The Wobkey Zen65 could well be the last 65% keyboard you ever need. The company has taken what makes its other-sized products so good and implemented as many features as possible into this smaller form factor. Then, to further future-proof the build, Wobkey has made it easy to tune and upgrade the keyboard down the line. On paper, it all sounds excellent, but how does it fare in the real world? Here is my review.
Small yet mighty
With its metal case, the Zen65 immediately makes itself known. It might be small, with its 65% layout, but its build is still mighty. This heft helps keep it in place on the desk, where lighter keyboards might shift around, especially during intense gaming scenarios like first-person shooter firefights where these smaller keyboards are a preference.
Connection is achieved through either USB-C, Bluetooth, or 2.4 GHz, with keen gamers no doubt opting for the USB-C where possible, but appreciating the convenience and speed of 2.4 GHz as a plan B.
Tune it yourself
Wobkey clearly understands that some users want to tweak things further, as this keyboard supports hot-swappable switches, sure, but also quick toolless access to the internals. It’s impressive to see and no doubt enthusiasts will appreciate this.
Or don’t!
With all of that said, the good news is that you don’t need to tweak anything to make this keyboard sound and feel good. Right out of the box, it’s a creamy, smooth experience, with no obvious pain points like rattle in the stabilizers or a clear hollowness from the case. It’s really quite impressive, especially for the price point where you expect something to have been skipped while tuning.
Remember: It’s small
Size is both the Zen65’s biggest strength and weakness. If you know 65% is for you, then you’ll be happy, but if you’re on the fence, then you need to weigh up whether you can deal with losing the dedicated arrow keys, F-row, and more. Sure, it might be better for gaming, but what about work? That’s some food for thought.
Disclosure: Review samples provided by Wobkey.
Final Verdict
At $139, the Wobkey Zen65 keyboard offers strong value for a well-built, thoughtfully tuned 65% board. It sounds and feels great out of the box, with enough flexibility to grow with more demanding users over time. The layout won’t be for everyone, but if a compact keyboard fits your setup, the Zen65 makes a convincing case for itself.
Positives and Negatives
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Solid metal case build
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Excellent out-of-box tuning
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Great connectivity
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Toolless access to internals
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65% layout not for all
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Compact size limits productivity
