HippoKeys Hippo65 Review! | Kickstarter’s most talked-about cosmetic keyboard

Have you heard of the brand HippoKeys?

Although it may not be familiar in Japan, it is a company based in Washington State, U.S.A., that deals with mechanical keyboard-related products.

HippoKeys has released the Hippo65 keyboard as its own product.

Currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, the product has attracted a great deal of attention due to its cost-effectiveness.

We were given the opportunity to review the Hippo65 in advance of its global launch.

This article will tell you all about the appeal of Hippo65.

Our Interest in HippoKeys
Hippo65 was provided by HippoKeys for review purposes. If a contract is signed from this article via the Kickstarter platform, GreenEchoes Studio, the operator of Greenkeys, may receive a performance fee. Please understand this in advance.

Conclusion: Hippo65 is a good keyboard to buy.

In conclusion, the Hippo65 is a keyboard that you will not regret purchasing.

The reason for this is that the price is not commensurate with the quality, in a good sense, i.e., it is the “strongest cost performance” keyboard.

It is a “pre-built” custom keyboard with the entire coordination completed, so there is no need to assemble it, and the Cracky key feel of the gasket-mounted construction with custom key switches is far superior in quality to other keyboards in the same price range.

Crowdfunding is the most economical way to purchase at this time.

Why not consider this opportunity?

Hippo65 Overview

coloring

The colors available for selection are as follows

• Navy Blue
• Dreamy Pink
• Retro White
• Classic Black

About Specifications

Hippo65
Material	CNC Machined 6063 Aluminum
Surfacing	Anodizing, Electrophoresis
Layout	65% Layout (ANSI | 66 Keys)
Switches	Orange Switches – Manufactured by Huano
Lighting	RGB Support 18-Types
Acoustic	3.5MM Poron Foam 0.5MM x 8 IXPE Switch Bottom Foam 0.08MM PET Acoustic Pad 1.8MM Poron Switch Pad Poron Bottom Foam (Bottom insulation)
Connection Modes	Triple Mode (Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4G)
Battery	6000mAh (800-hour battery life without RGB) (70-hour battery life with RGB)
Keycaps	Double-shot PBT
PCB	1.2mm non-slotted FR4
plate	FR4
Back Weight	Gradient Glass
Stepped caps	supporter
Structure	PCB Gasket
Latency	Wired-2ms 2.4G-3ms BT-7ms(Fastest mode)

Keyswitch used

The switches used are orange switches custom made by Huano exclusively for this purpose.

Orange Switches – Manufactured by huano:.

• Top Case: POM
• Spring: Stainless Steel
• Stem: POK
• Bottom Case: Modified Nylon
• Type: Linear
• Operating Force: 42±5gf ●
• End Force: 52±5gf
• Total Travel: 3.4±0.3mm
• Pre-travel: 2.0mm±0.3mm
• Lube: Pre-lubed

Crowdfunding Schedule

Crowdfunding period (Japan time*)

August 20, 2024 at 11:00(PM) – September 21, 2024 at 3:59(PM)

*Kickstarter time is shown in PDT (U.S. Pacific Standard Time, Daylight Saving Time).

Shipping: Scheduled for November 2024

Hippo65 review using actual equipment

Now let’s review the actual photos.

Exterior Review

Let’s start with the exterior.

The “Retro White” color was reviewed this time.

It has an ivory case with a white keycap, and the legendary color of the keycap is soft beige.

The MOD key accents are a pale café latte color and a dark chocolate coloring, which is appropriate for the classic look.

The key case is engraved with a cute Hiipo (possibly a hippo) icon.

The tilt angle is about 7.7 degrees, about the same as a typical keyboard.

(Typical mechanical keyboard typing tilt angles are about 6 to 8 degrees.)

The keycap profile is the common Cherry profile.

The top half of the bottom surface has a mirrored plate that provides a very beautiful reflection.

The lower bottom of the bottom is stamped “hippokeys”.

The four corners of the bottom are equipped with special non-slip rubber feet.

On the back is a sculpted USB Type-C insert.

Included are a USB Type-C to Type-A cable and a keycap puller and key switch puller.

As for the keycaps, they are made of double-shot PBT, so there is no need to worry about the print disappearing with use.

