I feel like the Neo boards from QK will be the final catalyst to separate the price brackets even further as a step to break into the mainstream. Let's be honest, even in the state it is at now, it's still a niche hobby. Acessibility will open up the market for EVERYONE. You can argue customizing a plastic board worth $40 is good enough, but there's the thought of going the extra mile for the feel of cold metal. QK and other brands can hold down the budget segment, while individual designers and manufacturers can keep experimenting with new concepts at a higher pricepoint. It creates a compromise for those that want a premium keyboard, and those that want functional art pieces. At least it's not some sort of vacuum anymore, where you'll get sucked in to spend $400 as an entry fee.
Quick tip I discovered myself when you don't have a plate fork! If you insert the switch and then push it forward while pressing down makes it snap in place nicely even on the softest plates! Just put your PCB flat on the table.
@@Charo.mp4 of course! Let me know if it works for you. I also suggest to alternate the spots where you put them in and go in diagonal rows. It makes it so they give support to the switches you put in and the plate is less likely to pop down.
I was shocked at how good the ano felt on the Neo65, and really happy with the plateless config. I'm interested in getting a 70 to compare with the Cycle7 when it starts shipping (and selling the one that I don't like as much)! Imagine if Neo continues its product line to cover all layouts. Really insane. The Chinese keeb market is so competitive that I think we will really benefit from a lot more Cycles and Neos in the future (basic-ish boards that hit way above their price tag). That doesn't mean that there won't be room for unique boards, it's just that these companies really are dialing in quality, sound, and feel with a crazy good price.
Both TKD and Neo will continue to roll out new layouts with competitive pricing for sure. Neo will release more products yearly than TKD, and mostly in-stock items. Looking forward to Neo Alice and Neo pad in 2024.
@@TM-zo1nz agree 100%, each appeal to slightly different people, both looking for budget boards, but one for patient people who got used to GB times and the other for people who just want to get their keeb and are tired of GBs.
@@poppy69420 Exactly, I got both Cycle7 and Neo70, and they feel quite different apart from the FRL layout. Cycle7 is a Fr4 plate with foam, ANSI, anodized purple, WKL Neo70 is an Alu plate without foam, ISO, spray-coated red, WK
@@TM-zo1nz Exactly what I expected, both sound great, just for difference audiences/sound profiles (heard cycle is a bit on the quieter side). Also, one question, this will vary from person to person, I know, but I need some opinions, do you prefer wkl or wk? All my current boards are WK and planning to get a new tkl or frl keeb and idk which one to get lol.
The best way to describe how the neo70 magnetic connectors work is by using the immortal words of the russian bajur “How do magnets work? Really well. Really fucking well”
@@thepopeofkeke probably cause a lot of people don't super use a numpad in general and it's cheaper to produce smaller keyboards. But now people who do use numpad are in the hobby so it's being added more
Loved the vid! The magnetic connectors is a really cool idea! I'm hoping that these budget brands eventually tackle top mounts since its my favorite mounting style
Magnetic badges, removable portion over arrow cluster, Avocado color are all options from older Matrix boards, add in the excellent ano for the Neo then this really seems like a Matrix lite! Love it
I LOVE my Neo65... but I may pick this up with RGB and wired rather than Tri Mod like I didn't on the 65. Definitely sounds just as good!!! Great Review!
really love the content and appreciate the review! Curious how the gummy o ring config felt, I gathered most reviewers didn’t really like it for the neo 65, but I’ve personally been hoping for a more premium finish / better sounding bakeneko60.
@@Charo.mp4fantastic, that’s really encouraging! Here’s to hoping they can bring a 60% product to market! I recognize it’s sort of fallen out of favor in the sea of 65s/75s, and this seems to be the year of the FRL TKLs.
I feel like the Neo boards from QK will be the final catalyst to separate the price brackets even further as a step to break into the mainstream. Let's be honest, even in the state it is at now, it's still a niche hobby. Acessibility will open up the market for EVERYONE. You can argue customizing a plastic board worth $40 is good enough, but there's the thought of going the extra mile for the feel of cold metal.
QK and other brands can hold down the budget segment, while individual designers and manufacturers can keep experimenting with new concepts at a higher pricepoint. It creates a compromise for those that want a premium keyboard, and those that want functional art pieces. At least it's not some sort of vacuum anymore, where you'll get sucked in to spend $400 as an entry fee.
Australia hasnt even gotten their Neo65s yet lol
Europe neither hahaha still waiting, QK has to up their shipping and manufacturing game big time
Same here in Southeast Asia. Might sit this one out and wait for the neo80 instead.
Coz y’all too far away lol
I love my NEO70, so easy to assemble, looks and sounds fantastic.
Quick tip I discovered myself when you don't have a plate fork!
If you insert the switch and then push it forward while pressing down makes it snap in place nicely even on the softest plates! Just put your PCB flat on the table.
Oh fantastic, thank you!
@@Charo.mp4 of course! Let me know if it works for you. I also suggest to alternate the spots where you put them in and go in diagonal rows. It makes it so they give support to the switches you put in and the plate is less likely to pop down.
