In the field of keyboard and mouse peripherals, Dareu has now become a well-known peripheral brand. Their keyboard and mouse shape has a novel design, and the price is very kind, so that many players pay for it. What are the charms of Dareu’s products? Let’s take a closer look at a Dareu A98 tri-mode mechanical keyboard.

Scientific 98-key Layout, Uncompromising Experience

I wonder if some of the keys are almost never used when you use a 104-key mechanical keyboard. For example, keys such as the Print Screen key and the Ins key, so the 98-key keyboard layout was born. The Dareu A98 tri-mode mechanical keyboard is a product with a 98-key layout. Although 6 buttons that are not commonly used by many users have been removed, they have also gained a more lightweight and space-saving size. The official said that compared with the 104-key layout keyboard, the 98-key layout saves 20% of the space. In some scenarios with smaller desktops, the 98-key layout is indeed easier to place than the 104-key product.

Dareu A98’s 98 keys do not make a big compromise in key experience. The first is that the number key area is completely retained, and there are no other major changes except that the 0 key has become smaller. The four direction keys of up, down, left, and right are also full-size, and there is no problem of discomfort when tapping.

Replaceable Keycaps, Receiver with Storage Area

In addition to the keyboard, the product package also comes standard with a UBS Type-C data cable to connect the keyboard to the computer and charge the keyboard. The standard accessories also include a key puller, as well as personalized keycaps for the ESC key, space bar, 2 enter keys, and 4 direction keys. If you feel tired of the appearance, you can replace the keycap for a new taste.

On the right side of the keyboard there is a storage slot for a USB wireless receiver. With the slot design, the wireless receiver of the keyboard is really not easy to lose, which is worthy of praise.

The back of the keyboard is equipped with 5 rectangular non-slip rubber pads, and the upper left and upper right areas are also equipped with support brackets that support 2-stage adjustment, providing a convenient and comfortable tapping experience for all kinds of users. In the area between the two support brackets is a notch for the data cable, and a slot for a USB Type-C. However, it should be noted that this Type-C slot has a small space and is hollowed out on both sides, so the Type-C data cable of some mobile phones cannot be used on this keyboard. If you usually want to charge this keyboard outside, try to bring the original data cable.

Convenient tri-mode Switching, the Screen and Indicator Lights are Very Intuitive

The tri-mode switching method of the Dareu A98 keyboard is very convenient. There is a slider on the upper left side of the keyboard to switch the tri-mode connection. When the slider is moved to the top, the keyboard will enter the 2.4GHz wireless connection mode. When the lever is in the middle position, it runs in wired mode, and when the lever is moved to the lower BT mark, it enters the bluetooth connection mode. Press and hold the Fn+Q key combination for 3 seconds to enter the bluetooth pairing mode. At that time, as long as you find a device named A98 BT in the bluetooth settings of a tablet or computer, you can pair it.

It is worth mentioning that there is also a small rectangular screen between the ESC key and the F1 key, which can display the remaining battery information of the keyboard. Personally, I feel that this design is very good, and the specific battery percentage value is more intuitive than the battery indicator. When using the keyboard, it can also better control the battery life of the keyboard and charge the keyboard in time. The keyboard has a built-in 4000mAh lithium battery, which can last for 7 days when the RGB lighting effect is turned on, so even for high-intensity game use, its battery life is quite good.

The indicator lights of the keyboard are located in the spaced area between the main keyboard area and the number key area. The number 1 represents the switch of the number key area, and the capital letter A represents the upper and lower case switch of the letter. In bluetooth mode, after long pressing Fn+Q for three seconds to enter pairing mode, the Wi-Fi indicator will enter a blinking state, and after successful pairing, the indicator will enter a steady state. Several indicator lights show us the current state of the keyboard intuitively.

Sky Axis Supports Hot-swap Replacement

The Dareu A98 keyboard uses Dareu’s new sky axis, which is similar to the red axis, both of which are linear axes. The trigger pressure is in the 40gf range, the key process is about 4mm, and the tap life can reach 80 million times. At the same time, because this sky axis adopts a fence-type axis structure, it brings us a straight-up and straight-down experience, and the feedback strength of the buttons is just right. Moreover, the large keys of the keyboard are all designed with a new satellite axis, which is not easy to shake when tapped, and is very stable to tap. In addition, the shaft body of the keyboard supports hot plugging and matching, which is also a traditional advantage of the Dareu keyboard.

In terms of keystroke experience, you can feel that this keyboard will be very quiet when using it. This is due to its internal Gasket structure design, and a high-toughness noise-absorbing silicone pad is added between the keyboard liner and the bottom shell. The silent tapping experience is also a good thing for roommates or colleagues, whether you are working or gaming, you can get a comfortable tapping experience. And roommates or colleagues won’t be affected by the sound of the keyboard tapping.

In addition, Dareu A98 also supports intelligent identification of different win/mac systems, and each key position can be matched without our own debugging. It’s a pity that there is no special button for the mac system marked on the keycap, so users who are unfamiliar with the key positions of the mac system need to be familiar with it for a period of time to fully adapt.

Conclusion

The scientific 98-key design, the novel tri-mode pairing scheme, and the quiet mechanical shaft experience constitute the core competitiveness of Dareu A98. And its price of only $155 will surely make many users who are ready to buy a keyboard excited. If you’re after the flexibility and quietness of a keyboard, the Dareu A98 is the premium peripheral you need right now.