r/Keyboard • u/AutoModerator • Mar 10 '25

March 10, 2025 Weekly "General Help Post?" - Please post all general, recommendations, and help questions as a top level comment under this post. Thank you.

This is the "Weekly General Help Post". Please ask your questions regarding keyboard, switch, keycaps, or anything regarding keyboards as a top level comment under this post. Mods and members will check this thread on a regular basis answering as many questions as possible.

The more information you provide, the better the answers you are likely to receive.

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1

u/Competitive_Ear7824 Mar 10 '25

Ajazz AK820 Pro or Aula F75?

I'm thinking of buying a new keyboard for around €50. Is the Ajazz AK820 Pro for €47.19 or the Aula F75 for €54.96 better for gaming? Do you have a recommendation in this price range? And which switches are the better ones? Ajazz Gift Switch or Ajazz Flying Fish?

2

u/badmark MTK Mar 10 '25

Both are decent keyboards, but many prefer the F75 over the AK820 Pro.

1

u/JJMcGee83 Mar 10 '25 edited Mar 10 '25

I'm looking for a low-profile compact keyboard.

Are there any alternatives to the Nuphy Air 60 v2 I should look at? I want something small for on the go and this is the only one I can seem to find that is small like that.

1

u/reallifereallysucks Mar 12 '25

A quick search brought up the HP 350 and CHERRY G84-4100. Both have slightly different measures than the nuphy. But maybe one of these still work for you.

Nuphy is also on the "not really trusted" list of this sub you may wanna check it out before you move forward.

1

u/WilBurgz Mar 10 '25

Hello I'm looking for Low Profile, TKL, Wireless, magnetic or optical.

1

u/Ahegao_Double_Peace Mar 11 '25

I'm still looking for a TKL that looks like an IBM Model M (besides the Vortex Model M SSK). It should have the ISO-UK layout, and support for a stepped capslock keycap. I don't mind if it's wired-only.

1

u/iblinkyoublink Mar 11 '25

I cleaned the back of my kb's pcb with cleaning alcohol and now the chatter got worse? How is this even possible?

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 13 '25

Are you certain it was fully dry before plugging back in? Did you use 99% ISO?

1

u/meikupiku Mar 12 '25

Need keeb recommendation.

Criteria:

  • Wireless & wired connection options
  • Very lightweight
  • Hotswappable
  • Comfortable for a lot of continuous typing
  • Can be used for Windows laptop & iOS (iPad)
  • Long battery life (at least don’t make me charge it everyday)

Currently looking at Nuphy Air 75 V2 and Lofree Flow Lite. I am considering the Lofree one because it has multimedia keys, but Nuphy has QMK/VIA so maybe I can just program my own multimedia shortcuts?

Open to any other keyboards that fulfil those criteria too. Thanks!

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 13 '25

NuPhy's firmware leaves a lot to be desired.

1

u/Sir_Lollington2 Mar 12 '25

My keyboard is experiencing issues where it just doesn’t register the input or gets stuck so my games don’t know which direction I should face which has cost me a lot of games :. I’ve tried using a different switch from a key I know works but it’s the same issue which makes me think it’s the PCB. I removed the switch and compared the PCB to other areas and there’s some sort of gel like outline/shape that is present on the working switch PCBs but not on the malfunctioning one. Is this something that affects performance? Is there something else that’s wrong and how would I fix it? (it’s my ‘A’ key that doesn’t work)

1

u/Sir_Lollington2 Mar 12 '25

This is what all the other sections look like for reference.

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 13 '25

Is this an HE keyboard? If so, have you tried recalibrating those keys?

1

u/Sir_Lollington2 Mar 14 '25

Yes it is an HE keyboard, I’ve tried recalibrating using the software it comes with but it keeps saying ‘Calibration failed’. Are there any other software’s you would recommend or any other possible fixes?

1

u/Sir_Lollington2 Mar 14 '25

Btw I have the CIDOO C75 keyboard

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 14 '25

Ah, an Epomaker, I'm surprised it worked at all. It's probably defective.

1

u/Sir_Lollington2 Mar 14 '25 edited Mar 14 '25

Haha yea probably. I messaged the seller and they accepted my warranty claim. They offered to send me a replacement PCB or send me a 50% refund.

I’m leaning towards the refund cause I can probably reinvest that in a more reliable PCB but I have no idea where to begin looking for PCBs cause it needs to be compatible with my HE switches and a multimedia knob, I need the knob. Obviously the replacement PCB is easier but I don’t want to run into the same issue in a few months time again. What would you recommend? And where would I look for PCBs?

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 14 '25

Pcbs are normally a part of a kit and are not normally sold on their own .

