Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB 82-Key Mechanical Keyboard
Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB By MorganStar Marketing
Specification:
- 82-key layout (75% TKL Type)
- Zorro Switches
- Cherry Stabilizers
- OEM profile
- Gradient RGB LED backlighting
- Low Profile
- USB Connection
- Anodized Aluminum Base
- Glossy Cover Back Plastic
- Antighost Keys: Full Antighost keys
- Key Pressure: 60+/-20gf
- Key Life: More than 50 million times
- Weight: 60+/-20g
- Size: 310.5 x 120 x 36.8 with tolerance of +/- 0.5mm
- Interface: Detachable gold-plated USB interface
- Cable Length: 1.6m
- Macro: Via software
- Up to 3 customized profiles
- Download Software: Ajazz RGB Software
Price: P2,300 (LAZADA Price)
Purchasing Directly from the Seller:
Before anything else, we would like to thank MorganStar Marketing for providing our samples for this review.
— Nielzx
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Unboxing – Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB
Unboxing – Closer Look
The packaging of the Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard is upfront plain and simple. Nothing fancy or extravagant to see. Plain cardboard packaging with some printed branding around the box.
Inside the packaging box, you’ll be greeted with yet another packaging box that’s black in color. Double packaging, that’s nice. A little extra effort from the brand for the consumers. At the very least, this shows that they are trying to give you a premium feeling of owning one of this keyboard. Packaging is also sturdier and more durable this way when in transport compared to the packaging of the non-RGB Gigaware Ajazz Mechanical Keyboard.
The second packaging contains the keyboard itself, the accessories, and some other stuff like the manual, warranty, and certification card that I don’t understand. Every information that you will read from these cards is all written in Mandarin.
The keyboard is cushioned inside by two soft black cushioning foam that’s attached to the keyboard on both sides. This provides protection for the keyboard when in transit.
Unboxing – Accessories & Protection
As what we have previously mentioned, the Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard is protected by these two black foam. The foam holds the keyboard inside the box and prevents it from moving. That way, the keyboard will prevent anysort of damage during transit.
The Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard comes with some extra accessories. These accessories include a small brush for cleaning your keyboard, a keycap puller, a few papers with contents written in Mandarin language, and the detachable USB cable.
The detachable USB cable is quite sturdy and durable if you ask me. The cable is thick, 1.6 meters in lenght, and doesn’t feel cheap. The USB cable has one (1) standard USB 1.1 male on one end and one (1) USB Mini-b (5pin) on the other end. Both USB plugs are gold plated.
Closer Look – Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB
Out of the box, the very first thing that you will notice with the Gigare Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard is its keyboard layout design. This keyboard boasts a TKL 75% Compact keyboard layout design. It’s a rare sight to see this kind of layout. I’m also not aware of any brands that also uses this kind of keyboard layout.
The USB Mini-b (5pin) female that is built-in on the keyboard is located at the upper left of the keyboard when the keyboard is facing you. Nothing fancy or important to see.
Looking at the sides, the keyboard has an open suspended key style with anodized alloy panel base. This is to increase the effectiveness of the RGB Led backlighting. So when you plug the keyboard, the Led lights will appear stronger and brighter.
Each keycap also has different angles and height to accommodate that ergonomic design. This is also great for typists.
Looking closer at the keycaps, it uses a “+” socket design. This allows you to replace the keycap to your preference or to any other keycaps that are customized to fit any Cherry Mx or Kailh keyboards.
The Gigaware Ajazz RGB AK33 Mechanical Keyboard that we have here in our labs uses a black Zorro switch.
Facts – Zorro Switches
Zorro switches, is it the first time you ever heard of them? Well to make things simple, Zorro switches is another Chinese brand type of switches that copies or imitates, or at least tried to, Cherry MX Switches. These kind of switches are more popular and are very common among mechanical keyboards that are being sold for a very low price.
