Lite myself and received no free product, discount or compensation. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.
Xtrfy K4 Lite TKL — 4.4/5
Quick verdict: My K4 Lite has been exceptionally reliable for roughly seven years of near-daily use. Every original key and switch still works, the lighting still works, and the fixed USB cable is still reliable. I would happily take this level of durability again, but next time I would actively look for a quieter mechanical keyboard.
Best for: gamers and heavy desktop users who value reliable inputs, a compact TKL layout and long-term durability more than quiet typing.
Skip if: you share a room with someone sleeping, dislike loud keyboards, or want something that is easy to deep-clean underneath the keycaps.
- Zero failed keys or switch problems after roughly seven years
- Precise, dependable inputs for gaming and everyday typing
- Useful backlighting still works properly
- Key legends remain very readable despite heavy use
- Compact TKL layout without a numpad I do not miss
- Excellent value for the roughly DKK 250 I remember paying
- Too loud for late-night use around sleeping people
- Keys feel somewhat firm to press
- Dirt and debris underneath the keycaps are awkward to remove
- At 1.05 kg, it is heavier than I would want for regular commuting
How I tested the Xtrfy K4 Lite
- Purchased: around 2019 (estimate; I no longer have the receipt)
- Price paid: roughly DKK 250 (estimate)
- Funding: bought with my own money; no gift, discount or compensation
- Ownership: roughly seven years
- Use: almost every day apart from a few months spent travelling
- Role: primary keyboard for my desktop PC
- Main games: Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls Online and Skyrim
- Other use: study and work; probably more total typing than gaming
- Original parts: original keycaps, switches and USB cable
- Failures: no double inputs, missed registrations, dead keys, loose keycaps or connection problems
This is a long-term ownership review, not a laboratory switch or latency test. Where I discuss feel, noise, comfort or cleaning, those are my own observations from using this exact keyboard.
Important: mine is the K4 Lite, not the K4 RGB
I originally remembered this as an Xtrfy K4 RGB TKL, but the label on the underside of my own keyboard says XTRFY K4 LITE. The matching old Elgiganten listing identifies the Nordic version as model XG-K4-LED-TKL-NOR, EAN 7340086909280.
That matters because Xtrfy also sold a different K4 RGB TKL. The K4 Lite uses Outemu Red mechanical switches and adjustable LED lighting; the non-Lite K4 RGB used different Kailh Red RGB switches. I am reviewing only the K4 Lite I actually own.
Seven years without a failed key is the standout result
The durability is why I still rate this keyboard so highly.
Before buying the K4 Lite, I went through several non-mechanical keyboards that developed problems much faster. I tend to use a keyboard hard when gaming, and those older boards would end up with keys coming loose or stopping working.
That has not happened here. After roughly seven years of near-daily use, I have not had a single switch start double-registering, fail to register, or stop working. The keycaps have not fallen off, and the fixed USB cable has remained reliable.
I have also dropped the keyboard once or twice and have spilled a small amount of liquid on it before. It continued working after I dried it. That is not a water-resistance claim and I would not intentionally expose it to liquid; it is simply what happened to my unit.
Typing and gaming both feel precise, but the keys are a little firm
I find the keys accurate and dependable in games. Counter-Strike is the game where that matters most to me, and I have never felt that missed or inconsistent inputs were holding me back.
For longer writing, the keyboard is also perfectly usable. In fact, over the years I have probably used it more for study, work and general typing than for gaming.
The switch feel is not perfect for everyone, though. I would describe the keys as a little firm to press. It does not bother me much, but my girlfriend finds them noticeably harder and more annoying to press than I do.
The old retailer specification confirms Outemu Red mechanical switches, 100% anti-ghosting, N-key rollover and a 1000 Hz polling rate. Those are product specifications; my first-hand conclusion is simply that the inputs have remained precise and reliable in real use.
The noise is the biggest reason I would not automatically buy it again
The K4 Lite is loud enough that it changes how I use it.
Late at night, if my girlfriend is sleeping, I am conscious that the keyboard could wake her. The sound sometimes bothers me too. That makes noise more than a minor preference issue for me; it is the main weakness of an otherwise excellent long-term keyboard.
If mine broke tomorrow, I would still look for another mechanical keyboard, but I would specifically search for something quieter before buying another board like this one.
The backlighting is still useful after all these years
The adjustable lighting underneath the keys is genuinely useful rather than just decorative for me. It makes the legends easier to see in a dark room, and the lighting still works properly after years of use.
Elgiganten’s archived specification says the lighting can be adjusted on the keyboard without additional software. I have not needed software to get value from the lighting.
The keycaps have aged better than the spaces between them
I started noticing signs of use after roughly the first year, but looking at the keyboard now, the keycap legends have actually survived extremely well. The letters are still clear and I do not consider the caps badly worn.
The bigger problem is dirt. I have usually given the top a cleaning wipe perhaps once a year, which is less often than ideal. Grease can be stubborn to remove, and dust and debris collect underneath the keycaps where a simple wipe cannot reach.
That makes deep cleaning more awkward than I would like. I have never replaced the keycaps or switches, so everything pictured is still the original hardware.
The TKL layout is right for me, but 1.05 kg is not commuter-light
I do not miss having a numpad at all. The tenkeyless layout keeps the board reasonably compact and gives me more desk space.
I have found it easy enough to move around occasionally, but I would not choose it as a daily commuter keyboard. The archived specification lists a weight of 1,050 g, dimensions of 356 × 141 × 39 mm and a 2 m USB cable. In my hands, it feels heavier than the kind of keyboard I would want to carry back and forth every day.
