Introduction

CIDOO had a strong showing when it debuted on TechPowerUp last year with the ABM084—a rarely seen 80% form factor keyboard that provides one of the lowest entry barriers to smaller form factor keyboards for those who were used to full-size/TKL keyboards. I knew immediately that this was a brand to keep an eye out for even if I was already aware of its heritage then. Indeed, with over a decade of experience designing and making keyboards, CIDOO now had the giant Chinese peripherals retailer Epomaker behind it for marketing and this combination has been working even better than I expected. It's led to more new CIDOO keyboards already in 2023 than in the years past and today we examine another smaller form factor keyboard from the brand thanks to Epomaker providing a review sample to TechPowerUp.


Such is the state of CIDOO, and really most other Chinese keyboard brands today, that the subject of this review is already outdated to an extent. I admittedly sat on this keyboard for longer than I wanted to but I was still surprised to see the CIDOO V65 get surpassed by the V65 V2. But a closer look at both revealed very minor changes. Both are 65% form factor keyboards with wireless or wired connectivity, a gasket mount structure, and the exact same chassis/keycaps/switch combination for the pre-built versions. Both also come in kit-only forms for those wishing to build their own keyboard, although that's not what we are doing today. Indeed, the newer CIDOO V65 V2 appears to have a different microcontroller and an updated gasket design but is otherwise so identical that I still decided to put out this review knowing that it's going to be very representative of both versions. Oh, both are also open-source keyboards with VIA support out of the box. That alone should have got the attention of many keyboard enthusiasts reading this review which begins with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

While the CIDOO ABM084 was a collaboration product with another peripherals brand, ABM, the CIDOO V65 is completely its own. Indeed, it's even marketed as a more premium offering and the product box too gets fancier with thicker cardboard that gets an iridescent layer for the V65 product name on the front to shine in different colors depending on the incident light. The salient features are also listed here along with some cringe-worthy marketing slogans. A simplified render of the keyboard in its kit form is seen on the back, thus allowing CIDOO to use the same packaging for the kit or pre-built version of the keyboard. A sticker on the back confirms exactly what you have and the lid lifts off to reveal foam lining on the inside for added protection to the contents inside. The keyboard itself comes placed between even more foam and inside a wax paper wrap. There are two accessory boxes above the keyboard and a handy user manual (online copy here) underneath. Do go through the manual to learn about the various pre-programmed functions as well as how to start using VIA for software customization if you are new to it.


The first of the accessory boxes includes a set of four replacement rubber feet for the keyboard in case the stock ones wear out. We also get a collection of LED diffuser accessories that are meant to be used with the included switch to make for a brighter, more uniform lighting effect. These are completely optional to use but can be confusing if you were not aware what they are. The second box has more typical accessories including a combination metal wire keycap puller and switch remover tool—very handy and better than the cheaper ring-style options—as well as an L-shaped hex key to disassemble the keyboard/kit for any modding. This was nice to see in a hobby where keyboard disassembly is typically discouraged and voids warranty. We also get a white braided USB Type-C to Type-A cable for the keyboard itself.