i did not include keyboards from taobao or keyboards that ship only to certain areas in the world, i wanted to make sure everyone could buy these INSTOCK keyboards with ease that ships worldwide

I started playing with mechanical keyboard since 2014 and the customizable options were really limited - Ducky and CMStorm were the common choice for beginner back then. My first hotswap keyboard was GMMK - I think they were the pioneer back then, and getting it overseas cost a bomb. I'm glad that the mechanical keyboard innovated leaps and bounce over the years and the price came down tremendously as well ~

Great choices for the budget switches. Specifically for those who are looking for a budget linear option BUT are lazy to spend hours lubing, I strong recommend Jwick yellow linear switches or the Jwick ultimate blacks.

Great video Lewis! Couldn't agree more with the GK61 or the RK61 for starting out, and they are always in stock!

Thank you for this overview! Great work! Just getting familiar to this hobby for a few mons and I really liked how you have explained the fundamentals of this very interesting hobby.

great recommendations! I love budget builds as well. Always love a challenge making it sound great

I recently built a gmmk pro as my first ever custom keyboard and I've got to say I am now officially hooked.

Bought myself an MK870 just last week. The stock stabs were really good, and didn't require modding at all. (Though of course, it varies from owner to owner since no two keyboard is the same)

Thank you, this helped so much in helping me figure out what I want.

Great video. I think you forgot about the Akko ACR keyboards, those look really good for the price. I started my keyboard hobby with a Qisan MagicForce68. Outemu blues, then modded it with kaihl box pale bule and lubed the stabs. Now i've got a Q1 with CS Lavenders. All i need now is to get a wrist rest to type more comfortably

Excited for this review, I'll need it

Wow i really liked how you mention the interference of switches, not many people give notes on that. I hope you make a video about different types of mount :) cheerss

Hi! I'm getting into the hobby bc I saw Shoobs posted a bakeneko65 video and I fell in love with the bakeneko and went down the rabbit hole. explaining PCBs and plates would be nice and which fit which cases, as I don't know much ab it so I just got a kit instead. Great video and love the channel! already got my bakeneko65 and waiting on switches, caps, lube, and tools!

thanks for the advice

I'm so glad you mentioned the MK870! I recently just purchased it for my first build and it honestly looks really good. Just for additional background, I will be using lubed+filmed lavender linear switches from cannon keys. I was looking for a tkl keyboart kit and this was the best one I could find within my budget. Even though its mostly plastic, the case itself is pretty heavy. It does have angled feet on the back that you can adjust to your liking. My only qualm with the case is that its VERY HARD TO TAKE APART -- So if you plan on modding it at all, be patient. There are little tabs around the entire case that latch onto the top frame so you will need either a guitar pick, credit card, or very very small/flat screwdriver to remove it. Also be very careful with the screws, some are very hard to unscrew and can be stripped easily. The RGB on it also looks pretty good, I have not assembled everything yet so idk what it will look like with switches+keycaps. There is also a supposed driver, but I have yet to download it. I have the black opaque version and there is some shine through around the edges of the keyboard, however is a little inconsistent. The case has 3 usb-c ports (on left and right and front side of keyboard). NOTE: the two ports on the side of keyboard are pretty recessed into the case so if you are planning on using any other cables, be warned it may not fit. I'm not sure if I will plan on modding, if so most likely just tape mod but will update about what the inside looks like. I am using the stock stabs (they are pre lubed) and as a beginner seem fine. I did test some of them out and did notice the shift key felt kinda gunky (idk if thats the right way to describe it) but no other major issues!

For the layouts you should’ve included 2 separate 75% (compact and exploded) and a 96%

Got the my firs keyb recently, a IK75 with akko jelly blacks because of your comparison video

My first keyboard is TKL from Rakk Gears PH. The Rakk Lam-ang Pro. I am planning to buy 65% layout + knob. I modded my RLP into tactile thocky board, now planning to build a clacky linear board. Thank you for your guides.

thanks for the guide man.😀

For a budget board I have the Rk61 pro. CNC aluminum and it’s only 65$. I put in akko matcha greens and got some knock off blue samurai caps and an asceny coiled cable. All together It cost me ab 145. Great bang for buck.

I juumped right into the hobby with a akko acr67 (65%) durock lavenders holee mod and pe foam plate foam and tape foam fr4 plate and "sorry" plate mounted stabs cliped and lubed and last some np pbt grey and white keycap set from kbdfans

BANGER! my preference are keebs under 100 dollars xD

nice vid man keep it up

btw the Mk870 has south facing leds and is compatible to screw in stabs

Epic video,although i knew most of these i wanted to find a good custom keyboard i can build for 150 CAD and this helped

Beginner Guide?! Definitely need one ! Sheeeesh

As far as budget tkls, there is also the NK87 EE, I’ve heard great things about it 🤷‍♀️

bro I've just started learning about keyboards and you the best

Idk why I watch these after being in the hobby for 3 years but it’s addictive

Royal Kludge also has an RK100 which is a 96% keyboard too! I swear you keyboard guys forget the people who still like to have all the keys lol. I'm just getting into this hobby and your videos have been helpful, but yea I'm getting the RK100 and doing some heavy modding and throwing in some Oil Kings cause I'm lazy and heard the factory lube job *can* be pretty decent, and like lubing like 96 keys would suck when getting into this for the first time lol. I am getting some krytox for durock stabs I ordered, so I'll be testing the switches and re-lubing any I deem too scratchy though. Thanks for the videos and tips :D

Thanks

You should try the "Next time 75"

Perfect video for me, a newbie into this hobby! And i was wondering, in your opinion what should be the maximum price i should be paying for my first keyboard kit?

