Enermax Briskie Wireless Keyboard & Mouse Bundle Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The Enermax Briskie: Keyboard4. The Enermax Briskie: Mouse5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

Kitguru spends a lot of time looking at the latest and greatest gaming peripherals on the market and seeing how they can improve our gaming experience. We do however spend less time looking at more ‘mainstream' products which appeal to a wider audience and fall within the budget constraints of a much wider audience.

Enermax are well known in the enthusiast market for their quality power supplies, high-end cases and flashy fans. But they also produce a range of peripherals targeted at the mainstream market.

Today we are going to look at the Enermax Briskie Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Bundle which is designed to accompany a mainstream home PC.

Features

General

• Wireless – 2.4Ghz radio frequency (RF) technology with up to 10 meters operating range.
• Nano receiver – Tiny and decent receiver which can be stored at the bottom of the mouse during transport
• Automatic Wireless Synchronization – Instant connection with the PC without inconvenient driver installation (Plug & Play).
• Power Saving Management- In case of inactivity, the devices will switch to Deep Sleep Mode in order to save batteries’ energy.
• Low Battery Indicator – Red LED indicator on both devices shows low battery state.

Briskie Keyboard

• Spill-Resistance – The tough case avoids accidental damage by liquid spill or cleaning.
• Membrane Key Stroke Technology – Smooth and silent key stroke with up to 10 million key strokes lifetime.
• Adjustable 2-level Height – To meet individual needs of users.
• Volume Control – Two functional keys to directly adjust the volume.
• Slim and Compact Design – Flat and thin profile for comfortable and effortless typing and a time-less appearance

Briskie Mouse

• Full Control – Ergonomic shape for perfect grip, comfortable and exact control
• Adjustable Resolution – Button on the top to adjust the mouse resolution (800/1000/1200/1600dpi) in order to match users’ needs.
• Ambidextrous Design – Supports both, left-handed as well as right-handed, control.
• Receiver Bracket – The nano receiver can be stored at the bottom of the mouse for easy portability.

Enermax supply the Briskie in a rather compact cardboard box which carries a red and black livery. It feels reasonably sturdy in construction and should provide a good level of protection to the keyboard and mouse within. The top of the box features a large image of the keyboard and mouse.

Turning over the box reveals a detailed breakdown of the features and specifications of the keyboard and mouse in a number of different languages. There are also a series of product photos which illustrate the key features of the product.

Being a budget orientated keyboard and mouse bundle, the Briskie isn't supplied with a massive bundle. Aside from a trio of AAA batteries to power the keyboard and mouse, the only item included is a mouse mat which doubles as a cleaning cloth. Enermax also claim that it can be used as a laptop screen protector but we imagine most users will use this bundle with a desktop.

It is clear that Enermax are trying to appeal to a different market with the Briskie than they are with their other product ranges. The understated appearance of the Briskie keyboard may not appeal to enthusiasts or gamers but is perfect for home or office environments. Enermax has chosen to finish the keyboard exclusively in matte-black which is sure to appeal to a wide range of users.

Considering all the quality products we've reviewed from Enermax in the past, we were expecting the build quality of the Briskie keyboard to be quite reasonable. While we wouldn't say that the build quality of the keyboard is bad, we were slightly disappointed. There is some flex in the keyboard when pressure is applied in the centre and the overall construction feels a little flimsy.

Enermax have chosen to use a low profile design for the Briskie keyboard which makes it feel quite similar to a laptop keyboard. It also features very wide, flat keys which make it feel quite different to use from a traditional keyboard. The keyboard uses membrane switches which are rated for 10 million keystrokes.

On the underside of the keyboard there are a series of rubber feet which prevent the keyboard from slipping around the desk when it's in use. There is also a small battery compartment where we must install one AAA battery for the keyboard to function. This isn't rechargeable so it must be replaced when it runs out.

The keyboard connects to your computer using a tiny 2.4 GHz wireless USB receiver. This is very small so it is ideal to use with a laptop on the move. When the the keyboard and mouse aren't in use, you can store the USB receiver in the base of the mouse.

Like the keyboard, the Briskie mouse is also understated in design. The two-tone black and grey finish is a little uninspiring but should appeal to a wide range of users. It should also prove practical in the long run as the mouse wont show up grime readily and the matte finish will resist marks and scratches well.

Considering the price of the keyboard and mouse bundle, we can't really complain about the build quality of the mouse. Sure, it's doesn't even compare to the likes of SteelSeries or Razer but it's noticeably better than your average budget mouse. The plastics used in construction feel reasonably good quality and the general fit and finish is good.

While it's clear that Enermax haven't spent an awful lot of resources on the ergonomics of the mouse, it fits nicely in the hand and is easy to grip securely. There are only three mouse buttons in total, the left, right and centre mouse buttons. The mouse wheel is easy to operate precisely as it provides a reasonable amount of resistance between clicks.

When it comes to performance, the Briskie is perfectly acceptable for general productivity tasks but isn't well suited to more demanding applications like gaming. It features an optical sensor which has a resolution of 1600 DPI. Unlike most budget mice, the Briskie features a DPI switch which lets you change the sensitivity level on the fly between four levels, 800, 1000, 1200 and 1600 DPI. This is a nice touch that gives it an advantage over the competition. We would have preferred to see browser forward and back buttons, though, as most customers would find them more useful.

Despite feeling extremely lightweight when removed from the box, the Briskie mouse feels much more substantial when the two AAA batteries have been installed. These aren't rechargeable so you'll need to replace them every so often. When not in use, you can turn the mouse off using a switch on the underside.

Overall we are left with generally positive impressions of the Enermax Briskie wireless keyboard and mouse bundle. We would definitely say that the mouse is better than the keyboard as the keyboard really isn't well suited to typing and seems to have been designed to be inexpensive and attractive without much care for function.

The large flat keys are quite unresponsive and hinder fast typing. To be honest, we would be much happier using a laptop keyboard.

The mouse is a more attractive proposition as it performs exactly as you would expect. The only slight drawback is the lack of browser forward and back buttons which would be more appropriate than a DPI switch for most customers.

The build quality of both products is acceptable considering the price point but Enermax certainly haven't fulfilled our expectations considering their wide range of quality enthusiast products.

Both the keyboard and mouse will suffice for a basic desktop or multimedia system though and the wireless connectivity will be a major selling point for many users. It is worth bearing in mind that this is a budget bundle and neither the keyboard or mouse are rechargeable, though, so you will have to refill them both with batteries every so often.

One of the most important factors to consider is the price of the bundle which is actually quite reasonable. The bundle can be yours for the reasonable sum of £16 at systo.co.uk which makes it perfect for those looking for a low cost wireless keyboard and mouse solution.

We are a little surprised that Enermax have released this budget product however as they are generally associated with quality, enthusiast grade components.

Pros:

• Good value.
• Wireless connectivity.
• Adjustable mouse sensitivity.

Cons

• Average build quality.
• Substandard keyboard.

KitGuru says: Worth considering if you want a low cost wireless keyboard and mouse

Become a Patron!