Honest review despite popular opinion. Don’t lose this quality in your videos. I love my hhkb type-s but it’s not for everyone. Will keep watching!

I've used one for 6 years now at home and a s-type one in the office for 4. Best keyboard I've ever used, especially the s-type.

still have my HHK that I bought in 2006! they do actually loosen up and get a bit quieter as you type on them every day. if you type really quickly like I do then the key travel actually works great because you never hit the bottom of the key travel, and after a while you memorize all the function combos. control, esc, and tilde are all “in the right place” for programming. its a very specific keyboard to be sure.

Appreciate your honesty! Being in Japan, I am in the floods of voices that praises HHKB. I am currently trying normal mechanical MX switches, quite happily stuck in the "Keyboard Bog" as we say in Japanese (like literally), meaning being obsessed with mechanical keyboards and cannot get out of it. I am glad that I watched your review and do not have to spend too much money on this and just continue my journey with the normal mechanical keyboards. Subscribed!

Good review! HHKBs are certainly expensive compared to mx keyboards, but $200 is pretty standard for a topre keyboard. Considering how much better the cheap mechs and custom keyboard scene has gotten these days, the price is certainly getting harder to justify. For me it will always be MX for gaming, Topre for work/typing.

I really appreciate the honest review! It's nice to see a mixture of opinions instead of an echo chamber

I'm thinking on buying a mechanical keyboard, and I've been on a marathon of your videos the past couple of days, your reviews are the best, well planned and trough, and I really appreciate the timestamps in each video. Thanks!

When an HHKB is placed on a dish towel it sounds way more chill. I can't explain it. No mods needed. Nice Vid, keep up the good work!

Hi, I know it's been a while from this video but do you still planning on doing the silence version of hhkb type-s? I am actually really excited to see you comparing the three and also could you comparing three hhkb with Niz and real force as well? That will be absolutely amazing for a topre guide thing! I am just starting my journey on keyboard, and with a mechanical, I am really interested in Topre as well. Thank you for your honest and amazing reviews! Subscribed!

Your videos never get old! Keep up the amazing work!

Your voice is so relaxing and I love your videos, keep up the amazing work!

I bought the same keyboard earlier this year. I wasn't 100% happy with it in its stock setup so installed some silence-x rings, lubed the sliders and stabs with tribosys 3204 and fitted some Domikey caps. Massive improvement in sound and feel. Disassembling for the first time is a bit daunting as there are approximately 437857857348753 screws but it's definitely worth it.

"I really should try the silent ones but guess what I like cant afford it" made me chuckle lol

Thanks for another great video! I picked up a Japanese layout HHKB hybrid type s black from Amazon JP and the person I got it from added the foam at the bottom to help a little more. I really like it and agree with you that the black is hard to read in dim light but I think it looks cool and forces me to learn to touch type. I use the keyboard cabled with windows pc, Bluetooth with a MacBook Pro and iPad Pro and they work fine. The Japanese one has arrow keys and ISO enter key. I was worried about comparability when I got it but haven’t had any issues for me. Thanks look forward to more videos!

I personally think that silenced topre is better, still a good review

I use a full size real force keyboars with lubed silent topre switches, but I swapped out the domes for Heavy Redux domes and I love it. Been using it for about a year at work.

Fully agree with you. I enjoyed mine a lot more after modding to remove rattle.

Thank you for your honesty and thoughtfulness. Thanks for not pulling any punches. You gave it a fair shake and saved someone from the hype and making an expensive mistake.

I'm with you on this one. Varmilo boards seem like the 5* stock keeb pick for me.

Nice review! Can't wait for the silenced version review.

Thank you for this detailed review. these things are built like tanks. mine is 2009/1 and still work like day one. If you hesisate to buy one, just got for it.it takes time to get used to their particular layout, but after some practice, you cannot go back to anything else. I I have the old usb-b version and was wondering if upgrading was worth it but mine will likely outlast me.

Hi!! could you please review the Ajazz K680T? it's within a budget mechanical keyboard price range, and i wanna be sure before buying it! thank you for the reviews, and i love the videos!

Yeah it's expensive, but I can't return to the other mechanical keyboards (I tried several times). I like the sound of this version more than type-s version. It's matter of taste. In general I love them, but they are very expensive. I guess they don't sell a lot of them so they have to sell them that way. It's a Keyboard for a very specific type of user. Good review.

Wait you spent your own money for this review? Respect! I don't think I've ever seen a 22k sub youtuber spent over $200 on a product just to be able to review it as fairly as possible. I really don't understand people who say you need an HHKB for the proper topre experience. It's a very specialized board with a unique layout and it's built for being light and portable over being sturdy. Realforce or Leopold I think for the average person are the better topre boards, and you already had one. If sound is your biggest issue with them I think a silenced topre board might be the way to go, I don't know. I really like how Niz silenced their switches out of the box.

