There are plenty of mechanical keyboards to choose from, but fewer combine a solid feel, restrained looks, and quiet enough typing for my black desk setup. The ACH105 caught my interest with its black case and dark-grey keycaps. I recently tried this wired and wireless board, keeping its RGB lighting secondary to the understated look I prefer.
Unboxing and Packaging
The keyboard arrives cushioned against knocks. Alongside it are a USB-C paracord cable, a combined keycap and switch puller, a cleaning brush, and a manual. A fitted plastic dust cover is also included, useful for keeping dust off between sessions. The puller is the familiar standard design.
There’s a small extra in the box, too: a clear keycap keychain with a heart accent. It’s a cute addition.
Matte Black and Dark-Grey Keycaps
The matte black case keeps reflections down, and the dark-grey caps carry that subdued look across the board. A small LCD and knob at the upper right add some detail without overwhelming it. The restrained palette suits a desk where I want to concentrate rather than be distracted by bright colors.
Frame Build Quality and Structural Rigidity
The frame feels rigid, with close-fitting seams and no creaking when I hold it in my hands. That gives it a reassuringly solid feel before I even start typing. Despite having a wireless battery inside, the lower housing remains slim and free of unnecessary bulk. Underneath, rubber pads resist movement on the desk, but the stability isn’t down to those alone. A steel weight sits beneath the PCB, bringing the center of gravity down low. That internal weight helps explain why the keyboard stays so firmly planted during typing, even though the case itself is plastic.
Typing Experience with HMX ABKO Sakura Switches
This version uses silent HMX ABKO Sakura switches with precise factory lubrication. They fit cleanly in the south-facing hot-swap PCB. Bottoming out produces a clear, crisp note rather than a dull thud, almost like tapping a wooden chopping board. I heard no scratchiness and found them comfortable over longer sessions. “Semi-silent” feels a more apt description of their sound.
Cherry-Profile PBT Keycaps
The Cherry-profile PBT caps have a fine, lightly textured surface, almost like very soft sand under the fingertips. Dark legends on the dark-grey caps preserve the uniform appearance across the board, rather than interrupting it with brighter lettering. The material is chosen for resistance to wear, and oily marks don’t readily show on the surface. During extended typing, that helps the caps keep their clean feel and appearance instead of becoming conspicuously shiny. Their texture is part of the appeal as much as the subdued color scheme.
3 Connection Modes and Battery Life
Wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz connections make it easy to move between three devices. The 8000mAh battery lasted a full week of my wireless use without a low-battery warning. The volume knob is another useful detail: I can make a quick adjustment without interrupting what I’m doing.
Key Mapping and Macros in a Browser
Configuration runs through a web driver, so there is no separate application to install before making the keyboard your own. In the browser, I can remap shortcuts for work, assign macros to cut down on repetitive input, and change the LED lighting. The same interface also handles personal images for the little display at the upper right. That makes customization convenient on an office computer as well as at home. One practical detail is worth remembering before uploading a background: resize the image first. Getting its dimensions ready in advance helps keep the finished picture from looking stretched or distorted on the LCD.
Pros and Cons of the ABKO ACH105
Pros
- Solid housing and a Poron gasket structure give this plastic board a pleasing typing sound.
- Sakura switches balance quieter operation with satisfying feedback.
- An understated all-black design.
- Large 8000mAh battery.
Cons
- Some users may find the dark-grey caps difficult to read.
- GIF transfers to the LCD through the web driver are slow.
- Mac support is included, but replacement Command and Option keycaps aren’t.
A Good Fit for a Black Desk Setup
A keyboard that sounds clean and fits my black setup makes the desk a more enjoyable place to work. The restrained appearance leaves room for the practical features to matter, and I don’t expect to tire of the design quickly. For someone putting together a quieter workspace, it’s a combination worth considering.
↓ Purchase Here ↓
