Lighting and Performance

The Akko x Gudetama 5108S keyboard supports NKRO out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. No key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter. The image above also shows the base layer on the keyboard is as far as dedicated keys go and it's a full-size, 108-key, US ANSI layout that gives you the expected 104 keys, except with Menu replaced by an Fn key. The additional four keys at the top right corner are shortcuts for calculator, mute/unmute, volume down, and volume up in order from left to right.


Akko has plenty of pre-programmed functions here too, so you do get media playback controls even if they're on the Fn layer. These are accompanied by other shortcuts for programs such as file explorer, the default email client, and your browser of choice. The arrow keys can be swapped for functionality on WASD on the keyboard itself and there are a few system commands too, including swapping from the default Windows OS layout to a macOS one and locking the L.Win key. The other things to note are the hardware controls over macro recording/playback as well as over the RGB LEDs themselves, which is good for those not wanting to use the software drivers and keep this a driver/OS-agnostic peripheral. You can get finer control with the software though—especially for the macro keys feature.


Seen above is the keyboard lit up to show you how the stock white and yellow keycaps light up with the RGB LEDs and the CS Crystal switches used here. It's a surprisingly well lit keyboard for one that uses dye sub PBT keycaps, and can please those wanting to use the RGB LEDs for aesthetics. By default the LEDs shine in a static multi-color mode and I turned them to white to test how well these RGB LEDs handle color fidelity. In this case it ends up being the keycaps that add color to the LEDs more than anything else, so I can't really fault Akko for it. The non-floating nature of the keyboard also minimized color bleed and you end up with a fairly diffused and pleasing light that works well with dynamic and reactive typing effects too.


There is only one switch option on the Akko x Gudetama 5018S keyboard, in the form of Akko's own CS Crystal switch. We took a closer look at the switch—both inside and out—earlier to note it is a linear switch that Akko manufactured with aesthetics in mind, given the entirely clear housing and stem. The CS Crystal can be seen as a modified version of the Cherry MX Red, for some context, in that it's a full-size cross-stem switch with 4 mm total travel and and has an actuation force of 43 +/-5 gf to make it a medium-force linear switch. Where it differs is the actuation distance itself is shorter at ~1.6 mm and the peak force at bottoming out is ~50 gf. This means you are almost certainly going to bottom out the switch once you actuate it! It's a fairly smooth switch that I found had a small amount of wobble to it, so once again we end up with a generally favorable but not class-leading component used here.


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 x Gudetama 5108S keyboard at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Akko CS Crystal 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 seen above and I have to say that foam sheet between the plate and the PCB is working overtime here to cut down on higher frequency pings and reverberations in the keyboard. The thicker PBT keycaps also help to an extent, and you end up with a relatively dampened sound signature that is primarily from the switches bottoming out. It's certainly a better sounding keyboard in my opinion than many mainstream offerings and approaches the overall typing experience that keyboard enthusiasts are looking for.