I Finally Tried The Aula F75.... (S̶o̶ ̶Y̶o̶u̶ ̶D̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶H̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶to̶.)

Summary

In this video, Hippot Tech reviews the budget-friendly OWA F75 keyboard, exploring its popularity and features. Despite its low price, the keyboard offers Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, RGB lighting, and a surprisingly solid build. The reviewer discusses the typing experience, noting the smooth switches but criticizing the software support. A comparison with the Royal Kludge M75 highlights the importance of personal preference in keyboard choice. The video concludes that the OWA F75 is a decent option for those on a tight budget, but users should consider all factors, including modability and sound quality, before purchasing.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video by Hippo Tech reviews the OWA F75 keyboard, a budget option frequently requested by viewers.
• 💰 The OWA F75 is priced at $69.99, offering a balance of cost and features for those on a budget.
• 🌈 It comes in seven different color options and three switch options, providing variety to suit different preferences.
• 🔗 The keyboard includes Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless capabilities, enhancing its versatility.
• 📦 The packaging includes a cable, two switches, and a switch and keycap puller, adding value to the purchase.
• 🏭 Despite being budget-friendly, the keyboard feels surprisingly solid and hefty, with a plastic case.
• 🌟 The keyboard features RGB lighting that is impressively bright for its price range.
• 🔩 The modability of the keyboard is limited due to a flex cut PCB and difficulty in disassembling without tools.
• 🎶 The OWA F75 has a good sound quality, which is one of the reasons for its popularity among budget keyboards.
• 🛠️ The video also touches on the importance of software support, which is a downside for the OWA F75 compared to more premium options.
• ⌨️ The reviewer compares the OWA F75 to the Royal Kludge M75, highlighting the differences in design, feel, and features.

Q & A

What is the starting price of the OWA F75 keyboard?

The starting price of the OWA F75 keyboard is $69.99.

How many switch options does the OWA F75 keyboard have?

The OWA F75 keyboard has three different switch options.

What additional features does the OWA F75 keyboard offer besides the keys?

The OWA F75 keyboard offers Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless modes, flippable feet, and RGB lighting.

What is included in the accessories when you purchase the OWA F75 keyboard?

The accessories include a cable, two switches, a switch and keycap puller.

How does the reviewer describe the build quality of the OWA F75 keyboard?

The reviewer describes the build quality as surprisingly hefty and plastic, with a solid feel when tapping on the case.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the typing experience with the OWA F75 keyboard?

The reviewer finds the typing experience to be decent, with the switches being buttery smooth, but the pre-travel on the switches feeling a bit sluggish.

What is the reviewer's main issue with the software support for the OWA F75 keyboard?

The reviewer's main issue with the software support is that it is slow and not user-friendly, making saving color combinations and resetting macros sluggish and annoying.

How does the reviewer describe the modability of the OWA F75 keyboard?

The reviewer describes the modability as 'pretty stinking bad' due to the difficulty in opening the keyboard without screws and the risk of damaging the case.

What is the reviewer's final verdict on the OWA F75 keyboard?

The reviewer concludes that the OWA F75 is a fine keyboard with a good sound and decent feel, but it does cut corners and is not the perfect best keyboard ever.

How does the reviewer compare the OWA F75 keyboard to the Royal Kludge M75?

The reviewer prefers the Royal Kludge M75 due to its more visually appealing design, better gasket performance, and a less ugly knob, but acknowledges that preference plays a significant role in choosing a keyboard.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to the OWA F75 Keyboard Review

Hippot Tech introduces a review of the OWA F75 keyboard, which has been highly requested by over 5,000 viewers. The video aims to determine if the keyboard is worth purchasing despite its budget price tag of $69.99. Hippot Tech discusses the keyboard's features, including its 75% size, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, and RGB lighting. The review also mentions the keyboard's solid build, despite being made of plastic, and the variety of color and switch options available. The video promises to delve into the typing experience, software support, and modability of the keyboard.

