The NK65 Edition is just that, a soon to be enthusiast’s introduction into the custom mechanical keyboard scene. When you receive it — the package bundles a carry case, a coiled cable (not the best at all), tools, the keyboard itself, hotswap PCB, and a silicone dampener. You can choose between nine colorways for the poly-carbonate edition at $95 dollars, and the V2 aluminum edition in four colors for $185 to $195 dollars. Either edition comes sans key switches and sans keycaps. A good set of switches $80 dollars, and a good set of keycaps $100 dollars.
My setup viewed in the image above (right)is a poly-carbonate NK65 in Fire with cream switches and KBD Fans keycaps in orange and yellow. Check out how it sounds!
While the overall price once you complete the build is high for a person entering the community, this is definately a “getting your feet wet” kind of keyboard. It truly is entry level. It is not a pre-built keyboard (store bought cake vs bakery cake). High end customs start at $400 and $500 dollars — in group buys where you won’t touch your keyboard for months or even a year and where everything is in limited edition runs. Companies like Novelkeys, like Drop, like Glorious PC Gaming Race are restocking items very often, and companies like Glorious even promising things will always be in stock; ending FOMO for many beginner keyboard enthusiasts.
But again, the NK65 is an entry level keyboard. It is the experience of a custom without the price. It may be the first and last keyboard for those who don’t want to dive all in, and while I am one of those who has dove into the community-somewhat and has spent some coin on a few keyboards — higher end than this one, I am nowhere near deciding what an endgame keyboard “for me” would be nor how deep I am willing to go; or even if an endgame keyboard exits!
Do I feel that the NK65 was a waste and I should have saved for a higher end keyboard? No. The NK65 was that keyboard that gave me that higher end feel. I started with a pre-built mechanical keyboard and that felt like a huge upgrade from what I used prior. It had everything I believed I was looking for at the time: hotswap, PBT keycaps, black, RGB, etc. Unfortunately it was plastic, and at the time I didn’t realize how much I despise a plastic keyboard. So I put in work! I modified the keyboard, added some padding to the case, changed the swtiches, lubed the stabz! Added some artisan keycaps! Then I gave the $100 dollar keyboard to my daughter, because for me it was still just missing that certain je ne sais quois…
The NK65 will be one of those (two of those — three of those) keyboards that I will not part with. The keyboard is fantastic to type on, I built it with one of my favorite switches — Novelkeys Cream Switches, the KBD Fans keycaps are in my favorite profile: XDA and the quality of the keycaps are impeccable. The keycaps were about $65 dollars so they did not break the bank. The NK65 is not aluminum its poly-carbonate but its weighty, most likely due to the chunky custom silicone dampener which I love. While I could do without the keyboard case and the coiled cable, the keyboard itself gives you an experience where you could swear you have paid more than $95 dollars.
To the left you have the NK65 Milkshake Edition which was available via a group buy. Group buys are kind of like crowdfunding or a pre-order but more like crowd-funding… It can take forever, it may not happen, and you need to be able to risk the money. More often than not with a reputable company you can be sure that you will “eventually” get your item. Milkshake Edition: NK65 form factor same specs, came customized in a white color with fruit icons all over, the full Milkshake keycap set (a previous group buy) including the novelty keys, and custom silk yellow switches in various colors to match the aesthetic of the milkshake design. You know Novelkeys made a banger when they can sell you almost the same keyboard twice. I totally missed the group buy and was lucky enough to hear on reddit that Novelkeys had a few extra keyboards and I ran… ran… and got me one. As of the writing of this article they are no longer available. You can still get your hands on the Novelkeys Silk Milkshake Switches. 70Ct for $47.60, 90Ct for $61.20, and 110 Ct for $74.80. They are PCB mount linear switches really smooth really soft. But the complete package is no longer available. Welcome to the custom keyboard scene. If you really really want it someone somewhere may be selling it aftermarket for a ridiculous price.
Can’t you just mod a pre-built and get the same experience? Yes and No. You can mod a pre-built more often than not, but you cannot get the same experience, as any other keyboard build. Compare the difference with a simple keycap switch of my NK65. Remember in its basic form, you are still dealing with different case construction and materials that impact acoustics. Acoustics and feel are very important to me. All keycaps are not the same even if they are made with the same materials, and yes you can use any switch you want regardless of if you need to solder or not, but the combination of all the parts determines the experience, and this community is not about one-size fits all. This community is about individual taste and expression, not about everyone having the same experience. If you want to feel how everyone else feels go buy a Logitech.
I recommend this keyboard for all of those who are tired of the experience offered by a pre-built mass produced keyboard. Keyboards like those made by Keychron (I’ve had a recent bad experience so I’m being a little shady). This keyboard is for you to see how far you can customize something within its constraints. The silicone dampener already comes with the keyboard, you can choose your switches (lube them if you choose), install the keycaps that you want (and can afford), lube those stabilizers, and give yourself time to really experience the keyboard and what you have done so far. You can replace the stabilizers, keycaps, and switches as many times as you want until you feel that you have outgrown the keyboard — if that day comes or not. A good prebuilt will be almost as expensive, yet to mod it — you will purchase either the materials to make a silicone dampener, use a different material like neoprene or sorbothane to use as a dampening material. You will change the keycaps and maybe even the switches since you only get generic options with most pre-built keyboards: blue, red, brown. If your pre-built is hotswappable that will be simple, if its not well then you need to learn to solder! Once you are done with modding your pre-built you may realize that you just spent the same amount or more, then you will give it away and start over with something more expensive. Pre-builts have a time and a place, more often than not its for you to see if you even want a mechanical keyboard at all. If you want a pre-built you are not reading this post!
My NK65 looks like a creamsicle and sounds like a dream! Stay tuned for a look at my other builds… and subscribe to my Youtube channel to see them in action.