Yes. But what keyboard does the cat prefer to sleep om?

The placement of the Ctrl key is one of the most important aspects of a Happy Hacking keyboard and anyone who doesn't need that placement there is likely to find this to be the wrong keyboard for their needs. I feel that it needs to be mentioned that this historic location of the Ctrl key is a huge advantage for Emacs users and programmers. The target audience is likely to be spending most of their time in a shell and using either Emacs or Vim/Vi. If this does not describe you, it's likely you are wasting your time here. 🤓

I have no idea why I watch these videos. I know nothing about keyboards and have never used a mechanical keyboard. But for some reason i cannot stop watching

Will you make a video on a "Heavy Grail" unit? I can't find a good review on that custom board anywhere, I bet you would do a great job at reviewing it.

Holy crap I just commented asking for this review yesterday!!

You like the feel of the switches right? If so try the Leopold fc660c low noise. It is factory silenced and yet not a crazy price increase. It does feel different though to a Hhkb though. I do feel almost in the most ways it feels different, I prefer to the Hhkb though.

I like light weights keebs, my plateless PC case 60% cust is 400 gram (100 less then HHKB). Its flex and more soft to bottomout, it enaf durable when lay at deskmath.

Betty, what switch would you recommend? I’m planning to get a mizar mz60 so I can swap the switches with some better switches. I’m not very good when it comes to keyboards, thank you :)

I've been on the fence about getting a Topre keyboard. The cost for one these boards is about the same as a finished entry-level custom. Your reviews and insight are very helpful in the decision making process. I'm sitting on the fence -- maybe if they're on sale around the holidays, I may consider getting one. For now, pass.

sound of un-silenced topre is something that is addictive, if you fit it. lolll

Would you have a video to mod the hhkb making it better? That would be niceeee :D

do you still like the NIZ keyboard ? love your ending to the vids lol

I don't know why, but at 4:02 I really like that camera angle. It looks so neat

I really appreciate the honest review. It's kinda talked me out of buying this keyboard (at least at this price). I still want to try the HHKB format, but I'll probably just go for a Keychron Q60 for the same price.

Like you, I need dedicated arrow keys. The Leopold FC660C fits the bill nicely. Mine is a two tone gray/blue with 45g Topre switches. I recommend you check it out.

Fav keyboard reviews on KZfaq

Would love your thoughts on the FC660C.

I would like to own a keyboard with the same layout as a hhkb, not a 200 USD hhkb itself since i only got interested by this because for me it is the only 60% usable and with some smart changes like the backspace placement and with that a discrete tilde/grave keys, also after seeing the keyboard i changed "crouch" from control to capslock in every game i could and it is really nice to use it.

Yup, not sure membranes or domes as a means to feel to confirm a press through the buckling of the plastic + the bottom out, the "thud" combo is the best way to indicate a key press coz' this is ultimately about feel, from: your fingers (which may have thicker skin if you play a string instrument) first, to the keycaps to the friction of the stabilizers and other parts that have friction like the keycap to the shaft of the done and it's shaft, to the spring's friction to the walls of the keycap, etc. including the slight friction on the lube if there is but then with mechanical switches it'll depend on the spring mechanism if has good metal (or plastic but I doubt a good spring plastic would be better than metal) such that it comes back fast but the mushiness would be when it bottoms out and will depend on what's underneath the switches and keycaps and spring mechanism (foam, dampers, etc. would be make it quieter but like a see-saw something will be compromised- the snappiness of key's return which will contribute to delay or lag to output on the screen (from the fingers). I think one day the fastest but most accurate keyboard (accurate coz' you distinctively felt you typed things) without the "thud' when it bottoms out could be: a really long new breed of tactile switches with a new metal alloy formulation if it's not a membrane (if it's a membrane a new type of rummer or non-metal springy material). The switches would be so long, the travel would be long that there is no bottom out, so no "thud" (a thock contributor) on regular very fast, competitive typing and gaming. No bottom out to take away the energy for the key return. This'll also most likely be a keyboard that's in a way built-into a table or the table has a whole with adjusters so that things can be accommodated for that long switch and dampers underneath and around it so the table does not become an "amplifier" of the net sound the '"thock". or it can just have a tall but long sloping wristrest coz' it'll be a very tall keyboard for sure. May Switch &. Click level up into the 21st century and Kickstarter this new breed of keyboard (and table) :-) to really level up and make the world a better place, coz' fast communication through typing like the invention of the watch, specifically the wristwatch is top 2 (after the gift of time and time keeping, time is the most important tool and resource, the no. 1 God's gift). It'll also be system that'll be almost at 0 decibels, coz' the "thud" even if it''s a "thock" (like a bubbling pond filled with cute Kois) is still like someone texting with the click for every character type sound ON/enabled (to determine a keypress which is ON by default by Apple and I think Android- it should be OFF by default). God bless, Rev. 21:4

I feel like the included cable is specifically designed to use on a laptop, since normal cable won’t allow the keyboard to sit closer to the screen.

