The echo 3068 as the name implies is a 68 key non RGB
mechanical keyboard that sells for around $99, I got this particular model from
gearbest.com and if you'd like to purchase one for yourself by the end
of this review checkout the link at the end of this article.
The blackbody and greyscale key caps with blue accents are a
striking combination and this is a 65% board which is incredibly space
efficient it has most of the keys you're normally going to use but none of the
fat there is no space between any of the keys, you even get dedicated arrow
keys and a full number row but if this is not quite enough for you there is a
slightly larger 84 key version which features a full function row.
It features 85% PBT plastic which is a higher quality plastic
than you'll traditionally find on your average keyboard it's less susceptible
to shine or discoloration and overall just a more durable material, the board
has true Cherry MX mechanical switches and comes in red blue and brown variants
and like many other keyboards I've reviewed recently this has a detachable USBC
cable but this isn't just for convenience the keyboard has its own internal
battery and connects via bluetooth 3.0 you can have up to three profiles and
connect across various devices and ecosystems.
The battery is 1800 milliamp hours which is a pretty decent
size especially considering there's no backlighting here it's not going to
consume as much as something like my original drivel caliber would which
drained its battery life in about three days, this will last 120 hours of
continuous use or so they say and up to 250 days of standby time and the whole
thing recharges via a thick but relatively short USBC cable.
Included with the packaging material is an additional set of
key caps you make the keyboard entirely grayscale or add pops of blue or purple
accents, subjectively speaking now this is one of the best looking keyboards I
think I've ever reviewed, now typically I do enjoy some tasteful well
coordinated RGB effects with my keyboard and just when I work in the darkroom
it's nice to have the letters backlit but for a keyboard that has zero RGB
effects whatsoever this thing definitely turned some heads and that font choice
is so unassuming that I almost forgot to mention it it feels like a high
quality product being very heavy and exhibiting virtually no flex however I did
notice that USBC connection gets disconnected pretty easily if you just bump it
it seems to disconnect and if you don't notice you could go several hours
without realizing your board isn't charging if you're still connected over
Bluetooth.
The key caps however are what really sets this board apart
and they are exceptional ,they have a slightly coarse texture all around and
feel like they have a bit more heft making more of an impact as you type ,the
edges also come to a much sharper point dye sublimated legends on the keycaps
provide unmatched protection against wear and tear meaning you'll never have to
worry about rubbing off the letters however they seem a little fuzzier than the
crisp edges you get from double shot ABS letters but honestly at this point
we're just nitpicking.
The 65-percent layout has quickly become my favorite layout
it has all the keys I need for 98% of the time and it has a footprint small
enough that I can easily just take it with me on the go and that wireless
connectivity also makes that all the easier.
The downside of this configuration is that it makes these
non-standard key cap sizes that could make finding replacements a little bit
more difficult than it would otherwise be ,however I can easily say these are
the best factory key caps I have ever used that in combination with the fact
that they include additional key caps with the packaging means you probably
won't have any desire to replace them.There are no flip-out feet on the bottom
but the board is angled a bit more aggressively than a normal keyboard would be
and the non-slip pads in combination with the added heft do an excellent job of
keeping the board planted.
I can probably count on one hand the number of keyboards
I've tested that have true Cherry MX mechanical switches the difference in
performance between the switch types isn't huge but the price difference can
sometimes be pretty big so it's usually more of a practical choice to go with the
budget oriented device and use more budget-friendly switches that's not to say
there is no difference cherry ,kale and Gator on are more of a high-end switch
and you can definitely feel that the tolerances are much tighter there is very
little variability between the keystrokes. The genuine Cherry MX switches and
phenomenal PDT key caps combined to create a remarkable typing experience.
The Bluetooth connection was about 98% reliable and the
range was pretty impressive at about eight or nine meters through several
obstructions ,however I was disappointed that it's only Bluetooth 3.0 the input
lag was definitely noticeable but not overly distracting I obviously wouldn't
recommend using this in a professional setting where every millisecond counts
but for a casual gaming word-processing standard computer use using a
wirelessly should function just fine for you ,if you do need to cut down on
that input lag time you can always plug in the keyboard where it will then
function as a wired keyboard provided you turn off the Bluetooth from the back.
The battery claims to get a hundred and twenty hours of
continuous use now it's tough to test a battery life that long reliably but I
can't say it easily gets me through a couple weeks of regular use without needing a fill up.
On paper a $99 keyboard that's missing almost half of its
keys and without any backlighting to speak of doesn't sound like much of a
bargain mif you're attached to the idea of a number pad or you're looking for
something a bit more luminous than I'd be inclined to agree ,however I can say
without a doubt this is the best typing experience I've ever had for under
tripled digits.
Nice review! May I suggest giving credit to the original author?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08w2jwAATSI&t=233s