Key findings
- A shining example of Angry Miao's retro-futuristic design style, the AM RGB 65 features a fancy RGB panel for animated designs.
- Excellent, customizable typing feel with adjustable leaf spring mounts and Icy Silver Pro V2 linear switches for a unique experience.
- Pricey at $448-598, it's a collector's statement piece with excellent battery life and the unique LED panel for a comfortable typing experience.
Anyone who knows me knows that there is always at least one mechanical keyboard on my desk. That's partly because I far prefer them to any other type of keyboard, especially given how many words I type in a typical week. I have small, custom CNC keyboards that cost hundreds of dollars a piece, mass-produced gaming keyboards, and everything in between. I also have one of Angry Miao's previous keyboards, the AM 65 Less. So when they asked me if I wanted to check out their latest keyboard, the AM RGB 65, who was I to say no?
Let me say that this isn't for everyone, even hobbyist mechanics. Angry Miao has a particular retro-futuristic aesthetic that won't be to everyone's taste, and that's perfectly fine. This is a work of art and a functional input device that's reminiscent of the handheld game consoles of yesteryear, but uses modern construction techniques like adjustable leaf spring mounts and a peculiar dot matrix LED panel. It's also clearly aimed at the enthusiast community, with a barebones kit starting at $448 and a fully featured keyboard costing up to $598 before shipping.
It's a collector's statement, an ode to the typing experience, and a lot of fun. It's also Angry Miao's most accessible keyboard, which is almost a shame considering the price will exclude a large portion of the market.
About this review: Angry Miao provided an AM RGB 65 for testing. The company had no influence on this article and did not see its contents prior to publication.
AM-RGB 65
Excellent work of art that is wonderful to type on
The AM RGB 65 is a shining example of Angry Miao's retro-futuristic design style, with a quirky RGB panel for displaying animated designs and a massive nod to early handheld consoles. It also features the company's customizable typing feel and multiple connectivity options.
- Excellent, customizable typing experience
- Original retro RGB panel for animated fun
- Wired, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity
- Expensive
- Long charging time for the 10,000 mAh battery
- No QMK/VIA integration
Prices and availability
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, the AM RGB 65 is now available for pre-order on Angry Miao's website. Any orders placed now are expected to ship in November 2024. This is fairly common for small custom mechanical keyboards, where the ordering process is handled via pre-orders or bulk purchases and later fulfilled once manufacturing is complete. It can be ordered as a basic kit without keycaps or switches starting at $449 for the Cyber Gray and Cloud White color variants and $488 for the dual-anodized Violet Fury. You can also get a package with keycaps and switches for $559 in Cyber Gray and Cloud White and $598 for Violet Fury.
What I like
Lots of retro elements and a playful RGB panel
It wouldn't be an Angry Miao keyboard without an eye-catching design, and the AM RGB 65 pays homage to the handheld game console that made AA batteries a hot commodity when I was at school: the Game Boy. The rounded bottom right corner with the CNC-machined carvings, the bottom plate design that mirrors the A and B buttons, and the D-pad detail around the USB-C port are all evocative and instantly familiar. The pixel art panel on the back isn't just for decoration; it's made of plastic to allow the Bluetooth 5.1 or 2.4GHz wireless signal to escape the aluminum casing unhindered, but it's also replaceable if you want to make your own.
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Depending on the color you choose, there are different keycaps to complete the look. Cloud White is closest to the Game Boy style, although the keycaps are more similar to the look of the PAL SNES controller. Violet Fury uses multi-color anodizing to blend black, bluish-violet, and purple into a design that will likely be unique to each board, and comes with white and purple keycaps. Cyber Gray is the color we received for testing, with a solid dark gray anodizing and Angry Miao Glacier Dark translucent keycaps that create a 90s effect with the RGB lighting of each key.
All three colors have the same LED panel on top that uses 200 LEDs and a controller board to enable animated pixel art. You can create your designs in the AM Master software or online configurator, or there are hundreds of options in the gallery that you can download and put on the keyboard. It's the same panel that was used in the previous Cyberboard, so the community has created a huge amount of visual effects.
It's a statement for the collector, an ode to the typing experience and a lot of fun.
The typing feel is great
Many mechanical keyboards come with CNC aluminum bodies, and enthusiasts know that they provide a solid foundation for typing and a pleasant soundstage. Angry Miao is known for customizing the feel and sound even further, and the AM RGB 65 is no exception. Let's start with the parts you can't see: The circuit board is mounted on three-level adjustable leaf springs that control how springy typing feels. You get leaf springs made of two different materials (stainless steel for stiffness and phosphor copper for more flexibility), each of which can be adjusted to soft, firmer, and firm. This lets you customize the feel, and my preferred setup is on the more flexible side so typing is less tiring.
Multiple layers of sound-dampening foams and other materials can also be used to adjust the sound signature, reduce resonance, and increase the overall springiness of the typing experience. The new Icy Silver Pro V2 linear switches use transparent PA12 nylon for the casing, which allows the RGB lighting to shine through and creates a more crackly sound. They are pre-lubricated and have an actuation force of 37gf and a punch-through force of 45gf, making them comfortable to type on for hours. I usually type with a slightly heavier switch, but I had no issues with crackling during my workday, and the overall acoustic signature of the keyboard is a joy.
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What I don't like
A few minor issues on an otherwise great keyboard
While the AM RGB 65 is a pleasure to type on, there are a few minor annoyances. The biggest is the lack of QMK firmware, which means there is no support for VIA customizations. I understand why Angry Miao uses its own system, especially with the LED matrix. That said, I hope that support for VIA customizations can be added later.
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Another annoyance also affects the AM Master software, but it's more of a quality of life suggestion. The library of user-submitted designs for the LED matrix is great, but you can only sort them by “ALL” or “HOT”. A tag-based search function is much needed, as you now have to look through hundreds of designs.
The largest [annoyance] is the lack of VIA or QMK support
The AM RGB 65 has excellent battery life; I lasted a week using Bluetooth with all the LED effects running. That's thanks to a 10,000mAh battery capacity, so I don't think I'm complaining about battery life, because I'm not. However, once the battery level drops, it takes forever to recharge. The reason for that is a very conservative 5W charging speed, which is almost laughable. I don't mind wireless charging taking that long, especially since I don't have to worry about cables during the process. But given the premium quality of this keyboard, the slow charging speed feels out of place. Even 15W would be much more acceptable, and perhaps a future revision could improve this feature.
Should you buy the AM RGB 65?
You should buy the AM RGB 65 if:
- You want a well-designed wireless and hot-swappable keyboard.
- You want a centerpiece for your mechanical keyboard collection.
- You don't need a number pad or a function line.
You should NOT buy the AM RGB 65 if:
- You want a cheaper keyboard.
- You prefer a more subtle design.
- You need VIA or QMK support.
The Angry Miao AM RGB 65 is the company's best and most accessible keyboard. The typing feel is wonderful and the well-defined sound signature makes me want to type more whenever I sit down. Whether that and the LED matrix justify the price is a subjective question and you'll have to decide for yourself. Just know that every Angry Miao fan has already placed their order.
AM-RGB 65
The AM RGB 65 is a shining example of Angry Miao's retro-futuristic design style, with a quirky RGB panel for displaying animated designs and a massive nod to early handheld consoles. It also features the company's customizable typing feel and multiple connectivity options.