Why didn’t you get type s?

Which feels better? Aqua or Red Hyperx switches?

An HHKB really shines after you lube the rails. Still the thockiest stock keyboard you can get.

HHKB switches and the feel is marmite, I use an MX for gaming on the PC and HHKB or real force for writing and photo editing on my Mac. I’ve tried loads of boards and switches but I keep coming back to this and the real force - it’s a daft cost but pushing out a tonne of words on it just feels great. I can understand the hate …it’s a lot of money and it’s not perfect but I find it never distracts me from what I’m doing on screen, an experience I’ve never had with any other keyboard.

What people fail to understand is, the HHKB isn't a keyboard, it's purgatory. I can't let go of the feeling of oneness with cup rubber.

Keyboard stabilizer is rattly af. have the same impression with your video about the form factor, its too weird for me to actually getting used to it. not to mention that you have to change the Topre slider into a compatible CherryMX switches if you want to look for a keycaps that are mostly available on the market because Topre keycaps is also expensive and rare. Nice video as always.

Subscriber count +1. I'm sorry you got so much hate. I've tried all sorts of boards, and whilst I've never owned a Topre, I did get to use a friend's HHKB. My daily driver uses Omron Gamma Zulu switches, so I was keen to compare them. Aaaaand... I prefer the Gamma Zulus. And it's not even a close contest. There's slightly more sound dampening with the Topre, sure. But I'm a light typer. I like the shorter actuation points of the Zulus, which still offer a satisfying weight and tactile bump even at that 1.5mm actuation. The benefit of Topre seems to be when the keys bottom-out, and my typing style rarely lets that happen. Hard to appreciate a benefit I rarely even feel. For me the Topre wasn't bad by any means, but I'm with you: I just don't get the hype. I think anyone buying a Topre for the first time with the believe that these switches are somehow the last word in typing heaven are going to be very disappointed. I can't really compare price to my daily driver. On paper, HHKBs go for £250 here in the UK, and I got my Das X50Q for £100. But that was with a heavy discount during a sale - they retail for ~£169 normally, which puts it towards the higher end of the market. Topre fuckboys are gonna hate and HHKBs will always be coveted. I hope you recognise their inability to brook anything less than love for Topre is their problem, not yours. PS: Gonna review the Ducky Shine 7 anytime soon? My wife's looking for a new Keeb and we're eyeing it up.

The better hhkb is the leopold, and has been for about twenty years.

I got the left angle cable.

Very interested and well put together Video first of all. I was also very curious before buying this Keyboard because many People Reviews just said that the typing Quality is really good but the Quality is "mid". I bought the Keyboard in the white Version and im existed to get it. I hope tbe 250$ were worth it.

Something for new HHKB users-heavy does not mean quality. The tolerances on these new boards are extremely tight and of very high quality from an engineering perspective. If all you want is heavy, just go to your nearest Best Buy and pick up any old Corsair or Razor Blackwidow off the shelf.

Plz review K3 Keychron next year when you have a chance to use it. Thank you.

yall should review a Leopold, they're Varmilo tier

I wish this keyboard had a red nipple mouse. so I dont' ever have to take my hands off the keyboard. If anyone knows one please let me know. BTW I love this keyboard, its great if you use alot of short cuts, everything is very close together, so your hands will not ever over stretch or feel tired. its really made for programmers, that spend half of their time, doing short cut combos inbetween writing a couple of lines of code. Sound and feel is really just an after thought.

Please make video on how to program G keys on redragon.

I have the HHKB BT and the HHKB Hybrid Type-S. The silent one has much lesser tactility which makes it lose it's appeal. I ended up selling it and am now using Niz Atom68.

The lite version has 2 fn keys and an arrow cluster and is cheaper so I went with that.

yo Betty, I need that hoodie in my life.

hey a year ago you talked normally

Will you review the Keychron K4 v2?

You should have gone for Leopold FC660, it is silenced topre and not as expensive as HHKB.

I sold the classic one. I don't like at as well. But Type-S was good.

Charcoal Hybrid type S is my daily keeb

topre stabilizers are on the back side of the metal plate ...

