Question Budget mechanical keyboard that isn't Keychron?

[David_112]

Reason for not wanting Keychron: everything i want is out of stock. Also, shipping is kinda of steep in Europe (16 euros to get a V6 here in Italy).

I'm looking around and there doesn't seem to be that many options for broke peasants like me, especially since i'd like a full layout or at least 96%. There's one called Aura F99 which seems ok, though google suggests it has firmware issues, like the keyboard suddenly becoming non-responsive when switching modes (wireless to wired or vice versa), or sometimes keys going nuts (spewing out random crap when pressed). Also, i don't like how it keeps charging when set to wired, which seems to defeat the point of having that setting.

I googled for alternatives to Keychron but all i found is keyboards in the 130 euros or more so that's out.

So, Aula is 75 euros on Amazon, while the V6 comes to 90 euros total. The options i want are not available but i guess i can monitor the site and see if something comes up before Black Friday ends.

Anything else i could be looking for?

 

[Math Geek]

No idea what it costs outside the US but this is a good price here

https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Mechanical-Hot-Swappable-MK-770-MCKW1-US/dp/B0CTN3MKDS

 

[NightHawkRMX]

EVGA has had some good sales on Z15 keyboards recently. Unsure if available there.

 

[Math Geek]

2 more pointed out to me recently

https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Mec...e-Switches/dp/B09YZ3BNYP?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-RK96-Mechanical/dp/B0BQ732228

again no idea about price outside US but it's a start.

i could not find one with the switches i wanted either so i got the MK 770 and then just ordered the switches to put in myself. only way to get what i wanted

 

[David_112]

The Glorious one seems compelling (some people seem to hate the brand though, not sure why), but of course it's 89 euros on Amazon.it compared to 58 dollars from your link. Man i hate living in a third world country.

Still, the V6 would have amounted to exactly that if the option i wanted was available (i noticed on some other models that out of stock options come and go so maybe i still got a chance before Black Fridat ends), and unlike that one i don't have to wait two weeks or more to get it.

The RK96 seems similar to the Aula f99 so it feels like it's a toss up betwen the two (some reddit threads seem to prefer the Aula but who knows). Just found another point against the Aula btw. The sound, while pretty satisfying in tonality, is also quite loud.

MK 770 is non-existent on Italian Amazon.it. There's a third party seller offering a couple at 107 euros and that's it. I guess i can check if there's some other retailer that has it before i rule it out.

 

[Math Geek]

the MK770 is only on sale here on amazon. i checked other sites since i hate and avoid amazon if i can. but it was only on sale there.

i considered the glorious one as well but in the end i just liked the looks of the MK770 more. since i am changing the switches anyway, i did not really worry about what came on it.

i do want a full size myself, but the slightly smaller one will have to do for the nice price.

 

[tecmo34]

Are you looking ANSI or ISO layout?

This site has it for €73,50 but it is ANSI and not sure on the shipping cost.

https://keychron.de/products/keychr...eyboard-us-ansi-layout?variant=41137408639113

 

[David_112]

ISO, with numpad and all 108 keys is my preference but i'm not married to it. Just what i've been using all my life never tried anything different so i'm not sure how i would adjust.

I can probably live with other layouts, but i still want a numpad.

Was checking the V6 again and lo the options i wanted are back in stock, but i learned this thing has south facing LEDs, which can lead to a blinding issue and means if i ever want to try shine through keycaps i'd have to get side printed ones which... why did they do this. Like, seems to me the whole point of having those lights is so you can see the lettering in the dark kinda weird. Keychron offers transparent caps but the whole thing is translucent, not just the lettering, which seems like it would just reduce visibility, especially with the south facing LEDs, which on a translucent cap would just shine through my eyeballs.