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A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to review the uniquely styled Leobog K81 and was quite impressed with the board. Leobog have reached out again, this time with their Hi-75 board.
While the K81 featured a thick plastic frame, this board features a weighty powder coated aluminum housing, giving the board a similarly super solid and put together feel but with a touch of luxury. Blank space between the escape and function keys is filled in by a small metal button with the Leobog astronaut logo, which turned out to be detachable as it is held on by magnetism. I thought this was a creative touch and will be excellent for fiddling with! I’m personally a huge fan of aluminum housing for mechanical keyboards so I was pretty thrilled to get my hands on one of these. This board also comes with cherry keycaps.
How does the Leobog Hi-75 feel to type on?
From what I could tell from testing the larger keys, the stabilizers give a very clear variation in feedback- giving an illusion of a heavier feel on these keys, but in reality I think they are actually just thoccier. They don’t actually require much more force if at all. The exception is the spacebar which is pleasingly light which I think is a good choice based on how frequently it will be pressed when typing documents. Gasket mounting combined with the weighty case give this board phenomenal feel and dampening.
Leobog Hi-75 Connection modes
The Leobog HI-75 is tethered USB connection only
While a completely different board aesthetically to the K81 (the similarities are limited to both boards using similar rubber feet and a springy coiled cable) it also interestingly comes only with USB connection, opting not to include 3 mode connection. This isn’t a complete shock as a lot of people go with the reliability of the cabled connection, but nonetheless a point to be noted. It’s also possible that leaving out wireless can help to enter a wider range of markets more easily, as less radio testing documentation is required. It could be a plus point for people who prefer tethered that they aren’t paying for extra modes, and might also help to keep the retail price a little bit lower while enabling the use of more expensive materials such as the aluminum case. The only use case I can think of where I’d really want Bluetooth would be when I am using my Ipad as a laptop for typing something up, but luckily that’s relatively rare for me.
Leobog Nimbus 3 Linear switches
This build features Leobog’s own Nimbus 3 Linear switches, which start at 28g and bottom out at 45 grams which I think gives the board slightly more resistance than the K81 I tested earlier. It’s still a relatively light touch but there’s just a little bit more there. The overall typing experience is definitely enjoyable. Leobog pre-lubricate their switches which gives them great performance out of the box which is something I think most pre-built makers should consider doing as it helps to form a fantastic first impression. The sound I would say is more to the clacky side than thoccy or creamy.
Just like the K81 this board sounds amazing out of the box. Leobog is doing a great job of nailing the most important aspects of mechanical keyboard production. It has an audible, satisfying clack to it but the sound is balanced and not too intrusive.
Other thoughts
While I like the texture of the volume switch, given the upgraded material choices on this board an aluminum cap on the volume switch may have worked better to complete the design.
| Leobog K81 Review Breakdown | Rating | Explanation |
| Sound | 4/5 | This board has a nice clacky sound, and stabilizers add some thock |
| Feel | 4.5/5 | I like the feel of this board a lot and it includes some nice variation thanks to the stabilizers. The cherry keycaps that come with this board are great for general use. |
| Value | 4.5/5 | You will get more from this board in terms of out of the box performance than a lot of equivalent models as Leobog do a great job of setting up their boards with lubrication. I also think their switches are very good. Tethered connection only. |
| Quality | 4.5/5 | Including the matte aluminum housing is class, adding an aluminum cap on the volume switch would give full marks! |
| Aesthetics | 4.5/5 | Very nice looking keyboard and I love how some of the variations they have available look |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | Another phenomenal keyboard from Leobog! |
I highly recommend both of the keyboards Leobog have allowed me to test-the Hi75 and the K81- they are two very different keyboards out of the box but both have great build quality, sound, and setup. The hi-75 comes with an outstanding aluminum case, whereas the K81 has plastic housing (albeit it’s very nicely done) but does have full 3 mode connection.
Check the Hi75 out here on Amazon:
- 【Revolutionary Mode-Switching and Enhanced Control】The EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 Aluminum keyboard introduces the innovative knob, an epitome of style meets functionality. This intuitive knob allows…
- 【Sleek 75% Layout, Gasket-Mounted Structure】The Hi75 features a sleek, 75% layout with 81 essential keys, striking an ideal balance between minimalistic design and full functionality. This layout…
- 【Solid Aluminum Alloy Build】Crafted from top-tier aluminum alloy and finished with an exquisite spray process, the keyboard’s case promises durability with a luxurious feel. This premium material…
Check out the Hi75 on Leobog’s website
Last update on 2024-02-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API