Topre is about the feels. People with Topre boards are like "yeah I put on the rings and put case foam and all that in there but it messed up the way the keys felt so I took it all out and now it's perfect again" also you can get them in black and there are color keysets. But they are kinda old school yeah. They did have an RGB line a couple of years ago but those things sucked.

thank U

suena glorioso :3

This keyboard does have a keymap software. That would help a lot with the awkward secondary function problem! Totally agree with you on the fact that this thing is overpriced though lol. I own one and I love it but holy shit it's a tough pill to swallow for a lot of people

Printed black is for those pretend using blank keys. Right angle USB plug is good, plus Type C, users can decide which side to run the cord. Straight plug is easy to crush.

Plastic makes sense with rubber domes. The rubber will degrade first.

The first Topre you reviewed was a clone of the Type-S.

you should review a "navless" keyboard, it is the only keyboard bigger than 75% and smaller than 100% that i would use since the numpad is useful in games and you can put the navigation keys in a layer on the numpad itself making the num lock key great again

Please try HHKB type-s and come back for another review - you will change your mind.

HHKB - where less is (not) more and if you don't like it then you are dumb. I guess that makes me dumb. HHKB to me takes a sort of Apple approach to design...that is, "we know best; you don't need things like a normal arrows layout on the secondary layer, or choices with your modifiers layout; just use what we give you". Annoying. I wanted a Topre board so I bought an FC660c because it has a more normal layout - and dedicated arrows. 65% > 60% > HHKB IMO. Keep up the good work, Betty! Also, your ring is gorgeous. I'm glad you wear it in all your videos; it's classy.

Thought you're not supposed to bottom out?

The old membrane HHKB2 had arrow keys.

Just getting into this hobby and was looking into this keyboard ._.

I don't understand why people like the layout of these boards. Whey have blank space in the bottom row?

I have a Realforce keyboard and it is so silent.

It looks so bulky and would probably feel that way as well due to being used to low(er) profile mechanical keyboards. I had one of those years ago and didn't like the layout at all. Constantly having to use the FN key gets old real quick.

maybe it is because people put keyboard directly over macbook's keyboard?

You must not know about keyboards . This is as top tier as keyboards get tbh

Wonder how many people here would change their minds after actually having ther hands on a modded topre board... 🤔

I have keyboards with holy panda, glorious panda, halo true, Kalih burnt orange, browns, whites and no aversion to non-TKL layouts - though I’ve programmed my MX keyboards to use the caps lock into the control key. Should do some research on why it’s plastic and who the target user is. There really are no 3rd party key caps - and blank key caps are the norm. Don’t like Topre? Sure. Can understand that, I like a bunch of switches and I like this membrane one too. There is no wobble at all like MX stems either. In short they’re a utility tool and my only complaint is the amount of pressure needed to actuate the type S when I type for 12 hours. Also the price complaint is bizarre. To build your own costs more easily.

Dang! That is loud. Always thought a topre was going to be my endgame. That's from someone using wasd code with cherry clears for years

4:09 reminds me of theatre seats

I have really tried hard to love the HHKB. I can't. Sorry. I have the silent version with a programmable controller. No arrow keys => no joy. On the other hand, the FC660C is almost perfect (and costs as much, unfortunately).

Hey Bets ! For me tha sound test is a nogo (too muffled) and I hate the cable orientation too. Moreover an all plastic build @ 200$... C'mon. Great video. Love from France.

HHKKB is def overrated but the problem isn't the switch or even the board per se. The problem is the company making them--Fujitsu, a big, slow moving multinational--simply isn't trying. 10 years ago they could get away with leaving the board a bit rattly, up charging for simply adding some sound dampeners or brute forcing a BT radio into the backside of the case. Today, it's a lot less acceptable. I was weaned on the Unix layout so I bought a Tokyo60 a few years ago. All in, it was about the same price unless I want to factor in my own labor. I'm still looking for the "right" switches but the quality is better. I won't buy an HHKB until they either improve the quality or reduce the price wrt the "extra" features.

Such helpful info, great video!

that sounds exactly like my membrane logitech keyboard. what...

"byeeeeelelleee"

Great video! I have and use the HHKB Professional 2 and absolutely love it. I also have several of the original ALPS keyboards AEK original and AEK II and very much like them too, but the HHKB is my mainstay. You can access so many special characters like the Integrate and Sum signs in calculus along with many European language characters very quickly using the ALT and SHIFT combinations etc. Personally, I would NEVER, ever again order or use a bluetooth keyboard.

Well, Topre isn’t for everyone. It’s all personal preference in the end. The comments here are being quite disrespectful to Topre users though lmao

Once you use it for 1-2 weeks, you will change your mind. The keyboard is meant more for programmers.

Topre cool :)