Ajazz AK870 Keyboard Unboxing and Review

Table of Contents

1. What is in the box?
2. Keyboard
3. Switches
4. Screen--Synchronizing Time and Date on the Display
5. Pros/Cons--Pros/Cons/Summary

What is in the box?

The Ajazz AK870 (with display screen) box comes a keycap-switch puller, 1.6 m USB-C to USB-A braid cable, three addition switches and keycaps (“Print”, “Scroll”, and “Pause”), the Ajazz AK870 manual, and keyboard with the screen attached.

Image 1. Contents of box.

Keyboard

The Ajazz AK870 is a tenkeyless (TKL) style keyboard containing 84 - 87 keys. The gasket mounted system and the built-in layers of foams (Poron and IXPE) and silicon combine to create an incredible marbly sound when typing. The keycaps have a cherry profile and the Purple/Hyacinth Switches are lightly factory lubricated. The stabilizers are balanced and well lubricated as well which gives the keyboard a smooth typing experience. The hotswap design also allows for you to easily change out the switches if a different typing feel is preferred.

Image 2. Layers of keyboard.

The keyboard case has a clip-on design and is made of ABS plastic, making it easy to move around your workspace. The connection options of wired or wireless, Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz, allows you to place the keyboard wherever you would like on your desk. Mac or Windows layout can be toggled between as well for those who work and play through a variety of devices. The connection modes and layout option are accessible through the slide switches located at the top of the keyboard.

The function (FN) key allows the control of several different features. Looking at the keycap legends, the lower-right corners of some keys shows what is performed when the key is pressed in combination with the FN key. Video, audio, and RGB lighting options on the keyboard can also be controlled through this. Accessing additional keyboard features, quick opening computer applications, and commands is also performed through the FN key. The provided manual contains a table for all FN key combinations and what they perform.

Customizations of keyboard features such as macros, RGB, screen display, and more, are fully accessible through the keyboard driver. This can be downloaded by searching “AK870” on the software download page and downloading either the “Screen” or “Regular” version appropriate to your keyboard. In order to fully access all features of the driver, the keyboard must be plugged in through the wired connection mode. 

Image 3. AK870 keyboard driver in wireless mode.

Switches

The Purple/Hyacinth linear switches have a cherry style stem and have a 5-pin bottom. Although this is not mentioned, if you open up these switches you will see that these switches come lightly prelubricated which adds to the delightfully marbly sound of the keyboard.

Image 4. Purple/Hyacinth switches.

Screen

The screen is a 1.06” LED screen with a knob that has detents that provide tactile feed for change increments. The screen, in default mode, displays the date/time, connection mode, and battery life. Turning the knob will change the volume and pressing the knob will (un)mute audio. The screen is hot swappable just like the switches. Rocking it side-to-side to loosen it then pulling straight up allows for easy removal of the screen.

The additional features of the screen can be accessed by first toggling the configuration mode by holding the FN key and pressing in the knob, then turning and pressing the knob to navigate the various configuration options. The first and second configuration screens are for changing the RGB of the keyboard (which can also be accessed through the driver or combining FN key presses). The last screen allows audio control, which functions as mentioned, and changes in the screen display language. Default mode can be toggled back to by repeating the steps above.

Image 5. AK870 configuration options shown on screen display.

A GIF display mode can be toggled to with (FN + Home), the knob will function just as it does in the default mode. A GIF of the Ajazz logo is preset on with the keyboard but other GIFs can be uploaded, edited, and saved through the Ajazz AK870 keyboard driver.

Synchronizing Time and Date on the Display

When you first receive the Ajazz AK870 the screen may show the incorrect date and time. 

1. In order to fix this, first download the Ajazz AK870 keyboard driver for the “Screen” version of the keyboard.
2. Plug in the Ajazz AK870 keyboard and set the keyboard to wired mode.
   (IMPORTANT: You will not see this option once the driver is opened if the keyboard is wirelessly connected.)
   
3. Run the Ajazz Ak870 driver.
   
4. Click on the middle icon on the left-hand side of the window to get to the “TFT Screen” setup menu.
5. Click “Time Syns” to synchronise the date and time of the keyboard display to your computer.

Image 6. TFT Screen menu in AK870 keyboard driver.

GIFs and images can be uploaded, edited, and saved on this same menu here as well. You can simply press “Import” and selecting the downloaded .gif file from your folder. Text, colour, and individual timing of frames can be edited through here. When you are ready to press “Upload to keyboard”, wait for it to transfer over, you should have your GIF playing.

For a more in depth guide please check out these WhatGeek blogs:

• How to Change the Display GIF of the Ajazz AK820 Pro Keyboard?
• How to Change TFT Display Time and Animation on iBlancod YK830 keyboard 

Pros/Cons

Pros

The Ajazz AK870 is an exceptional keyboard for beginner or keyboard enthusiast who wants to have a great feeling and sounding keyboard without the hassle of opening up the keyboard modding it. The foams, silicon, lubricated switches and balanced stabilizers that come stock with the keyboard already produce a high-end experience without breaking the bank and dedicating hours to modifying it.

The screen that can be included with the Ajazz AK870 is a wonderful personalization opportunity through the uploading of GIFs. The battery life, time, and date information it provides is also a pleasant touch. The knob also provides a convenient volume control option.

However, if the keyboard is purchased without a screen you can still experience most of what the keyboard offers through the FN key and keyboard driver. The screen just provides a different interference to control keyboard RGB and computer audio control. 

Cons

The clip-on case design makes it difficult to open up with a prying tool. This makes the keyboard unfriendly to those who wish to mod or learn to mod. Given the construction of the keyboard, disassembling and reassembling the keyboard may damage parts of the keyboard if not done carefully.

Information on this keyboard model is very limiting online and the manual is rather short. The manual and online resources seem to also be littered with misspellings, inconsistencies with model names, and unclear, or absent, instructions. This makes it difficult for users to troubleshoot and set up the keyboard without extensive searching online and experimenting. This will be especially difficult on any beginners who are unfamiliar with keyboards.

Summary