Closer Examination

For those who missed it before, I will again mention that the Ajazz AC064 typically comes as a DIY kit for which you need to supply your own switches and keycaps. Finding a compatible keycap set can be especially problematic since this layout is very rare—in particular for the likes of the 1u R.Shift keycap. Thus, the pre-assembled keyboard offering on the Epomaker website is handy. However, at this point in time, the website also only has the DIY kit in gray, and the keyboard in this blue-gray color for the case. The keycap set matches the case well enough, using blue and white base colors and a dark pink for the legends, though it currently is only available in a single switch option, and there is potential keycap wobble. Notice the misalignment of some of the keycaps compared to their neighbors above, which can of course easily be fixed manually, but they would just as likely move out of alignment again after use.

The AC064 is thick, heavy, and solidly built, but this is all due to its immense CNC-machined aluminium case. It consists of two parts, screwed together to effectively make for a single, thick base the rest of the keyboard sits on. The aluminium is anodized in the color and finish seen above, with the DIY kits having a few different color options depending on where you look. Bezels are thinner on two sides than on the top and bottom, but it still takes up as much room as a typical 60% keyboard in terms of length and width. The layout then grabs your attention, with this being the aforementioned rare 65% layout that only uses 64 keys. For those who absolutely want arrow keys and a small keyboard, this is the layout for you.


Flipping the keyboard around, we now better see the two-piece composition of the aluminium case with a bottom cover plate screwed into the shell. The bottom plate is sculpted such that it elevates the keyboard, which works out in the absence of another raising mechanism, such as keyboard feet. We see the usual certification information in the middle, but engraved into the metal itself! Four small circular rubber pads at the corners lift the keyboard and prevent scratches to the case in addition to adding friction against the resting surface. That having been said, the mass of the keyboard does more than these pads in preventing it from sliding around. Nice to see is also a cutout on the back for a dedicated on/off slider switch for wireless connectivity.


A second cutout greets us on the side directly facing away from the user, which is where the provided keyboard cable plugs into. The cutout is quite small to where some fancy aftermarket cables may just not work. The provided cable is decent enough, but it would have been nice to see the sleeving color in blue to match the rest of the keyboard. It is the usual 6' long, black, and requires an available USB Type-A port on your computer. USB 2.0 will suffice for power and data alike, although you want to use USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) for faster charging given the 1 A current limit.


A look from the side shows just how elevated and high in profile the keyboard is, which is a potential problem for those not used to typing without a wrist rest. Relative to the base, the bottom of the keyboard is still quite tall, and your wrists will dangle down at an uncomfortable angle if you don't have your hands hovering above the keys when typing. Ajazz is clearly marketing the large amount of aluminium used in the case, and the machining/anodization, but I dare say a lower-profile case would have been more practical, albeit less impressive at first sight. The keycaps themselves are alright, adopting an OEM profile with the five rows sculpted accordingly, but the alignment issues we saw. Thick PBT plastic with dye-sublimed legends is used, so there is good longevity. The problem is that some of the legends are not that clear, mostly owing to the typeface using overly rounded legends. All the legends are smaller than they could be, centrally placed in the absence of backlighting compatibility, and have secondary legends alongside the primary ones.


I mentioned before that the assembled keyboard version from Epomaker currently only comes with a single switch option, although the DIY kit of course does not have this limitation. I will give credit to Epomaker/Ajazz for choosing one of the better switches out there, though. If you like linear switches, it's hard to beat the Gateron Yellows at this price point. The stabilizers are an interesting topic of conversation, too; while the usual plate-mounting units, Ajazz claims these to be Gateron steel stabilizers customized by the company's engineering team for the AC064 to reduce "shaking, rattling, and tilting made by keystrokes." That having been said, we see no applied lube at all, so it's another case of a job not fully reaching the finish line.


As mentioned before, the Ajazz AC064 comes primarily as a DIY kit, meaning it supports hot-swappable switches. The included switch puller works well for removing one such switch for a closer look, and we also get a good look at the 5-pin switch socket and SMD RGB LED for backlighting. This means the keyboard is compatible with both 3-pin and 5-pin Cherry MX-style mechanical switches, making for an extremely customizable keyboard. The Gateron yellow is characterized by its yellow cross-point stem, making it compatible with the vast majority of aftermarket keycaps as well. It is a 3-pin mechanical switch, has a translucent top with a hole to accommodate backlighting, and an opaque base housing the actuation mechanism.