Review of the AKKO Gear 5075B 75% Wireless Keyboard: Cheap custom keyboard with ISO-DE layout or boring GMMK Pro clone?
He was first dubious when the manufacturer, AKKO Gear, came me and gave me their most recent movement in ISO-DE layout. Surely a Chinese Glorious GMMK Pro? he eventually decided to take the test after carefully reading the specifications. You may read about the 5075B’s capabilities in the test!
We didn’t always have positive experiences when a Chinese manufacturer offered us their most recent products in the past. Yes, there were always standouts, such as Soundpeats, a company we had never heard of that offers good products for not too much money.
Of course, there are also black sheep and blenders, which we enjoy letting run up in public at Igor’s LAB as well. But he says sorry to disappoint you if you were anticipating a formal review.
After some initial scepticism, the keyboard proved to be a very good input device and even provided certain bespoke features that were sometimes lacking in other keyboards (even much more expensive mainstream variants), which are frequently used by our readers.
Although the custom scene is well-versed in terms like gasket mounted and PBT keycaps, the majority of “normals” have typically grown disinterested in such subjects long ago. Even though he still a novice in the wonderful world of custom keyboards, he eagerly looking forward to the time when the lightbulb will finally go off.
Custom keyboards are pricey, which is their one and only drawback. It costs here times 30 euros for a cable, there times 80 euros for a set of keycaps, and look, there are also carrier plates made of different materials and frames with various colours a vicious cycle that frequently results in a finished keyboard costing at least 500 euros. Because they often have a smaller form factor (TKL or smaller), these custom boards have fortunately not yet been able to pique my interest.
The 5075B can almost be utilised in productive use without any issues thanks to arrow keys and a real DE layout with a respectable Enter key, but he don’t want to jump ahead and remove the device from its packing just yet.
Unboxing
Although the packaging is basic in black and white, it manages to attract the eye.
Even if the back is primarily written in Chinese, you can still make out the DE layout and the switches that are present.
Under the slider is a black cardboard box with a reflective logo.
Everyone uses the same style of packaging, though, with the keyboard being enclosed in a protective foil and given a dust cover. He don’t remember ever putting this clear cover on my keyboard while it wasn’t in use, so you might as well throw this piece of plastic junk away.
The problem is this! Quite straightforward in white, without any frills a keyboard for adults?
On the back, there is nothing but white ABS plastic. We’ll get to the folding feet and other components right away, but all four corners have soft rubber feet with excellent grip.
Given that the toggle switch can only switch between the shortcuts for MAC OS and Windows, 2-way would have likely sufficed. he don’t see how the centre position is different from the “Win” position.
A direct USB 2.4 GHz receiver is also included on the board.
In two steps, the back foot can be extended. Sorry about the dust, but after a few hours of use, the photographs on the SD card became corrupted and had to be retaken.
On the sides are subtle light strips, and of course the entire lighting system may be turned off altogether.
The USB-C port for lag-free connectivity and charging the 3000mAh battery that is permanently installed is still located at the back. The cable fits okay, but it’s also not completely secure.
Although the PBT double-shot keycaps are a little flatter than the standard Cherry MX keycaps, they are of excellent quality.
Keycaps taken off:
The volume is often controlled by the rotating knob with an aluminium case in the upper right corner. However, hitting the switch changes its functionality instead of muting the system, as he had anticipated, allowing the brightness of the illumination to be adjusted instead of the volume.
The offered model comes pre-configured with linear Akko Creamy Yellow Switches.
The switches can be replaced even while the system is operating because the board is hot-swappable. It accommodates all 3- and 5-pin switches.
He will cover the “gasket-mounted” plastic carrier plate in a subsequent paragraph. The fact that the LEDs are “south-facing” implies that additional switches are compatible with them. Since most keycaps he seen so far are designed for “north-facing” LEDs and the illumination of the letters on the Akko is dim as a result, it’s not exactly ideal for the illumination of translucent keycaps.
Additionally, the LEDs may shine a chilly white rather than a powerful blue depending on the switches that are in use. But he address that as well later.
The “stabilisers” for the huge keys, however, are quite well done. The huge space bar always moves uniformly and smoothly regardless of where you press it.
The stabilisers, however, reportedly do not come from the factory lubricated.
Additionally, there are accessories. A USB-C cable, some silicone mounts for the gasket mounting system, keycap and switch pullers, replacement keys0 a USB-C cable, and a large number of alternative keys that are also PBT double shot and not cheap printed keys are also included.
Akko also included a full set of the tactile Creamy Blue Switches, an alternative option, for comparison, which we will install and test later.
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