Introduction

AZIO as a brand had made the most of the typewriter-style keyboards that had seemingly been all over the place a couple of years back. The company went all in with the Retro line, be it the Retro Classic, Retro Classic BT, or Retro Compact, and the use of premium materials helped put AZIO on the map as a more premium company, too. There have been a couple of limited edition Retro Classic keyboards since, but it was obvious that there was only so much left to do in this niche market. AZIO aimed to branch out with the Fokal last year, which is now called the FOQO after already having had its name changed from Iris partly because of us. I was not able to cover the FOQO in time last year, but now there is another, newer AZIO keyboard, so here we are!


The AZIO IZO may not be the easiest name to repeat ten times in a row, but it is catchy enough. More catchy than the name, however, is the design scheme. As with most AZIO keyboards, the IZO is going the Kickstarter route and has already met the funding goal as this is written. A lot is similar to the FOQO, so much so that I don't feel as though I am missing out on much by not having covered the previous AZIO release, with both adopting a 75% form factor, which some companies call an 80% form factor instead. The IZO keyboard is also part of a larger IZO collection with an optional accompanying numpad and a mouse in three vibrant colors aiming to freshen up your desk. Thanks again to AZIO for sending TechPowerUp review samples!

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

The IZO may still be in the Kickstarter stage, but AZIO has clearly finished the product to where I am not convinced the company had to go the Kickstarter route beyond marketing. Either way, we see a plastic wrap over the product box with an external cover over a cardboard box. On the front is the company logo and product name on either side of a large render of the keyboard in a specific color chosen from among the available three. A note on the bottom also confirms the color, and another tells you this is a wireless backlit mechanical keyboard. There are specifications, marketing features, and a product story on the back and sides in multiple languages. The inner box just slides out of the cover; no seals to be seen here.


This inner box is more bare in design, but has the AZIO IZO writing in gold, which is no doubt based on the gold accents on the keyboard itself. Two double flaps on the side keep things in place during transit, as do two side flaps, and opening the box, we are greeted to a thick piece of foam protecting the contents underneath. The keyboard is seen right after, and it comes inside a soft foam wrap of its own. The accessories are underneath (paperwork) and in a separate compartment, and another thick foam sheet underneath completes the packaging in a most impressive manner.


AZIO includes a handy user guide in English and French that unfurls to reveal more information on how to pair the keyboard in Bluetooth mode and use the pre-programmed functions. It is well worth going through to make the most of the keyboard. A detachable blue USB cable matches my sample also being blue, and as expected in 2021, it goes from a Type-A to a Type-C connector. The insulation is typical PVC, for which it is easier to get the colors bright compared to a braided sleeve. A zip-lock bag holds the final accessories, including a plastic ring-style keycap puller I don't think fits the AZIO brand anymore. Why not go with a fancier wire puller that can be customized to have, say, a leatherette base with the AZIO logo on it? There are also two replacement keycaps, which is our first look at the fairly novel design used for the keycaps. We will discuss this in more detail over the coming pages.