Software

There is no dedicated software driver support for the Ajazz Zinc keyboard at this time—all functionality is hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine the Software and Performance pages into one.

Performance

The Ajazz Zinc supports the typical 6-key rollover Bluetooth and NKRO in USB wired mode, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. You can also enable 6KRO in wired mode if required for some system applications by using Fn + Pg Up for K6KRO, and then Fn + Pg Dn for a switch back to NRKO. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and as is usually the case with most mechanical keyboards today, the right Win key is replaced by an Fn key. There are a few more things going on here with the rarely seen 65% form factor, and you can see all the functions that get a dedicated key on the base layer.

As with the Ajazz K620T 2.0, the R. Ctrl and Fn keys are swapped around. It took a lot less time to get used to here, especially with the arrow keys next door anyway, also because I expected it this time. The Fn key is very handy for accessing all the layered functions onboard, which make this a TKL keyboard in terms of functionality. As we saw before, these layered functions are marked by legends on associated keycaps, including Fn keys, Ins and Home, and even media playback + volume control in addition to Win lock. These are placed logically, such as Ins on the Del key, Win lock on the Win key, and the Fn keys on the number row. The media controls are on the Z-N keys, and you will find the Fn key quite handy here. Programmers will also find the Tilde function associated with Esc, although I wish Caps Lock could be toggled to another Fn key for those wanting to access the layered function on the left, all in one hand, as with some other such keyboards.


When first powered on in Bluetooth mode, or just in USB mode, the LEDs all light up at 100% brightness in static white backlighting. The lighting is pretty bright even in daylight, with the white keycaps and lighter case color up top accentuating it. The floating keycaps also make for light bleed through the sides and out, which is not really an issue at all with the single color. Fn + Up/Down arrow toggles through four brightness steps (0/33/67/100%), and Caps Lock is actually associated with changing the backlighting from static to a breathing mode, which is why we don't have the option to turn it into another Fn key. Fn + Left/Right arrow changes breathing mode speed in three steps, with an example seen in the video above.

There are four indicator LEDs, with only the first one the standard Caps Lock. The other three do not include Num Lock or Scroll Lock indicators for obvious reasons. Instead, we have a USB mode indicator, Bluetooth pairing indicator, and battery level/charging indicator. Wireless connectivity is no doubt high on the Ajazz priority list as it is also included with the more recent 620T keyboards. We get the older Bluetooth 3.0 only, unfortunately, which does mean slightly worse performance and battery life with devices that can support the newer Bluetooth 5.0 LE. Regardless, I had a rock-steady connection across all test clients, even when quick swapping between them using Fn + Q/W/E for up to three simultaneously paired devices. Ajazz claims a battery life of 50 hours with backlighting on, which is actually not that far off from the ~44–45 hours I got thanks to the relatively massive internal 3000 mAh battery for this smaller keyboard. AZIO is still the champion of stuffing massive batteries inside their mechanical keyboards, but Ajazz did a decent job here. With backlighting off or just in standby mode, battery life is way higher, to where you don't have to charge for weeks at a time easily. Charging is on the slower side with micro USB 2.0 making this an overnight process.


There are four switch options to choose from here, and all four happen to be classic Cherry MX switches. Given the single color backlighting, the newer RGB versions are not the best idea anyway. What does suck somewhat is that the Ajazz Zinc came out before the updated Cherry MX molds for the MX Red and MX Brown at least, which also did make the MX Red smoother in travel. I suppose there is at least consistency here, as all four switches retain the older, tried-and-tested mold with 50 M keystrokes before any perceived loss in performance. The MX Brown switch used throughout on my sample is the classic tactile switch from Cherry, and probably still the most famous tactile mechanical switch today. It is rated for actuation at ~45 gf and 2 mm travel, with a total travel of 4 mm and peak force of 60 gf. Note that the tactile bump occurs before actuation, so you need to go past the feedback point for actuation here. The bump force of ~50 gf is also higher than for actuation, and actuation typically occurs slightly past 2 mm. This and the relatively weaker tactile bump as well as no applied lubrication inside the switches has resulted in several competitors in the past few years, some of which I personally feel are better to type on and use.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Ajazz Zinc keyboard sample at ~95 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Cherry MX Brown switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile switches. I did bottom out during recording, and you can also hear the ping off the aluminium alloy frame that may not be to your liking. That rattle on the space bar is another thing that is quite loud compared to the rest of the keyboard.