iKBC Table E401 White Backlit LED Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Silent Red Switch for Windows/Mac, Tenkeyless Keyboards with Built-in Palmrest, Dark Gray Case, Black ABS 87 Keycap, ASIN/US QWERTY

Instead of going over the obvious positives others have already addressed, like the solid build quality, great switches (well, more on this next), and responsive backlighting, I'm going to highlight a few possible negatives here.1. This will likely not bother you, BUT - Switches feel *slightly* grainy, at least to me. This may be a manufacturing issue, or might just be personal taste. Using the tactile (brown) switches and comparing them to another board on hand, these switches have a slightly less "snappy" quality to them. Instead of a smooth, almost rubbery, single bump, you get something I can only describe as... plasticky? Doesn't effect accuracy, mind you, just the feel. Not horrible by ANY means, just different. Keypress volume is comparable to any other tactile switches I've tried, maybe slightly louder. Keypresses overall feel fine and satisfying overall. Amazon's return policy is your friend, if you are as picky as I am ;)2. The default keycaps are... just okay. For the price, sure, they're fine, but I replaced mine with a nicer set of OEM profile PBT doubleshot keycaps, and my overall typing experience greatly improved, not to mention the aesthetics. The caps included are slightly slippery, lower profile, sloped, very wide, and leave barely any gap between them, so those used to more traditional keycaps might have issues adjusting (some may love them though, esp if you like low profile caps). Replacement was easy, though the spacebar feels a bit different now with the new cap, as if it really didn't *want* to be replaced (and yes, I was gentle!). The backlights shine through the new keycaps without issue, sharply illuminating each letter. Nice!3. The spacebar is merely okay. 98% of the time, I have zero issues. The other 2%, I'm getting missed inputs. This is likely a mechanical issue, and seems to have started after I replaced the keycaps, though to be fair, I hardly used the board before I replaced the caps. YMMV. The spacebar does feel a little more wobbly than other boards I've used, but it's not bad enough to actually bother me (especially for the price). It has stuck a few times here and there, likely due to relentlessly hammering the thing during gameplay. And yes, I keep my keyboard clean. This is not something that has degraded in any way over time, so I expect the current performance to remain consistent (will update if this changes!).4. This is a heavy keyboard! Some (like me) will love this, as the board won't move when you type. I use it on my lap, and it's perfect (the wrist rest helps stabilize it, too). In fact, this is the best lap keyboard I've ever used. Side note - I have since ordered a Logitech G613 as a secondary keyboard, hoping it will be just as good for this use case. Note that the body is all plastic; there is minimal flex, however, and only a slight creak if you try to mess with it (typical for plastic construction, and not something you'll notice with regular use). I wish it were metal. Oh well. I give this a 4/10 as a melee weapon.5. No tenkeys. Really my only regret. Considering the size of the board, it would've been nice if they had altered the layout to include the tenkeys (at least give us an alternate board? Maybe with a metal housing? I'd buy it!). Not a huge issue, but for RTS or sim games, or even just doing quick math, you may miss them.6. It's KNOB-FEEL TIME. The volume knob is aesthetically very cool, but doesn't always function as intended. Pushing the knob down should mute your sound, but sometimes, this doesn't work, or emits a high pitched sound (from my speakers, not the board lol). Very strange, likely an OS issue. Rotating the knob is smooth, but doesn't have the right weight to it - it feels... insubstantial? It also has zero tactile feedback (no bumps, notches, etc), so it just sort of rotates with little weight behind it. Fine for most, but it doesn't feel *premium*.7. USB-C is HIGHLY appreciated, but the actual connector on mine is slightly wobbly. Not bad enough to interfere with the connection, but I assume it wouldn't take much abuse, so be careful.8. There is no RGB, only white backlighting. Personally, I don't care at all (though a warm white setting would've been neat). The options to adjust this are adequate, with different modes to accommodate your personal taste (including an off setting). Settings are automatically saved, and I have had zero issues with this. I have it set where it only illuminates the key I have pressed, then slowly fades over 2 seconds. Classy, and not at all distracting. This is a winner, imo.9. Palm rest does NOT detach. Personally, this is a pro. For you, it may be a con. Be aware of this keyboard's dimensions before purchasing. The palm rest is slightly rubberized, but not sticky, nor is it plush. It does not raise up to your wrists either, just a gentle downward slope. It's fine.10. No software needed. I've been able to do everything using key combos on the board itself. This could be a con, as you'll have to remember these shortcuts for certain things. This does not bother me, as after the initial setup, I've kept everything the same.All in all, for the price, you are getting a FANTASTIC keyboard here. It's big and decently sturdy, with a nice layout, good key spacing, and all the features you'd expect at this pricepoint. Aesthetically, it looks lovely (and not super gamer-y like the others out there, ugh). This is an easy buy, unless you REALLY need RGB, tenkeys, wireless connectivity, or a detachable/raised palm rest.NOTE: The attached images feature MY custom keycaps. As noted previously, these are OEM profile doubleshot PBT caps, designed for cherry mx switches, made by Happy Balls (available here as well). Also note that I have RGB lighting in my room (set to purple in the picture) - the board itself is a minimally textured matte, true charcoal grey, closer to black than a medium grey. The default keys are black, whereas my replacements are white and medium grey (with a semi-transparent red ESC key).

