Note:<\/i><\/b> This feature was first published on 20 May 2025 and these recommendations are still valid today.<\/i><\/p>\n
You know how it goes: you click on one innocuous-looking reel, and the next thing you know, you have multiple tabs open and are hours deep into research and shopping for keyboards at three in the morning. This was what happened to me a couple of weeks ago. But the experience was enlightening because I learned that keyboards have become really good and\u2014dare I say it\u2014affordable.<\/p>\n
Even just five years ago, if you wanted a keyboard with features like a hot-swappable board, gasket mounting, lubed switches and stabilisers, PBT keycaps, RGB lighting, and support for VIA, you would have to pay upwards of S$500. Today, you can get a keyboard with features like these and more for under S$150<\/b>. Say what you want about China, but Chinese manufacturing is a modern miracle of the world.<\/p>\n If you wanted a keyboard with a fancy weight like this in the past, you would have to pay upwards of S$500. Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n A lot of that is down to a company called Wobkey, which came out of nowhere and shot to fame when it started a crowdfunding campaign for a 75% layout keyboard called the Rainy75<\/b>. It had a retail price of around US$129 (~S$166), and it came with an all-aluminium case, a hot-swappable board, and factory-lubed switches and stabilisers. It works with Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired via USB-C; and it even supports VIA\u2014a popular utility that lets you map keys, create macros, and more. Unsurprisingly, it was a massive hit and secured over a million dollars in funding.<\/p>\n Happily, the Rainy75 turned out to be a fantastic keyboard. The aluminium case gave it an unbeatable feeling of solidity, while the combination of a gasket-mounted PCB, lubed components, and preinstalled foam meant a unique sound profile and a pleasantly tactile typing experience. It\u2019s incredible that Wobkey sells it for less than S$150 because a keyboard like this would have usually gone for much more.<\/p>\n Little touches like this little rainy cloud logo help the Rainy75 stand out. Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n But the Rainy75 is more than just an excellent keyboard that offers great value for money. Crucially, it ushered in a deluge of solid value for money keyboards<\/b> that build on the Rainy75 feature set, which completely changed the landscape for keyboard enthusiasts by making the hobby a lot more affordable.<\/p>\n One such keyboard is the Bridge75<\/b> from an outfit called Shortcut Studio. Like the Rainy75, it has a 75% layout, an aluminium case, hot-swappable PCB, PBT keycaps, and more. However, it improves on the Rainy75 by having a quick disassembly ball-catch mechanism that lets owners remove the top plate without tools. This makes it easier to swap keycaps, switches, and experiment with different foam configurations.<\/p>\n The Bridge75 was one of the first keyboards to feature the ball-catch mechanism for easy disassembly. Photo: Shortcut Studio<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Those who require the full set of navigation keys and a more conventional layout can consider the Evo80<\/b> from Evoworks. It has the same feature set as the Bridge75\u2014including a ball-catch mechanism for quick disassembly\u2014but comes in a more common TKL layout. To help customers achieve their ideal sound profile, it even comes in \u201cclack\u201d and \u201cthock\u201d versions. The former features HMX Azure linear switches and FR4 plate for a crisper \u201cclacky\u201d sound, while the latter uses Keygeek Oat linear switches with a PP plate that gives it a more **creamy and rounded \u201cthocky\u201d sound.<\/p>\n The Evo80 is one of the most complete pre-built TKL keyboards you can buy. Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I\u2019ve been using one of the past few months, and it\u2019s one of my all-time favourite keyboards. It\u2019s pricier at around S$240, but its combination of features and build quality makes it one of the finest pre-built keyboards you can buy now. I customised mine with Haimu Benevolence tactile switches to give it an even \u201cthockier\u201d sound.<\/p>\n What\u2019s most remarkable in all of this is that in the span of just a few years, keyboards have gotten so good and affordable that it\u2019s difficult to see where they go from here. Features that used to be exclusive to expensive, esoteric, limited-run custom keyboards that often require self-assembly can now be found in pre-assembled keyboards costing just a fraction of the money. There really has never been a better time to be shopping for a new keyboard.<\/p>\n Rainy75:<\/b><\/p>\n Bridge75<\/b><\/p>\n Evo80<\/b><\/p>\n And if you want to learn how to build your own keyboard, check out this video we did here:<\/p>\nBuy the keyboards here:<\/h3>\n
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