Key Words Key Words Chapter 58: Rolling out to a new height, 16 domestic mechanical keyboards recommended for buying in 2022

In 2022, the domestic mechanical keyboard market can be said to have undergone earth-shaking changes. The Gasket structure began to be popularized on a large scale, and the switch body began to blow out. But the shaft feels very good. In the second half of the year, the standard of each big key has improved by leaps and bounds, and now almost all new products are perfect big keys. The number of mechanical keyboard brands has increased a lot, and the speed at which new products are released by each brand is also overwhelming.

So which keyboards have left a deep impression on people this past year, and which keyboards are the best in my mind?

Reason for the list: Let the perfect big key become the standard configuration of mechanical keyboards

The hundred-yuan mechanical keyboard is the entry-level product of various companies. Before 2022, the only requirement for products at this price is: it is a real machine and can be used. But the emergence of rkr87 changed all that.

The low-profile version has 5 hot-swappable keys, and later upgraded to 18 commonly used hot-swappable keys. Basically, the keys that are used intensively in daily games are covered. The most important thing is that rk has newly opened a satellite shaft mold this year, and with subsequent improvements, the current series of large keys are all T0-level, and even the r87 monochrome backlight version can be bought for less than 100 yuan.

rk's own K series axles manufactured by Jiuzi OEM have reached a good level in terms of smoothness, rebound and axis stability, and the performance in terms of lifespan is also relatively good. Coupled with the RGB light bar on the side, the atmosphere feels full.

The r87 deserves its name as the strongest hundred-yuan keyboard of the year.

Reasons for the list: gold powder V2, metal edging + high cost performance

In April this year, the Royal Axe R series was released, and the market response was very strong, mainly because it was the first time to carry the gold powder switch V2, and the price also hit a new low. The 108-key R108 also comes with 4 switches, the price is 499 yuan, plus the AEK height The ball cap was super cost-effective at the time.

However, the pinnacle of Royal Ax is still the Y series, which has been greatly upgraded when the price of the same series is only 50 yuan more expensive than the R series. The metal edging on both sides not only has a better texture, but also effectively reduces typing. Resonance improves the feel. The pure hull structure becomes a sky and earth cover with a Gasket-like shock-absorbing silicone sleeve inside. The PBT keycaps at the OEM level are also of a very high level, and the original one comes with an aviation plug-in cable that costs 20 to 30 yuan.

Although there are still minor problems such as the noise of the large keys, the Y series is still very worth buying.

Reason for the list: Combining the strengths of each company with outstanding cost performance

In July and August this year, Kezhi’s K75 was sold out of stock. Although there are some production capacity reasons, we can also see the popularity of this product.

Kezhi is a mid-range brand under rk. In the design of K75, you can see the shadow of many successful keyboards, but the combination is not obtrusive. Gasket structure, gold powder, quick silver, flame purple switch, battery display small window, mode adjustment knob, built-in USB HUB port, perfect big key, full filling structure, priced at 499 when it was launched, cost-effective and very comprehensive in function and feel .

It is often pointed out that the K75 has a strong plastic feel, but this is not actually a disadvantage, it can only be said to be a feature. After all, it is unrealistic to want a keyboard with a particularly good texture at this price, and the overall design style of the K75 is rather cute. Even Q version style.

Reasons for the list: split spaces, free knobs

The two most popular elements this year are 75% arrangement and volume knob. There are quite a few keyboards that combine these two elements, and the little idiot has come up with a new way to play.

The shell adopts the popular semi-transparent design, and comes with two knobs at random. The key value of the knob can be adjusted through the drive. The most important thing is that the knob supports hot swapping. There are 7 knob contacts on the keyboard, which can be plugged in. The knob is inserted, and the knob is conveniently placed in multiple positions on the keyboard. In addition, it supports split spaces, and the regular spaces can be changed to three keys, which is more convenient to use than the Fn key.

At first, I thought the axis body was Jiadalong, but later it seemed that it was sea wood. Personally, I think the segment axis of sea wood is better than the linear axis.

Reason for listing: The price of transparent keyboards is no longer high

Transparent keyboards are another hot spot this year. Many transparent keyboards have a premium of 100 to several hundred. However, Xinmeng directly cut the price of the transparent keyboard to the end. The minimum price of the wired version is 199 yuan, and the maximum wireless version is less than 400 yuan.

In particular, this keyboard is still a Gasket structure, with a large thick white silicone on the bottom. It has no cavity sound and has a soft bounce. I strongly recommend the salt ice switch. The feel and sound are excellent, and the price is super high.

The disadvantage is that the RGB lighting is a bit too blunt. I recommend the three-mode version. I personally think it looks better than the single-mode two colors.

The reason for the list: roll enough knobs, this time on the joystick

Ganss fully upgraded its previous keyboards in the second half of this year, and also launched a new HS75T. The biggest highlight of this keyboard is that it is equipped with a knob and a joystick above the direction keys, and an RGB light ring below. .

