Keydous NJ80-AP keyboard review: An absolute joy to type on

Price When Reviewed

$150

Best Prices Today: Keydous NJ80-AP wi-fi mechanical keyboard

$130

$135

There are plenty of variables that go into evaluating a mechanical keyboard. One of probably the most coveted, and the toughest to quantify, is the “feel.” Arguably the sensation of tactile typing, and the way a lot better it’s than keyboards that use cheaper membranes or different builds, is the explanation mechanical boards are actually the usual. If a top quality really feel is what you’re after, then you definately owe it to your self to take a look at this entry from Keydous. 

There are plenty of little issues that convey down the NJ80-AP’s expertise: a considerably retro look, a plastic case, and software program that’s simply plain dangerous. But with a surprising quantity of consideration and care given to the typing expertise, plus “under the hood” elements which can be swinging manner out of this factor’s worth vary, it’s a compelling different to semi-custom choices from the likes of Keychron or Glorious. 

Further studying: See our roundup of the best wireless keyboards to study competing merchandise.

Keydous NJ80-AP design 

In the automobile group there’s an idea known as a “sleeper.” It’s a automobile that appears unassuming on the surface, one thing that avoids consideration and blends into site visitors, however hides a roaring engine and different zoom-zoom components underneath the hood. In that sense, the NJ80-AP is perhaps known as a sleeper keyboard. Its plain white plastic case and 75% structure could possibly be mistaken for one thing from the ’90s at a look, particularly in case you take away the splashes of colour on the house bar, Enter, and Escape keys and go together with the white replacements that come within the field. 

Michael Crider/IDG

Not that there’s something mistaken with the 75% structure. It’s extremely useful and environment friendly, combining the total functionality of a TKL keyboard (minus a couple of hardly ever used keys like Insert) right into a board that’s barely wider than a 60%, and the one non-standard keycap is the best Shift key. I additionally like the way in which the Delete, Page Up, and Page Down keys get a little bit separation, the higher to keep away from errant presses in livid typing classes. The quantity dial is a bit boring, plastic the place most boards on this worth vary go for metallic, however it serves its goal and might “click” in (assigned to mute by default). 

The keycaps are high-quality PBT plastic, as seen on the perfect keyboards (and withheld from a number of the stingier designs…Razer). In comparability, the case is a little bit underwhelming. It’s ABS plastic by and thru, a reasonably boring white, and held in place with clips and really troublesome to open. You might argue that it’s saving weight versus a extra premium aluminum construct, however that is already a fairly hefty board due to its premium inside elements and a beefy battery.

The different huge function for this keyboard is wi-fi. Keydous was bold on this space, boasting each Bluetooth and a couple of.4GHz wi-fi choices, with a tiny USB dongle that slides out of a devoted slot within the case. Dual wi-fi help elevates the NJ80’s choices over extra area of interest contemporaries like Keychron’s Bluetooth-only boards, and equals (at the least in purely technical phrases) the multi-mode wireless keyboards from Logitech and different mainstream manufacturers. 

Michael Crider/IDG

It additionally signifies that the board is an honest (if not superb) possibility for PC gaming, one thing that Bluetooth-only boards can’t boast. Combined with a fully huge 4,800mAh battery, it ought to final for months with the RGB lights turned off—I couldn’t drain the battery utterly throughout my testing interval. 

On the underside of the case you’ll discover the plastic fold-out ft—only one stage—and a devoted on-off change which, whereas actually appreciated, would have been higher positioned on the facet. The keyboard is fairly aggressive with its battery-saving, taking a second or two to get up in case you haven’t been round. Of course, in case you want not to consider it, you’ll be able to plug within the included USB-C cable to go full wired. 

How’s the typing on the Keydous NJ80-AP?

At this level I’ve reviewed dozens of mechanical keyboards, purchased one other couple dozen for my private assortment, and hand-built another half-dozen alone. So after I say that the Keydous NJ80 has the perfect typing expertise I’ve ever had from a pre-built keyboard, it’s no feint reward. This factor feels marvelous to make use of. 

Michael Crider/IDG

Why? It’s all all the way down to the components. High-quality keycaps, which I’ve already talked about, are the beginning. They’re a bit slicker than regular PBT plastic, however pleasantly thick and heavy. Underneath them Keydous provides a surprisingly “exotic” collection of switches with strange-sounding names. For assessment they supplied me a selection of “BOX Blueberry Ice Cream Pro” and “BOX Strawberry Ice Cream” switches from Kailh, and I went with the previous. 

What makes these switches particular, and significantly extra fascinating and costly than your backyard selection Cherrys, is a mixture of methods. The linear switches ({smooth}, no click on) are constructed out of one more kind of plastic, the costly and high-quality POM (polyoxymethylene) normally seen in precision machining and gears. The switches are additionally pre-lubed from the manufacturing unit, with ever-so-slightly lighter springs and shorter journey than commonplace Reds. Add on high of that the wonderful stability and smoothness of Kailh’s BOX stems, with their corridor impact (the little circle across the cross) that additionally makes them proof against water and mud. 