Hey, just a quick tip, try adding time stamps in vids like this so its easier for ppl to watch

Akko 3068b/3098b is the best stock budget keyboard, has akkos own asa profile key caps it’s at a cheap price and still sounds great! The switches come in either jelly purple or jelly pinks.

You earned my subscribe im looking forward to building my first keyboard :)

KineticLabs also has a new keycaps set called PolyCaps Seal. Made from double-shot PBT just like other sets they sell, this one looks a bit like GMK Apollo.

I got the TM680 because of you and it is currently my daily keyboard and I love it. It sounds so good with akko ocean blues

Guide by the budget keyboard king!! 👑

Can't wait for this vid pog

Loved the vid Lewis :) will you ever do a review on the bakeneko60? it’s currently out of stock but it’s an amazing budget board at only 130 dollars!

Hey lewis, would love to see a feker ik75 review! Anyways keep up the good work

I started with a prebuilt Epomaker th66

the skyloong gk87 is a very good tkl, I have it my self and it's really nice.

I was suprised not seeing the mention of the Gama Kay LK67

5:47 Hey Lewis, I've bought two clone keycaps sets on amazon. One being PBT Cherry profile and one being ABS Cherry profile. The PBT did not have any/very little interference with north facing LEDs, while the ABS Cherry profiles had interference even if I used a switch that shouldn't have interference. idk if this information matters to anyone but I hope this gives people some insight on what kind of cherry profile keycaps to buy if they go on amazon.

just built my first keyboard the other day feels nice. gamakay lk67 akko blue stem and akko green top and bottom for the switches then some xda pbt japanese keycaps from amazon now that im in the door i think i gotta build more 😭😭

love this video, I can now buy a new keyboard and customize it. will also lube it but the only missing for now would be the money to buy all the stuff lol

ahaha you're statement on GK61 is valid at least for me and my friends 🤣 we do start from GK61 and lead us to sub $400 keyboard now 😆

gud to see ya bro

Do a review of the new keychron q1 knob

the Gamakay K66 has south facing switches 🤩

Amazon shipping to my country is soo expensive sometimes almost the price of the item itself

“Casually drinking pokka green tea in the intro”

For me I think for my first custom keyboard is: Keyboard: Gamakay LK67 Switches: Gateron milky yellow's Keycaps: Keycaps that have yellow and whit color's is that a good build?

I think a very good budget-ish TKL is the NK87. I've heard good things about it.

How do you feel about the RK61 Pro vs the regular RK61?

Lewis, loved the vid! a recomendation for 65% is the akko 3068 B is 90$ and it has a lot of features, i think it could be a great first keyboard, coming with akko switches and keycaps, it is whorth it to check it out.

Can you do a video on a budget Alice layout keyboard with the number row

I recentently build my first keyboard, the Mk870. I think this is one of the best budget kits and I realy racoment it to everyone. The stock stabs are thocky

Video/stream idea jotoro themed keyboard : blade 65 in black, and akko black and gold JP asa profile

I wanna get a keyboard but a lot of the ones I see are too expensive for me. Any advice on where to look or what to do? My budget is around £40-50

im looking for a keyboard kit under 75 to 50 i have switches already any recommendations?

is the matcha switch a good starter switch?

My first custom Keyboard was literally a Alice TGR with zealios v2 with tribosys lube 😐 Currently saving up for a keycult

What about the full sized kayboard?

I’m going to put a GK64XS in a Tofu60

Yo bro, you're in NS now uh? Regardless, great content! Keep up the good work!

Will you be making a video on the MK870 in the future? Also- any reason why you mentioned the Gateron Milky Yellows instead of the Gateron Pro Milky Yellow? (5pin gat pro yellow)

Could you do a Tecsee carrot switch review!?

That with the gk61x is too true, now I bought an Akko mod005

Can you do a amazon only budget keyboard please

what's the diff between a GK61 and RK61?

Can you also try the 75% much cheaper the feker ik75 for poeple or me who are broke for the keychron q1 hehe

Do you know any reliable (keyboard) lube seller on aliexpress? I dont want a low quality product and other websites have very high shipping costs for my country.

The GamaKay K61 isn't south facing.

My first keyboard was the anne pro 2, so sexy

Hey i made a gk61x 2 weeks ago and its my first custom-

If anyone (in Asia) is willing to give the Tes68 a try, it's a pretty good and cheap keyboard.

I know your not gonna see this but can you make a budget build with aluminum case Sikakeyb sk1 (in the Shoppe, Ali express, and Banggod)

Keyboard collection please 🙏

I just got an RK61 and modded it cause it was cheap

Mk870 is really great for the price but very not beginner friendly at all - you need a shim just to get past the top case

Fantastics recommendations on the 60% but kind of disappointed at the 65/75% recommendations when the KDB67 lite exist and provides more customisation and build experience as compared to anything from keychron.

what is the keyboard he is holding on the right of the thumbnail?

I have a rk61

Any other budget 75% kbd”s

Hi!

Lewis will you review the acr64?

Hi! What do you think of tm680?

75% or tkl are good to me

How about akko mod005? It looks good for its price

What do you think about the gmmk pro

Forgot about 1800 and 96% both are more compact than Full Sized and both are smaller than full sized too.

I built my keyboard before this video ever came and my build was gk61x with milky yellow's

Taobao the best! : )

Yeeee im a beginner:D

"number 2 is the sound, number 2 is the feel, number 3 is the aesthetics"

Ok

does the tofu65 have a hotswap pcb included also?