Closer Examination

As with the James Donkey RS2 we saw before, the more premium R2 has 100 keys in what feels like a modified 1800 form factor with extra keys above the arrow key cluster and going around over the number pad too. Compared to the standard 104 keys on the US ANSI layout adopted here, there are no Print Screen, Pause/Break, Insert, End, or Menu keys while we get a bonus dedicated Calculator key to make for the missing net four-but-really-five keys here. The right side of the alphanumeric section is also truncated similar to typical such keyboard designs, so that will be something to note for aftermarket keycap compatibility. But really anyone looking at the R2 will have already decided the custom design and matching keycaps are a strong selling point, so I doubt there will be much keycap replacement going on. This keyboard comes in multiple different colors, I have the purple version here with the keycaps certainly reminding of me some popular aftermarket sets from a few years ago. There's also a large volume wheel in the top right corner with a matching knurled aluminium knob to go with the thick CNC Machined 6063 aluminium alloy chassis that makes for a keyboard weighing over twice an average one does.

Bezels are larger than average as well as being larger on the top and bottom than the sides, so this feels like a place where James Donkey could have done better to keep up with the premium keyboard design attempt ongoing. I am also missing the indicator LEDs here, although there are ways to get around this as we will see later on. The keycaps are certainly a bold choice with two primary colors and two different accent colors, and here too I would have liked to see James Donkey include replacement keycaps for Esc, Space Bar, and both Enter keys to allow users to go for a two-tone color scheme if the other two were going overboard. A lot of the keycaps have multiple legends on the top surface even if they only have one function. For example, G is seen in the top left corner and there is "g" diagonally opposite in the bottom right corner—this is an artistic styling choice which may not be to everyone's preference. Going for the diagonal set of corners for legends means secondary legends are now relegated to a smaller space and sometimes even have to share it with tertiary legends associated with the pre-programmed functions on this keyboard. The keycaps are opaque so at least the legend placement is not going to impact how the LEDs underneath would have lit them up. Going for UP/LT/DN/RT instead of the arrow keys is also an interesting choice, although I do like this as I feel it fits in with the general quirkiness of the keyboard.


Turning the keyboard around, we see more of the CNC machined aluminium in its anodized purple glory. I like that it's not simply a rectangle and instead has some flair, with the top side also being taller for some added elevation in the absence of keyboard feet. There are small silicone pads on the corners to help add friction against the resting surface and prevent the metal case from being scratched too. We don't get the usual certification sticker and instead James Donkey has decided to have a marketing slogan engraved here. The gold screws holding the keyboard together are also a nice touch compared to the usual black.


Above the top left corner on the side facing away from the user is where you will find—from left to right in the first photo above—an indicator light, a USB Type-C port for wired connection and charging the internal battery, a circular slider switch to toggle between Windows and macOS compatibility, and a longer knurled switch to choose between the three connectivity modes on offer. The latter two come clearly marked and are easy to access via touch alone too. On the same side in the middle is an acrylic insert with Alpha LV branding, meaning there isn't any visible branding when using the keyboard normally. The provided cable fits in easily given the flush Type-C port and, given the nature of this fancier cable, I doubt many are going out of their way to purchase an aftermarket cable either. The cable has a durable fabric sheath in black with the blued metal housings that match this keyboard nicely, is the usual 6' in length, and goes to an available USB Type-A port on your PC where USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen 1) is recommended for power and data alike.


A look from the side shows the built-in elevation of the keyboard, which I would classify as medium-high profile and could benefit from a wrist rest if you are not used to touch typing with hands hovering over the keys at all times. The keycaps are non-floating in nature owing to a two-piece case design, and the included keycap puller is useful in removing and/or replacing the keycaps as well as to clean the keyboard. The metal wire keycap puller is also nice in doing its job without the potential of scratching their sides as with plastic ring-style pullers. James Donkey is using the OEM keycap profile here with the six rows contoured accordingly. The keycaps are made of thick PBT plastic (average wall thickness 1.42 mm) with 5-sided dye sublimation of the various keycap legends on the top allowing for multiple colors in addition to enhanced durability and longevity. These are opaque and thus the LEDs present on the keyboard will be for accent lighting only.


The pre-assembled versions of the James Donkey R2 appear to only come with a single switch option called the J.Zao White Wings switch, which I can't find a lot of information about anywhere. It appears to be made exclusively for James Donkey and perhaps even here only for the keyboards sold under the Alpha LV sub-brand. These switches are installed in a south-facing configuration which can help increase compatibility with some low profile keycap sets, although I don't think many who purchase this keyboard will be rushing to get different keycaps. The larger keycaps use plate-mounted stabilizers which are well-lubed and don't feel mushy at all. We also see a foam pad installed for the space bar key in addition to a larger sheet used between the PCB and the FR4 plate itself that comes decorated and labeled as seen above.


The switch remover tool is handy to remove the hot-swappable switches off the PCB where we see the use of a 5-pin hot-swap mechanical switch socket. There is also an SMD RGB LED associated with each switch although, as we saw above, these will result in accent lighting only with the opaque keycaps used on the R2. The J.Zao White Wings switch is a custom-made linear switch with a green cross-point stem, white POM top and bottom housing, and it uses a 5-pin design for added stability in the hot-swap switch socket.