Built-in Battery vs AA replaceable Battery what is better for Bluetooth?

[donnghia]

Built in will make the keyboard look very clean, but the problem is they don't last that long before re-charge

AA(AAA) outer baterry last longer but make the keyboard look uglier and unprofessional (like the HHKB _ Bluetooth)

which one will you choose and think is better for a Bluetooth Keyboard?

[nguyenhimself]

It depends on your priorities really. I don't want to charge my keyboard like a damn phone every night, so the HHKB BT (JP version) was a godsend to me.

With the HHKB specifically, you won't even see the battery "hump" during usage. I find the "unprofessional" bit you mentioned rather funny:
1. People generally don't care.
2. If people care & judge you based on your keyboard, it will be due the weird HHKB layout, not the battery "hump".

And anyway, one can easily hide the battery container if one wants to. Look at the Varmilo VB21M:



Or the Filco Minila Air (very popular in Asia):



With just 2 AA batteries:
- You can practically forget what is powering your keyboard for at least 3 months.
- Keep a pair of batteries handy nearby, and that's a non-issue now.
- If you travel a lot like me, AA batteries can be easily found anywhere in the world.

So yeah, I prefer AA batteries. I brought this baby into meeting rooms many times before. If anyone asks about the weeb stickers, I just say "Yeah I got this from Japan", and that's enough for them. People don't care.

[swedishpiehole]

I have the HHKB BT and honestly the hump doesn't bother me at all. I can't see it when I'm using the keyboard. The AA batteries last forever and can be replaced easily.

That said, there is an advantage to keyboards with rechargeable batteries: they can also run via USB cable. If your AA batteries die in the middle of something and you don't have a spare set handy, you can't just plug it in and keep working.

P.S. If you are asking because you are trying to decide between the HHKB + Hasu BT controller and the HHKB BT, you'll want to keep in mind that the Hasu version needs to be recharged daily. That's why I went with the BT version, even though it meant giving up QMK too.

[nguyenhimself]

That said, there is an advantage to keyboards with rechargeable batteries: they can also run via USB cable. If your AA batteries die in the middle of something and you don't have a spare set handy, you can't just plug it in and keep working.

Just keep 2 spare batteries on your desk and 2 in your backpack/suitcase and also buy 2 at any nearby convenience store when you're traveling.
They're dirt cheap, man.