You've probably never heard of Akko, but anyone who is passionate about mechanical keyboards could find in this brand a sort of lifeline from the ocean of products that have flooded the market at exorbitant prices. Because if this particular segment has been making a comeback for some time now, there is no doubt that the vast majority of good quality models cost a lot.
Well, Akko (a Chinese brand based in Shenzen) with its products is trying to make excellent mechanical keyboards available to everyone, sold at more affordable prices, which it also sells in special manga-themed editions: we were able to try the Akko 5075B Plus in Naruto Uzumaki and Dragon Ball Super Goku version (a classic wireless mechanical Gasket Mount) and the Akko 5108B Demon Slayer (a wireless mechanical with Tray Mount structure).
Review Akko 5075B Plus Naruto and Dragon Ball + Akko 5108B Demon Slayer: beyond the manga there is more
Design and features
Basically, except for the graphic customizations of Naruto and Dragon Ball, there are two keyboard "typologies" that we have had the opportunity to try: the ones just mentioned are a wireless model with a Gasket Mount structure and are totally devoid of a numeric keypad, Del, PgUp, PdDn, End and Home that we usually find on the island above the arrows. However, they have the function keys F1-F12 and at the top right they have a knob for volume management made of metal, customized in turn with a Dragon Ball or Naruto theme.
The second model that we received for testing, however, is still a wireless mechanical keyboard, but with a Tray Mount structure and a 100% layout: this means that it has all the keys that are not available in the two classic Gasket Mounts.
In both models there are several replacement keycaps, which arrive together with tweezers useful not only for their replacement, but also for that of the switches. The largest of the three has 108 keys and a traditional layout, while for the smaller ones it takes some getting used to and, given the different positioning of some keys from the usual. The layout is ANSI with US keys, therefore different from ours (ISO), and also for this reason not suitable for everyone.
In all models the keycaps are made of double-shot PBT, which is among the most resistant materials both in terms of solidity and print quality, while there is an important difference as regards the profiles of the keys: if the Demon Slayer model has a JDA profile, the two more compact Dragon Ball and Naruto have ASA profile keys.
And if the former is a rather well-known profile, I am convinced that not everyone has ever heard the "ASA" one, and the reason is simple: it is an AKKO proprietary profile in which the designers have used the same height as the OEM profile but with increased sphericity of the keys.
The switches are also different between the two models. The Demon Slayer model has Akko CS Crystal switches, while the two more compact Dragon Ball and Naruto models have Akko CS Silver Switches. And here too there are some differences: essentially the "Silver" switches are mechanical 5-pin linear type and have an actuation force of 43 ± 5 gf, an actuation distance of just 1.0 ± 0.5 mm and a total stroke of 3.0 ± 0.3 mm, while the “Silver” have the same attenuation force but the attenuation distance passes to 1.6 ± 0.3 mm and the total stroke is 4.0 ± 0.5 mm. What's the best configuration? Personally I prefer the "Silver", but especially in these cases it is very personal.
However, in both cases these are very pleasant configurations to use, with a firm but pleasant noise (which you feel is intended) and both models are equipped with a stem with anti-dust covers. To be honest, I personally imagine the larger keyboard more suitable for those who focus only on gaming, while the other two may be the right choice for those who want to use them for gaming, but also for work.
On average, the stabilizers of all keyboards, which are fixed to the plate, don't wobble much and are already lubricated at the factory, but they are a bit noisier than the average of these devices. Furthermore, in the space key, the Dragon Ball and Naruto keyboards are equipped with a series of foam inserts that separate the stabilizers from the central switch, which are intended to further reduce the noise emitted during typing.
Each slot has its own LED that faces north but considering that the PCB keys aren't shine-through this is actually a useful feature up to a certain point which, to be honest, we found a bit more bland than we would have expected.
Finally, applause to Akko for the body, which is in ABS plastic and is of excellent workmanship and in the smallest model it includes two lateral RGB LEDs which obviously have a purely aesthetic purpose.
Finally, on the connectivity side, all three keyboards can be connected in three ways: wired via a USB-C cable, via Bluetooth 5.0 or via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi thanks to the special dongle included in the package. If they connect with the cable or with the dongle, the polling rate and the latency time will be 1000 Hz and 1 ms, while if they connect via Bluetooth the polling rate will be 125 Hz and the response time 8 ms.
On the back, in addition to 4 rubberized feet which already give the keyboard a certain grip, there are also two double rubberized risers with which the keyboards can be set to 3 different inclinations: 5°/8,3°/11,6°. However, it must be said that these are very heavy models, so the grip is guaranteed.
Use, ergonomics and functionality
Regardless of the manga-themed aesthetic, which you may or may not like, both models are also available in a "classic" version, therefore without "little drawings" or various things. Having said that, I wrote this review using the more compact model and I must admit that the way it is configured, it is a wireless mechanical keyboard that looks good neither in gaming nor in the home. As I said before, I would recommend the biggest one more to gamers than to casual gamers, but from the point of view of use and ergonomics, what has been said above may be more than enough to get an idea of the keyboards.
All the models we have tried have no creaks and the structure is very solid, it is important to be aware of the fact, however, that when you go to disassemble the keys you will need to be good at managing a system of joints which in my opinion is much more subject to breakups. In any case, all models still remain totally disassembled, which is a plus especially for maintenance.
Both in the gaming field and in the home environment, the switches of both models have proven to be very fast and also on an ergonomic level they are promoted with flying colors. The only drawback is the layout, which especially in the 75% (ie the more compact ones), is very different from ours and has the position and sizing of some keys very different from ours.
All keyboards can then be managed by Akko's proprietary software, called Cloud Driver, which allows for complete programming. Basically, the keyboard is already programmed with a whole series of shortcuts and thanks to the long list in the manual, it will be possible to really customize it in depth. For the transition from Windows to MacOS there is a physical switch positioned in the lower area of the keyboards and it is possible to customize the shortcuts even in Apple systems: for example.
Furthermore, through the Akko software, you can update the firmsare, change the key binding and manage the LEDs and the backlight. It's really well made software, which is always worth considering when thinking about buying such a product.
Finally another note: given the speed of the switches, it may be necessary to do a little practice before starting to take full advantage of them, and I am of the opinion that some people who are not really "accustomed" to these keyboards could initially make some typos in the first days of use. But it's purely a matter of habit.
Battery life
Good autonomy of both models that have a 3000 mAh battery. However, it must be said that, when the LEDs are active, the battery drain is much more marked on both models. Of course, to recover a few hours you can choose to turn them off after 1 minute of inactivity, but in order to increase the autonomy of the keyboards it may be necessary to deactivate them.
Price and considerations
The price of all three models is 129,99 euros, but using the coupon in the box below, you can buy them with a 10% discount. And it's a price that positions them quite well in the market. Certainly these are not cheap models, but I must say that the painstaking work done by Akko in being able to balance configurations and price is not bad at all. It is not easy to find programmable hot-swappable mechanical keyboards of this quality, and the possibility of being able to choose between the different structures and the different types of switches greatly expands the target user to whom they can be addressed.
There are now many alternatives on Amazon, but if you want a manga-themed keyboard, Akko's are certainly unbeatable not only in terms of quality, but above all in the attention to detail in the customizations.
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