My personal hunt for perfection is finally over …

The Akko 5075B Plus is beautiful and fits in my bright, minimalist setup. The 75% size is the perfect sweet spot for my use with Arrow-keys, “Del”, “PrtSc” and a knob. It is wireless, hotswappable and macro programable. Typing on the Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro switches is a dream and works equally well for gaming even in wireless mode.

Between some usually very flashy keyboards in Akko’s selection, the 5075B Plus is a real minimalist gem. At the price level, I cannot recommend this keyboard enough.

The fast summary

Good

• Wireless with a dedicated receiver
• Beautiful minimalist aesthetic
• V3 Cream Blue Pro switches are a typist’s dream
• 75% size with all important keys for most purposes
• Macro programable
• Suited for casual gaming even in wireless mode

Bad

• Battery only lasts a day with RGB turned on
• Keycaps don’t have special keys printed
• Waking up takes a few seconds
• RGB and battery indicator light is weak in daylight
• Software is very limited

Specs at a glance

Where to buy

The keyboard is available on the official Akko webshop and Amazon. The tech behind the Akko 5075B Plus is the same, but it is available in many combinations of switches, layouts, and visual themes, so be careful that you order the right model for you. It is, e.g. easy to overlook ISO vs. ANSI layout and then realize you’re missing some keys when you start to type.

The Akko webshop has more variants to choose from and you can get a 10% discount if you use my link or coupon. However, most likely the delivery time and potential customer support will be smoother on Amazon. I ordered from the Akko webshop, which was around 20% cheaper than Amazon at the time even with import taxes applied, but the delivery took almost 2 weeks.

Please note I may get a small commission at no extra charge to you when using the links.

Check availability on Akkogear.com.
Apply coupon code “geekyminded” to get a 10% discount.

Unboxing

The keyboard came with:

• USB-C cable
• Extra switches
• Extra keycaps
• Keycap puller
• Switch puller
• Manual

Design and build

I just love the design of this keyboard from the color scheme, to the layout, to the dimensions, to the fonts. I could go on… and I will :).

The minimalist combination of black and white doesn’t scream gaming or productivity but easily fits in both setups. The additional black keycaps allow you to balance the black-and-white aesthetic to your preference. I opted for black on “Esc”, “PrtSc”, and “Space”, which adds another dimension to the looks without overwhelming my otherwise white setup.

The keys are full-height with ample spacing, which is simply better for typing and more comfortable (sorry, low-profile devouts). The knob adds way more utility than an extra key and also functions as an extra button.

The keyboard is a so-called 75% size, which is the perfect sweet spot for me. I still have the F-keys, arrow-keys, and four function keys along with the knob, but free space to move my mouse around instead of a Numpad. Numpads are for accountants and old people… like really old.

The layout looks aesthetically pleasing with the arrow keys slightly offset and the stylish knob to accent the keys. The font also looks great and complements the minimalist style. A pretty similar keyboard is the Epomaker TH80, which just differs a little in the arrow keys offset and fonts. However, those minor differences make that keyboard look ugly. The Akko 5075B is graceful aesthetics done right.

Although the frame is plastic, the keyboard looks and feels premium. The plastic has a slightly rugged finish, which adds to this. It feels sturdy and there is no rattle when I shake it. There are two incline options on the back. Setting the incline to the highest, I don’t miss a wrist rest at all.

Features

“You can’t get everything except in a Chinese restaurant.” Turns out this applies to Chinese keyboard manufacturers as well.

The Akko 5075B Plus simply has it all. The feature list is even more impressive considering its price.

Dedicated wireless freedom

Traditional, minimalist-looking keyboards are very hard to come by in a wireless version. Take e.g. Ducky, Das Keyboard, and Varmilo, who make excellent keyboards in this style, but don’t offer wireless connectivity.