05:01

🔍 Deep Dive into the OWA F75's Build and Features

This section focuses on the build quality and features of the OWA F75 keyboard. Hippot Tech comments on the keyboard's surprisingly hefty feel and plastic construction. The video discusses the keyboard's lack of a numpad and the inclusion of flipper feet for adjustable typing angles. The reviewer also addresses the keyboard's RGB lighting, which is noted to be surprisingly bright for its price. The video continues with an examination of the keyboard's accessories, which include a cable, switches, and a keycap puller. The modability of the keyboard is criticized due to the difficulty in opening the case without tools, which could potentially damage it.

10:01

📊 Comparison and Conclusion of the OWA F75 Review

Hippot Tech concludes the review by comparing the OWA F75 to another budget keyboard, the Royal Kludge M75. The comparison highlights the importance of personal preference when choosing a keyboard. The video notes that while the OWA F75 has its flaws, such as software support and modability, it offers a good typing experience and sound quality for its price. The reviewer acknowledges that the keyboard's popularity may be due to its sound quality, which is often a deciding factor for many users. The video ends by affirming that the OWA F75 is a good deal for those on a budget and encourages viewers to consider their own needs and preferences when purchasing a keyboard.

Keywords

💡Budget Keyboard

A budget keyboard refers to a cost-effective mechanical keyboard that offers essential features without the high price tag of premium models. In the video, the focus is on evaluating the AL F75 as a budget option, discussing its price point of $69.99 and the features it provides within that cost, such as Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, which are notable for a keyboard in this price range.

💡Keycaps

Keycaps are the plastic covers on the keys of a keyboard. The video mentions that the keycaps on the AL F75 are double-shot Cherry profile, indicating a certain quality and durability. The discussion around keycaps relates to the overall typing experience and the aesthetic appeal of the keyboard.

💡Switches

Switches are the mechanical components that register key presses in mechanical keyboards. The video discusses the 'leobog Reapers' switches, which are linear and have a specific pre-travel distance. The switches are a critical aspect of the typing experience and are highlighted for their smoothness and the typing feel they provide.

💡RGB

RGB in keyboards refers to the use of red, green, and blue LEDs to create a wide range of colors for backlighting. The video notes the surprisingly bright RGB feature on the AL F75, which is impressive for a budget keyboard and adds to the visual appeal and customization options for users.

💡Modability

Modability refers to how easily a keyboard can be modified or customized by users, often to improve sound or feel. The video points out that the AL F75 has limited modability due to the difficulty in opening the case without tools, which could be a downside for users looking to customize their keyboard.

💡Silicone Dampening Layer

A silicone dampening layer is a material used inside keyboard cases to reduce vibrations and improve the sound quality. The video reveals that the AL F75 has such a layer, which contributes to its surprisingly good sound quality despite being a budget keyboard.

💡Flex Cut PCB

A flex cut PCB is a design choice in keyboard construction that can affect the keyboard's sound and feel. The video mentions that the AL F75 has a flex cut PCB, which might typically lead to a thinner sound but doesn't seem to negatively impact the keyboard's performance in this case.

💡Software Support

Software support in the context of keyboards refers to the availability of software for customizing the keyboard's functions. The video criticizes the AL F75's software for being slow and unresponsive, which is an important consideration for users who want to customize their keyboard's behavior.

💡Stabilizers

Stabilizers are mechanisms under certain keys (like spacebar, enter, etc.) that ensure a consistent typing feel. The video praises the AL F75's plate-mounted stabilizers for their secure fit and good sound, which is crucial for a pleasant typing experience.

💡Gasket Mount

A gasket mount is a keyboard construction technique that uses a flexible material to mount the keyboard's internal components, providing a soft and quiet typing experience. The video compares the gasket performance of the AL F75 to another keyboard, indicating the importance of this feature for sound and feel.

Highlights

Hippot Tech explores the best budget keyboard, the AL F75, in response to over 5,000 requests.

The AL F75 keyboard starts at $69.99 and comes with a cable, two switches, and a switch and keycap puller.

Available in seven color options and three switch options, the keyboard offers variety uncommon in budget models.

The keyboard features a 75% layout, including F keys and arrow keys without a numpad.

Surprisingly, the AL F75 includes Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless modes.

