I feel like there are a lot of keyboards coming out of China now with a very similar feature set. Indeed, 2022 saw the rise of the dedicated volume knob on keyboards and 2023 cemented this with gasket mounts everywhere in addition to ensuring there is at least one form of wireless connectivity on offer. It can get hard to make a name for yourself when the bar keeps getting raised so quickly and I am almost reminded of the same happening with in-ear monitors that again happen to come out of China. CIDOO with the V65 is trying to put out a solid typing experience on an even more solidly built keyboard. If you were among those looking for a 65% keyboard that will likely outlive you, then this is one to look at.

The CIDOO V65 uses a thick two piece CNC-machined aluminium case. The pre-assembled version comes in two colors and the kit-only version has three, all different colors. Weird then that we only have a single switch configuration for the keyboard version, even if it is a nice switch. The issue is there are many nice switches on the market and there are brands which seem to offer 10-20 switches to choose from at times in addition to aluminium or plastic cases as well as different keycap sets. Those seem closer to a service that builds keyboards from a variety of different parts rather than a keyboard supplied from the brand first-hand but it is still something that CIDOO may want to look at in an overly competitive world.

On the other hand, I really can't complain much about the user experience of the V65. It's a pleasure to type on, the battery life is long if you use this wirelessly—even longer if you turn off the LEDs given the keycaps are opaque—and the gasket mount is well executed. Then there's VIA compatibility which some users deem a must-have but can be a double-edged sword depending on your experience and willingness to experiment more. I have used VIA for a while now so it didn't take long to get the V65 mapped out exactly like I wanted. The pre-programmed layers are mostly good already and there are plenty of options to choose from. I am also now used to a 65% keyboard to where I can appreciate the space savings on a crowded desk as well as the potentially more ergonomic typing experience resulting from shorter finger travel. It seems clear then that the CIDOO V65 does offer enough to interest a subset of the keyboard community and thus it merits a recommendation for them. Everyone else needs to decide if the increased cost over the already excellent $80-90 keyboards available today is worth it for you.