I was shocked at how good the ano felt on the Neo65, and really happy with the plateless config. I'm interested in getting a 70 to compare with the Cycle7 when it starts shipping (and selling the one that I don't like as much)!
Imagine if Neo continues its product line to cover all layouts. Really insane. The Chinese keeb market is so competitive that I think we will really benefit from a lot more Cycles and Neos in the future (basic-ish boards that hit way above their price tag).
That doesn't mean that there won't be room for unique boards, it's just that these companies really are dialing in quality, sound, and feel with a crazy good price.
I think they are gonna cover all layouts; there's already an Alice, arisu, and 75 on their notion page
Both TKD and Neo will continue to roll out new layouts with competitive pricing for sure.
Neo will release more products yearly than TKD, and mostly in-stock items.
Looking forward to Neo Alice and Neo pad in 2024.
@@TM-zo1nz agree 100%, each appeal to slightly different people, both looking for budget boards, but one for patient people who got used to GB times and the other for people who just want to get their keeb and are tired of GBs.
@@poppy69420 Exactly, I got both Cycle7 and Neo70, and they feel quite different apart from the FRL layout.
Cycle7 is a Fr4 plate with foam, ANSI, anodized purple, WKL
Neo70 is an Alu plate without foam, ISO, spray-coated red, WK
@@TM-zo1nz Exactly what I expected, both sound great, just for difference audiences/sound profiles (heard cycle is a bit on the quieter side). Also, one question, this will vary from person to person, I know, but I need some opinions, do you prefer wkl or wk? All my current boards are WK and planning to get a new tkl or frl keeb and idk which one to get lol.
The best way to describe how the neo70 magnetic connectors work is by using the immortal words of the russian bajur “How do magnets work? Really well. Really fucking well”
What's next for budget boards is larger layouts. People are starting to want their numpads back and some companies are already getting on it.
I would like to understand why the “cool board man” trend is all 60,65, and 75’s?
Is it just because it dropped the number pad so it was different?
@@thepopeofkeke probably cause a lot of people don't super use a numpad in general and it's cheaper to produce smaller keyboards. But now people who do use numpad are in the hobby so it's being added more
i liked this, gj
Thank you sir!!
neo75 is also on its way, next year 😭😂
Loved the vid! The magnetic connectors is a really cool idea! I'm hoping that these budget brands eventually tackle top mounts since its my favorite mounting style
You and me both!
looks like another winner, love my neo65, will be grabbing this guy next week as well
took a 6 month break. great to see you still doing vids. very awesome videos. keep it up. fan from sg here.
Thanks so much for the kind words!
I appreciate these no foam soundtests 🙏
got my neo65, now waiting for neo75. neo80 os very hood but i need smaller
do you prefer neo or cycle series?
Magnetic badges, removable portion over arrow cluster, Avocado color are all options from older Matrix boards, add in the excellent ano for the Neo then this really seems like a Matrix lite! Love it
For real, just needs some fun designs on the badges haha
You and I have the same likes in terms of the size of our keyboards. Long, symmetrical and girthy… wait
🤣😭
Just a heads-up, your affiliate link for keycaps is not properly formatted for your affiliate part (TH-cam's fault)
Production value is insane. Here before 100k subs :)
Legend! Thank you!!
I LOVE my Neo65... but I may pick this up with RGB and wired rather than Tri Mod like I didn't on the 65. Definitely sounds just as good!!! Great Review!
Thanks so much!
another banger as always!! love your vids man
Thanks so much!
I got the cycle 7 so I'm going to skip this one but I'm beging for a neo 60 or neo tkl
I would love a neo tkl and/or a TKD TKL
neo tkl perhaps be on sale on dec
@@uchungvu3663 oh word? Have they announced anything?
neo80 is already in the work
really love the content and appreciate the review! Curious how the gummy o ring config felt, I gathered most reviewers didn’t really like it for the neo 65, but I’ve personally been hoping for a more premium finish / better sounding bakeneko60.
Thank you! Honestly much better on this than the 65 in my opinion - the separate pcbs made it feel like a solid 60% o ring
@@Charo.mp4fantastic, that’s really encouraging! Here’s to hoping they can bring a 60% product to market! I recognize it’s sort of fallen out of favor in the sea of 65s/75s, and this seems to be the year of the FRL TKLs.
this this sound different from the neo65?
What did you do to that poor brush
I love your reviews and the reporting style, subbed!
Thank you so much!!
Great video mate! Is that their e-white or their retro white?
Thank you!! This one is the e-white!
Waiting for Neo75
A fellow Brit keyboard nerd!
they go to being INSTOCK
That eva 01 crewneck look sick af tho where can i get that lol
love your videos! I was curious in case I missed the name - what was the FRL board you showed at 8:14?
Thank you! It’s the Zenith!
Oh yeah! I remember now you talked about it in the RAMA WORKS video. Beautiful board and love the layout!
Loved the vid mate🖤
Thank you lad really appreciate it 🖤
Nice vid mate
Really great video, thanks.
My pleasure!
What’s the board at 8:13?
Wild guess its a zenith rama
Yeah it’s a Zenith!
Garskets