As the gaming keyboard market, which only competed with switches and keys, is turning into a premium market equivalent to custom keyboards, high-end gaming keyboards with relatively low prices are appearing on the market.
Gamers who used to be limited to full-sized keyboards are also turning to products without ten keys, such as 84 or 82 keys, and wired and wireless products that provide various connectivity are expanding the market. Recently, Appco also launched a new product aligned with these markets. changes.
Abco APK82KT is the product that meets all the conditions mentioned above.
■ Translucent and LED combination, Abco APK82BT
Abko APK82BT is a visually differentiated keyboard. In addition to the small and compact tenkeyless keyboard, both the keycaps and housing are made of translucent material, giving it a completely different feel from other keyboards released so far.
Even when the RGB LED is off, the luxurious color and luster reminiscent of Espresso Romano catch your eye, but when the LED is on, the unique feeling that can only be felt with translucent keycaps and gorgeous RGB colors are displayed in appropriate way.
In general, keyboards with RGB LEDs often have excessive color matching or the light itself, so even if purchased, they are rarely used correctly.
In comparison, the Abko APK82BT also has the advantage that it can be used without burden, since the translucent keycap prevents blinding of the RGB LED and allows for a soft light diffusion and a restrained expression of the colors.
■ Minimize noise with seals and dampers
As I said at the beginning, gaming keyboards are starting to look like custom keyboards these days. Among them, damping structure and gasket are essential conditions for premium keyboards, and Abco APK82BT has also adopted this structure.
The damping and gasket structure adopted by Abco APK82BT applies a gasket holder to a PC+PTE material reinforcement plate which suppresses vibration during typing, and a silicone pad is applied between the PCB board and the reinforcement plate.
The Abco APK82BT is designed to minimize vibration and noise caused by typing by applying a silicone pad up to 14.6mm thick between the PCB and the housing.
Abco’s product description describes it as a sound-absorbing material rather than a silicone pad, but there appears to be an error in the description because most silicone materials specialize in vibration isolation, not sound absorption. After looking into the matter, I found that other keyboard manufacturers used similar materials and provided the same explanation, so it seems that changes are needed.
Silicone is not a specialized material for sound absorption, but if so it must have pores like urethane foam. For this reason, products using PORON material together with silicone pads are launched.
■ Abkoman’s special axis, Fine Key, adopted
As gaming keyboards have become more advanced, switches have also changed.
In addition to differentiating switches based on differences in pressure or travel, the presence or absence of lubrication has established itself as the presence or absence of a premium switch. As a result, manufacturers have emerged that provide kits that allow direct disassembly and lubrication of switches, but recently the preference is shifting towards products that have already been lubricated at the factory.
The Fine Key adopted by Abco APK82BT also applies a lubrication process right from the manufacturing stage in response to these needs, creating a very soft and rubbery clicking sensation that cannot be felt with ordinary switches.
The characteristics of the switch are very similar to the original Cherry MX, and the excellent durability of the linear switch is guaranteed.
If the switch is broken, it can simply be removed and replaced with the remover included with the keyboard. Abco APK82BT has a structure that allows the replacement of all switches, so you can replace them all with switches that suit your tastes. The switches available are 3 and 5 pin products.
■ Support combined wired and wireless, large capacity battery up to 3000mAh
Another advantage of the Abco APK82BT is that it allows for complex wired and wireless connections. You can use it as a regular wired keyboard using the USB Type-C port located on the side, and use it as a 2.4GHz wireless keyboard by connecting the USB dongle located on the other side to a PC.
Gamers who want a Bluetooth connection rather than a 2.4 GHz wireless connection can also connect to Bluetooth 5.0 by simply flipping the switch next to the USB port – in this case, up to three devices can be paired.
When using only wirelessly, if you connect your PC to 2.4GHz and pair it with a smartphone, tablet, TV, etc. via Bluetooth, you can use a switch or key combination to use different connections depending on the source device you need.
For this wireless connection, Abco APK82BT has a built-in battery with a capacity of 3,000 mAh, and Abco introduces that it can be used continuously for up to 218 hours when fully charged.
■ How does the Abco APK82BT perform?
The actual typing feel of the Abco APK82BT exceeds expectations.
I could feel the springiness of the keys that I had never felt in similar price range keyboards that I had known so far, and the smooth and soft depth felt only in the lubricated switches was truly impressive.
There was no dampening noise that I heard from a gaming keyboard lacking vibration isolation or sound absorption treatment, and I couldn’t hear any noise like a barrel rattling.
Since this is a linear switch, there is no clicking sensation, so it may not be a personal preference, but I think it is a very appropriate choice if you want a custom keyboard feel.
However, this does not mean that there is no noise, and it may be understandable if you say that the rattling sound when you press the switch seems more round than sharp. It’s like making the high-pitched range soft by absorbing and dampening it.
■ Enjoy premium keyboards at a more affordable price
Tenkeyless wired and wireless mechanical keyboards are inherently expensive. It’s not that there were no cheap and cheap products, but most of the products cost more than 100,000 won.
I think the Abko APK82BT presented today is a very impressive product as it achieves features comparable to a custom keyboard with translucent keycaps, housing and various gaskets and dampers at a price of less than 100,000 won.
The switches themselves are lubricated and are impeccable in terms of design, key feel and noise – it’s amazing that you can choose a product equivalent to a custom keyboard in this price range.
In fact, it may not make sense to make a direct comparison, but it’s okay to compare it to a product from company A that is more than three times more expensive, so if you are looking for an 82-key wired or wireless keyboard, I highly recommend it.
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