The key switches are custom made by a Chinese key switch brand called Huano.

It is pre-lubricated and is a short stroke switch with a Cracky bottoming sound.

Internal Structure Review

Then, let’s review the internal structure while disassembling it.

Already disassembled, the Hippo65 has a two-piece construction like this.

All six screws become accessible when all keycaps are removed, and the top screw can be removed by unscrewing the adjacent keyswitch.

Next to the CapsLock key is a switch that turns the radio on and off.

To operate this switch, you would need to remove the keycap.

Stabilizers are well lubricated.

If you feel that the amount of lubrication is too much, wipe it off with a cotton swab.

You can see that the bottom case has a hole for the silicon pole installed on the PCB, and that it is a gasket-mounted structure with a silicon pole.

The PCB foam is sandwiched under the switch plate, and the bottom foam is below the PCB.

Underneath the bottom foam are two 3000mAh batteries (6000mAh total) and a daughter board embedded in the bottom case.

The PCB is not directly equipped with wired connection terminals, but is a flat cable that goes through the daughter board.

Hippo65 keystroke review

Frankly, I find it hard to believe that this is a keyboard that can be purchased for around $100.00.

The keystroke feel is silky, and the typing sound is a pleasant image of slightly muted high notes.

It would be more like Creamy or understated Cracky than Thocky.

Advantages and Attractiveness of Hippo65

Amazing quality and low price.

After all, the keyboard’s price point, which is not commensurate with its perfection, is a notable advantage of the Hippo65.

With a gasket-mounted design, five layers of sound-absorbing material, a full aluminum body, a set of custom key switches and keycaps, and a mirror pattern on the back, the specs make it as good as a high-end keyboard, yet it costs only about $100.00! It’s hard not to be amazed.

Design] Great sense of unity between the case and keycap.

After all, we believe that a keyboard is only complete when the case color and keycaps match.

In this regard, the Hippo65 comes “complete” with a set of keycaps, so there is no need to look for keycaps that match the case.

In addition to the “Retro White” offered this time, you will be able to choose a color that suits your taste.

Customized smooth keystroke feel and pleasant keystroke sound

Hiipo65 not only looks good, but also has a very high quality feel and sound.

The pre-lubricated keyswitches are surprisingly smooth, and the pressing pressure is around 40gf, which is popular among Japanese people, so typing will be light.

It is also shorter than the stroke width of a normal keyswitch (approximately 3.4 mm), allowing for fast typing.

Disadvantages of Hippo65 and cautions to check before purchase

Wireless use is not available in Japan (need to devise a way to use it).

　Hippo65 supports triple-mode wired and wireless connections (BT/2.4GHz band), but unfortunately, it is not legally allowed to use wireless connections in Japan due to lack of technical qualification.

Since some provisions in the Radio Law can be interpreted as restricting the use of the product even when it is “with wireless connection capability,” the battery connector used for wireless connection should be disconnected before using the product in Japan.

This content has been simultaneously translated into English for worldwide dissemination. When using wireless connections in countries other than Japan, please follow the laws governing radio waves in those countries.

Keyswitches for wireless mode are not well positioned.

In Hippo65, the wireless connection switch is located next to the CapsLock key.

Therefore, the keycap must be removed to turn the wireless function on and off.

May be resistant to Japanese due to overseas purchase

At this time, the Hippo65 can only be purchased through Kickstarter, and there is no indication that it will be sold to the general public or by a Japanese distributor.

In addition, it is unclear whether future purchases will be available at the Kickstarter price.

Therefore, This is the best chance to purchase Hippo65. However, the hurdle for Japanese is the fact that it is an “overseas mail order”.

For those who are not comfortable with English-language sites, this crowdfunding may also be difficult to participate in.

summary

This is my review of the Hippo65.

Despite the legal barriers to wireless connectivity, the Hippo65 is a keyboard that we rate as a satisfactory value for wired connectivity alone.

I still can’t believe that this can be purchased for around $100.00.

Even those who have multiple mechanical keyboards found this product satisfactory.

It is also ideal for mechanical keyboard beginners who are looking for a “slightly better keyboard with good key feel.

Please get it on Kickstarter!