Mechanical KB Recommendations - TKL, Tactile - $100

randombrick on 14/05/2021 - 09:21

Hi All,

Looking for some recommendations on a mechanical keyboard. The company will pay for it so has to come with a tax invoice.

Must Haves

  • Tax Invoice (with GST)
  • $100 budget
  • TKL or full size
  • Tactile i.e. brown
  • Hot swappable (I think I want this so easy to repair if keys start failing. Convince me otherwise? I can't solder. )

Nice to haves

  • Volume control or atleast mic mute + speaker mute buttons
  • Removable cable
  • Wireless (just to avoid clutter)
  • Backlit (single colour is better. If RGB, can it be set to single colour?)

As of now, I have found some Motospeeds on Amazon. Does anyone know if the ones from the Motospeed official store come with a tax invoice?

The Keychrons at mwave - none of them seem to be hot swappable.

Computing Computer Peripheral Keyboard Mechanical Keyboard

Comments

  • Croc2 on 14/05/2021 - 10:08

    You're probably not going to find a good hot swappable keyboard for $100. Everything else in your must haves is reasonable.
    Any brand name TKL keyboard around $100 will probably be suitable. I have the Akko 3068 with brown switches (Chinese brand), the 3087 (TKL) might be a good option for you (although it is $115-$130). I use it for work every day (software engineer) and it's a good cheap-ish keyboard with wireless and it looks pretty.

    • randombrick on 14/05/2021 - 14:26

      That's a fair enough reason to omit hot-swap - not within budget :-).

      They don't seem to have the Akko with brown switches - Do you know if the orange ones are their brown equivalent?

      • Croc2 on 16/05/2021 - 10:00

        Hmm all the brown switch ones seemed to have disappeared… looks like they've changed their switches since I bought one. I'm not sure about the other switches sorry.

  • FIVEDOLLAR on 14/05/2021 - 10:11
    +2

    keychron k2 hotswap

    $99, 3 left.

    • loke on 14/05/2021 - 10:50

      Keychron K1v4 so sleek (stacked kogan CBA $30 cashback, upsized cashback, etc)

      Headsup with Keychron keyboards

      Found out bluetooth reception/range is rubbish, had to buy extension cord and bought an extra dongle too (kind of got spoilt with the G613, which has pretty bad keychatter and will need to clean - will always keep G613 around, both dongle and bluetooth latency is nuts per rtings for the price I bought it for 2x g613s during the newegg promotion years back, https://www.rtings.com/keyboard/tests/latency).

    • randombrick on 14/05/2021 - 14:17

      I saw this one earlier but it's a blue switch. They don't seem to have the browns.

  • aifan1 on 14/05/2021 - 10:13
    +1

    https://www.umart.com.au/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-RK84-Wireless-Bluet…

    Not quite TKL (still 80% layout) but ticks most of your boxes.

    • westzod on 14/05/2021 - 12:49

      Just looked this one up and got a lot of good reviews. I'm in the market for a wireless keyboard and might just go for this.

    • randombrick on 14/05/2021 - 14:17

      That looks good. I could make it work even though not TKL.

    • kgree92 on 14/05/2021 - 15:04

      Loving royal kludge that my mx keys is currently stored in the drawers…

      I got the RK G87 at the moment, bluetooth + can connect to multiple devices. Bought through alixpress with quick delivery. Highly recommended

    • randombrick on 14/05/2021 - 18:18

      @aifan1 do you have one of these? Some reviews state that both wireless modes are flaky. Did you find it so?

      • aifan1 on 14/05/2021 - 18:40

        I don't actually own one sorry so can't comment on it. It looks good on the specs sheet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it traded off some wireless performance give how many features it's managing to pack in at this price point.

      • melon2000 on 16/05/2021 - 12:43

        I got one from umart and I love it.
        Switched from logitech G710+.

        RK84 is compact, support wired and wireless (bluetooth and 2.4Hz dongle)
        Hotswappable and the RGB works without any additional software.

        • westzod on 17/05/2021 - 08:51

          Got one as well and found there is actually a software for it. Can modify RGB to however you like as well as set up macros. Pretty amazing value tbh.

  • CrispyChrispy on 14/05/2021 - 11:20

    Backlit (single colour is better. If RGB, can it be set to single colour?)

    Just a note, most RGB keyboards have the option to go single colour, allowing you to choose which one too.

  • slow on 14/05/2021 - 11:32

    I bought one of these recently and very happy with it (needed full size)

    https://www.mwave.com.au/product/cherry-mxboard-20-usb-keybo…

    Just a very basic full size keyboard with no bells and whistle (doesn't even have LED), so I guess that is how they can do it at that price

  • StorminNorman on 14/05/2021 - 13:26

    I got this one: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0855VFVGB/ref=ppx_yo_d…

    And am very pleased with it.

    • randombrick on 16/05/2021 - 09:18

      Hi mate, did that come with a tax invoice?

  • YeemaiI on 14/05/2021 - 13:34

    Browns are hardly tactile nowadays. They feel more like a scratchy linear

  • JownehFixIT on 14/05/2021 - 16:31

    Still loving both my TKL and full sized Tecware Phantoms that I got for $79 ea I think. $49 at mwave right now! https://www.mwave.com.au/product/tecware-phantom-v2-tkl-rgb-…

    Have swappable outemu brown switches, RGB lighting with heaps of presets including one colour. Buy two for $98 and you've got a whole spare set of switches under your budget! 😁👍

    • randombrick on 15/05/2021 - 17:56
      +1

      There is even a low profile version Phantom L. That does sound interesting.

      • JownehFixIT on 16/05/2021 - 06:19

        Yes that appears to be what StorminNorman linked to on Amazon. $58. Haven't used the L myself but could be good.

    • spunkyfondue on 15/05/2021 - 18:52
      +1

      +1 for tecware phantom, best possible deal at that price point

  • randombrick on 28/05/2021 - 12:59
    +3

    I thought I had update this - Following various recommendations above I picked up a Tecware Phantom L which is the low profile version. Working well for now - though the TAB button is a bit sticky. Haven't gotten around to pulling it out to check. The Amazon seller also had a promo so got a Tecware Exo Elite mouse for free too.

    Thanks to everyone for their valuable inputs. The RK was a close second but decided that I don't really need wireless and bought a USB-C hub for the spare change :-) The RGB on the RK looks pretty sweet compared to the Tecware though.

    • JownehFixIT on 29/05/2021 - 07:39

      Rad, thanks for the update. I'd love to know how the low profile version of my fav cheapy mech keyboard goes. Glad it worked out so well.

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