Mechanical Keyboard, Wired LED Backlit Compact Keyboard with Number Pad and Volume Control Knob, Red Switch, Anti-Ghosting, Gaming Mechanical 96 Keys for Computer/Laptop (Blue & White & Pink)

I got this little mechanical keyboard on an "overstock" deal for $18.96, I paid extra to get it same day, but let it first be known that this mech CAN be had for under $20 if the timing is right.Now I am a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, I have saved IBM model m's from junkyards, and restored them back to their buckling spring glory, as well as built and customized well over 50-100 mechs so far. I picked up this little guy to simply see if it actually was a mechanical keyboard, or another membrane fake with "clicky feel" keys. And I am more than happy to report that this is in fact a red switch mechanical keyboard. I really wanted to try a 96 key layout and almost dropped $100 to try out the Glorious one but I decided I would opt for a cheaper keyboard that I could abuse as needed if I wanted to try and take out the switches on this one etc. The reviews all said its a challenge, and they are correct.HOWEVER... I love typing on this little thing. The 96 key layout is perfect for what I use it for (Home/Gaming/Dispatch/Office work with 10 key entry) - I switched out the plastic keycaps for a budget set of white pbt keycaps I had laying around and honestly... you could sell this for close to price with corsair products. It's light, it's not heavy like other mechs and feels almost arguably like a toy or budget desktop keyboard, but something about this little keyboard just makes typing on it a breeze. The keys do wobble a bit, but as much as I am a nerd, I'm not a mechanical snob. The keys make a very loud release of the mechanical spring when let go, which sounds a lot like the IBM Model Ms I mentioned before.For $20 this is by far the best entry level sub-full size mechanical keyboard you can buy. I already ordered another one for my daughter who wants to customize and build her first mechanical keyboard using this as a base.As for the switches... they're tough but not un-manageable if you are trying to remove them, however your standard switch remover will have a tough time getting a bite on them with how they are installed.If you can get this for between $20-$30 or you are just wetting your toes into the world of mechanical keyboards this little board is a solid buy.

TL/DR version: Not true RGB (CANT CHANGE COLORS). Extremely difficult to swap switches. heavier than an average keyboard but, far lighter than what an enthusiast would want.Detailed review: The price at the time of this review is $36 so, expectations weren't too high but after reading the other reviews I thought, maybe this is a hidden gem for someone who wants to explore the art of keyboard modding. As someone who isn't new to modding keyboards and also needing a cheap board to take back and forth to work, I wanted something I was okay with if it got damaged.When the keyboard arrived, the packaging was the box itself. No additional packaging to keep the the contents of what was delivered discrete. Meaning anyone who walked by my front door would see a box that says, "This is a keyboard". Thankfully, I was at home when the driver arrived and was only on my front porch long enough for the driver to take the delivery picture.Everything inside of the box was packaged well. Nothing broken and was pleased to see that the additional parts listed in the description were all there.When I purchased this keyboard, I had already planned on doing some major modifications to it. The keyboard is oversized as being hot swappable for three pin switches and I have a ton of three pin switches that I was ready to use in this keyboard to get the sound and feel to my preference.One of the first things I did notice though is this keyboard is exceptionally light for a keyboard that is obviously advertised towards keyboard modding enthusiasts like myself. Now I wasn't expecting it to be extremely heavy but, I wasn't expecting it to be as lightweight as it is. (I also have a 60% keyboard that I use as my daily driver and is considerably smaller than this but also ways nearly twice as much)I did type on it before doing any modifications and the factory linear switches that are installed do feel very scratchy and the keyboard has a very hollow sound.With new switches ready to be installed, I completely disassemble the keyboard and was a bit surprised by the construction. The keyboard case was easily identified as being a two-piece case with a top and bottom however, the top case is also your plate and is completely made of plastic.Next, let's talk about the hot swappable switches. As I began to remove the first switch, I really struggled to remove it. I ended up needing to use steel pliers to get a firm enough grip to rip the switches out as the fitment was extremely tight. The tightness wasn't just due to the cutouts on the plate but also, the female terminals are closed end and are a near exact inner diameter as the mail terminals on the switches creating an extremely tight fit. While removing the factory switches, some of the terminals on the switches ripped off of the switch and were stuck and the female switches on the PCB. I had to get needle nose pliers to rip those out.I had to be extremely careful when installing the new switches with such a tight fit and unfortunately, did manage to bend pins on two of the switches going in.Now let's talk about the RGB.When I had all this switches out, I noticed the LEDs appeared at first to just be from different manufacturers as they all had a slightly different tint to them. It wasn't until after I installed the new switches, I realized that all of the LEDs are specific colors and cannot be changed. The description of this product states that this is an RGB LED keyboard but that is misleading. You cannot change the colors and you are stuck with exactly what you see in the picture I have attached with this review. The only thing you can do is change the lighting effect and the brightness.BUYERS NOTE: if after reading this review and you still want to buy this keyboard with the plan of modding it, I'd recommend knowing exactly what you want to do and doing all of that the very first time as you are likely to damage switches by removing them. You are able to get rid of the hollow sounds with some simple mods and I am pleased with the way the keyboard sounds after putting some work into it. The space bar also had a big dark gray scuff on it that I wasn't able to remove so I had to use a space bar that I had as a spare that happened to be in all black which worked well with the aesthetic of this keyboard. You'll see that is the one thing that differs in my picture versus the one with this listing. I also opted to use the black arrow keys instead of the red arrow keys. You get both colors as spares with this keyboard. It's definitely not the best sounding keyboard I've ever built and I spent more on switches than I did the keyboard itself 😅That being said, I got this keyboard for $36 and never planned on using the RGB on it anyway so I am okay with the price but displeased with the description and the bizarre design of the PCB.