Lighting and Performance

The CIDOO V65 supports NKRO out of the box in wired mode, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Using the keyboard in Bluetooth mode defaults to standard 6KRO as expected. No key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter. The image above also shows what the base layer on the keyboard is programmed to as far as dedicated keys go. As with most keyboards these days, there is no right Windows key, as it has been substituted by an Fn key here which is far more important. I have already mentioned on page three my thoughts about the base layer and will not repeat them here.


Instead, here's a look at layer 1 or the Fn layer. This is accessible by simply holding the Fn key and now we see how CIDOO aims to bring back most of the missing functions compared to a TKL keyboard. Some are logically placed, such as the Fn key row on the number row, although I would have liked to see Ins/Home/End replace Del/Pg Up/Pg Dn too. There are more keyboard-specific functions available here including changing from Win to macOS mode, initiating Bluetooth pairing and choosing between any of three simultaneously paired clients, and a lot of onboard lighting controls that are described in the manual. The other layers are left mostly sparse to allow for users to modify as per their desire.


Given this keyboard has opaque keycaps on the pre-assembled version, there's not a bright light show to expect or any backlighting of the legends. The RGB LEDs end up doing accent lighting only thus and seen above are some of the pre-programmed effects available. CIDOO provides both onboard and software control over all these LEDs in the form of not only brightness steps but also many static, dynamic, and reactive lighting effects to choose from. The issue is most of these effects are not very good to begin with—some seem to not be any different from others and this is where you will probably miss out on what most other keyboard software drivers can provide. On the other hand, I did think the optional plastic diffusers were cool and enabled for a more true-to-life color when used.

The instruction manual goes beyond these to also explain how to initiate pairing in Bluetooth mode and connect with up to three devices simultaneously. There is no 2.4 GHz connectivity here unfortunately but I imagine most people using this keyboard wirelessly are likely to have it on their desk very close to the PC. Another use case would be on the go with a laptop or tablet given the more portable form factor, although the keyboard is heavier than many full-size keyboards to make this less practical. I found myself also using this in the living room to connect to my HTPC and/or TV via Bluetooth and it felt nice and solid there given the stable line-of-sight connection. In general, there is a sleep mode built into the firmware to preserve battery life and turn off LEDs. The battery life in Bluetooth mode can be on the order of a few weeks of my daily usage—which is more than typical—with the LEDs turned off. Given the opaque keycaps, I really saw no reason to have them on anyway. Charging takes a few hours off a 5 V/1 A connection accounting for any losses along the way.


I mentioned before how the CIDOO V65, as well as the newer V65 V2, comes only with the Quark Matte switch that I don't know much about. It's a linear switch that behaves quite similarly to the Cherry MX Red, except being a much smoother version of it. This is a full-size mechanical switch then that is rated for an actuation force of 47 gf at ~2 mm with total travel of 4 mm. I really liked typing on the keyboard with these switches, which is good given the goal of enhanced ergonomics with this keyboard. Essentially, you would want to train yourself for efficient typing on this keyboard and having good switches on a good keyboard will help. There are no tactile or clicky switches on offer with the pre-assembled version of the keyboard though which feels like a miss.


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 CIDOO V65 keyboard sample at ~85 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Quark Matte switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out here and it helps test the effectiveness of the gasket mount used here as well as the various dampening sheets used between the plate and PCB as well as between the PCB and the case. These all come together to ensure there are no reverberations or pinging off the plate, which in turn being a polycarbonate composition also helps over the usual metal plates more prone to a higher frequency ping. The combination of the thick PBT keycaps and case in addition to the pre-lubed switches and stabilizers also help make the overall sound quite crisp and satisfying, as well as slightly quiet.