Depending on the driver, the joystick can customize operations for four directions, which is very practical for 75% keyboards where there are not enough buttons. The addition of the joystick not only reflects the difference, but also adds a new innovative direction to the mechanical keyboard. Provides more options for interaction. Back to the keyboard itself, the price/performance ratio is good, the sound is nice, and the workmanship is not exquisite, but the overall line looks quite comfortable.

It is powered by dry batteries, and it is very convenient to replace the batteries. In the wireless state, the RGB backlight cannot be turned on by default, and the customer service needs an additional driver.

Reasons for the list: The new pinnacle of national style design, the moon phase design is whimsical

The biggest move of the Amilo brand this year is the launch of a series of keyboards equipped with Kaihua Zhen switches. The compact keypads of Eucalyptus and Ji Qiuli have also captured the hearts of many players with their appearance. However, I personally feel that the most exciting product of Amilo is still Chang'e Niang, which continues the national style design.

The previous Koi Girls and Huadan Girls have left a deep impression on everyone, especially Huadan Girls have become popular for pirated keycaps, and Chang'e Girls can be said to go a step further, with beautiful Chang'e Girls embossed designs on both the front and back, which can be regarded as Amy. The most refined one in Luo's entire series. And this year's newly upgraded V-Silk series keycaps with unique moon phase design amazed everyone once again.

You can say that the price/performance ratio of Amilo is too low, but we actually have no shortage of brands with extreme cost performance. We need products like Amilo that have their own unique design and show their own style.

Reason for the list: 75% of the price-performance ratio is equipped with a three-mode keyboard, and there are a lot of fun

Compared with its FE87 and FE104, the FE75pro recently launched by Ai Shitou is actually a little unpopular, but this keyboard is really the only one with a cost-effective ratio in the track of 75% configuration, three-mode, RGB, and hot-swappable.

Although this keyboard is not a Gasket structure, the Gaskets in this price range are generally made in general, and the FE75pro itself adds a colorful bottom shell at a price of less than 300 yuan, which can replace the small metal nameplate, and the RGB indicator in the upper left corner Bars and other interesting little designs. The shaft body and large keys of the product itself are relatively good at the price of 300. Except that there is no knob, which is a pity, other aspects are relatively balanced.

It can be said that FE75pro is a very cost-effective choice for friends who need 75% of the configuration with three-mode hot-swap.

Reason for the list: popularizing aluminum tuotuo in various configurations

Before 2022, Altuotuo will still be synonymous with customization, and the price will cost two to three thousand yuan. If you produce an aluminum keyboard with an open hull, it can be called an aluminum factory. However, starting from the end of 2021, keychron, which has shined overseas, returned to China and was the first to cooperate with JD.com to launch the finished aluminum Tuotuo Jingzao Q1 for less than 1,000 yuan.

This year, Keychron’s own brand has successively launched two kinds of aluminum lumps with Alice configurations, 40, 68, 75%, 87, 98, and 108, and there are three colors of black, gray, and blue to choose from. The overall style is biased. Business, but calm and durable, the overall workmanship is always online.

The disadvantage of the Q series is that the built-in shaft body and the sound of the original kit are average, but there are many brands of Q series sound packs for sale on the Internet, and the Q series all support the sales model of a single kit without a shaft body, so for players to assemble aluminum Tuotuo is very convenient.

Reason for the list: Aluminum Tuotuo, the best price-performance ratio of the year

This year's Double Eleven, a new brand under akko, Mogeek launched a 399 yuan aluminum tuotuo kit. There are only anodized black and painted white at the beginning of the market. Regardless of the follow-up, they will gradually be completed, and red, pink, and purple will be launched one after another, which can be regarded as igniting a new atmosphere of aluminum rolling.

Although there are many small problems in the initial product, there have been some small improvements in the follow-up. After simple modification, Mogeek M1 can achieve very nice mahjong sounds. As long as you have a little hands-on ability, it can be said to be a very worthwhile one. Aluminum lumps.

Reason for listing: The classic is upgraded again

Last year's Double Eleven, Dareu launched the Gasket keyboard A98, which was so successful that until this year's Double Eleven, Gasket has blown out to the point where it is equal to ordinary ship shell and heaven and earth keyboard keyboards, but the Gasket design and feel of A98 are in the market. It is still at the first echelon level.

However, there were two obvious shortcomings before the A98, that is, the big keys were too fleshy, and the appearance and texture of the keycaps were average. In the second half of the year, Dareu launched the A98 underglaze blue keyboard, which uses a new satellite switch, and also adds a national style underglaze blue design to the appearance. It solves these two problems very well.

I also very much hope that in the future, domestic brands will have more products with their own characteristics.

