I've addressed the keycaps and potential inspiration earlier in the review, as well as separately in other articles, so all I will say is that there are enough differences to where I am treating this as a product of its own. If anything, I dare say I like the 3098 Black & Pink ASA better too, but my preference for PBT keycaps plays a role here.

With that having been said, let's talk about the keyboard. This is not my first Akko experience, be it in the form of keycap sets or fully themed keyboards. The company has managed to put out some excellent quality keycaps and designs for the money, and in a lot of different form factors too. The 3108 full-size keyboards have generally been on the simpler side functionally, with four additional keys for volume control and a calculator shortcut in addition to on-the-fly macro recording that really won't win any popularity points. The smaller form factors have had some lighting support as well as wireless connectivity options, but otherwise were still soldered on switches inside a two-piece plastic case. The case design has remained the same with the 3098 Black & Pink ASA, but there are more changes than commonalities. The 96% form factor is the biggest difference, with Akko striking a good balance of function and form for improved ergonomics without giving up the numpad. The offset arrow keys with a slight gap between the three keyboard sections also cut down the entry barrier for many who can't live without the numpad.
Then there is the hot-swap switch socket, which we finally get on an Akko keyboard. Supporting 3-pin mechanical switches, Akko is also using its first-party CS switches, which look and feel different from the norm, too. The progressive springs are a nice touch and should make for consistent linear feedback with the two other switch options. I went with the tactile CS Ocean Blue, which I still have mixed feelings about owing to the rapid tactile bump that does not do much for the actual feedback mechanism. We don't get lighting on the keyboard unless users mod LEDs in, but the stock keycaps are opaque anyway. Those stock keycaps are incidentally the reason to choose this particular version, since there are other Akko 3098 keyboards (without the other updates, though). The black and pink (and gray) color scheme looks and feels much nicer in person, with the replacement keycaps adding more of the salmon pink if that interests you. The legends are large but thin and very uniformly injected on a smooth PBT base, and the proprietary ASA profile is effectively a rounded, more supportive OEM profile building upon best of both the OEM and SA profiles, at least for my personal tastes.

There are a few other things that add positively to the user experience, including the use of thick foam between the plate and PCB out of the factory to dampen downstroke switch noise, which also results in a "thockier" sound with more bass that is more comforting for most people. The switches can of course be replaced with any other compatible option, but as mentioned earlier, I do hope Akko tones down that massive lube job on the stabilizers. For $90, this can be forgiven easily, especially when considering that the rest of the package makes the Akko 3108DS/v2 keyboards we saw before seem overpriced by comparison. For those who thought the color scheme was neat, you can now be more confident in your purchasing decision since it is a solid keyboard for the money and then some.