Closer Examination

The Skyloong GK75 is a 75% form factor keyboard using a modified US ANSI layout with a customizable net number of keys on board, depending on whether you go for the standard or split space bar modules as well as your choice of the knob module (pre-installed) or more switches. Overall we end up with six rows of keys including the Fn row and the vast majority of the functionality of an 87-key TKL keyboard too. The right side of the keyboard has staggered sections to help touch typists more easily access the dedicated arrow keys at the bottom right corner, although there is not enough space on the keyboard to where R.Shift as well as the three keys to the right of the space bar are shorter than usual. The GK75 comes in a few different options of case material and color in addition to the keycap sets used. I have here the CNC-machined aluminium case version in the gray color scheme paired with the so-called Gray Dawn keycap set, of which we saw others included separately on the previous page. This makes for a heavier and more premium-feeling keyboard compared to the ABS plastic version, and I do dig the chamfers given to the case that adds to the design language. Bezels are about average and uniformly applied all around, and note the use of four different knobs on the right side which have a different style knurled aluminium knob cover over each. There are no indicator LEDs in use though and that Esc keycap does feel a touch off compared to the rest of the keyboard. The keycap legends are biased to the top left corner, despite the keycaps being opaque, and have secondary legends alongside the primary ones as applicable.


Turning the keyboard around shows the aluminium case is a top panel piece with the bottom piece composed of translucent ABS plastic in a blue color. There is a label in the middle with certification info for the keyboard and we see two sets of keyboard feet at the top for added elevation options. These feet come with rubber pads at the bottom to help prevent them from sliding down easily and the keyboard itself has five more pads on the top and bottom sides.


Two small cutouts in that label allow access to a dedicated connection mode selector switch as well as a physical Windows / macOS switch too! We see here that the GK75 supports not only wired connectivity via USB but also wireless options in the form of 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.1. There is a cleverly hidden low profile USB dongle on the back for the 2.4 GHz connection which comes pre-paired to the keyboard. You can use this along with the keyboard cable and the provided female-female USB adapter accessory to get the dongle closer to the keyboard if needed. Alongside is a USB Type-C port which the provided cable easily slots into and then we see three different cable routing channels allowing you to have the cable come out from the left, center, or right side of the keyboard so as to not interfere with any other cable, say from a mouse, alongside. The cable colors don't match this version, but there are others which work better with the red and black used. It still makes for a visual and functional—if you are the type to actually swap between keyboards actively—use case though. The coiled cable part itself will be divisive among users no doubt as it really is hard to make use of the full 6' on offer and is better off used with a PC/laptop that is closer to the keyboard placement than usual than with other keyboard cables that are fully straight. As we saw before, the cable terminates in Type-C or Type-A on the client side and USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) 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 without the keyboard feet used. The taller chassis also means the keycaps are not floating here and require the use of the provided keycap puller for a closer examination. We see Skyloong is using the common OEM profile for either of the two keycap sets chosen for the GK75, so a transition from another such mechanical keyboard to this one should be relatively easy. These keycaps are made of thick PBT plastic (average wall thickness 1.35 mm) with doubleshot-injected or dye-sublimed legends that are going to be lost-lasting but opaque as a design choice. This means that any LEDs present on the keyboard will not be used for backlighting and only for aesthetics via accent lighting. The injection marks are present on the underside and this makes for cleaner looking and feeling keycaps too.


There are five switch options for the Skyloong GK75 in the form of Skyloong's own first-party Glacier switches that offer linear or tactile feedback mechanisms. I have the Glacier Brown switches on this sample which come with the company's name written on the top. The larger keycaps get a slightly stiffer switch (Glacier Rose) in a move that I've seen others do to accommodate for a similar type feeling when pressing down on a larger surface area. They also get plate mounted stabilizers that are factory lubed to a decent standard which should help cut down the potential mushy feedback on the space bar key in particular.


The provided switch remover tool allows for easier removal of the switches to take a closer look at both the Skyloong Glacier Brown Yellow switch as well as the 5-pin switch socket that allows for customers to go with their own Cherry MX-style switches here should these not be to their desire. I would still suggest trying them out, especially given these are deliberately chosen by Skyloong to be used in this keyboard. These are 5-pin RGB switches with a translucent blue top and bottom housing aiming to remind you of a glacier. Interestingly, Epomaker calls these Iceberg switches on the GK75 product page—close enough I suppose. The stem is brown colored to match the name and has walls around it for added dust and spill resistance. Examining the hot-swap switch socket also reveals north-facing SMD RGB LEDs associated with each switch as well as a foam sheet between the plate and the PCB that is neatly cut to accommodate the switches.


The provided spare keycaps allow you to change the color scheme of the GK75 slightly, which in this case makes for no orange accent keycaps or more of them. Indeed, the orange keycaps are meant to be used if you go with a split space bar configuration but I don't see why you can't do this either. Also, you can easily swap out the stock knob covers for the replacement ones Skyloong provides by simply pulling off the cover with your hands. Do note that it requires more force than you might originally think and I prefer the replacement ones more even if the stock ones do look more unique. On the next page we will disassemble the keyboard while also going over how to use the various modules provided with the Skyloong GK75.