Reason for the list: Leading 75% of new hotspots in arrangement + knob

At the end of this year, the biggest hot spot in the market was the crazy involution of 98 keyboards at the price of 300. In the first half of the year, a large number of 75% + knob keyboards were launched by the keydous NJ80 launched at the end of 2021.

Even though I said that many keyboards that were excellent in the first half of the year are not worth buying in the second half of the year, the NJ80, which has almost no price reduction and even has a male model appearance, non-Gasket structure, and the direction keys and the main keypad are not separated, is still very good. It is worth buying.

It is true that there are few kits as solid as the NJ80 on the market. I bought the Flame Red Switch + Copper Fixed Version. It is really addictive to type. The whole keyboard experience is very clear feedback. The whole kit feels like Very tight. Although it seems that the NJ80 is really not cost-effective, there are some experiences that pure cost-effective keyboards cannot provide.

Reason for making the list: Three-mode aluminum tuo for less than 1,000 yuan

Although the price of Altuotuo has been greatly reduced this year, it is generally a single-mode product. After all, metal shields the signal, and it is not easy to make three-mode products without Altuotuo. Even the customization of two to three thousand is mainly single-mode. However, Heijue’s AC067 can be bought at an active price of 699. Before the Mogeek M1 wireless version appeared, it was the cheapest three-mode mass-produced aluminum tuo.

The design of AC067 itself is also interesting. It has a far-peak blue appearance, a mirror-like far-peak blue pattern on the back, and a Gasket structure. Although it is still a metal positioning plate and a hard Gasket, the sound performance is average, but it is better than nothing, and There is more room for remodeling.

The switch body and keycaps are actually relatively ordinary, which is somewhat a sacrifice for the price. In addition, in order to avoid punching holes in the shell, the switch is designed in this weird position under the space. This keyboard is somewhat regrettable. But 699, I think it is already very good value.

Compared with Mogeek, AC067 has a different arrangement, and it can be used immediately, and there is a certain design on the back.

Reason for the list: 1+1 design, practical knob keypad

The hottest keyboard at the end of this year is undoubtedly the VGN V98pro, but as far as this keyboard itself is concerned, the biggest advantage is that the price is extremely inward, popularizing ice cream and the future polar fox body. And I personally vote for VGN's debut product, VGN811+211.

Although it is also a foundry product, VGN has made its own small changes and combined a 75% keyboard with a screen and a numeric keypad with a knob. Both creative and practical. The bald head 75V5 kit has been improved, the bottom has become a translucent design, and with RGB lighting, the final effect is also amazing.

In addition to the large key and slightly fleshy product itself, the official versions of 811 and 211 are also very good in terms of feel and cost performance. But now it seems that only 811 can be bought, not 211.

Reason for listing: classic replacement, low-priced aluminum case

The i series can be regarded as an upgrade of the GK715. The GK715 was considered a popular keyboard 2 years ago. The Kaihua BOX shaft body, full-key hot-swappable, with backlight, seems to be able to win at least 130 on JD.com. But looking at it now, GK715 is no longer competitive enough, so this year’s Double 11, Black Canyon launched the i series, from i2 to i5, 83, 87, 98, and 108 are available in four configurations.

The most important thing is that the relatively rare i series has an aluminum casing at a price of more than 200. Although it is only an aluminum tank body formed by aluminum extrusion process, both sides need to be sealed with plastic plates. But I still have to boast that the sandblasting process on the metal surface of the i series is really good, and the color matching of the entire keyboard is also in place.

The Kaihua scenery fast switch series used in the switch body, I think the main feature is the smoke desert of the large paragraph in advance and the vocal switch of the torsion spring, because there are few good switch keyboards at this price of more than 200. Another advantage of the Kaihua BOX shaft is its long life and good quality control. Although it is now hot-swappable, occasionally a broken shaft still affects the mood.

Of course, for the sake of the aluminum shell, the i-series sacrificed the foot support, resulting in the inability to adjust the tilt angle, but maybe the default angle is more appropriate, and I didn’t feel uncomfortable during use.

Reason for being on the list: Spelling the keyboard from 0

The kit of CIY67 is completely loose when you get it, and you need to put it together step by step. In fact, many customized kits are delivered as loose parts, and then they need to be assembled by themselves, and even earlier, they even need to weld the shafts themselves. However, it is estimated that many friends are from poor families like me, and have never used a customized kit worth thousands of dollars.

And CIY67 can be regarded as a model of low-cost customized kits. Especially when it was launched in March or April this year, when the Gasket structure was not as popular as it is now, CIY67 was the cheapest Gasket kit at that time, and the whole material was not bad at the same time. Very interesting.

This keyboard is also what I once used to carry on business trips. After all, metal positioning boards were generally used before it, and the CIY67 using PC positioning boards is indeed much lighter. Even though looking at it now, the price/performance ratio of this kit is not so high, but the fun, feel, and sound are still all online.