Lighting and Performance

The Akko MU01 supports N-key rollover USB and 2.4 GHz which tested successfully using Aqua's test. It defaults to 6KRO with Bluetooth as expected. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and seen above are all the functions with dedicated keys on the base layer. This 68-key unit goes for a fairly standard 65% form factor, with four keys above the right number key that we see are ~, Delete, Page Up, and Page Down. Not bad, and I can see this working well as a base layer for most people too. As usual, the R. Win key is replaced by a Fn key so it's not reflected above.


The Fn key is crucial here to get back those missing functions from a TKL keyboard, with Akko having already programmed them in along with volume control and a calculator shortcut in the Fn layer. You also get onboard controls over the LEDs, although the software drivers still provide finer control, and you can also easily choose the connection mode and the currently connected client if you have multiple devices paired at the same time via the wired, 2.4 GHz, and Bluetooth connections.


Seen above is the Akko MU01 Mountain Seclusion lit up in a few different lighting effects. Given the keycaps are opaque, I think it's fair to say anyone wanting an impressive light show is probably going to look elsewhere. It's also not very easy to read the legends in a dimly lit environment, which goes back to my complaint about the keycaps not being as functional with the legends as they should have been. Having the LEDs set to max brightness and white helps to an extent though, but generally I found myself turning the LEDs off to preserve battery life. Speaking of which, Akko has done a good job programming the sleep and off functions of the keyboard in wireless mode. You can change in the software as seen before, but generally I found the keyboard to last ~25 hours with the LEDs on at full brightness in Bluetooth mode, which decreased to ~20 in 2.4 GHz mode. With the LEDs off or even just with the default sleep settings that turn them off after inactivity, expect to see 5–7 days of regular use before you have to charge it, if not more depending on the connection method. Bluetooth was thankfully working without a hitch, although the relatively older 5.0 protocol seems like a cost saving approach here. The 2.4 GHz dongle comes already paired to the keyboard out of the box allowing for a low-latency typing experience, almost on par with wired connectivity for the average end user who is going to mostly type on the keyboard. Charging the battery takes ~5 hours owing to the absence of quick charging.


The space savings over a TKL-size keyboard as well as 75% keyboards can also be handy should you be the kind to prefer a large mouse pad and plenty of room to quickly move your mouse around. There are also inherent ergonomic benefits in that your fingers do not have to travel as much to hit the required keys, and you can also have the mouse placed closer to the keyboard to have your arms be in line with your shoulder width. I also noticed the switches have a shorter travel in general, allowing you to hit multiple strokes quicker. Indeed, the Akko V3 Piano Pro is smooth to begin with and you are almost guaranteed to bottom out here. It is a linear switch rated for an actuation force of 45 gf at ~1.9 mm travel, and tops out at just 3.1 mm of total travel with a peak force of just under 50 gf measured. Rhythm gamers might well enjoy this switch! It works quite well for general typing too, but again I will point out the absence of any tactile or clicky switches for this keyboard which feels like a shame.


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 Akko MU01 Mountain Seclusion keyboard sample at ~85 WPM as it comes out of the box with these Akko V3 Piano Pro switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out constantly here for reasons aforementioned, and this also helps demonstrate how well damped this keyboard is. These are extremely smooth switches which helps of course, but they are complemented well by the foam and tape sheets used which make for a significantly thockier, almost creamy sound. There are absolutely no pings or reverberations, and I have to say this might be one of the best sounding keyboards on the market for anyone preferring this kind of sound signature. There is some scope for improvement in the typing experience with the stabilizers though, I noticed some inconsistency and no doubt going for higher quality screw-in stabilizers would also help.