IRISLab JRIS65 Custom Keyboard Review: Better Than QK65?

The price range {custom} keyboard world is hotter than ever, and right this moment we’re probably the most sudden and thrilling releases up to now this 12 months: the JRIS65 from IRISLab. Beginning at $150, this keyboard is shaping as much as be a sleeper hit. Competing instantly with the likes of the QwertyKeys QK65 and the Keychron Q2, it has an entry-level value and enthusiast-grade options, together with a modern design, mirrored PVD weights, a full foam loadout to tune your personal sound, VIA compatibility, and extra. The JRIS65 is shockingly good for the cash. 

We wish to thank MyKeyClub for sending this prototype unit for evaluate,

Specs

• Present Value: $155 – 255 (Discord, Geekhack,  Reddit)
• Typing angle: 6°
• Entrance peak:19.3mm
• Gasket mount construction
• PCB with USB-C daughterboard
• PCB and plate flex cuts
• PCB gasket jackets or socks
• QMK/VIA Supported (excluding BT PCB)
• PCB stabilizers assist (not included)
• Out there Case Colours: E-White, Yellow, Black, Milky-White, E-White + Black, Maroon + Black, Navy + Black, Titanium Gray+Black, Yellow + Black, Pink
• Weight Choices: 
• Anodized Aluminum Weight: Black, Silver, and Gold
• PVD Mirror Chrome steel Weight: Gold, Silver, Black, and Chroma
• PCB Choices: 1.2mm Black core Hotswap PCB, 1.2mm Black core Solder PCB, 1.2mm 5.2 Bluetooth hotswap PCB (battery included)
• Plate Choices: PC, POM, FR4, Aluminum, Brass (Add-on Solely), Black Core FR4
• What’s Included:
• Full CNC Aluminum Case
• Weight( Anodized Alu/ PVD Mirror)
• PCB (Hotswap/ Soldered/ Bluetooth)
• Plate (PC/ FR4/ Alu/POM)
• Sort-C Daughterboard
• IXPE Foam
• Poron Plate Foam
• Poron Case Foam
• Masking paper for PCB
• JST Cable
• 10 * gasket jackets
• 20 * gasket socks
• 1 Set of PCB Shims
• 1 Set of Footpad
• 1 Set of screws
• Battery (Just for the Bluetooth model?
• USB-Sort C keyboard cable
• Carrying Case

IRISLab JRIS65 – What Is It?

The IRISLAB JRIS65 (previously the IRIS65) is the newest in a rising catalog of reasonably priced {custom} keyboards that intention to open the interest as much as a wider viewers. It joins the likes of the CannonKeys Bakeneko65, Meletrix Zoom65, and QwertyKeys QK65, providing a full aluminum case and a set of fanatic options to permit you to tailor the typing expertise precisely to your style. 

Priced at solely $150 to start out and topping out at $240, it affords a shocking quantity for the cash. The case is designed to be without delay minimalist and crowd pleasing. There aren’t any seen screws, and when seen from the highest or facet, it seems pretty easy (although has some good angle-work to create a extra fascinating facet profile than the competitors). 

Flip it over or view it from the again and also you’ll discover a pair of weights that basically make issues fascinating. One is positioned on the underside of the board, however the second installs alongside the again edge. Enterprise within the entrance, occasion within the again, certainly! Whenever you order the keyboard, you’re given a selection for the way you desire to these weights to look (in addition to the colour of the case). The best and most reasonably priced are anodized aluminum in silver or gold. For an additional $40, you’ll be able to improve to PVD-coated, mirror completed chrome steel. You’ll be able to decide up this model for below $200, which is form of superb. 

The mannequin I used to be despatched is the black variant with chroma PVD weights. There are numerous different coloration choices out there which you’ll view within the specs above. The chroma end means the weights are rainbow coloured and completed with a mirror’s shine. They appear completely attractive and are value the additional $40 in the event you like a little bit of aesthetic aptitude along with your keyboard past the case (and who doesn’t?). IRISLab even goes as far as to incorporate {custom} lower TPU movie protectors for the weights so you’ll be able to keep away from scratching them. It is a small however very welcome addition as mirrored weights are likely to scratch from a stern look. 

The case additionally follows a screwless design, hiding its fasteners below the keycaps. That is one other function that’s often reserved for dearer keyboards. That clean, unbroken end is well-liked amongst fanatics, although it does make meeting and disassembly barely extra difficult. 

It incorporates a compact 65% format, which implies it does away with the operate row and numpad, however retains the arrow keys and a collection of devoted navigation and modifying buttons in a column alongside the fitting facet. It’s an amazing center floor for gaming and productiveness, whereas additionally not taking over an excessive amount of further house in your desk. 

The PCB is very fascinating. For starters, simply have a look at it. It’s one of many nicest wanting PCBs I’ve ever seen. The pink tracers are in line with a pink and black theme that carries by to the again of the PCB. It’s crammed with flex cuts between the rows, however the typing sounds don’t sound lifeless due to it (extra on that later). IRISLab is making it out there with hotswap, solder, and Bluetooth choices, however be aware that the BT model won’t assist VIA or QMK.

The PCB may be very suitable with totally different format choices too. The hotswap PCB helps stepped Caps Lock, cut up Left Shift and Backspace, and ISO enter keys. The solder model provides the choice for a 7u spacebar in a Tsangan format  on high of that. There isn’t a possibility for a cut up spacebar, not less than with the present prototype, however the degree of compatibility right here is actually spectacular for the worth. 

There are additionally loads of choices for plates too. You will have default choices of PC, POM, FR4, and aluminum, however may order a brass plate at an extra value. I used to be despatched a PC for this evaluate. Relying on the way you select to construct the keyboard, it may be both mushy and flexy to fairly agency, which brings us to the foams and gasket construction. 