The case, while plastic, feels solid and includes RGB lighting that is impressively bright for its price.

The keyboard's popularity might be attributed to its sale on Shopify, which simplifies starting an online business.

Hippot Tech's own merch store was built on Shopify, showcasing the platform's ease of use.

The keycaps are double-shot Cherry profile, offering a basic but satisfactory typing experience.

The included switches are linear and smooth, with the Leobog Reapers having a longer pre-travel for a different feel.

Software support for the keyboard is lacking, with slow macro settings and color combination saves.

The plate-mounted stabilizers are well-secured and sound excellent right out of the box.

The modability of the AL F75 is limited due to the difficulty in opening the case without tools.

Inside the case, a silicone dampening layer is a favorite mod method for enhancing the keyboard's feel and sound.

The PCB is flex cut, which can affect the keyboard's sound quality, but Hippot Tech did not notice any negative impact.

Despite its budget nature, the AL F75 sounds surprisingly good, which might be the main reason for its popularity.

Hippot Tech compares the AL F75 to the Royal Kludge M75, noting differences in design, feel, and sound.

The video concludes that the AL F75 is a good deal for its price, especially for those on a tight budget.

Transcripts

hippot Tech I'm begging you please try

the owa F75 fine I'll try the owa

F75 God let me just break it

open oh I get it now you were right but

there's just one problem and it's that

uh this might be better let's talk about

that I'm not going to waste your time

the AL F75 is really good I mean just

listen to this WOW but then why is this

video so long why is this video so long

howdy hey I'm hippot Tech and in my

quest to find the best budget keyboard

this one has been asked for over 5,000

times that's not a joke literally so

then why am I trying this keyboard so

you don't have to well when you buy a

budget keyboard you make some budget

sacrifices and just because something is

good doesn't mean you should buy it also

there's this keyboard which we'll talk

about more later we'll also be talking

more about our sponsor Shopify later but

not right now ooh ooh yeah yeah yeah now

when looking at reviews for this

keyboard I've seen literally everything

from calling it creamy thy marbly

amazing to saying it saves someone's

marriage I'm definitely not making that

up and I've actually had the owa F75

just rotting on my shelf for months

because epomaker sent it out ages ago

and my first thought was wow this board

is pretty neat but why would anybody buy

it and that's the main question that

we'll be tackling today because this

keyboard starts at

$69.99 nice now I'll have it linked down

below but please don't buy it yet watch

the full video because you're going to

want to see this now after quickly

reading the whole manual let's set the

keyboard to the side and look at the

accessories now for a super cheap

keyboard I really wasn't expecting much

you get a cable two switches and a

switch and keyc cap puller so hopefully

this thing is hot Swap and for the

actual keyboard I'm also not expecting

that much although in the last couple

years keyboards have gotten a lot better

now the first thing I noticed is that

it's surprisingly Hefty and also

surprisingly plastic that's not

surprising at all though and you'll

notice this thing is a 75% keyboard

meaning that you get the F Keys you keep

your arrow keys but you get rid of your

numpad and all of that other stuff now

I've prepared a super long list for you

as to why this keyboard is so popular

and um the list goes the price okay I'm

joking but there are seven different

color options and three different switch

options which you don't even see in some

more expensive pre-builts nowadays now I

have the light blue theme which has

light blue Accent key caps and a white

plastic chest and at a first glance this

does look like a better option than some

other keyboards that you can get at this

price point but what really matters is

the switches and the typing experience

surprisingly at this cheap price point

though you do get Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz

AKA Wireless modes for using this

keyboard and you also get flippy feet

which is a welcome addition if you like

to adjust your typing Angle now as I

mentioned before the case is

unapologetically plastic however it does

feel a little bit solid when I'm tapping

on it here like maybe there's some

silicone or a heavy weight inside which

is also giving it its heft also here's

the flippy feet please go comment good

job on flipping those feet have you now

you'll also notice that this board has

RGB which is shockingly bright for this

cheap of a keyboard now the key caps on

this version aren't shine through but

they do have versions with that if

that's interesting now later in this

video I'll be taking this whole keyboard

apart comparing it to another budget

keyboard and checking out the switches