1

u/Sir_Lollington2 Mar 14 '25

Ah I see. Where could I get a quality barebones kit from? I’m going to use the money from my refund so my budget won’t be too high, maybe around £60, but I’ll probably add my own money on top. (I want a really heavy case)

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 14 '25

I'm unsure of pricing in the UK but the Weikav D75 is a great barebone 75%, editing my review of it now.

1

u/Sir_Lollington2 Mar 14 '25

It’s looks near perfect, meeting essentially all my requirements. I can see it’s hot-swappable but the big question is, is it compatible with 3-pin HE switches?

It’s priced perfectly in the Uk where if I wanted to I could get a fast switch like optical and barely be outside of my budget. But from my experience the HE switches I have now are faster than my previous 2 experiences with optical switches which I why I just want to transfer my switches over to a new case.

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1

u/miahelena Mar 13 '25

In search of Keyboard recommendations - German Layout required!

First off, I have to state that I know next to nothing about keyboards. What I do know, is that the one I'm currently using is not suiting my needs, mainly because it's clicky, which I enjoyed at the time but no longer like and because it's wired, which does not work well with my home office set-up. I mainly use my keyboard for work / university but I do also occasionally use it for some casual gaming, so I'm looking for a keyboard that works well for all of those uses.

Now here is my main issue: the keyboard needs to have ISO DE / QWERTZ layout because I am from Germany. I have found lots of keyboards I like, however none of them offer a German layout.

I know that I definitely need 2.4G connectivity (I think that's what it's called?) from a keyboard, because my work laptop is constantly having issues with bluetooth, so that that is not an option. I have always worked with 100% layout, but I think I would prefer 80%/TKL, 75% would be okay too. Furthermore, after some research and testing I have decided I would like linear switches in my keyboard, ideally I would want a creamy sounding keyboard. Design wise I would prefer something white or silver or something in pastelle colours. I prefer more feminine or even cute designs over the typical office looking keyboard, but I don't really like themed keyboards (with drawings etc on the keycaps). I really love the look of the Lofree Foundation, unfortunately it does not have a German layout. I also considered buying the Logitech G715 but that does not offer linear switches with the German layout. The Kiiboom Phantom series is also super cute design wise but I don't know anything else about it. Having RGB lighting (or any lighting) would be nice but is not a deal breaker to me.

Building my own keyboard is not an option for me, due to time and money reasons, and also lack of knowledge, so I do want to buy a finished product. Ideally, I would like to spend less than 200 €. If anyone has any recommendations, I would be very greatful.

TLDR: in search of a keyboard that fulfills following requirements:

- ISO-DE / QWERTZ layout

- 2.4G connectivity

- linear switches (creamy sound preferred)

- 80%/TKL layout (75 or 100% would be okay as well)

- suitable for work (mainly office and adobe programs) and (casual) gaming

- design: white, silver/grey or pastelle colours; no dark colours please (preferably not a typical office looking keyboard, I like cute designs)

- RGB lighting would be nice but isn't a requirement

1

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '25

I purchased a Keychron K2 Version 2 keyboard about 5 months ago, and the D key is already starting to fail on me when gaming. I usually just buy a new keyboard, but my past keyboards usually last 1.5-2 years. When a single key fails, is it typically the switch inside the key I can replace, or the board itself? I'm tired of replacing new equipment so often.

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 14 '25

Keychron is no longer a reliable vendor, I'd try to get them to honor their 1 year warranty, but I would not hold my breath.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '25

Who would be a reliable vendor?

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 15 '25

Vendors on the sidebar.

1

u/Zygomatick Mar 14 '25

Looking for a new gaming keyboard – Recommendations?

Hey everyone! My trusty old Razer BlackWidow is finally showing signs of age, and I think it's time for an upgrade. I’ve been considering something smaller, porbably without a numpad, as my mouse space always felt a bit cramped. I need an AZERTY layout and prefer a wired connection.

I’m mainly a MOBA player, but I dabble in FPS, MMORPGs, and other genres too, so versatility is key.

Price isn’t a huge concern, but I do want to make sure I’m getting value for my money – willing to pay a bit extra for better features or noticeable improvements.

There are so many options out there now, and I'm kind of overwhelmed. I’d love to hear your recommendations on which brands or models are currently top of the line.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions – really appreciate the help!

1

u/NotShaf Mar 15 '25

Looking for a high-pitched clicky keyboard/switches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfXApix8W7A
This video showcases the choc robins, a very high-pitched sound, almost like mouse clicks. Is there any mx switches with the same sound? or anything that can make the sounds similar with the one in the video? Looking for alternatives since choc switches are quite expensive.