Like most different {custom} keyboards in the mean time, the JRIS65 makes use of a gasket mount construction. As a substitute of screwing the PCB meeting on to the case, mushy silicone gaskets are connected to tabs on the PCB which are then sandwiched between each halves of the case when screwed collectively. This reduces vibrations, quiets the keyboard, and permits the sound of the switches to return out extra (versus the reverberation contained in the case). IRISLab features a set of lengthy gaskets that cowl the entire tab (jackets) or smaller “socks” that simply cowl the tip. These are fast and straightforward to slide on and are a lot simpler than the same old PORON adhesive strips. 

The JRIS65 additionally features a full stack of foams, in addition to a custom-cut tape for the again of the PCB. There are 4 layers in complete: a sheet of PORON plate foam, IXPE swap foam, and two case foams. I’ll talk about extra in my efficiency part, however you’ll wish to use not less than one case foam for the perfect expertise right here. The tape and IXPE foam are non-compulsory however positively improve the general pop of the keyboard. 

Like most {custom} keyboard kits, there aren’t any switches, keycaps, or stabilizers included on this package. I might have favored to have seen a set of stabilizers included not less than (the Bakeneko, Zoom65, and QK65 all embrace stabs), however this isn’t in any respect uncommon for a DIY package. It helps five-pin switches and so they’re south-facing for wider compatibility with Cherry profile keycaps. There isn’t a RGB on this keyboard both, so that you gained’t want to fret about discovering translucent switches or something of the type. Screw-in stabilizers are supported, in fact. 

Lastly, IRISLab contains a few different extras with this package. It is available in a pleasant, hardback journey case, much like these we’ve seen on different keyboards of this sort, in addition to a coiled cable. 

With that background out of the way in which, have a hearken to the way it sounds after which I’ll share my ideas on meeting and the typing expertise it affords. 

IRISLab JRIS65 – Typing Demo 

IRISLab JRIS65 – Sound, Really feel, and Efficiency

Within the sound pattern above, you’re listening to the keyboard outfitted with every part it comes with besides a single case foam which doesn’t influence sound a lot in any respect. I constructed the keyboard utilizing Gateron Oil King switches lubed with Krytox 205g0 and C3 Equalz V3 stabilizers, additionally lubed with Krytox and holee modded utilizing the included Soulmate strips. This configuration contains the PE foam and the included tape. 

My general impression may be very, very constructive. What we have now here’s a keyboard that comes proper alongside the QK65 and gives a barely clackier different with some improved options. Utilizing the tape and PE foam, typing sounds are expectedly poppy. The rear tape is fairly skinny, nonetheless, and isn’t doing very a lot for the sound general (I primarily saved it on for seems to be… that nobody will see… however makes me joyful understanding it’s there). 

The froth configuration has a direct influence on the sound and really feel of the keyboard. I constructed the keyboard utilizing all three choices for case foam (none, one foam, and two foams). Utilizing each foams actually cuts down on the flex and gives a extra muted typing expertise. No case foams, nonetheless, makes the keyboard sound a bit hole and lose a few of its allure. I went with a single foam configuration to land within the center, however Poly-fill could also be one other good choice to have much more flex. 

With this configuration, typing is mushy and has a slight quantity of give below the fingers for regular keystrokes. You’ll be able to push on the keys and see a average quantity of motion, however the construct right here is much less about bounce and extra about dampening and sound tuning. 

The important thing factor right here is that IRISLab is providing you with choices. If you need a poppy, clackier sound, use the PE foam and tape. If you need a deeper sound, don’t. If you need extra give, take away a case foam. If you happen to like typing to really feel extra agency, use each foams and the gasket jackets. These are precisely the form of choices newcomers to the interest will respect. It is a keyboard that allows you to mess around and actually hone in on a sound and really feel that’s best for you.

On the similar time, there are a few quirks right here. Like all circumstances that cover the screws below the keycaps, meeting and disassembly is barely harder. The JST cable can be frustratingly brief. Between these two qualities, I discovered that I actually didn’t wish to open the case once more as soon as it was constructed. 

Neither, nonetheless, is a giant deal. Within the grand scheme of issues, these are minor nitpicks towards a keyboard that’s offering actual worth for the cash. It’s an early launch from IRISLab, however they’re popping out swinging with a keyboard that jumps to the highest three entry {custom} keyboard kits you should buy proper now, standing proper alongside the QK65.

However does it beat it? That’s a difficult query and an unfair one. These two keyboards are very related, a lot so that almost all variations are actually going to be a matter of style. The QK65 has a barely deeper sound when constructed with out the silicone base and has a contact extra flex when typing. The JRISLab has a extra fascinating look general and has extra choices for its weights. It additionally features a USB daughterboard.

As an proprietor of each boards, you actually can’t go unsuitable with both. They’re hitting on most of the similar notes, value the same value, have the same feel and appear… on the finish of the day, it’s actually going to return down as to whether you need the marginally deeper sound of the QK65 or want the look and coloration choices of 1 versus the opposite. 

These two keyboards stand facet by facet — however make no mistake: till the JRIS65, the QK65 was the excessive water mark for keyboards at this value. The JRIS comes proper alongside it, stepping over the opposite competitors, and has made itself a compelling different, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Last Ideas

If you happen to’ve been watching the {custom} keyboard group and are able to take the dive and construct your personal keyboard package, the JRIS65 is a really glorious possibility that appears sure to impress. Deliver your personal switches, keycaps, and stabilizers, and this package will provide you with a typing expertise that competes with dearer kits and wins in worth. As an early mission from IRISLab, that is downright thrilling and cements the studio as one to observe sooner or later. 

The product described on this article was supplied by the producer for analysis functions.