I have reviewed many mechanical keyboards for several years now and it surprises me that I have not reviewed a KEMOVE mechanical keyboard until this beauty, the KEMOVE K87 1980 Mechanical Keyboard.
China has no doubt been coming out full force in gaming mechanical keyboards for several years now, but I have to say, these last 2-3 years have been phenomenal. And I have to say, the quality has surpassed the top brand names out there.
Sure, almost every mechanical keyboard is manufactured in China and there is no doubt that in the past, there were many clones sold at lower prices. But I think we are starting to see a shift where companies are seeing more and more people now willing to purchase non-top brand gaming keyboards for the same or better quality at a lower price point.
Kemove is based in Shenzhen, China (the country’s tech megacity) known for its computers, electronics and telecommunications and while I am not sure how long the company has been in existence, it is known that it was added to the Keyboard Builder’s Digest back in September 2022.
So, let’s deep dive into the KEMOVE K87 1980 Mechanical Keyboard.
First, let me first comment on the aesthetics. You can tell already this is different than other Chinese mechanical keyboards from its weight, from its look (look underneath, it’s not even basic, Keymove has its name underneath in not a shabby print but as part of its case!).
The keyboard comes with a detachable, Universal 4000mAh Lithium battery with NTC Temperature Control Protection (the battery has an extended battery life and it can be replaced).
They mechanical keyboard comes with Gateron High Stability Fine-Tuning Satellite Switches (you can choose blue, brown or red), Foldable Two Stage Dual-Color Footstand, PBT Keycaps with 3 color combinations.
I chose blue, which comes with white and black keycaps. I also got the Diamond Silence Red Linear Switch version. Red is known for its quietness and for the most part, the main keys are silent, the space bar is a bit loud, but nothing distracting. In fact there are silicone pads under switches for silence and also a bottom silent silicon.
Connectivity is bluetooth, USB-C to USB-A and also wireless via 2.4G receiver.
The keyboard itself is 80% TKL 87-Key and the modes are shown via LED lighting. In fact, also included is a battery charge detector. Red being 0-2.0%, green being 20-80% and blue being 80-100%.`
And let’s say you don’t like Gateron switches. No problem, the keyboard is hot-swappable (PCB support is 3 pins/5 pins switches)
While a little heavy, it does have an ABS upper housing and ABS bottom shell with a silicone non-slip mat.
And for those curious about the lighting, it does come with a dynamic retro neon multicolor backlight (15 built in modes). Function key plus various buttons (ie. FN+Win, FN+Tab, FN+Capslock, FN+Backspace, FN+Spacebar) will lead to color changes or increase/decrease lighting speeds.
Now you are probably wondering what the “1980” is reference to. Well, I think the best way to explain this is what it is and what it’s not. What it’s not, is not based on the ’80s keyboards of personal computers at the time. Considering most keyboards back then were white that faded yellow back in the day or had this tannish color. No, this is not that kind of reference.
I think moreso of today’s younger generation’s perspective of the ’80s through SynthWave music. It’s all the rage of today’s young whippersnappers (joking) that love those neon blues, pinks, reds, purples, etc. But you do have LED choices, and you can change the lighting on the sides of the keyboard to stay a static color.
But I have to say that I really like this keyboard a lot! It’s quite modern, stylish and it lasts quite a while on a charged battery. It also works well on Bluetooth but for me, I prefer mine plugged in via USB-C to USB, as I don’t like risking any kind of latency. But for the most part, it worked well on all three modes.
Last but not least, there are instructions provided and it’s in Chinese and English.
My first foray into KEMOVE mechanical keyboards is quite positive. I’m actually impressed of how well it’s made and how KEMOVE distinguishes themselves from the competition.
While a little more expensive compared to other Chinese mechanical keyboards, the quality of this keyboard, the durability of its casing, the higher than usual rechargeable battery that is removable and of course, the ability of hot swap makes KEMOVE K87 1980 Mechanical Keyboard worth owning!
Recommended!