I use the dedicated wireless receiver for the best connection, but Bluetooth can be handy if you don’t want to carry the receiver around or to use it with devices that don’t have an integrated USB port. I only use the USB-C to charge, but I do like that it is a USB-C, which everything is converging to these days, minimizing the number of cables I need.

I don’t notice any input lag and the connection is stable. It does take a second for the keyboard to wake up if it has been idle, but I prefer that any day over battery drain.

Hot-swappable customization that I don’t want to use

The Akko 5075B has hot-swappable switches with both 3-pin and 5-pin support, so you can buy other switches and change them for a different typing feeling, e.g. the more well-known Gateron or Cherry MX. As such, it is customizable in every way, but the keyboard and switches are so good out of the box that I don’t want to!

A knob to avoid “FN+whatwasit?!”

Knobs usually come at a premium price but really should be mandatory. A knob extends the functionality beyond a simple key and adds an aesthetic dimension to the keyboard. The clockwise and counter-clockwise rotations can also be changed to different commands in the software, but the default volume wheel is simply the most useful to me instead of remembering an FN+volume key combination. For some reason, the keypress of the knob is not programable.

Hidden hotkeys for people with superhuman memory

The keyboard also has “Fn”-hotkeys out of the box. However, these are not printed on the keycaps. I don’t mind, because this stays true to the minimalist style. I am still not sure I can get used to using them simply by memory, but I can live without them altogether. Probably that’s also why I have a hard time remembering them.

RGB with a huge drop in battery life

There is also the possibility to turn on RGB with 20 preset effects that can be switched using hotkeys directly on the keyboard. There is no support for custom RGB in the software, so you are stuck to these effects.

However, the keyboard’s biggest gripe is the battery life when the RGB is turned on. Without the RGB, one charge lasts over a week for me with daily use. If I turn on the RGB, I can literally lean back and watch the battery percentage go down in the software. One charge with the RGB turned on full brightness will only last a day at best.

My advice is to only turn the RGB on in the evening and if RGB is a major selling point for you, buy another keyboard entirely. This is the one flaw of the Akko 5075B that I can see being a dealbreaker for some.

The RGB is barely noticeable in daylight, which unfortunately also applies to the low battery indicator that is supposed to flash below the spacebar. My photos are taken on a grey day.

However, in the evening it is quite beautiful and the light bars on the sides also reflect the light on your table.

You can see below how to turn on the RGB lighting as well as change the effects and brightness. You can change the lighting for the keys and sidebars separately.

Software

The keyboard has accompanying software, which is nothing particular but does the job I need. It supports macro programming and key commands can be changed. It is also possible to upgrade firmware and adjust standby settings.

I only used the software to reprogram the “Home” to “PrtSc”, which is a lot more useful to me. There is also a “PrtSc” keycap in the box.

Use cases

Typing

My keyboard came with the Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro switches, which is a tactile switch.

The Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro are pure typing bliss.

For pure typing, I usually prefer clicky switches, but these switches feel like a middle-ground between tactile and clicky (yes, a middle-ground between a middle-ground). Compared to the more well-known tactile MX Browns, there is most resistance at the top as opposed to the bottom. To me, this feels more natural and actually also improved my typing.

Gaming

Gaming on the keyboard is also smooth and responsive as long as you use the dedicated 2.4Ghz wireless receiver and not Bluetooth. The tactile key actuation is good with n-key rollover functionality, so you can press keys simultaneously. I use the keyboard for both fast-paced FPS and MMO games.

On the go

Although it has Bluetooth functionality and is a smaller 75% form factor, I still think the keyboard is too heavy to carry around. I don’t recommend this keyboard for portability.

Work

I find the keyboard great for work and productivity purposes. It has all the necessary keys, software to reprogram the functionality, and all the needed connectivity options. Typing is exceptional and the battery life is good as long as you don’t turn on the RGB.

The tactile switches may be a tad too noisy for open office environments if you have sensitive colleagues (and who doesn’t).

References

Akko manual