Our Verdict
The Akko MOD007B is a surprisingly succesful gaming keyboard that doesn’t promote itself as such. With its eye-catching Tokyo-themed design (different themes can be found) it seems at first to be a keyboard that’s all about type with little substance. Nevertheless, hidden behind its rose-hued cuteness is a keyboard that additionally supplies the construct high quality, typing efficiency, and, most significantly, gaming efficiency to largely justify its premium worth.
- Sudden gaming efficiency
- Straightforward to make use of companion software program
- Beautiful visible design
- Restricted customization choices
The Akko MOD007B Tokyo is a shocking gaming keyboard to take a look at, due to its mixture of a compact 75% structure and charming Tokyo-themed design. Nevertheless, behind the Tokyo panorama, there’s additionally a formidable gaming expertise which means it’s largely definitely worth the $150 price ticket on each efficiency and elegance.
Together with its dependable typing expertise and irresistible type, the Akko MOD007B additionally has the options and gaming efficiency chops to make it among the best gaming keyboards I’ve used in recent times. I wrote the Akko MOD007B off as a conceit product, one thing that might look nice in your desktop, however with out the efficiency to match its type, however that’s not the case. Plus, in case you’re not a fan of the Tokyo theme, it’s additionally obtainable in a blue Santorini theme whereas the broader MOD007 vary is available in all kinds of different types.
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Akko MOD007B options
The Akko MOD007 is a 75% structure, merely that means the quantity keys usually located on the right-hand aspect of the keyboard are eliminated, together with a handful of the cluster of keys that usually sits above the cursor keys. It’s basically an much more compact model of the long-standing tenkeyless (TKL) design, which simply removes the quantity keys.
Some 75% structure boards actually bunch up the keys in order that all of them sit in alignment – a bit like this 65% Corsair K65 keyboard. Nevertheless, right here there’s a bit extra respiration room plus the addition of a simple-to-use quantity and LED brightness dial within the prime proper. This specific variant of the MOD007 design is just obtainable in an ANSI (American Nationwide Requirements Institute) key configuration, most acquainted to US customers, however isn’t capable of accommodate the ISO structure extra frequent in Europe and different areas.
Akko contains swappable keycaps and 3-pin switches, and to me, that is an odd selection provided that 5-pin switches are considered as a extra steady choice and higher suited to hot-swapping. That is stranger nonetheless when contemplating the Akko MMOD007B is gasket mounted, which additionally favors the 5-pin design.
The MOD007B makes use of a gasket-mount design, which is the place the mounting plate for the switches is suspended on rubber dampeners. This provides a really slight cushioning and noise-dampening impact to the board, which many customers favor. It additionally ends in the very clear look of this type of board, in comparison with keyboards the place the keys sit proud on the highest floor of the keyboard.
Due to its use of a gasket mount, the MOD007B makes use of customary 3-pin switches, relatively than the 5-pin switches used on keyboards the place the switches mount straight to the PCB and wish the additional help. You solely get one selection of change, although, which is a 50g actuation power linear change. Nevertheless, whereas restricted in switch-feel choices, these switches additionally present the key weapon to this keyboard’s gaming efficiency: its adjustable actuation.
Utilizing the Akko software program, you possibly can alter the actuation and return factors for each key. There are presets obtainable, however the per-key choice is nice ought to you could have particular recreation presets you would favor to run, however there’s just one customized profile slot to make use of which is limiting. Likewise, the MOD007B RGB is totally customizable within the Akko cloud software program or you possibly can run one among 24 presets.
Akko MOD007B design
Akko goes all out on the 2 main designs of the MOD 007B. We reviewed the Tokyo mannequin, which is a shocking pink, white, and blue mix that pairs extremely effectively with the scenic house bar design exhibiting a snow-capped mountain, cherry blossoms, and different Japanese iconography.
The keyboard has the normal English typing keys and US structure whereas additionally together with Japanese textual content in barely smaller print. This typically tricked my eyes once I wanted to reset my positioning, however all-in-all I feel it provides to the design. I additionally just like the added contact of 4 of the perform keys being inscribed with the identify of a preferred Tokyo district comparable to Akihabara or Shinjuku.
The dial within the prime right-hand nook of the keyboard acts as each a quantity management and might be pressed to modify to a brightness management for the keyboard LEDs. There may be sadly no solution to inform which setting it’s on, however not often is that this a problem because it’s straightforward to differentiate when you begin adjusting it.
