Back in 2020, a budget keyboard would usually mean buying something from Ali Express or Amazon. However, this all changed during 2022 and onward as the keyboard market changed and provided new offerings to enthusiasts and those entering the hobby.
We now have budget keebs that have an aluminium body, LED screens, a really good sound profile, etc etc. All these cool features and it doesn't have to break the bank. However, there are other keyboard vendors out there that like to brand themselves as "budget" and "affordable," but it doesn't look that way when you look at the cost.
So as the hobby starts to open its doors to more in-stock options, and people are now being careful about whom they're giving their money towards, What defines the budget in "Budget Keyboard?"
I'm sorry, the QK65 V2 cost how much?!
What made me decide to write this blog post was looking at the cost of the QK65 V2.
I used to own the R2 of the QK65. Unfortunately, I sold it because I wasn't really happy with it + I have the QK75 version on the way. That keyboard alone was $300 AUD alone.
So now enters the QK65 V2, which many describe as a huge upgrade from its predecessor. In my honest opinion, the keyboard looks similar to the Think6.5 by Graystudios, only it has an LED screen, not a light block.
So it shouldn't shock you that the cost of the QK75 is nearly similar to the Think 6.5 in the aftermarket.
According to SwitchKeys.com, if I were to order this entire keyboard without any extras, it's going to cost me nearly $390, excluding shipping. Based on my previous QK pre-order experience, I get free shipping because I'm a local.
My second-hand Think 6.5 Valentine's edition was around 500. Just $110 off the new QK keyboard.
The reason I bring this up is because the QK lineup was described as the budget option for those who love Owllab's products. After all, QwertyKeys (the manufacturer of the QK lineup) is the sister company of Owllabs.
Even YouTubers who reviewed the ORIGINAL QK65 were shocked at how good it sounds, as well as its price.
What was the budget keyboard landscape like back in the day?
Back in the day, the budget keyboard market was pretty underwhelming. It was mostly plastic keyboards, many of which have north-facing LEDs. Or you'd get something made with multiple acrylic layers stacked up. One thing these boards have in common is that they sound very terrible. Like seriously, you need to mod the heck out of them if you want it to sound very decent.
This obviously changed over the years with the release of the Monsgeek M series, Keychron, and the QK and Neo lineup, just to name a few. The same can be said for keycaps, with vendors like Osume and Canonkeys releasing in-stock options.
And while it's great to hear that there are IN-STOCK options for those entering the hobby, you also need to be wary of the price of these metal rectangles. Just because the group buy model is slowing down doesn't mean we should forget the price of these machines.
Anything above $300 AUD is not budget, it's mid-tier
In my very honest opinion, any new keyboard produced by QwertyKeys shouldn't be considered as budget anymore. I think they're entering the mid-tier market, especially due to its quality and features.
While it's cool to see that there are many "affordable" keyboards in the market, I think the community needs to draw a line on what is considered to be "budget" and for me, that's anything above $300 AUD.
As of writing $300 Australian dollars converts to $204 USD. And I think it's fair to say that anything above $200 USD or $300 AUD is too much for the budget label.
But just because that marks out QK doesn't mean there are no options left for very good budget keyboards. If you're someone who wants a decent LED screen, get the Gamakay LK75. It's super affordable and it's only $99 USD. Another good alternative is literally anything from Keychron. I tried some of them when I went to PAX Aus this year and their boards cost between $100 to $270 AUD. I wish this was my board instead of the GMMK Pro that I bought overseas.
And speaking of the GMMK Pro, can we all agree that we were very delulu, thinking that this keyboard was "budget" when clearly, it wasn't?
The budget keyboard market is changing. And as prices increase and features get added, we need to determine what counts as "budget." And to me, the QK75 v2 and anything above $300 AUD no longer counts. But that's okay because, with enough elbow grease, you can make a cheap acrylic/plastic keyboard to sound really good.
So we're approaching the end of the year. Since then, more keyboards have entered the market and I've managed to build some of them. At the same time, group buy orders managed to arrive. I'm so happy that I've been able to expand my collection with these items.
Honourable mentions
Due to how expensive the keyboard hobby is, I couldn't grab everything that was released this year. At the same time, I had to sell some of the keebs that I used to own due to a variety of reasons.
For starters, the QK and Jris series have been super amazing for opening doors for high-quality budget options in the market. I own the QK75 and remade my first keyboard build and I swear to god the improvement is immaculate.
Next is Mode Designs. They have released a bunch of high-quality boards and boy howdy, I wish I could own them all. The Envoy was well-loved in the community and the release of the Loop is so cute. I wish I could grab my hands on it, but I'm satisfied with my Sonnet, which is still available to this day and now has new colour options.
