One of the most popular layouts for keyboards is the 65% layout, and for good reason. It has all the keys needed for gaming or writing, including arrow keys, and nothing more. It saves a ton of space on your desk, and looks quite clean. Naturally, 65% keyboards have come into high demand, and one option from Durgod and HK gaming, called the Hades 68, is quickly becoming quite popular.
When you take this keyboard out of the box, you get a distinct feeling of quality. And this isn't mistaken. The entire frame of the keyboard is aluminum, the keycaps are thick PBT, and you have a selection of good switches.
Currently, the selection of switches is Cherry Blue, Cherry Silent Red, Gateron Blue, Gateron Yellow, Gateron Brown, Gateron Silent Brown, and Kailh Box White. So you have a great clicky, a decent tactile, and a smooth linear available, as well as a silent linear or tactile. Compared to many keyboards today where the options are just Gateron or Cherry blue, brown, and red, this is refreshing. The prices vary depending on which switch you choose, with the Gateron Blue option coming in at $120 and the Cherry Silent Red at $150. Personally I would not go with any of the Cherry option unless you need that silent linear, because those cost $20 more than the Gateron options, and are much scratchier (albeit slightly more durable). My favorite is the Gateron Yellows, which are silky smooth linears.
There is full RGB in this keyboard, with many different modes stock. There is also a software (called Durgod Hera engine) that allows you to remap keys, control the lighting, create macros, etc. The mode of connection is a detachable USB-C cable, which is braided. There is also a USB-C to USB-C cable included, because all Durgod keyboards have that compatibility and are therefore much easier to use with newer Macbooks.
Another great thing about this keyboard is the sound. If you pick the smooth Gateron switches, combined with the aluminum case, you get a nice "thonk" sound. The stabilizers are OK, although I wish they were mounted on the circuit board instead of the plate, as PCB-mount stabilizers are much less rattly.
Overall, this is an impressive keyboard that comes in at as little as $110. It's definitely superior to the Razer Huntsman Mini, and with its aluminum case, is neck and neck with the Ducky Mecha Mini and Ducky One 2 SF.
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