The fold-out feet are worth using
For years I barely used the rear kickstands and at one point essentially forgot they were there. I recently started using them again and prefer the raised typing angle; it feels a little more comfortable for my hands.
The feet themselves still work normally and do not feel loose.
Was it good value for roughly DKK 250?
Extremely good value.
My remembered purchase price is only an estimate, but if it was around DKK 250, I struggle to imagine getting much more durability for the money. The keyboard has effectively been a near-daily work and gaming tool for around seven years without a functional failure.
If the exact same K4 Lite were still readily available at a similarly low price, I would consider it again. But because noise is now my biggest complaint, I would first look for a quieter mechanical alternative.
Why I rate the Xtrfy K4 Lite 4.4/5
My overall rating is 4.4/5. This follows the public Jon Tests rating method: the criteria total 100%, each criterion is scored from the documented first-hand evidence, and the weighted result is rounded to one decimal place.
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durability & reliability | 30% | 5.0/5 | Roughly seven years of near-daily use with no dead keys, double inputs, loose caps or cable faults. |
| Gaming & typing | 25% | 4.4/5 | Precise and dependable for gaming, while still comfortable enough for long-form study and work. |
| Build quality | 15% | 4.8/5 | Still feels solid with no looseness or rattling after years of use and a few accidental knocks. |
| Noise & comfort | 15% | 2.8/5 | The keys feel somewhat firm and the keyboard is loud enough to be a genuine late-night problem. |
| Lighting & features | 10% | 4.6/5 | Useful backlighting still works, TKL suits me well and the kickstand remains functional. |
| Cleaning & maintenance | 5% | 3.0/5 | Surface cleaning is simple, but grease and debris beneath the keycaps are awkward to remove. |
| Weighted rating | 4.4/5 | 4.35 before rounding. | |
What should you buy now that the K4 Lite is unavailable?
The exact K4 Lite page is still online at Elgiganten, but the product is marked unavailable. If you are shopping today, I would not pay a premium for old stock simply because my unit lasted well.
| Keyboard | Why compare it | What I can verify |
|---|---|---|
| CHERRY XTRFY K4V2 TKL | The closest current successor to the K4 family. | CHERRY lists MX2A Red switches, RGB lighting, 1000 Hz polling, full N-key rollover, 356 × 141 × 39 mm dimensions and 1,050 g weight. CHERRY specifically markets the MX2A redesign as smoother with improved acoustics. I have not personally tested it. |
| HyperX Alloy Origins Core | A current wired TKL gaming board with linear Red switches. | HyperX lists a full aluminum body, detachable USB-C cable, N-key rollover, three tilt angles and a weight of about 1.98 lb. I have not personally tested it. |
| Keychron C3 Pro | Worth comparing if lower noise and programmability matter more. | Keychron lists a classic 87-key TKL layout, 1000 Hz wired polling, QMK/VIA support, gasket mounting and acoustic foam intended to reduce resonance and produce a quieter typing experience. Availability varies. I have not personally tested it. |
See the current CHERRY XTRFY K4V2 on Amazon (paid link) →
The Amazon link above is for the newer K4V2 (ASIN B0DMTTDSTG), not the K4 Lite reviewed on this page.
Who should buy an Xtrfy K4 Lite if you still find one?
- Good fit: gamers who prioritize reliable, precise inputs and long-term durability.
- Good fit: desktop users who want TKL and do not need a numpad.
- Good fit: someone finding a genuinely cheap used or old-stock unit in good condition.
- Skip it: if keyboard noise bothers you or someone sleeps nearby.
- Skip it: if you regularly carry your keyboard while commuting.
- Skip it: if easy deep-cleaning is a major priority.
Would I buy it again?
Possibly, but I would shop for a quieter mechanical keyboard first.
The K4 Lite has done the most important job exceptionally well: it has kept working. If I could not find a quieter board that gave me the same confidence in durability and input reliability, I would be comfortable returning to this kind of keyboard.
But with seven years of experience behind me, noise is now important enough that I would not automatically rebuy it without comparing alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Xtrfy K4 Lite the same as the K4 RGB?
No. My keyboard is the K4 Lite model XG-K4-LED-TKL-NOR with Outemu Red switches and adjustable LED lighting. Xtrfy also sold a different K4 RGB TKL with Kailh Red RGB switches.
How has the Xtrfy K4 Lite held up after roughly seven years?
Exceptionally well in my unit. I have had no dead keys, double inputs, missed registrations, loose keycaps or USB connection problems, and the lighting still works.
Is the Xtrfy K4 Lite quiet?
No, not in my experience. Noise is its biggest weakness and is loud enough that I worry about disturbing someone sleeping nearby when I use it late at night.
Are the keycaps badly worn?
No. The legends remain clear after years of heavy use. My bigger cosmetic issue is grease, dust and debris that can be awkward to clean from around and underneath the keys.
Is the Xtrfy K4 Lite still worth buying?
Only at the right price and with the limitations understood. The exact model is now unavailable from the retailer page I found, so I would compare current TKL keyboards rather than overpaying for old stock.
Sources and review method
- My own K4 Lite, roughly seven years of near-daily use, and the original current photos on this page.
- Elgiganten — Xtrfy K4 Lite TKL for the archived exact-model specifications and model identification.
- CHERRY XTRFY — K4V2 TKL for current successor specifications.
- HyperX — Alloy Origins Core for current alternative specifications.
- Keychron — C3 Pro for current alternative specifications.
- Jon Tests — How I Test for the public rating methodology.