Lastly, it's the established keyboard companies like Asus and Razer as they've released some hotswap keyboards. The one that caught my eye the most is the Azoth. I would trade in my old Corsaid K70 for that keyboard. If anyone is willing to do so, hit me up.
Now, here are my top 5 boards.
5. The Dreamscape build
We all know how I've felt about this build. It took 2 years and it's finally here. I love this build for the soft aesthetic and I'm so glad I can finally use this keyboard. It's such a shame it took so long because there were times I was losing hope and was considering giving it a different build.
Specs:
Ikki Aurora x EPBT Dreamscape
EPBT Dreamscape
Gazzew Bobagums
Artisans from Namong and From Scratch
As for the use and feel, it's nice. A bit mushy cuz of the switches. But at least no one will get mad at me when I type during meetings because apparently, they can pick up my typing sounds. Its the ultimate dream silent keyboard.
I'm just happy this build is finally complete cuz omg, imagine if this went on to 2024. I would lose my sh*t.
4. Rama Thermal
Getting used to the HHKB layout has been a challenge. Fortunately, I ended up getting used to it after a few months. I do miss my arrow keys but using function + WASD was a good alternative. I will admit that my productivity at work did slow down during the first few weeks.
Specs:
Thermal by RamaWorks
Osume Winterglow Eve
Clackbits
Artisans from Tulipclay
While Rama might have some controversies, it's actually a really nice board. Has a really unique look it, something that I'm after when I buy keyboards. However, after comparing it to other builds, it's not really great. The sound quality feels hollow (despite tape modding it), and the keycaps and switches sound output doesn't help at all so I ended up rebuilding it.
Right now, as of writing, I'm using temporary parts for a later build and it's going to take a while for me to find the right combo. I will update you once I made something worth showcasing a sound test. I am interested in trying out the Akko Penguin Silent Switches so hopefully a muted build is what this build needs.
If there is something I learned from this keyboard - DON'T BUY FROM RAMAWORKS.
3. The Nordic Build
The boards may look good but their reputation sunk so bad. I had to file a bank complaint just so they could reply and get this board shipped (mind you, it was a in-stock item).
Originally, the keyboard that I wanted to use was the Loki65. But thanks to Mechs and Co, that was heavily delayed. I've always had eyes on the Fuji keyboard series since I started this hobby in 2021. So thanks to the Keebs For All Marketplace, someone was selling theirs for a good price and I got it.
Specs:
Fuji 65
EPBT Scandi
Hera Switches
Artisan from EzKeys
Aesthetics-wise, it looks pretty good. All the colours complement each other and I'm quite happy. The reason I wanted to make this build is that my favourite country is Iceland and I wanted to build a keyboard inspired by my trip there in 2019. The only flaw with this build is that the switches sound scratchy. But that's because I didn't lube them. Could be fixed if I do that.
I look forward to the day when the Loki65 gets shipped as I think my thoughts will change when it arrives.
2. The Tofu Build
Believe it or not, this was the first keyboard I built this year and I'm quite happy with how it turned out. The reason why built this keyboard is because I was inspired by Magic The Gathering - Kamigawa Neon Dynasty and this build resembles that trading card set.
Specs:
Tofu 60 (the original)
PBT Fans Kabuki-Cho
Tecsee Ruby Switches
This keyboard is THOCKY. It's not as thocky compared to modern builds but it has that low-profile sound that was highly sought after during the pandemic. I can see why this was a beloved build back in the early days of the keyboard hobby.
While the Tofu has increased in price over the years, I believe it's a testament to how the hobby has changed. I'm glad to have a piece of keyboard history in my collection.
1. The Sonnet Build
This has to be my newest go-to keyboard. From the looks, sound, and aesthetics, it was worth it. It took a while for me to figure out which keycaps to use since it originally had Osume Dusk. I think the greys from the Hooties are much better.
Specs:
Sonnet from Mode Designs
GMK Hooty
Popu Linears
Artisans from Hibi.MX and Geekkey
Using this board has that 5/5 experience. The sound is so satisfying, the feel is really nice. The artisans complement the board so well. And the fact that the Sonnet is a really good quality keyboard adds extra points. I highly recommend getting the Sonnet when you have the chance to do so.
Some photos of my new custom mechanical keyboard I took at my local botanical gardens' Japanese section (cause my keeb has a bit of a Japanese theme, plus it's a more interesting background than a desk :3)
The "ethics" of using clone keycaps - a discussion about counterfeits
Images by @cutie-keebs
In June 2021, I joined a group buy for epbt Dreamscape, a keycap set inspired by BTS's album, Love Yourself. This keycap set was originally scheduled to be shipped around 2022. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
Due to the long wait times, these sets have and how limited they are, this led to my decision to use clones. As expected, not everyone is happy with this for good reason. But based on the current state of the hobby and how manufacturing times have increased since the pandemic, surely there is some fair argument for using counterfeit.