but you're probably wondering how did

this keyboard even get so popular and

where are they selling it well part of

that might be because they're using

Shopify the sponsor of this video now

Shopify is a Commerce platform that lets

you start your own business and what

does that even mean well it lets you

create a store online even if you're as

dumb as me like there's a reason that

almost every single keyboard brand is

using Shopify because it makes starting

a keyboard business incredibly easy but

it's more than that actually because I

was skeptical at first so I signed up

for the free trial at shopify.com hotech

yes I use my own free trial link please

don't get mad at me Shopify and building

out my merch store was so easy that I

actually moved all of my merch to

Shopify this is a real website that I

built in 8 hours using their tools and

actually because Shopify is such a great

widespread platform and my good friend

kinetic laabs uses Shopify I'm able to

use the Shopify Collective plugin to to

sell my desk mats and key caps directly

from my store and it took 5 minutes to

set up but um also all of my friends use

Shopify literally the glares company

Shopify epic gardening Shopify owa

Shopify so if you have an idea for a

small business or you just want to sell

a product that you're passionate about

like these out of control mugs look at

this little guy he's so out of control

right now then I dare you to go to

shopify.com hotech build the coolest

store possible and email it to me I

genuinely want to see it just like I

want to see how good this knob is how

good is it oh it's actually kind of bad

wait huh now usually knobs are really

satisfying to turn but this one just

feels a little bit lackluster it's also

lackluster to push and I've touched a

lot of knobs just like I've touched a

lot of gaskets and oh this one is giving

me weird Vibes and this is where we

start to run into things that could be

an issue for some people you see how

this board is flexing but like only in

hotpots like not across the whole board

evenly I'm assuming that's because of a

flex cut PCB but we'll see when we take

this thing apart later which is going to

be really easy right but first let's go

about the quality of the key caps and

the switches now the key caps are double

shot Cherry profile and they're nothing

to write home about they're basically a

$15 to $20 set of keycaps they're

probably going to sound relatively

clacky they come on a couple good color

options and they're fine overall now for

the switches though this is where it

gets pretty spicy oh no oh no no no no

no no no no no no no no no why would you

put North facing LEDs in 2020 so um this

thing is going in the garbage real quick

bye-bye is what I would have said except

this is 2024 now in the past if your

LEDs were North facing it meant that you

couldn't use your keyboard with cherry

profile key caps well kind of but

nowadays a lot of switch manufacturers

have actually fixed the issue so you

don't get interference in your middle

row when using cherry profile keycaps so

let's talk about the switches now I have

the leobog Reapers which are a linear

switch and um guess what all of of the

options for this board are linear so you

know earlier when I said three switch

options yeah they're all linear they're

also all at a glance eerily similar

because they all have similar total

travel distance similar Force but the

only difference between the Reapers is

that the pre-travel is a little bit

longer however these switches are

buttery smooth unlike the case after I

slammed it on my desk wow although I

personally found that typing on the

reaper switches wasn't the best

experience as that longer pre-travel

just felt a little bit sluggish to me

speaking of sluggish the main thing that

you're losing when you buy a budget

keyboard like this is good software

support now I've tried a lot of really

bad softwares in my time and sometimes

the bad sketchy software is actually

kind of decent in this case no the owla

software sucks it took like 5 Seconds

every time I wanted to save a color

combination resetting macros was

sluggish and annoying so if you're

someone that cares about tinkering with

your keyboard in that way then get a

board that supports via a better

software now I haven't gotten to try the

TTC crescents or the leobog ice veins so

I can't comment on those but maybe the

ice veins will be a little bit better

now the plate mounted stabilizers are

very well secured they don't rattle at

all and they sound absolutely incredible

right out of the box this is a really

big plus actually because if you're new

to keyboards then stabilizers are

usually the hardest thing to get right

and on top of that the price of lube

brushes better stabilizers all add up

really quickly if you're on a super

tight budget so generally my thoughts on

this thing have been luk warm I'll be it

a bit positive I am being a bit harsh

here because it is so cheap but how do I

get this thing open where are the screws

where are the screws there are none oh

