The Feker Alice 98 Pro is a keyboard that caught my attention due to its ergonomic design and versatile features. As someone who spends a lot of time typing, I was curious about the Alice layout and the promises of comfort, customization, and durability. After using this keyboard for a few weeks, here’s my take on it.
1. Unboxing and First Impressions
The keyboard arrived in premium packaging that felt sturdy and protective. Inside the box, I found everything I needed: the keyboard, a USB-C cable, keycap and switch pullers, two spare switches, an instruction manual (in both English and Chinese), and a wrist rest designed to complement the keyboard. The first impression was solid, everything looked well-built and thoughtfully designed.
The keyboard itself has a split Alice layout with a 98% arrangement, including a number pad, which immediately stood out. Its frame is made of ABS plastic with a matte finish. While the finish feels good to the touch, it does tend to attract dust, which might bother some users. At 1.17 kg, the keyboard has a substantial feel without being overly heavy.
2. Build Quality and Design
The case is sturdy, and the overall build quality is impressive for a keyboard in this price range. It uses a gasket-mounted structure with multiple layers of padding, including Poron foam and silicone, which contribute to a soft typing feel and decent acoustics.
The keyboard also features a polycarbonate plate and south-facing RGB LEDs with 21 lighting effects. The RGB lighting is bright and vivid, but I did notice flickering on the left side of my unit. This seems to be a defect specific to my unit, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Additionally, the keyboard comes with adjustable feet that offer three distinct height settings, allowing you to customize the keyboard’s angle to your preference.
There are two USB-C ports on the back, which adds versatility in terms of connectivity. The switches for toggling between Windows/Mac modes and the three connection modes (wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless) are functional but felt a bit stiff to operate. While it’s not a major issue, smoother switches would have been a welcome improvement.
3. Connectivity and Battery Life
The three-mode connectivity is a highlight of the Feker Alice 98 Pro. Switching between wired, Bluetooth 5.0, and 2.4GHz wireless modes is seamless once you get the hang of the stiff toggle switches. The keyboard supports both Mac and Windows systems, and I had no trouble pairing it with multiple devices.
It also comes with a huge 8,000mAh battery. Feker claims up to 30 days of battery life, and while I haven’t had the chance to test it for that long, I’ve been using it for over a week with the RGB lighting on, and it’s still going strong. This level of battery performance is impressive, especially for a keyboard with RGB lighting.
4. Typing Experience
This was my first time using an Alice layout, and I’ll admit that the transition wasn’t as smooth as I hoped. It took me over a week to get comfortable typing on this layout. However, once I adjusted, I found the design to be quite ergonomic.
The 3° arch shape in the split layout aligns well with the natural position of the hands, reducing strain on the fingers and wrists. Using the wrist rest enhanced the overall comfort, especially during long typing sessions.
The keyboard uses Flower Switch switches, which were pre-installed in my unit. They are linear switches with a smooth keystroke and a very sweet sound profile. The lubed stabilizers were a nice touch, ensuring that larger keys like the spacebar and enter key didn’t feel or sound rattly.
5. Customizability
The keyboard is QMK and VIA compatible, allowing extensive customization. I mapped a few macros and remapped some keys to suit my workflow, and the process was straightforward. The hot-swappable PCB supports both 3-pin and 5-pin switches, making it easy to experiment with different switches without any soldering.
6. Final Thoughts
At $119.99 for the three-mode version, the Feker Alice 98 Pro offers excellent value for those looking to try an Alice layout. The ergonomic design, robust connectivity options, and extensive customizability make it a compelling choice. However, the stiff toggles and dust-prone finish may detract from the experience for some.
If you’re willing to spend some time getting used to the layout and don’t mind minor quirks, the Alice 98 Pro is a solid ergonomic keyboard that combines functionality and comfort effectively. For me, it was worth the investment, but it’s not without its caveats.
7. Pricing and Availability
The three-mode version of the Feker Alice98 Pro is priced at $119.99 and is now available to purchase from Mechkeys. It’s available in three color options: red, white, and black, and comes with a choice of two switches: Flower and Rose Silent. Mechkeys is also kicking off its Christmas & New Year Celebration Sale from December 23rd to January 7th, featuring exciting offers, mystery boxes, mouse skate gifts, and more.
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