CheckMag | Early Black Friday deals on mechanical keyboards deliver massive discounts and premium features
There are a number of reasons to get into mechanical keyboards, from an improved typing feel to added features, or even potential gaming benefits, but mechanical keyboards usually cost well north of $100, putting them out of reach of many buyers. A handful of mechanical keyboard manufacturers have already announced and made live their Black Friday sales for the year, making their mechanical keyboards far more affordable.
This list will be updated as more deals are announced, as long as they're worth your time.
1. Akko Midnight 5087S QMK - 28% off
Akko is known for making affordable, unique custom mechanical keyboards that are generally high-quality and comfortable to type on. The Akko Midnight 5087S QMK takes Akko's design philosophy and general appeal and packages it into an affordable, customisable, pre-built mechanical keyboard that looks the part. During Akko's Black Friday sale, the Midnight 5087S QMK is discounted from its already affordable standard price of $69.99 to a very palatable $49.99.
Akko Midnight 5087S QMK key features:
- Standard TKL layout
- Cherry profile double-shot PBT keycaps
- Per-key RGB lighting
- Hot-swappable PCB with support for 3- and 5-pin switches
- Available with Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro (45 gf, tactile) and Akko V3 Cream Yellow Pro (50 gf linear) switches
The Midnight 5087 QMK is a wired-exclusive keyboard and connects via a USB type-C cable Akko's Black Friday sale also applies to many other keyboards on its store, so if you're looking for a wireless option, you can pick up something like the Akko YU01 for $99.99, down from $129.99, or the JIN01 The King's Avatar - Ye Xiu, which comes in at $79.99, down from a $119.99.
Both of the aforementioned keyboards feature Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz connectivity, and the JIN01 comes with Akko's Rosewood switches, which impressed in our recent review of the MU01 Joy of Life keyboard.
2. Keychron Store BFCM sale - up to 25% off, with free shipping on some orders
Keychron has officially announced its Black Friday Cyber Monday 2024 deals on its Q Pro and K Pro keyboard series, which start on November 21 and will last until December 3. In addition to individual discounts, the Black Friday Cyber Monday deals include another $30 off and free shipping on accessories when buying a keyboard and an accessory together.
The Keychron K Pro and Q Pro mechanical keyboards include some unique designs with nifty features like customisable knobs, minimalist looks, and Keychron's typical support for customisation in VIA and Keychron Launcher. Keychron's mechanical keyboards are known for quality keycaps, premium materials and build quality, and decent sound right out of the box.
Whether you're looking for a full-size keyboard, a compact 1800 layout, or an 80% board with a knob, Keychron's K Pro and Q Pro discounts will have something for you.
3. Epomaker EP64 compact 60% wireless mechanical keyboard - 23% off
The Epomaker EP64 is currently discounted by up to 23% on Amazon, depending on which switch option you choose, coming in at $45.99 for all the variants of the EP64 during the discount. The EP64 features a cutesy pink and purple colour scheme, which Epomaker calls Bauhinia, and a flat keycap profile, which looks a lot like a DSA or XDA, although Epomaker doesn't specify a keycap profile.
Epomaker EP64 key specs and features
- Compact 60% layout with dedicated arrow keys
- Hot-swap PCB with 3/5-pin switch compatibility
- Tri-mode connectivity with Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz, and USB type-C
- Dye-sublimated PBT keycaps with purple and pink colour scheme
- 2,000 mAh battery
With the Epomaker Flamingo linear switch, the EP64 usually costs $59.99, making for the largest discount, while the EP64 with the Epomaker Mulan switch is only discounted by 18% from its usual price of $54.99. All three switches (Wisteria, Flamingo, and Mulan) available in the EP64's stock configurations are linear switches, although they are made of different materials and each have different travel properties.
- Wisteria switch: POM+PTFE stem, PC top housing, PA66 bottom housing, 45 gf actuation force, 2.2 mm actuation distance, 3.6 mm total travel
- Flamingo switch: POM stem, PC housing, dual spring, 47–60 gf actuation force, 1.5–2 mm actuation distance, 3.8 mm total travel
- Mulan switch: POM stem, PC top housing, Nylon bottom housing, 47–60 gf actuation force, 3.8 mm total travel
The EP64 has an ABS case and steel plate, although it doesn't feature a gasket mount or any cushioning, meaning it might have somewhat of a loud profile and a stiffer typing feel.
4. Keychron Q7 70% mechanical keyboard with QMK support - 60% off
The Keychron Q7 is discounted by 60% on the Amazon-owned Woot store, coming in at $79.99, down from the regular price of $199.99 (although it is listed on the Keychron store at $179.99). The Q7 makes for a reasonably priced entry into the mechanical keyboard world that could also very well serve as the last keyboard you'll need — at least for a while. Unlike many of the other keyboards on this list, it does not feature wireless connectivity, instead opting for a trusty USB type-C cable, instead.