yeah now here's the first massive con

for this thing and it's that the

modability of it is Pretty stinking bad

in order to get it open you need a pry

tool really strong rock climber fingers

or a little bit of both and you risk

damaging the case it's not super easy

it's not super fun but it is doable once

you get the case open however it is wait

is it is this empty oh no that's

silicone hey that's silicone hey the

bottom of the case is filled with a

silicone dampening layer which is my

favorite way to mod a plastic keyboard

because it makes it feel heavier and

sound more thy and the back of this

thing has some poron foam which you

could potentially peel off and tape mod

but I don't think that it's necessary

here now if you're new to keyboards

you're probably getting overwhelmed

right now you're like why is he talking

about Foams what is going on well

various Foams and other materials are

used to modify the sound of your

keyboard to make it sound a little bit

better or just how you want it to sound

in general peeling back this foam

unfortunately reveals the sad reality

the PCB is flex cut and it's really

weird Flex cuts at that which is why it

felt so Hots spotty this can give your

keyboard a little bit of a thinner sound

but I honestly didn't notice it here at

all now first let's go ahead and put

this thing back together with some magic

um one subscribe equals one magic see

did you see the Subscribe button lit up

there that was cool now to be fair I did

get mad that this thing isn't very

modable however there really aren't that

many mods you would do to it but if you

do you might end up with a scuffed

bottom case like I'm pointing out here

yikes if you spend an extra $30 or so

then you could get a fully aluminum

keyboard that would have screws now I'll

be comparing this keyboard to another

one in a second but let's talk about the

sound this thing has no right sounding

as good as it does and this is probably

the actual reason that most of you have

been telling me to try this thing

because what I realized is the people

asking me to try this key board actually

already own it like you guys don't want

me to review this thing because you want

to buy it you want me to review this

thing to tell you that you made a good

purchasing decision is that crazy I

don't know it sounds kind of crazy so if

I told you it sucked would that hurt

your feelings sorry I'm I'm just playing

with you or am I because there's a lot

of keyboards out there that are really

good now let me just use this as an

example because it was sitting on my

shelf yes I have 200 keyboards on my

shelf what are you what are you getting

mad at me now it's not a one toone

comparison because this board is $13

more expensive but the Royal cludge m75

wow it already is on when I turned it on

is a board that I think covers all the

same bases but I prefer just a little

bit more and I'm using this to show you

how important preference is and why you

shouldn't just buy a keyboard because

you saw it on Tik Tok or something but

if you thought the Alla F75 was cool

this board looks more visually appealing

to me it has some cool touches that just

look more interesting it's knob isn't

ugly I mean don't get me wrong it's

still a plastic keyboard it still has

flippy feet we're still covering a lot

of the same bases that the owa F75 does

but nobody talks about this keyboard

ever also the gasket performance is more

even and I like that it also has a

little screen that's virtually useless

when you're buying a keyboard what's

important is to determine what matters

to you the most the problem is that's

usually feel and you can't determine

that over the Internet that's obviously

a huge problem and why I focus so much

on sound in keyboards because if a

keyboard sounds scratchy then it

probably doesn't feel smooth or if a

keyboard sounds super pingy then it

probably doesn't have the soft gasket

absorption that you might get from a

more premium keyboard but ultimately

there's a myriad of other factors like

software support do the key caps look

nice does the knob feel good when you

touch it does the brand have good

customer support which none of these

brands do do I have the ability to take

this thing apart easily and fix it if it

has any issues and ultimately that

brings me back around to the AA F75 and

any budget keyboard in general you're

making some degree of sacrifices so it's

not going to be the perfect best

keyboard ever now I'll show you how both

of these keyboards sound in a second but

ultimately I prefer the Royal cludge but

this is just one example that I pulled

out of my closet and isn't really

important to the video what you came

here to see is me telling you whether or

not the owa F75 is a good deal and

whether or not if you bought it you made

a smart decision and you know what yes

it's a fine keyboard it sounds really

nice it feels pretty decent it cuts a

lot of corners but if you're on a tight

budget and you bought it you should be

happy and please stop commenting about

it