The 5075 series consists of three different variations. The 5075S barebones, 5075S assembled and 5075B. The 5075S boards are only used wired with a removable USB-C cable, while the 5075B can be used both wired and wireless via both bluetooth and a 2.4ghz USB receiver. In this article we’re going to focus on the 5075S barebones kit. Then again, outside of the switches and keycaps being included, it’s the same base as the assembled variations. As for the keycap set, I felt like one of my G-MKY kits went best with the light blue color of the barebones kit. Then again, outside of the 3x 1U keys at the bottom (would’ve honestly preferred 2x 1.25u), Akko used a very standard layout otherwise. While cheap 104-key sets won’t be an option here, you can use most kits from the likes of YMDK, G-MKY and Akko themselves. All keycaps are made of PBT and the inscriptions are produced using the double-shot process, which is one of the most durable inscription methods to prevent wear or discolouration with use. After customizing my Keychron K2 V2, I thought I was done with keyboards. Perhaps I should’ve known that it wasn’t yet my endgame and I would soon yearn for more. It took almost half a year for me to feel the itch again, but I did eventually get the urge again to look for something new, especially one with a knob. I also wanted to try using a new switch since I wanted to see if there was something even more tactile than the Akko CS Jelly Blue switches I had on my Keychron. I ended up getting an Akko 5075S, and it turned out pretty amazing. Worth noting that I already have boba u4t's and keycaps so I would prefer barebones, but am not opposed to prebuilds for extras (mainly concerning the Akko 5075b because I like the keycaps and switches that come with it). Also, I'm hoping to do a silicone mod because I like the end product.

Cons: prebuild is double the price when I already have switches/keycaps ready to go, NORTH facing LEDs, rumblings about connectivity issues with previous Akko PC75b The lineup’s four colors are based on Pantone, thus the descriptive names. I got the Starry Night color to match it with Blue Samurai keycaps. While they’re not exactly the same shade of blue, they’re close enough that they seem to match nonetheless. If there’s any reason to buy a barebones kit, it’s having your choice of switches and keycaps to go with it. One issue did arise to me when plugging in the board. The LEDs on the side of the board to indicate the mode it’s in, as well as the LEDs on the side bleed into the top of the board, causing it to have mixed colors around the sides and both sides of the LEDs when turned on. There is no way to disable the indication LEDs, so you’ll sadly have to deal with this. The sides you could disable or just use the same color as you do on the rest of the board. It just feels like something worth nothing, as it might disappoint some. However, the screwless assembly is its Achilles heel as the tabs have been known to break from either repeated disassembly or sheer carelessness. That’s enough risk to make modding a hardship, but I was able to make it work with enough care. Pulling this thing apart after just getting it in the mail was a fairly harrowing experience, but the plastic wasn’t worn yet to be overly fragile. It just needs more careful planning; it’s not one for experimentation.As for the feel of the board, the gasket mounting makes it quite flexible, giving it a much softer bottom out compared to a traditional tray mount keyboard. I personally very much prefer this, as the average tray mount keyboard feels rather stiff in comparison. It also produces quite a nice sound for an ABS plastic housing board… Would still prefer the sound of an aluminium board, but considering the price I definitely can’t complain.

With the N-Key Rollover (NKRO) function, the keyboard supports simultaneous key presses without problems, which is especially important for optimising the gaming experience. Akko has garnered a reputation of being a great value brand in the keyboard space, first with its switches, and then with its keyboards and barebone kits. If you’re looking for something more comparable with the Glorious GMMK Pro, then you’ll want to look at the Akko MOD series, which are also made of metal instead of plastic. The thing with the 5075S and similar products from Akko is that it caters to budget-minded keyboard enthusiasts who may not like Royal Kludge, but still want something that feels premium. Final Score Cons: while I like the the bottom LEDs, the case itself looks more cheap being transparent (guess that's a personal preference), potential virus with the software (not sure if that's just a rumor?), NORTH facing LEDsThe Akko 5075S is a 75% gasket-mount keyboard with a plastic body, polycarbonate plate, and screwless construction. There’s a barebones kit with a hotswappable board and a body that comes in four colors, Vintage White, Blue Ash (bluish light gray), Pale Dogwood (pink), and Starry Night (dark blue). I got the last one to match my GMK Blue Samurai (clone) keycaps. And while Akko is now slowly starting with QMK/VIA compatible PCBs with their recent announcement of a MOD007 refresh, as well as their daughter Monsgeek having the QMK/VIA compatible M1 (75%) and M2 (96%), the 5075S isn’t at the time of writing. You can still reprogram it in Akko’s own Cloud Driver software, it’s not with the same amount of flexibility.