Okay so I absolutely love this keyboard, no doubt about that now. It wasn't like that at first though. I initially purchased the keyboard for my first gaming desktop PC (avid longtime PC gamer, putting in 80-90 hours every week on average back on my gaming laptops) and I liked the black/white aesthetic that matched my PC and speakers, but also because of its minimalist design and THE VOLUME KNOB <3 Upon first getting it and using it however, I found myself accidentally pressing other keys by accident because they aren't spaced very far apart and don't take a lot of force to press. Honestly I almost considered returning it after a few days because I hated all the misspellings I was making and having to correct. After a few weeks of usage though I suddenly realised that I wasn't making misspellings hardly at all anymore and my fingers had already memorised the placement of all the keys so I don't even look at the keyboard when I type now. So for anyone who just got this keyboard and is having a similar issue, just stick with it for a few more weeks and I promise you it gets better! For anyone on the fence about it, just be aware that you may have this issue at first but like I told the current users, you get used to the keyboard after a short while!Alright here's the Pros/Cons list: The Cons: - The narrow spacing between keys can lead to some accidental key presses in the early days of getting used to the keyboard - It isn't wireless (this may or may not be a con for some people, I personally don't care much) - Um... I think that's it?And the Pros: - Typing is pretty quiet compared to a lot of other keyboards! My roommate said he was glad I switched to this keyboard finally just because he could finally read in peace haha. Combine this keyboard with the Emopeak silent mouse and you've got a nice quiet setup, though that mouse may be a bit small for some people. - The ever-so-silky smooth volume knob! I honestly can't get over how nice the knob is. It has the perfect amount of resistance when turning it, its metal construction makes it feel very premium, and if you want to mute the volume, you can just press it down to mute instead of turning the knob to the left. I refuse to get another keyboard that doesn't have a volume knob. - The individually-backlit keys! There's plenty of lighting pattern customisation, from the speed of the animations to the brightness as well---and of course there is the ability to have the keys constantly illuminated or not at all. - The ability to set a PIN to unlock the keyboard when turning it on--to prevent any unwanted users accessing your keyboard/PC - Low profile makes it a good entry-level keyboard for long-time laptop users wanting to get into the desktop world. - Very portable since it has a low profile, isn't very large, and the USB-C to USB-A cable is detachable. - Media control buttons in the top right of the keyboard! I'd've preferred the Play button to be between the Previous and Next buttons instead of the button order being Play, Previous, Next. They still work great though and I love using these in conjunction with the volume knob when listening to music. - Also the calculator button, right next to the media control buttons. Didn't think this was something I'd put on the list of pros for a keyboard review but honestly I use it far more often than I ever thought I would. - Great build quality! I saw a previous 1-star review saying that many keys stopped working for them after a few weeks or months of use but I've been using my keyboard for 12-13 hours almost every single day now for over a year and I have had absolutely ZERO problems in all that time.So I'm not sure what that person may or may not have done to their keyboard or if they just happen to have received a faulty model but their case about their keyboard is definitely not something you should expect to find with your keyboard.Who knows, maybe they didn't read the manual and accidentally locked themselves out of their keyboard haha.Features: 10/10Ergonomics: Initial Use - 6/10, Later Use - 9/10Build Quality: 10/10 (so far still holding up with no issues whatsoever over a year later of constant usage)Portability: 10/10Would Recommend: 13.5/10

Excellent value on a TKL keyboard with genuine Cherry MX switches. Working 100% from home has made me pay much more attention to ergonomics, and I'm glad that I was able to find this keyboard. The built in passion /wrist rest is a godsend after a heavy day of writing code /queries, and the layout has even made storing reports and other documents bearable.I do wish the switches were hot swappable, but at this price point I really have no basis for complaint.I knew I wanted brown stitches before I bought, but found that Amazon only had red /blue versions. I reached out to the seller, and they were extraordinarily helpful, and redid inventory to make sure they had more on stock before posting them for sale, and reaching back out to me to let me know they were available again.

