I ordered this directly from Akko’s website at the end of February; it arrived approximately two weeks later. The ordering process was painless, and the final cost was $30 cheaper than buying the keyboard on Amazon ($120 vs $150). While the shipping felt a bit slow compared to purchases made via Amazon Prime, a service which has largely normalized 2-day shipping, this turn-around time was in line with other items I have purchased from China (e.g. fountain pens).
I chose the Acrylic 59 for a number of reasons. First and foremost was the aesthetic. I have long enjoyed the HHKB “look,” even if I have not always enjoyed the layout. Happily, the Acrylic 59 addressees some of those layout issues. Most notably, this board includes a 2U backspace at the top right of the board. By comparison, a more traditional HHKB layout would include a tilde and forward-slash key there, pushing the backspace key down a row and hiding it behind a function layer. For HHKB enthusiasts, this may be part of the charm of the board; for me, it is a barrier to entry.
The inclusion of over-the-top RGB was also a draw, even if I currently have it disabled. I am generally not one for a “gamer” aesthetic, but the acrylic case means that this board can go all out as a “unicorn barf” show-piece should the mood strike me. This can be seen, in part, in the picture above. With that said, the acrylic case also reminds me of some of the toys of my youth (like colored iMacs and clear Game Boys), so even with the RGB off the board still looks good.
I am not the biggest fan of the included linear switches (i.e. switches without a tactile “bump” when pressing them or an audible click), though. This is not helped by the “AKKO CS Jelly White” switches’ actuation force of 35g. Having such a light actuation force means I can press a switch by simply resting a finger on a key. While some may prefer this for a lighter, more focused typing experience, I don’t. Luckily, the board includes “hot-swap” sockets, meaning that I can change out switches without de/resoldering. I did this within days of my purchase; the process was straightforward and I have no regrets. (For the curious, I switched to box jades. Also, I discovered that the board employs north-facing LEDs.)
The board has other issues, too. First and foremost, it seems to lack any form of reprogrammability beyond basic macro creation. Most modern enthusiast keyboards offer key remapping via software like QMK or VIA. Even some of AKKO’s direct competitors (like IDOBAO) have keyboards with QMK support. This might be a non-issue for those who like the keyboard’s default layout, but I wanted to make a few small tweaks (e.g. changing the “CAPS LOCK” key to a “CONTROL” key like on a “traditional” HHKB). Instead, my only real option is just to “get used” to the keyboard I was given. I can’t be too upset given the price point of the board, but it would have been nice to see.
Some of the included accessories are just “OK.” The coiled cable included with the board is functional, but not especially pleasing visually. If given the option, I would’ve rather ditched the cable and saved a few bucks. The included “risers” to change the typing angle of the board also strike me as cheap. They attach via 3M sticky pads, and seem more like an afterthought than a well-integrated part of the board. Also, while AKKO includes a keycap puller, they don’t include a switch puller. This is an odd choice, given how being hot-swap is a big part of the keyboard’s appeal. The included “white on black” (WoB) keys are a nice touch, though.
Ultimately, this board is hard to recommend to folks who are newer to the mechanical keyboard hobby. While I love the inclusion of hot-swap sockets and the extra keycaps, the layout and lack of reprogrammability mean this board is only likely to serve a very niche audience. With that being said, as someone in that niche audience (someone who wanted an HHKB board but with a bit of a twist in the layout), this board was an easy pick-up. The relatively affordable price, especially compared to the rapidly ballooning cost of custom keyboards, made this board even easier to justify. I’m not sure how it will hold up over time, but for now, it’s just right.
Check the board out here.
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