The headline says almost everything you need to know. The new Alienware m15 R4 and Alienware m17 R4 are getting mechanical keyboards made by CHERRY MX. The German switch maker is known for making the most standard of mechanical keyboard switches in the market today.

According to the press statement, the three-year project resulted in a keyboard switch that is 3.5mm tall and has a 1.8mm travel. In contrast, a standard CHERRY MX switch is 18.5mm tall and has a travel distance of 4mm.

The keys and the keyboard come with all the standard spiel: “tested for 15 million keystrokes per key”, “precision and wobble-free keystrokes”, “anti-ghosting and NKRO”, and gamers can show their pride colours through “AlienFX per-key RGB backlighting with up to 16.8 million colours”.

This upgrade option for the new Alienware m15 R4 and Alienware m17 R4 adds RM399 and RM499 to the price of each model respectively.

Although the keys do not add additional thickness to the laptops, there is no mention if it adds additional weight.

The MX ULTRA LOW PROFILE switches look to be a good option for a gamer who plays using the built-in keyboard and wants that CHERRY MX RED like mechanical feel and sound.

My thoughts? Since the prices for the keyboard upgrade is equivalate to the price of a standard, full sized, mechanical keyboard I’d buy one with the switch and keycaps that I want instead. Besides, don’t gamers use controllers or an external keyboard and mouse anyway?

Although it does not say what kind of keycaps they are using here, I also would want a PBT double shot keycap, something that does not wear and does not shine with use.