YUNZII has unveiled the QL108 mechanical keyboard, which combines the retro design of classic typewriters with modern gaming keyboard technology. We’ve had a look at the new keyboard and will share our impressions in this review.
The YUNZII QL108 comes in a cardboard box, additionally packaged in a “dust jacket.” Both are black and feature an image of the device. They also contain technical information about the product.
In addition to the keyboard, the package includes a 1.8-meter USB-A to USB-C cable, four replacement keycaps, a pair of spare switches, a key for removing switches and keycaps, and instructions in several languages.
The YUNZII QL108 is available in black or silver. We received the latter for review, so we’ll discuss it further.
The body is made of metal, the caps are made of ABS plastic using a double-molded method with a galvanized coating and Shine-Through technology to ensure uniform glow of the symbols.
The new model features a 100% form factor, meaning it’s a full-size keyboard with 104 keys. Despite this, it’s relatively compact (436 x 130 x 40.5 mm) due to the fact that almost the entire front panel is occupied by keys, with a small amount of space at the top dedicated to four status LEDs. It features a skeleton design, an island-style key layout, and an ANSI layout. Its metal construction makes it a hefty 1.25 kg, ensuring it sits securely on a desk.
As mentioned above, the model is painted silver, but this is more characteristic of the body. The caps are beige on top and have gold trim on the sides, which, combined with their round shape, conveys the very design of retro typewriters, which personally evokes steampunk style for me .
In addition to the interesting design, the keys have a uniform profile, meaning they are all positioned at the same height. While this might seem inconvenient at first glance, the device features a slight tilt and retractable feet on the bottom to increase this tilt, making it quite comfortable to use. This is further enhanced by the small indentations on the keycaps for your fingertips.
The symbols are “cut” into the plastic, making them easy to read without backlighting and beautiful when activated. The font in this case is stylized to match the overall concept, but deciphering it is straightforward. The symbols are all Latin.
The keyboard’s sides are unused, with the company name engraved on the right side of the front. The back, in turn, features a USB-C port in the center, which connects to a PC. The cable is not braided, but it’s a good length—1.8 meters.
The base is equipped with two rubberized pads and a pair of legs, each with retractable feet. This ensures good stability, a comfortable tilt angle, and the ability to increase it.
At first glance, the YUNZII QL108 keyboard impresses with its design, which, as I mentioned above, evokes steampunk aesthetics. I like this style, so the appearance of this new model didn’t leave me indifferent. Furthermore, the model impresses with its well-built construction and reliable materials, which enhances its value in my eyes.
Connection is via a USB-C cable using the Plug and Play method, meaning you can simply connect the keyboard to your PC with the cable without any additional steps. The manufacturer claims compatibility with Windows, Android, MacOS, and iOS operating systems.
Switching between WIN and MAC modes is accomplished with the Fn+A and Fn+S combinations, respectively. The keyboard also offers other shortcuts for managing office applications, the audio player, and the backlight . I won’t list them here, as they are described in detail in the manual and are generally standard, meaning they’re easy to use intuitively.
In terms of usability, I was very pleased with the comfortable keycaps. While their uniform-height keycaps may not look comfortable at first glance, they’re offset by the small finger grooves and the comfortable overall angle. The YUNZII Onyx Gray tactile switches also left a pleasant impression, with a 43g initial force, 60g actuation force, 2.2mm actuation travel, and 3.9mm full travel. They’re factory-lubricated, so they require no maintenance.
These switches offer a soft, smooth feel, quick actuation, and crisp feedback thanks to their pronounced tactile response. They also sound quite authentic to typewriters, which is perfectly acceptable, though they are louder than I’d like. This is due to the modest noise insulation, which in this case consists of only a single layer of EVA foam.
The new keyboard’s backlighting is provided by individual LEDs for each key, located on the south side, i.e., the bottom. With its raised keycaps and reflective silver body, the backlighting looks stunning and completely transforms the look of the device. While without it, the keyboard feels like a device from the past, with it, it becomes a modern gaming machine: bright, bold, and ready for the longest and most intense gaming sessions. The backlighting has 24 modes, including dynamic and static. You can also adjust its brightness, speed, direction, and hue. If you don’t like the preset effects, you can create your own using the QMK web interface.
In addition to customizing the backlight, QMK allows you to create multiple profiles, reassign all keys, record macros, and more. To do this, find the model name in the “Software” section on the manufacturer’s official website and follow the link provided . The website will then detect the device, and you can begin setting it up. The interface is simple and intuitive, so you shouldn’t encounter any problems.
In conclusion, I would like to note that the keyboard supports gaming mode with a WIN key lock, has Anti-Ghosting for all keys, and provides hot-swappable switches for those compatible with 3- or 5-pin connections.
The YUNZII QL108 is an interesting keyboard, the key feature of which is undoubtedly its design. However, its list of advantages goes beyond its impressive appearance, boasting high-quality materials, solid build quality, vibrant backlighting, convenient keycaps, and responsive switches that can be quickly swapped out. Furthermore, the model is customizable, compatible with various operating systems, and features easy connection via a USB-C cable.
I didn’t find any serious flaws, the only thing I wasn’t too keen on was the pleasant, but rather loud sound. However, this is a subjective matter, so you’ll have to judge this for yourself.
Let me remind you that the YUNZII QL108 is a full-size model with a numeric keypad, and therefore, taking into account the above, it is ideal for solving a wide variety of tasks, including everyday use, typing, programming , and, of course, gaming.
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