Are they interchangeable? Yes. You just have to remove the back cover of the keyboard and unsolder the switches.
Experience wise, the one we have here seems to be consistent and equally thorough through all out each of the switches. It’s not disappointing in a way but also not that satisfying. There is somehow some inconsistency among the keys. Some tend to activate without pressing the key halfway while some tend to not activate unless you really press the key.
Overall, you wouldn’t notice the difference if you’re not that picky. However, if you’re coming from a long time Cherry MX switch user, you definitely will.
Closer Look – Backside
The backside of the Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard doesn’t have much anything to show. The backside has a very glossy design that makes the keyboard look cheap. Glossy plastic tends to be scratched easily and can easily get dirty as well. The backside also shows a bigger Ajazz engrave branding.Lastly, the backside uses rubber feet, similar to the rubbery feel of a pencil eraser, and an angle adjusting stand that also uses rubber footing to prevent the keyboard from moving while typing or gaming.
Lastly, the backside uses rubber feet, similar to the rubbery feel of a pencil eraser, and an angle adjusting stand that also uses rubber footing to prevent the keyboard from moving while typing or gaming.
Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Backlighting Modes
About the backlit of the Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard, it has:
- 19 backlighting modes controlled by FN + F8.
- Go with the Stream
- Clouds Fly
- Winding Paths
- The Trial of Light
- Breathing
- Normally On
- Pass without Trace
- Fast Run without Trace
- Snow Winter Jasmine
- Flowers Blooming
- Swift Action
- Hurricane
- Accumulate
- Digital Times
- Surmount
- Both Ways
- Fast and the Furious
- Custom Backlit Mode (FN + ~)
- With this mode, you can set a specific color for each key.
- To change each key to a specific color, you have to press (FN + ~) twice then press the key that you want to have a specific color or do it via software.
- Customization on certain modes:
- Change the mode to a single color by pressing FN + Right Arrow Key.
- You can reverse the direction of the backlit effect by pressing FN + Left Arrow Key.
- Access the custom backlit mode via FN + ~ Key.
- Change the speed of the backlit for example, the wave, by pressing FN + “+/-“. “+” increases the speed while “-” decreases the speed.
- 6 different level of brightness controlled by FN + UP or DOWN arrow key.
Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Software Driver
Download Here: Ajazz Software Driver
The software driver is fairly simple to setup and the UI is easy to navigate. Good job Ajazz for making this software user-friendly. With the software, you can pretty much do more customization with the AK33 RGB such as setting up a macro or a profile, change the report polling rate from 125Hz to 1000Hz, and as well as adjust the speed of the backlit and the brightness.
Custom Backlit Mode
To access the custom backlit mode via shortcut keys, you have to press (FN + ~). To change the backlit color of a specific key via shortcut key, press (FN + ~) again or press it twice if you have not pressed it yet then press the key you want to change the backlit color. Once you’re done, press the (FN + ~) key to close the change color mode.
With the custom backlit mode UI, you are provided with 4 pre-set profiles and those are FPS, MMO, MOBA, and RTS. Each has their own pre-configured settings with different backlit configuration.
You can also set and chose a different color to any key that you would like to change with this software.
Sadly, there seems to be an inaccuracy through all out the color configuration. For example, you pick a color, say green apple. You then tried to set that color on the “A” key. The keyboard will show a different color, in this case, it will be blue instead of green. This issue seems to be persistent through all out the keyboard. Except for certain basic colors such as red, blue, etc…
Gallery
Conclusion
So here are the things that are worth highlighting and emphasizing for this keyboard after experiencing it.
The Positive Side
- The main selling point of the Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard is its selling price. For just PHP2,100 ~ 2,300, you can have a real mechanical keyboard with that RGB goodness and a unique TKL 75% compact keyboard design. The overall design makes this keyboard unique on its own and it is also probably the reason why this keyboard is in its own league. Offering you a nonstandard keyboard layout that fits any theme or setup and unique in its own way.
