M2 V5 VIA

If you want a quiet keyboard, you need to get silent switches and replace the "percussive" ones that come with it. There's a whole mythos that's grown up about the noise keyboards make. You can get a set of Outemu silent switches for about $18-$25 depending on the size of your keyboard. * https://www.amazon.com/PAKJEL-Outemu-Pre-Lubed-Mechanical-Keyboard/dp/B0CFF76YRG * https://www.amazon.com/KPREPUBLIC-Tactile-Mechanical-Keyboard-Factory/dp/B0D773KH74 * https://www.amazon.com/KPREPUBLIC-Outemu-Mechanical-Keyboard-Tactile/dp/B0BZ48GW7K * https://www.amazon.com/Metrickeys-Pre-Lubed-Tactile-Mechanical-Keyboard/dp/B0DQQ3T3RH Try one of these keyboards: * [Redragon K717 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Redragon-K717-Programmable-Mechanical-Dampening/dp/B0DL578X3K) * ($30) * [CIDOO QK61](https://www.amazon.com/MechLands-QK61-Programmable-Swappable-Mechanical/dp/B0D8VMD3P3) * ($60) * [Skyloong GK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/MOLGRIA-Dual-Space-Swappable-Double-Shot-Mechanical/dp/B0CZ9F8P76) * ($54) * [Royal Kludge RK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-Mechanical-Ultra-Compact/dp/B089GN2KBT) * ($40) * [Womier WK61 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/COSTOM-WK61-PRO-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0F5HYHWY8) * ($31) * [Womier VK66 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Percent-Keyboard-Mechanical-Mounted-Backlit/dp/B0CDC14PL5) * ($39) * [KBDcraft Adam 60%](https://kbdcraft.store/products/adam) * ($70 lego case) * [KBDCraft Lilith 65%](https://kbdcraft.store/products/lilith) ($85 lego case) * [Akko YU01](https://www.amazon.com/Akko-Mechanical-Transparent-Swappable-Bluetooth/dp/B0DJ77MY6V) * ($129) * [XVX M67 Jadestone](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHCRJPR6) * ($47) * [Inland Gaming MK Pro 75](https://www.microcenter.com/product/664376/inland-gaming-mk-pro-75-barebones-keyboard) * ($85 barebones, $100 prebuilt) * [Womier RD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-RD75-Pro-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DG82QD1X) ($95 w/ coupon) * [Kiiboom Loop75](https://www.amazon.com/KiiBoom-Loop-75-Structure-Mechanical/dp/B0D62RNXXM) * ($85 w/ coupon) * [Womier WD75](https://womierkeyboard.com/products/womier-wd75) * (wood! $86, $76 without the ugly caps) * [Glencreag WK84](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYDM9N49) * (wood! $95 w/ coupon) * [Jamesdonkey J2](https://www.amazon.com/JamesDonkey-Wireless-Mechanical-Keyboard-Swappable/dp/B0DQWL5GS7) * (make sure you get the hotswap version) * [Redragon K715](https://www.amazon.com/Redragon-K715-Programmable-Mechanical-Dedicated/dp/B0DKXLDJ24) * ($32.50) * [Royal Kludge RK R65 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R65-Mechanical/dp/B0CNP1BG1W) * (make sure you get the QMK/VIA version, $48 with coupon) * [Royal Kludge RK R75 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R75-Mechanical/dp/B0CWGR5KM9) (make sure you get the QMK/VIA version, $51 with coupon) * [Royal Kludge RK R87 Pro QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R87-Pro/dp/B0D5B2LRB5) (hotswap knob(!), $55) * [iLoveBee B87](https://www.amazon.com/iLovBee-Wireless-Mechanical-Bluetooth-Swappable/dp/B0D1XLXGBK) ($51) * [ElecFox Linky87](https://www.elecfox.co/products/linky-87-tkl-customized-mechanical-keyboard-87-keys-wired-wireless-bluetooth-led-gaming-keyboard) ($40) * [Monsgeek M1 v5](https://www.monsgeek.com/product/monsgeek-m1-v5-via-1980s-mechanical-keyboard/) ($95) * [Akko 5075B VIA](https://en.akkogear.com/product/5075b-via) ($60 barebones) * YMDK [YMD75](https://ymdkey.com/collections/75-diy) ($64-$110 diy) and [YMD96](https://ymdkey.com/collections/96-diy) ($60-$142 diy) * [Monsgeek M2 v5 VIA](https://www.monsgeek.com/product/monsgeek-m2-v5-via-mechanical-keyboard) ($120) [More](https://github.com/ArgentStonecutter/keyboards/blob/main/via-boards.md)...