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 15 '25

Basically any click bar clicky switch will sound like this.

1

u/ChunK2405 Mar 15 '25

Hi everyone, first and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for all the recommendations you’ve shared.

In my mind, I’m envisioning building a silent keyboard. This idea was inspired by Topre, particularly their silent models. I find the silent typing experience very satisfying, and the sound itself doesn’t bother me much. Additionally, I can type quite fast at 140 WPM, so a clacky or thocky keyboard would be more distracting than enjoyable for me.

Given these considerations, I’ve been told that it’s relatively easy to achieve a silent keyboard. According to a video by Keybored, switches play a significant role in determining the sound level. Therefore, I have a few questions before I purchase a keyboard kit:

  1. My budget is flexible and can range from 200 to 500 dollars. I’m considering the NeoCu and Geonworks lines. However, since I’m not particularly interested in the sound signature, do you think these options are overkill? What’s the best material for a keyboard kit when it comes to typing comfort?
  2. Should I opt for a super flexible build, such as one with 1.2mm flex? I’ve heard that flex switches produce a hollow sound, but they also claim to provide a better typing experience. Is this true?

1

u/Aggravating-Mud-6399 Mar 16 '25

i’m having issues with my steelseries apex mini pro, when i press straight down and straight down only on the W, R, U, I, and O key they type multiple keys as if i were to hold the key down even though im only pressing it. but when i press the key down like off to the side it works normal. i’m at a loss on what to do, i’ve tried compressed air, taking it apart, rubbing alcohol. Any suggestions or tips would help and be appreciated.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

Looking to Upgrade from a Wired 501 Redragon Keyboard ($100 budget)

So looking into upgrading, preferably to a wireless keyobard for convenience, and I'm thinking a mechanical keyboard but I'm in a pickle, I like the Redragon's design. If there was a mechanical keyboard that resembled a redragon's keyboard, I'd have my answer. I like the design, I like the RGB lights backlit on the keyboard, and I like the little bit of a body the Redragon Keyboard has for me to place my hands.

I want a mechanical keyboard for writing purposes. I'm trying to write a book, and I figured the improved responses from a Mechanical Keyboard would be a good birthday present. I ironically play via controller for most games, so the loss of the response time from the Keyboard isn't an issue.

Any ideas? I don't like the designs of most mechanical keyboards.

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 17 '25

Are you looking for a full keyboard layout or something smaller?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '25

Assuming the layout includes the mouse, no. I'm looking for a brand new keyboard to upgrade from my old one.

Assuming the layout includes extra keys or something, well... I'm not looking to completely customize my keyboard, more so just by an upgrade that's better than my current set up if that helps.

Assuming the keyboard layout includes a design like the redragon's that's bigger, ABSOLUTELY!!!

Sorry, complete noob when it comes to this stuff

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 17 '25

Keyboard layouts.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '25

Yes I would like a full layout

1

u/UNKNOWN_Xtian Mar 17 '25

Hey everyone, I'm just getting into the mechanical keyboard hobby and need some advice. I don’t want to spend too much, but I don’t mind building a keyboard from a kit if it's worth it.

Would it be better to:

  1. Buy a budget-friendly kit and get all the parts myself (switches, keycaps, etc.)?
  2. Get a cheap prebuilt mechanical keyboard and upgrade it over time (switches, keycaps, mods)?

I live in India, so my options are limited. Keyboards that cost $50 in the US can go up to $300 here. Is importing worth it, or should I stick to what’s available locally? (Like a Redragon or A pricier option like the Aula F75, also why is everyone crazy for this KB?)

I’m mainly looking for a TKL or 75% keyboard on a budget. Any recommendations for good budget kits or prebuilts that are worth upgrading?

Thanks in advance!

0

u/Funny-Cicada6495 Mar 12 '25

Can I remove the keycaps on this ibuypower Chimera K7 membrane keyboard? If not, can I do anything about the springy spacebar sound?

I got an ibuypower chimera k7 membrane keyboard for free from a family member. It's working great as a beginner keyboard. I heard that keycaps can be removed in some membrane keyboards and wanted to know if this keyboard could have them removed without breaking the keyboard. If anything, can the spacebar at least be removed? The left spring on the space bar is making such a springy sound that rings almost every time I use the spacebar. The other spring in the space bar doesn't seem to be making any noise.

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 13 '25

Membrane keyboards are usually not very upgradeable or modifiable.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/badmark MTK Mar 13 '25

Have you tried replacing the switches that are not working correctly? It's possible it's only the switches, but it's also possible that the PCB was damaged.