- The price is somewhat similar to the more popular keyboard like the Rakk Kimat RGB but this keyboard could be cheaper if you buy directly from the manufacturer or from the distributor. Since the price we have here is the LAZADA price, every product that is being sold on the LAZADA platform tends to be pricier than the usual selling price.
- Another worth mentioning is the added value that comes with the overall package. The brush and the keycap puller may be nothing to some but that’s still a considerable free added value for the consumer. It would be nice though if they can include a free WASD clear keycaps or a different design.
- The Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard we have here uses the Zorro black switches. To be honest on this one, the Zorro black switches closely resemble the experience when using a keyboard with Cherry MX black switches. I’m not sure but it feels better than Kailh black switches. It feels right when you’re typing on it although it lacks that tactile feedback that I like with the blue switches.
The Negative Side
Despite having a good design overall, this keyboard also has a number of negative points for us.
- RGB makes every peripheral sell to an unbelievable price range. However, the RGB backlit of this keyboard is not that really great. You’re given more of an RGB basic backlighting. It lacks in the color range department and tends to give you an incorrect color when you chose a specific color via the software.
- If you try to change the color of a single key via shortcut keys, you will notice that you’re only given 9 different colors and that includes an off state.
- The inaccuracy of the backlit color is too great and noticeable for this keyboard.
- The software is without a doubt a very friendly user software driver but the inaccuracy when picking a color will definitely be a turnoff. You will not even know that there is a software available for download if you will not specifically search for it.
- Why is the guide written in Chinese? I don’t speak Chinese.
- I’m not sure but I find the packaging to be a waste. A box within a box. If removing the double box packaging will lower the selling price, I’d rather have a single box packaging than a double box packaging.
Final Thoughts…
Performance wise, the Gigaware Ajazz AK33 RGB Mechanical Keyboard is a decent keyboard considering all its flaws. It’s a decent entry-level keyboard that gives you a taste of every delicious feature that you can get from a keyboard. Nonetheless, it’s not something to replace your keyboard. Especially if you’re coming from a long time Cherry MX, Kailh, or Razer switch user.
I have to say that this keyboard did not disappoint me at all in terms of performance.The Zorro black switch did resemble the feeling of typing on a Cherry MX black switch keyboard.
One thing that they could further improve or work on is the inaccuracy of the backlit color. As we already have mentioned above, when changing the color of a specific key via software, the keyboard will give you a different color from the one you selected. I guess you really shouldn’t expect much from a cheap keyboard. Given that it works as a mechanical RGB backlit keyboard out of the box.
Lastly, to my surprise, you will find more customization available for you via software. The software provides options for macros, profiles, and polling rate. However, I wish they informed you about the software because you will not even know about the software at all. I only found out about the software driver because our sample provider told me about it.
Overall, if you can ignore its major flaws then this will really be a good keyboard. Something that is above decent. A keyboard that will give you the value for your money. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t want any issue with every product you buy then this keyboard will disappoint you.
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5 Comments
Great Review! Hmmm.. should I go for this one (going to change the keycaps to white) or the Motospeed K87s? Need for a white themed Gaming PC.
I have the same model but mine doesn’t have RGB and it is white. I would say this keyboard is just about as good as the review states. The black switches do seem like they have different actuation heights sometimes, but as someone who is used to gaming on membrane keyboards, I’m pretty used to bottoming out the keys on every press, so it doesn’t make a huge difference to me. I’m really happy with it so far and I’ve had it probably for about 2-3 weeks.
how to change light for my kb white ajazz
HELP ………. A JAZZ AK33 Black : How do I find the function keys for : PC Screen Only, Duplicate, Extend, Second Only commands.
Many Thanks
Ken.
a JAZZ
can someone please give me the lid lighs mm size voltage and amp i want to install led’s in my keyboad replay me on email [email protected]