Keychron Q7 key specs and features
- Double-shot PBT keycaps with OSA profile
- Gateron G Pro linear, tactile, or clicky switches in 3/5-pin hot-swap PCB
- Compact 70% layout
- QMK/VIA and Keychron Launcher customisation support
- South-facing RGBs for Cherry keycap support
- Tri-mode connectivity with
- Gasket mount and case and plate foam for improved typing sound and feel
- 1,000 Hz polling rate for gaming
When it comes to quality entry-level mechanical keyboards, Keychron is always a safe bet. The Keychron launcher software is very intuitive to use — even more so than VIA, and Keychron uses high-quality materials for both the case and keycaps. While the Gateron G Pro switches are often regarded as middle-of-the-road, they're generally consistent and dependable, especially the red linear switches, and especially after some lubrication. If you're really not in love with the switches, though, they're easy enough to swap out with something like a full-POM switch by Womier ($13.99 for 35 switches on Amazon).
5. Gamakay LK75 75% mechanical keyboard with display knob - 30% off
Screens and knobs have become something of a trend in the mechanical keyboard space, and the Gamakay LK75 combines both features into one large knob with a TFT screen built into the top of it. The TFT display can be customised to do a number of things, including displaying the time or a custom GIF, or for basic keyboard controls and information, like displaying the OS mode, battery percentage, and connectivity mode.
The screen and knob can also be used to adjust settings, like keyboard backlighting effects, brightness, and colours, and it can be customised to do different things in the operating system.
Gamakay LK75 specs and features
- 75% layout
- Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz, and USB type-C connectivity
- 5,000 mAh battery
- MDA profile dye-sublimated keycaps with a space theme and pudding-style transparent bottoms
- Available in pre-lubed linear, tactile or silent switch options
- Hot-swap PCB compatible with 3/5-pin switches
- ABS case with top mount design
For the discounted price of $89.99 (down from $129.99), the Gamakay LK75 offers unique visual flair and interesting added functionality via the display-knob combo. In addition to the 30% discount on the Gamakay website, the Black Friday sale also includes free shipping, which could be a tremendous value add, depending on where you are located.
6. Epomaker X Leobog Hi75 75% aluminium gasket-mount keyboard - 50% off
The Epomaker X Leobog Hi75 is a budget wired mechanical keyboard that sells itself as a gaming keyboard with enthusiast-level build quality and features. It features a compact 75% layout with a customisable knob in the top right corner of the case. It also comes with a braided, coiled USB type-C cable in the box, which adds a premium feel. At just $49.99 on Amazon (50% off), the Epomaker X Leobog Hi75 is a great entry into the mechanical keyboard world.
Epomaker X Leobog Hi75 specs and features
- Wired USB type-C connectivity only
- Dye-sublimated PBT keycaps
- 1,000 Hz polling rate
- CNC aluminium case with a gasket mount
- Hot-swap PCB for 3/5-pin switches
- Stock with Leobog Reaper linear switch
- South-facing per-key RGB backlight
The polycarbonate plate, foam gasket mount, and five-layers of sound dampening foam should round out the sound and add up to a fairly comfortable typing feel. Likewise, the Leobog Reaper linear switch features a fairly lightweight 36 gf initial force with a bottom-out force of 55 gf, and they feature a POM stem, which should keep the switches feeling smooth for a good long while.
7. Luminkey store-wide sale - up to 20% off
Luminkey offers a wide variety of pre-built mechanical keyboards and kits for DIY keyboard builders, and for Black Friday, it is offering a store-wide discount, with 10% off on orders over $100, 15% off orders over $200, and 20% off orders over $300. Admittedly, these discounts are nothing to write home about, but they're also nothing to scoff at, especially given Luminkey's selection of unique keyboards.
A perfect example of Luminkey's innovation is the Luminkey98, which is an 1800 layout (98%) enthusiast-grade aluminium gasket-mount keyboard with a modular design that allows for swapping the num pad from the regular position on the right to the south-paw configuration. It's not a cheap keyboard, at $220 ($187 after the 15% discount), but it has a premium build and unique layout options.
Luminkey also makes very refined regular keyboards, like the Luminkey65, which is a hot-swap custom mechanical keyboard with an aluminium case and subdued looks in a variety of colours and keycap options.
8. Yunzii YZ87 75% gasket mount wireless keyboard
Yunzii is quickly becoming a popular brand in the budget mechanical keyboard market, and the brand's Black Friday sale has made the Yunzii YZ87 even cheaper than usual.
The YZ87 is a compact TKL keyboard with a plastic case, a very minimalist design, and decent quality of life features for the price, especially discounted to just $39.66 on Amazon.
Yunzii YZ87 specs and features
- Tri-mode connectivity (Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz, and USB type-C)
- 5,000 mAh battery
- 3/5-pin hot-swappable switch sockets
- South-facing RGB LEDs
- Double-shot PBT keycaps in the Cherry profile
- Software customisation on Windows
Yunzii says that the five-layer filler construction (gasket mount, PE foam sandwich, IXPE film, sound deadening plate foam, and a silicone case pad) dampens the sound profile and reduces echoes. The gasket mount design uses a poron foam gasket, which usually only provides marginal improvements to the typing feel but complements a plastic construction well.
