I’m considering getting a Keychron K8 Pro or Q3 keyboard, but the keycaps don’t have backlit letters. Annoyed. Anyone got other recommendations for a bluetooth TKL mechanical keyboard with backlit keys?

    • Evans Tucker@lemmy.mlOP
      0·
      1 year ago

      I looked, but was having difficulty finding keycaps with transparent characters… I’ll keep searching.

  • osbo9991@lemmy.world
    2·
    1 year ago

    Both of those keyboards have barebones versions (ie everything included except keycaps and switches), so you could buy switches and keycaps separately and install them yourself.

    The only issue being both of these keyboards utilize south facing LEDs, which are known to not work well with conventional shine through keycaps (legends appear dim compared to north facing). The reason south facing is popular with enthusiasts is due to keycap compatibility (south facing LEDs mean that the switch is “right side up” and cherry profile keycaps fit properly). Thankfully, there are one or two keycap sets that are shine through and work with south facing LEDs. On this set, it is done by placing the legends on the side of the keycaps instead of the top: https://drop.com/buy/npkc-gradient-pbt-doubleshot-side-lit-keycap-set?defaultSelectionIds=971604. If you don’t like these keycaps and/or can’t find any like this that you do like, read on.

    The main issue with finding keyboards with north facing LEDs is that there are very few that are up to “enthusiast” standards. Most boards that ship with north facing LEDs do not have nice features that keychron (and other enthusiast) boards have like QMK/VIA support, screw in stabilizers, properly prelubed switches/stabilizers, etc. In short, they might be okish, but you will be compromising other things like sound, feel, and functionality for conventional shine through keycaps that look right.

    If you are ok with lots of compromises you can try:

    *royal kludge rk87

    +Cheap ($55)

    +TKL+Wireless+north facing+shine thru keycaps

    -no hot swap or qmk/via support

    -plastic housing

    -Needs mods to sound and feel good (see https://youtu.be/Yrnjf_QbA3M for a similar keyboard with mods)

    -bad stabilizers most likely

    -weird software/firmware of unknown quality

    *Redragon K596 Vishnu

    +TKL+wireless+north facing+shine thru keycaps

    -higher price ($75)

    -no qmk/via support

    -macro/media keys are non standard (no keycap set will have them)

    -“”““hot-swap””“” with only outemu switches (pins/sockets are thinner and regular switches don’t fit)

    -will also need mods probably

    -bad stabilizers most likely

    -weird software/firmware of unknown quality