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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: killyou on Sat, 29 March 2025, 13:12:41
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Hi all. I've been using Vortex Pok3r with Kailh BOX Pink switches with swapped springs for a looooooong time. I was just assembling PCs for my kids and got them Ajazz AK820MAX with magnetic switches (yellow stem, something linear) and oh boy, if it was 60% I would get one for myself. I think things improved massively since I last was shoping for a keyboard. I always hated linear switches but these are milky smooth, and stabilizers are way better than in my Pok3r. Having said that, I'd like to replace my Pok3r with something newer and better. My must haves are:
- hot swap
- 60%, I don't want 65%
- ability to program caps lock as FN button similar to Pok3r
- better stabs than Pok3r
It doesn't have to be floating key design like Pok3r, the look has gotten stale for me. RGB is optional, I don't care about wireless, always using wired. Brand doesn't matter, if it's from Aliexpress but matches the criteria that's fine.
Is there anything nowadays that matches these criteria and potentially could pique my interest?
Thanks in advance for all the replies and have a great weekend. Cheers.
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WASD VP3 hits all of those marks I believe, maybe not the stabilizers? I've never owned a poker so not sure. WASD keyboards is not around anymore however, so it may be hard to find one.
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I've been trialing some Chinese keyboards over the past week and yeah, I second your sentiment. I don't care for linear switches much at all, but these hall-effect switches are so buttery smooth that it's tough to ignore. Being able to tweak the actuation point is another big feature of interest for me.
My favorite of what I've used so far is the MAD68 Pro from FGG with the "magnetic silver" switches, but they have a 60-percent version (https://f.gg/products/madlions-mad60-pro-aluminum-hall-effect-keyboard?variant=46552109940992) as well that might interest you. It's basically a Wooting 60HE clone but with an aluminum case and most of the same features. I also just confirmed you can reprogram caps lock to FN. I don't know how the stabilizers compare to the Pok3r though since I've never used one.
Main complaints are the lack of flip out feet, the space bar is a bit noisy, and the configurator is web-based. So if the website goes down for any reason, you're SOL unless you installed it/backed it up as a web app beforehand. Otherwise it feels really solid, IMO.
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I got a Wooting60HE with Gateron Clears HE in them. And funny enough my mechanical Gateron Clear Pro v3 are smoother than HE variant/wooting switch. I would recommend trying the latest Gateron mechanical switches.