100% only or will 96% do? The Yunzii IF99 looks like a good deal, and the Monsgeek M2 v5 VIA is a prime product.

Anything with QMK firmware, it's 2026, there's so many great keyboards with QMK firmware it seems a shame to put up with proprietary firmware restrictions and weirdness. Keychron: I have a K2 Pro and it's a lovely tank. I have a couple of J2s and have been hacking on the firmware. The Q and V have had quality problems and if they start losing keystrokes a few months in the support is completely pants, abusive. Akko: Monsgeek M1/M2 v5 VIA or Akko 5075 VIA. Magnetic: Keychron K or J series. They're the only QMK magnetic option other than Sunder who are even more always sold out than Keychron. Electromechanical: Glencreag WK84 or Womier WD75 because wood is such a lovely case material. Or: * [Monsgeek M1 v5](https://www.monsgeek.com/product/m1-v5-via-rapid-disassembly/) * ($80 barebones) * [Akko 5075B VIA](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FLDJZPH9) * ($60 barebones) * [YMDK YMD75](https://ymdkey.com/collections/75-diy) * ($64-$110 diy) * [Womier RD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-RD75-Pro-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DG82QD1X) ($95 w/ coupon) * [Womier WD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Mechanical-Swappable-Translucent-Keycaps-POM/dp/B0DT8SP79R) * (wood! $90) * [Glencreag WK84](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYDM9N49) * (wood! $95 w/ coupon) * [Redragon K715](https://redragonshop.com/products/finke-k715-pro) * ($30) * [Royal Kludge RK R75 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R75-Mechanical/dp/B0CWGR5KM9) * ($51 with coupon) * [Womier Q75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Keyboard-Topographic-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DQV22S2T) ($59) * [Womier Era75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Wireless-Mechanical-Pre-lubed-Swappable/dp/B0FGD7HWPW) ($63) * [Womier SK71 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Keyboard-Mechanical-Swappable-PRO-Black/dp/B0DSFWXFV7) ($65) * [Yunzii AL80](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL80-Wireless-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DT73C6VP) ($84) * [Keychron J2](https://www.amazon.com/Keychron-Mechanical-Bluetooth-Hot-swappable-Compatible/dp/B0GLNSP4BN) * ($69) * [Kiiboom Phantom 81 Lite](https://www.amazon.com/KiiBoom-Mechanical-Programmable-Backlights-Hot-Swappable/dp/B0FB93MCLG) * ($91) * [Redragon k739](https://www.amazon.com/Redragon-Mechanical-Programmable-Pre-Lubed-Swappable/dp/B0G38YZ8M1) * ($65) PS: the official "best keyboard" is the Norbauer Seneca but it starts at $3600. :)

Get a good 100$ TKL/75% keyboard and a 40$ numpad. Unless you're fine with 1800 compact, then i'd get the M2 V5 VIA

Womier RD75, Monsgeek M2 V5 VIA if you want numpad

Keychron Q/V6 Max, QK100/101, Monsgeek M2 V5 VIA. For the QK100, only the wired-only hotswap PCB has RGB.

I have a Monsgeek M2 with Akko V3 Cream Yellow Pro switches and some random keycaps off amazon. I am using all the included foam and padding in the kit. I am looking for recommendations on some better quality keycaps and thocky switches. I am not sure if I want to go with SA, XDA, or possibly ceramic, but I do know that they must be white and blue. I also want to change from a clacky build to a thocky build, so any switch recommendations would be very much appreciated because the only thocky switch I know are oil kings. I tried a friends keyboard and it sounded like pebbles or jade bouncing together, so that's my goal. Link to test audio -> [https://soundcloud.com/clear-yatogami/test-keyboard-audio](https://soundcloud.com/clear-yatogami/test-keyboard-audio)

I bought the Yunzii AL98 yesterday for 100 USD on Amazon and I'm liking it so far. It sounds pretty close to my Rainy75 if I put the HMX violet switches in them. I also tried the Monsgeek M2 v5 which did not sound like the Rainy75 at all even with the HMX violet switches. It was a lot more thin sounding and definitely a more stiffer typing experience. I returned the M2 because I did not like the fact that it doesn't have a large num 0 key, no USB dongle storage, and the power switch is under the keycaps.

I think most of these are terrible recommendations. Why would you suggest random amazon boards in 2025 when boards like QK Neo or Cycle7/8 exist? I think monsgeek is fine but all the other boards you listed are kinda sus imo.