Christopher Coke Published: 4:00 PM, November 1, 2021 Category: Hardware Review 0
The custom keyboard world is absolutely explosive. For the first time in history, high-quality kits can be purchased without breaking the bank. Many affordable kits are made of plastic and have a compact layout; not many have access to full-size spaces. This is exactly what Akko MOD003 aims to provide, while also incorporating fan favorite options such as hot-swappable switches and gasket mounting to provide a soft and flexible typing experience. Priced at $189.99, is this a DIY keyboard kit for you?
For many years, Akko has been the brand of choice for fans of new mechanical keyboards, but with MOD003, it is enhancing its games. Like Keychron and Glorious, Akko also provides a complete DIY custom keyboard kit. It is made of a two-piece CNC milled aluminum housing with a variety of anodized colors. It uses a completely popular gasket installation method loved by enthusiasts, bringing a soft, shock-absorbing typing experience, hot-swappable sockets can be easily installed and replaced switches, and includes two layers of foam under the board and in the shell to suppress any mixing Sound. Out of the box, it is better than most pre-built keyboards in terms of build quality and typing experience, even from major gaming brands.
Let's deconstruct it from the layout. The keyboard uses an 1800 layout, just like a compact full-size. It includes a complete numeric keypad, function rows and arrow clusters. Above the numeric keypad, you can also select navigation and editing keys (delete, insert, page up, page down). By holding down shift, you can also access hold and end via the numeric keypad like a full-size keyboard. This layout is perfect for users who need the extra buttons of a full-size keyboard but still want to upgrade to customization.
The case is made of two pieces of solid aluminum. They are big, heavy, and well-ground. The bottom half even includes the small sub-chambers that seem to be related to reducing the switch's ping. On closer inspection, I did not see any flaws in the anodization or swirl marks during the finishing process. Both halves are fixed together with eight hex screws, these screws are more difficult to peel off, but please note that you need a longer drill bit or an actual Allen wrench to reach the screws on the upper part of the housing. The lower part of the case has some smooth angles and a yellow part, which adds some flair. Please note that it is not a brass weight, but this kit does not require it because it weighs approximately 4.7 pounds when fully assembled.
Between the two halves is the board where the switch is installed. It is also aluminum and anodized to match the color of the case (available in emerald green, sea blue, dark night, cherry pink and peacock blue). There are flexible cutouts along the function row and the numeric keypad, which can add a little flexibility to the circuit board. Out of the box, the level of flexibility is actually very good, making the typing experience feel soft. Although it has not reached the level of Keychron Q1, it is still very good.
This brings us to the gasket installation implementation. If you are new to the keyboard world, the gasket installation means that instead of screwing the board directly to the half of the case, it is lined with foam gaskets and then sandwiched between each half. This prevents any typing reverberations from entering the shell, suppresses/softens the typing experience, and even allows the board to bend more at the top of the bend cut.
The gasket installation here is very good! It is better than my expectations for such an affordable kit, and can restrain typing well and allow the board to be flexible. There are 28 foam washers on each side of the board, 56 in total, so there is no shortage of materials. The foam is a bit hard, but thick enough to still be able to depress and effectively complete the work.
Inside the shell is a layer of foam under the board (between it and the PCB) and inside the shell. The board foam is good, but the shell foam is very light. Out of the box, there are quite a few holes (but not many pings), so I recommend replacing it with some shelf liner, neoprene, or, I will show later, a dedicated silencer.
The stabilizer in this kit is surprisingly good, but it is plate-mounted. This kit does not support screw-in connectors. They are very tight, so there is no additional rattling caused by any swinging, and they work right out of the box. Most of my stabilizers don’t rattle, but I do need to add some extra grease to the space bar. Please note that the tolerances are very strict and not all replacement bayonet blades are suitable. I tried a set of Durock board mounts, but they were squeezed too tightly to fit properly. However, you do not need to replace them. The ones in the box are great, especially for new builders.
The price of the keyboard as a whole is impressive, but it does not reach its goal in one key area: it does not support QMK or VIA. Instead, you must use Akko's Cloud Driver. This allows you to remap keys, program macros and adjust lighting. These settings are also kept on the keyboard and can be moved between PCs, but it does not provide the same level of customization as QMK. I would love to see Akko add this in a future version.
Except for switches and keycaps, MOD003 has been fully assembled. This makes assembly very easy. If you don't plan to make any changes, all you need to do is press the switch in place (remember to press it directly), and then press the top keycap. The whole process can be completed in 20 minutes.
Of course, if you get this toolkit, you may be interested in making some basic modules. Disassembly is very simple. After unscrewing the eight hex screws at the bottom, the two halves of the housing can be separated, and then the board can be simply pulled out. No cables are added for the RGB or USB daughter board (this may be a disadvantage for some users, and it also means that if the USB port is damaged, you will replace the entire keyboard). The PCB is fixed to the board by another eight Phillips head screws.
For this version, I launched a lot of mods to really try to make this keyboard as best as possible. For the switch, I used Novelkeys Silk Blacks and lubricated with Krytox 205g0. I replaced the stock stabilizer with a Novelkeys board mount stabilizer, a Krytox lubricated housing and Permatex lubricated wire. The space bar is modified by Hole to eliminate any ticking or rattling. The keycaps are NicePBT in white on a black background.
For other modules, I also covered a layer of paint tape (Tempest Tape Mod) on the back of the PCB, and put a layer of PE packaging foam between the PCB and the attached foam board. The casing still sounded rather hollow, so I removed the accompanying foam and replaced it with a layer of Kilmat car silencer. I used a 2mm damper on the top, where the depth of the shell tapers to 1mm at the bottom. I tried a much cheaper neoprene, but I was not satisfied with the slight cavity remaining. All these things are optional additional features. It is entirely possible to build this kit for less than $250.
The keyboard was built exactly to my liking, and I was very impressed with the way it was launched. The typing experience is very good. This sounds very popular, and the switch with manual lubrication is very smooth. Kilmat also eliminates the remaining holes, so what is left is the sound of the keys.
I can remap everything to my liking, but the keyboard also has a second layer of commands for lighting and media control. My only complaint is that the lights are really not very bright. The switches and keycaps I chose are very different here, so I don't expect too much, but its gloss is relatively dark compared to other keyboards with very similar constructions.
Through my modification, I did eliminate some of the bending of the circuit board, but not all. Since it is too thick, I still have enough room to add 2 mm of material on the top, and there is still room for bending. That height did let me pull out my wrist rest.
What makes this keyboard really shine is that it has a combination of functions that other options on the market don't currently have. It is full size (almost). It is gasket mounted and flexible. It's all made of aluminum. These three things make it a great choice for people who use the keyboard to improve work efficiency or who need a numeric keypad and function line to play games. Options are a good thing, if you need these features, this is a very reliable choice.
Akko MOD003 hit almost all the correct notes. If it supports the screw-in stabilizer QMK and works out of the box, then it is not so hollow. However, it currently has few other circuit boards in its layout and installation style combination, and it is affordable. If you are willing to make some modifications, such as replacing the shell foam, you can further enhance this keyboard, but it provides an out-of-the-box experience that other brands can learn from.
Akko MOD003 is the winner and it's great value for money.
Chris started using text-based MUD to develop MMOs in the late 1990s. He has written articles about video games for many different websites, but has been home to MMORPG since 2013. Today, he serves as a hardware and technology editor, chief technology commentator, and continues to love and write games whenever he has the opportunity. Follow him on Twitter: @GameByNight
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