The MOD007 is sort of a tall keyboard with a steeper typing angle than some keyboards, so I’d suggest getting a top quality ergonomic wrist relaxation – one isn’t included within the field. You’ll be able to enhance the typing angle additional due to flip down toes on the underside. There are two ranges of stands to decide on between, with the most important stand creating what I discover to be the proper typing and gaming angle the place my palms, wrists, and forearms are all strain-free.
Lastly, I discovered the Akko MOD007B to be fairly heavy, coming in at 1.12kg. This initially led me to imagine we had been despatched one of many wi-fi fashions able to Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz connections, however no, it’s simply packing some weighty insides. That’s not fairly as heavy because the all-aluminum model of the Akko MOD007 made by Monsgeek – the M1W SP – but it surely’s nonetheless a reassuringly hefty board for its dimension. The casing is comprised of a easy matte plastic and the burden feels very balanced, so that you gained’t be by chance pushing it round your desktop whereas typing or gaming, although nor will it’s a really perfect journey companion.
Akko MOD007B efficiency
Efficiency is the place the Akko MOD007 stunned me. As soon as achieved admiring the visible design, I anticipated nothing particular by way of gaming efficiency, however regardless of having no pre-conception of what to anticipate from the magnetic Cream Yellow switches, I used to be left a bit of awe-struck.
The customizable actuation and return factors, made potential due to the inclusion of Corridor Impact switches, is such a game-changer, even when it’s changing into a extra frequent characteristic seen on the likes of the SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini, the Razer Huntsman V3 Professional, and Wooting One. This implies it’s potential to set an actuation level wherever between 0.2mm and three.8mm of key press distance. Furthermore, the speedy response characteristic means you possibly can have the important thing primed for reactivation with out having it return to its place to begin. As quickly as you carry a bit of bit, you possibly can press once more, permitting for very speedy key presses.
In the event you’re used to extra conventional mechanical switches, your mind is prone to take a while to regulate to the texture of this kind of change however it might probably pay dividends in sure forms of video games. Fast actuation is nothing new, however discovering it packed right into a $150 keyboard that doesn’t overtly goal avid gamers is, spectacular.
In twitch shooters like Counter-Strike 2, MOBAs like League of Legends, and ARPGs like Diablo 4, this speedy response and reactivation instances supply a bonus over a normal mechanical keyboard. Be cautious, nevertheless, as in case you set your sensitivity too low, you’ll be activating keys with simply your pure relaxation positioning, and it might then change into an antagonistic characteristic. Fortunately, the Akko cloud software program has a real-time testing space the place you possibly can tailor the sensitivity to your wants.
On typing efficiency, the Typing Take a look at benchmark returned an preliminary rating of 52 WPM (phrases per minute) once I first began utilizing the Akko MOD007B. This elevated to 58 WPM after a month however nonetheless falls wanting the efficiency I get with the Drop CSTM80 which was 79 WPM however on par with the SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini which was 59 WPM.
Must you purchase the Akko MOD077B?
I can simply suggest the Akko MOD007B to anybody on the lookout for a trendy keyboard that additionally brings nice gaming efficiency. Whereas the model identify won’t carry the identical weight as a Razer, Logitech, or SteelSeries, every little thing from efficiency to construct high quality is greater than commendable within the Akko MOD007B.
Whereas I can admire the subtler great thing about the Santorini design, I’d additionally suggest the Tokyo design above it for its brighter colours and fewer dated textual content design, though that is solely going by the photographs of the Santorini posted to the Akko retailer. Regardless of this, each are positive to be dialog starters, and rightfully so.
Alternate options to the Akko MOD007B
In the event you don’t fancy spending $150 on the Akko MOD007B however are nonetheless on the lookout for an amazing gaming keyboard, I’d suggest the Corsair K70 Core. It is a mid-tier design that focuses on uncooked gaming efficiency however nonetheless throws within the anticipated RGB and even an ergonomic wrist relaxation.
If you’re chasing typing efficiency, whereas the MOD007B is spectacular, the Drop CSTM80 is my go-to advice for its easy, modern, and quiet typing returns. It’s additionally extremely customizable, so in case you’re liable to losing interest with how your setup appears to be like, the CSTM80 is a good way to fight staleness.