Crowdfunding Review – I have been involved mechanical keyboard Over the years, I’ll review one, enjoy using it while I’m testing it, and then immediately go back to my old favorite keyboard as soon as the review is posted (if you’re wondering which keyboard is my current favorite, then please check out Julie’s Favorite Gear Page).
Why would I go back to my old spare non-mechanical keyboard? Because I’m very picky about keyboards and my fingers like what they like. However, that didn’t stop me from continuing to try more mechanical keyboards as I suffer from FOMO and am always chasing the next great thing and hoping that at some point mechanical keyboards will win me over.
My latest mechanical keyboard is the Kemove K68 Butterfly Mechanical Keyboard and I am currently seeking funding crowdfunding. Let’s see if it’s my current new favorite. Ready, set, enter!
What is it?
The Kemove K68 Butterfly is a mechanical keyboard. OK, that’s a brief description.
What’s in the box?
- Kemove K68 Butterfly Mechanical Keyboard
- USB-C cable (right-angle cable)
- USB receiver
- key pull tool
- User Guide
Design and Features
The Kemove K68 Butterfly Mechanical Keyboard has a plastic case and 68 keys. You can choose the black version or the white version I have here.
As you can see, the keyboard doesn’t have a dedicated row of function keys or media control keys, but it does have arrow keys and page up/down keys on the right edge and upper right corner. To access the function key functions, you must press two key combinations such as FN+1=F1.
There’s a USB-C charging port in the upper right corner, and flip feet on the bottom of the keyboard if you prefer a slight tilt to the keyboard.
The K68 Butterfly Keyboard is backlit and has a glowing LED ring around the outer edge of the keyboard. See the video below showing the lighting effects and typing sounds.
The Kemove K68 Butterfly Mechanical Keyboard has a Mac/Windows toggle switch and a Bluetooth/2.4G connection switch on the left side. The 2.4G option works with the included USB receiver adapter. I did all my testing with this keyboard using Bluetooth on a 13″ M1 MacBook Pro.
My review unit came with Cherry switches pre-installed. Using the included tool, I found it easy to remove the low ball keycaps, which are only 1.6mm high.
Even the hot-swap switches themselves are easy to remove and then reinstall. The K68 can accept 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Come and type!
As I mentioned above, I tested the Kemove K68 Butterfly mechanical keyboard with my MacBook. Considering the K68 keyboard offers a Mac/Win switch on the side, I don’t think there will be any issues. Unfortunately, at the time of this review, the keyboard has not yet been certified by Apple to fully support macOS. Although the ALT key functions like the CMD key on a macOS keyboard, the CTRL and WIN keys do not function like the CTRL and OPTION keys on a Mac. But apart from these two keys, everything else is fine. I did miss the lack of dedicated function keys and media control keys, though.
Despite the issues with macOS, I found this keyboard comfortable to type on. For touch typists like me, the Cherry switches are easy to press, and they provide good feedback and enough click to make typing fun. Check out the video below to hear what it sounds like as I type on the keyboard.
The video also shows the default lighting effects. I didn’t test all the lighting effects because the user manual that comes with the keyboard sample is not very easy to understand. I don’t even know how to turn off the light effects or even power off the keyboard.
see it in action and hear it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA4-msiCmmI
what do I like
- Easy to customize with other switches
- RGB lighting effect
- Bluetooth or USB receiver connection
what would i change
- Requires a dedicated row of function keys and media control keys
- Better support for macOS keys such as Option and CTRL keys
final thoughts
I’m still learning the ins and outs of mechanical keyboards, so I can’t claim to be an expert on these kinds of gadgets. But as a touch typist, I can tell you that the Kemove K68 Butterfly Mechanical Keyboard feels solid, works well, and is comfortable to type on. Also, the lighting effects are fun, but not overly exaggerated.
price: $74.99
where to buy: crowdfunding
source: Samples for this review provided by Kemov.