Update:I'm changing my review to 5 stars because despite the Enter key issue, the seller was quick to respond to my message.~~~Original~~~I'm typing this review as I test out this keyboard. It'll help me determine whether I'll keep or return.I'll break this review down into sections for easier reference:Packaging:- Great quality box with matte finish. It's the typical keyboard packaging style that has horizontal opening with slide in on both sides and a flap on the middle. It also has a sleeve that covers the entire packaging boxAccessories:- Comes with key remover, ESC key replacer with infinite looking icon, USC-C cable, manual that's written in Chinese, and the keyboard- FYI, the English version of the manual is available for download on Amazon listing page directly below Technical SpecificationKeyboard Quality:- Premium quality plastic- All the keys light up consistently throughout the different settings- The key indicators aren't stickers and the coating quality doesn't seem like it's something that'll fade out easily within a year or months for that matter- Buttons are definitely bigger. Read on for whether this a pro or con for me- Width of they keyboard is about 0.5 inch shorter than my Havit Tenkeyless Low-Profile. Seems like this was achieved by shrinking the width of certain long keys like the Shift, Enter, Alt, etc.Typing:- Buttons are a bit stiffer to press compared to my MX Blue-like and MX Brown. This is my first MX Red switch keyboard so, I'm not sure if it's supposed to be this stiff. It definitely seems to require more force than my MX Blue-like and MX Brown keyboards.- All the keys feel consistent. Hopefully it stays this way because a lot of keyboards tend to lose the initial key press feel within a matter of 1~3 months- The extra large keys can be good or bad depending on the user. As for me, I feel like my fingers are having to travel more despite the keys being tighter in terms of layout. It's probably because of the accuracy required to type since there aren't any gaps in between keys to make up for less traveling. In other words, I need to ensure I'm pressing the center of each key- NOTE: I received a defect Enter key on my keyboard. The Enter key has 2 poles(?) on each side that allows the enter key from being pressed evenly. However, the hole where the right side pole enters has a little bump inside that prevents the enter key from being pressed all the way. Unless I press using the right 30% of the surface, Enter key won't work. If i were to sand it down by about 3~5mm, it should solve the issue. I've contacted the seller to see what they'll say.- NOTE: Currently, my Space bar makes a little squeaking noise. It's not too bothersome and most likely I'll get used to it... maybe...Features:- Volume controller is nice. I have HotKeys setup because my other keyboard didn't have volume control and I got used to that but, this works too- Keyboard password lock. I guess it can be useful to some but just being able to turn it off nice which there's a slider that does that. Helps if you want to just clean the keyboard during middle of something- Fn key lock button which I don't see myself using- Windows key lock button to avoid pressing the windows key when playing game which I don't see myself using- Reset all settings buttonConclusion:I've always preferred low-profile tenkeyless keyboards but they don't seem to be widely available. I've been wanting something quieter after using MX Blue-like for some time and came across this keyboard. At $100, I feel like there are cheaper alternatives out there at a bit lower quality but good enough for the price.Taking off 1 star due to the defective Enter key. Otherwise, great seller, quick support, great build quality, all the features work as plug-n-play, and the packaging is definitely something I'd keep.

+ Pros +- Detachable USB-C cable for easy portability and setup- Volume slider and keyboard function buttons along with media keys- Lock switch and programmable password to unlock the keyboard- Adjustable backlighting for different patterns and brightness- Genuine Cherry MX switches and comes in Blues, Browns, Reds, and even Clears- Different keycap profiles will fit on the keyboard if you're replacing the keycaps- No driver software and/or bloatware required- 3 height angles- Fixed palm rest- Windows key lock function- Comes with extra Ctrl/Alt/Win/Fn/Menu keys- Cons -- The keycap material is ABS which can cause that oily and greasy appearance if you frequently type on it- If you are replacing the keycaps, it's certainly possible to forget which media keys do which- The keycap form is concave and flat and may take some time to get used to if you are switching from typical mechanical keyboards that use Cherry or OEM keycap profiles- Backlighting may not work with with front-face translucent keycaps since the LED is at the back of the switch housing- Build quality appears to be decent, better than most membrane keyboards, but it's still prone to warping and bending if you transport it frequently- Very difficult to pull keycaps out from the areas of the keyboard where the switch is enclosed in the case (such as the ESC and arrow keys) even with the included wire keycap puller= Subjective =- If you are replacing the keycaps, it's certainly possible to forget where the media keys are, but I don't use them that much anyway- Depends on the person, but the USB-C cable is not coiled; I prefer coiled cables because I do not like bundling my cables which makes it look messy and unorganized- As is with all mechanical keyboards, they are all going to be noisy regardless of the switch (unless you have o-ring dampeners or Silent Red/Black switches); if you are buying one for an office or work environment where others can hear your typing, please consider your co-workers and/or superiors- Personally, I like the keycap font since its simple and does not have that HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDEEEEOUS (Chyrosran22?) gamer/techy/scifi-style font that all these "gaming" mechanical keyboards have, but then again, everyone has their preferences* The Verdict *The IKBC Table E401 is an excellent mechanical keyboard, and with its price, it's hard to beat when comparing to other well-known branded keyboards. Keyboard style is minimalist and simple but will still catch an eye or two (especially when you replace the keycaps with more stylistic and artisan ones). The keyboard comes with genuine Cherry MX switches with a better variety than most mechanical keyboards around this price range. I enjoy the light and linear Red switches after having moved from Browns, and the white backlighting allows for many different keycap styles and layout. Overall, a solid keyboard minus a few nitpicking things at an affordable price.