Ajazz x Douyu DKM200 Review: A Budget 75% Keyboard Done Right

📋Summary

The Ajazz x Douyu DKM200 is a wired-only 75% mechanical keyboard that delivers impressive features at an affordable price. It boasts a gasket mount design, hotswap support for 3/5-pin switches, and thoughtful sound dampening layers (EVA and silicone). The inclusion of lightly lubed switches and well-tuned stabilizers ensures a smooth typing experience, while extras like macro support, a metal knob, and additional keycaps enhance the package. However, it lacks software for key remapping, offers fixed-color backlighting, has a slight ping in the spacebar when pressed hard, and while it does come with a gasket mount, it offers little flexibility when keys are pressed.

Pros

✅ Gasket mount
✅ Standard 3/5-Pin hotswap sockets and not the accursed rivet ones
✅ Eva foam in case
✅ EVA switch pad layer
✅ Silicon plate foam
✅ Switches lightly lubed from factory
✅ Stabilizers are well tuned
✅ Extra keycaps in box
✅ Knob
✅ Macro support
✅ Solid build
✅ Easy to disassemble
✅ Ability to create and store 5 macros.

Cons

🔻No spare switches in box
🔻Backlit leds are fixed in color
🔻Slight ping in spacebar when you slam it hard
🔻No dedicated software or option to remap keys.

Key Features

• Hot-swappable

• Two-stage tripod

• Dye sublimation keycaps in OEM profile

• Metal knob

• 21 lighting effects

• Full key anti-ghosting

• Gasket mount

• Detachable USB cable

⌨️Variants

The DKM200 comes in two variants.

• Orange White – Linear switches

• White Orange – Tactile switches

📦What's in the Box

The unboxing experience is standard, but does stand out in the price range.

• DKM200 Mechanical Keyboard

• USB cable (Type-A to C)

• 3 spare keycaps for accents (Spacebar, Escape, Return/Enter)

• Keycap & switch pullers

• Manual

🏭Build Quality & Design

The DKM200 has an injection molded ABS plastic case, which feels durable and solid. When you’re holding it, it doesn’t scream premium, but at the same time, it doesn’t feel cheap either.

Pulling the board out of the box for the first time, you can’t help but notice the color – If you get the Orange white variant. It stands out since the entire case of the board is a bright orange. Surprisingly, the white keycaps work well with the orange and the yellow accent keycaps provided add a bit more flair to the theme.

Since this is a wired keyboard, the left and right sides are bare, with the front having the Douyu logo and the back having a USB type c port, which for some reason is just a tad bit off-center, not enough to be considered on the right or left side, but enough to trigger OCD in some folks (including me.) The underside has 2-stage kickstands for a more comfortable typing experience. The keyboard case itself is not elevated from the back at all without the stands – considering that they opted for OEM profile keycaps, you’d expect them to have a more angled case for a more comfortable experience.

On the underside you also see 3 marks for potential cutouts. These are likely for 2 switches and a 2.4 Ghz dongle – It seems like the board was supposed to be offered in a wireless variant as well, but unfortunately, I haven’t found any listings for it.

The keyboard weighs 627 grams, which for its class is fine. It’s heavier than the likes of Ajazz AK680, but lighter than relatively more premium 75% boards like the Aula F75.

Opening the board is easy – You just take off the knob handle before you insert a pry tool or a plastic pick in the gap between the upper and lower housings and start opening the clamps. Lifting the upper housing allows you to lift the PCB and plate off the bottom housing. The PCB is screwed onto the plate from the underside, but you’d have to remove the switches to separate them.

Overall, the structure of the keyboard is solid and stable.

⌨️Experience

The keyboard uses “DIY Shark Linear Switches” which are branded with Douyu – Unfortunately, there’s no information available for these switches anywhere. I even reached out to Ajazz, but their support had no idea. Opening one switch up, you can see that they are factory lubed.

Typing on the keyboard is smooth and enjoyable. It doesn’t give the deep satisfying feel that you get from an Aula F75, but it’s still far better than the Ajazz AK680 or the Mucai MK680H. If you replace the thin EVA sheet in the case with something that’s denser like EVA rubber or a Neoprene sheet, it will definitely end up giving a better experience. But out of the box, the DKM200 provides an experience that can be considered exceptional in the pricing category.

Edit

I managed to find some information on the switches.

Type: 3-Pin Linear
Actuation Force: 45gf
Bottom Out: 55gf
Pre Travel: 2.0mm
Total Travel: 4.0mm

The lube is pretty decent and works just fine. However, the material of the housing and stem is still a mystery, but it appears to be PC>

👍Verdict

The DKM200 strikes a strong balance between build quality, features, and affordability. While it lacks advanced customization options and has minor design flaws like the off-center USB port, its typing experience and thoughtful design elements make it a great choice for budget-conscious enthusiasts. With a few tweaks, it could punch well above its price range.