Michael Crider/IDG

On high of that, this keyboard makes use of premium stabilizers which can be additionally pre-lubed from the manufacturing unit, which eliminates the standard “rattle” you get when urgent bigger keys. (Yes, even the house bar!). Directly underneath the switches is a full brass plate, providing further weight and stiffness, with a layer of sound- and vibration-damping foam between the plate and the circuit board. Under the circuit board is a second layer of froth, additional insulating the sound and vibration from the case itself. 

Keydous

That’s plenty of actually dense, keyboard-nut jargon. But all of it boils all the way down to this: The keyboard feels implausible whilst you’re typing. The high-quality switches and stabilizers make it buttery-smooth, and the plate and layers of froth give it a satisfying “thock” really feel in case you’re a heavy typer who bottoms out every keypress, like me. I’m not exaggerating after I say it’s the best-feeling pre-built keyboard I’ve ever used, regardless of missing extra fancy parts like a gasket mount. It’s even higher than something I’ve been in a position to construct for myself, with the same (or increased!) degree of high-quality, {custom} components. 

Keydous provides a wide array of unique switches with the NJ80, with weirder names like “Gateron Pro Milky Yellow.” Whichever you select, you’ll be able to attempt one thing else, or go together with a “barebone” construct with out switches or keycaps, as a result of the change sockets are hot-swappable. As all premium keyboards needs to be. 

How is the Keydous NJ80-AP’s software program? 

The typing expertise on the NJ80 is its excessive level, and what a excessive. Unfortunately it has an identical low level, and that’s the software program. Instead of the far more standardized and fascinating QMK or VIA firmware, Keydous went with a {custom} driver and structure program accessible for Windows or Mac, which downloads from a considerably worrying Google Drive folder on its website. It’s truly gone by a number of revisions throughout my assessment interval, with solely a little bit enchancment—the primary model was completely in Chinese with no apparent language possibility. 

Michael Crider/IDG

The software program boots up slowly, and takes even longer to detect the keyboard. There’s nonetheless a little bit of Chinese textual content floating round, however it appears to have efficiently detected the English system setting in Windows, so at the least it’s pretty apparent the place to go. Remapping is a painfully sluggish course of, so it’s a superb factor that most individuals gained’t want a lot past the 75% structure. I remapped Page Up and Page Down to Print Screen and Play/Pause, respectively, which was far lower than simple. Each change must be “confirmed,” which seems to be a full flash to the keyboard, and clicking on one other key will attempt to apply that setting there. 

You can go into the Function layer and laboriously see which features are assigned to the perform row. But extra complicated keyboard operations, like switching Bluetooth gadgets (Fn+1/2/3, 4 for the two.4GHz dongle) seems to be locked. Ditto for the RGB lighting controls, that are completed with a mixture of the Escape, Backspace, and Arrow keys. You can modify {custom} lighting within the driver program with the standard mixture of distracting “gamer” lights, however I didn’t discover any significantly interesting. Your mileage might differ, however even in case you’re a fan, you’ll have to hold the handbook useful to study the controls. 

Michael Crider/IDG

There seems to be an choice to add and obtain {custom} profiles through the “share” menu. These are sluggish, and albeit, not likely price it. There’s nothing so attention-grabbing or complicated which you could’t do it your self, although I suppose in case you actually wish to make your keyboard flash in a pink coronary heart sample, it is a quicker approach to handle it. All in all, I want Keydous had saved plenty of effort and time and simply gone with QMK or VIA software program. The instrument isn’t so dangerous that it tanks the entire expertise—I managed what few adjustments I needed and didn’t have to open it once more till assessment time. But I’d a lot reasonably have one thing standardized. 

Should you purchase the Keydous NJ80-AP?

The closest factor to the Keydous NJ-80, with a 75% wi-fi construct and a give attention to high quality components, is the excellent Keychron Q1 Pro. And that keyboard has a couple of distinct benefits over this one: a full metallic physique, higher customization choices, and much better software program (once more, commonplace QMK/VIA). 

But the Keydous has its personal execs, particularly the choice for much less laggy 2.4GHz wi-fi, an insanely lengthy battery life, and that fantastic, fantastic typing really feel from super-high-quality switches and pre-lubed stabilizers. Which one you like will come all the way down to which features of a keyboard you worth. 

And talking of worth: The Keydous NJ-80 prices wherever from $100-200, relying on the place you purchase it and whether or not you get it with keycaps and switches included. But on Amazon this explicit mannequin, full with spare keycaps and premium BOX Blueberry Ice Cream Pro switches, is $150 (with a reduction all the way down to $135 on the time of writing). That’s a substantial financial savings over comparable premium designs, even factoring within the plastic case. 

Michael Crider/IDG

So in case you can dwell with a considerably janky programming instrument, and also you don’t need an aluminum-cased keyboard that may double as a bludgeoning weapon, the NJ-80’s implausible typing expertise and extra versatile wi-fi choices give it a particular edge.