What are clone keycaps?
Clone keycaps are copies of sets made by designers. "Shady" people and companies would notice a demand for these products and produce a cheaper and in-stock version of these sets.
Normally, GMK sets would be the ones that get heavily copied. However, as more sought-after sets from different manufacturers enter group buy, it comes as no surprise that a company would copy these items.
Why are clones bad?
The simple answer to this is because "you're not supporting the original designer."
The Verge published a really good article about this in 2022, where it interviewed designers who had their designs cloned by others. These designers expressed their disappointment as people would go for the knock-offs and all their hard work went to waste. Especially when the novelties are original sketches.
However, there is an argument to be made that "you can't copyright colours." (Well, technically you can but you have to be a huge company like Barbie and Tiffany & Co. to have some sort of trademark on specific shades).
The concept of purchasing clones and knock-offs isn't new. From high fashion to trading card games, the ethics of using counterfeits has become a topic worth discussing, especially now as the cost of living increases.
Vice Australia released an article about the "twisted ethics" of purchasing high fashion dupes and people are mostly buying them for the brand. Meanwhile, Swifties began looking for alternatives to the Wonderstruck perfume that came out around 2011-2012 in preparation for the Eras Tour. In the Magic The Gathering scene, the discussion about proxies continues to be an ongoing thing, especially when there are good cards that won't be reprinted. This led to Wizard of the Coast releasing an article in 2016, stating that Proxies are fine, just don't use them in sanctioned/official events.
So clearly, there is a demand for these items, especially if they came in limited batches or if they're no longer being sold for various reasons.
My stance on using clones
My original stance on clones is this:
"You can use them during your very first keyboard build. Perhaps even your second. But the moment you're willing to invest in this hobby, you have no excuse to not support the original designer."
Your first build is to see if you would like to be part of this hobby. For starters, the keyset that you want may not be available due to missing the group buy date or will be entering this process. So, of course, clones would be your go-to.
My first build used KAT Arctic clones that I got from Ali Express. It was used on an NJ80, a cheap keyboard that cost less than $200 AUD. And guess what, I was happy with it. But the more I got into this hobby, I knew I couldn't rely on clones forever, especially due to their cheap quality and how it affects designers.
However, when keycaps take forever to be released, being patient isn't worth it anymore. Especially when you have a board just waiting to be used.
Case in point - the dreamscape build.
Why did I use clones?
The clone version of these keycaps was a good temporary measure since I really wanted to use my Ikki Aurora build and get an idea of how the finished product would look. Sure, it wasn't as pretty compared to the original. At the same time, the manufacturer that sold this set had a really bad reputation in the keyboard community.
But the fact this keyset took 2 YEARS for it to be shipped was overkill. The same can be said for KAT Artic. The group buy for this set ended in 2020, but extras in the Australian market weren't available until 2023. THAT'S THREE YEARS TO GET EXTRAS. I had to rely on multiple aftermarket purchases just to get a set. This led to duplicates and fortunately, there was a nice person who lived near my area who was willing to get them off my hands.
The "ethical way" to use clones
So, we know clones are bad. It affects designers and there are companies with shady reputations that would produce these sets. However, there is a demand for sets that either: had their group buy end years ago or are taking their sweet time to be produced.
Is there a good way to grab hold of sought-after keycaps? YES.
The answer: Make IN-STOCK VERSIONS!
The best part, this actually happening. The photo above is an official clone of GMK Modern Dolch Light called OTC Modo Light. While the spacebar was from the official GMK set, the rest of the keycaps were remakes of an old GMK set. These keycaps are still available for purchase on Omnitype.
Meanwhile, CannonKeys announced NicePBT in 2022 and had sets that were based on GMK sets. The store offered refunds to those who pre-ordered GMK keysets and wanted to opt-in to the in-stock version.
And don't get me started on the influx of various GMK Olivia keysets that float in various marketplaces like NovelKeys and Wuque Studios.
While it is very unlikely that every keyset ever made will have an in-stock variant, it's interesting to see that vendors and designers became open-minded to producing available keysets based on designs they've sold before. Not only are they cheaper than the GMK variants, but they also give those who are starting in the hobby to grab hold of official sets, even if the manufacturer is different. It's also important to point out that designers and vendors are opting for the in-stock model, which reduces the production of clone variants.
Unfortunately, there will be people who will go after clones. And that's fair since this hobby is so damn expensive. But if there is a key set that you want and was sold years ago, there is a slight chance that an in-stock variant exists somewhere.
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