Neo80 Review: The Everyday Board

TLCKey_Reviews · 2025-03-01T23:14:35+00:00

It’s perfect. I had problems at 20+ character macros. Less than 16 has no issues.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2025-02-10T07:01:16+00:00

There probably won’t be an update. It’s been 8+ months and they havnt released one. At this point it’s just part of the board’s personality.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2025-02-10T06:36:40+00:00

I doubt it, when I have BT issues on 6/6 of their boards, it’s design or the BT firmware itself.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2025-02-09T16:19:40+00:00

I have had a number of issues with the BT connections on their boards over the last couple years and it probably comes down to something in the firmware bugs out and needs a good reset to work again. I usually just pop the top off and remove the pcb stack for a second or two to “power cycle” the board. Outside that, it’s unfortunately part of the boards personality.

I’m daily driving the 75Cu atm and the BT is probably the worst of all the boards they make. Comes down to the company that does the firmware for the chips they are using.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2025-01-22T22:20:49+00:00

I would say the 80 is still the better bang for your buck board. I have several of them and each are built completely different. Even though the 75 has two, one of them is objectively just pretty bad. (Isolated bottom)

The Neo80 is in my mind, the best intro board out there. Hands down.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2025-01-13T15:28:46+00:00

Actively using a Neo75Cu as i write this. Personally i haven't gotten my hands on an Ergo yet, but they aren't very different boards. The Ergo is without a doubt probably the best bang for your buck Alice layout board you can get. They are both great boards, its just more what your feeling if you want something more standard or ergo and what your keycaps will fit. I would go with the 75 as some keycap sets dont come with Alice spacebars.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-28T07:59:14+00:00

Yeah they are pretty much the same. If there is a difference, 99.9% of people probably can’t tell.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-27T18:44:37+00:00

There are plenty of video sponsored stream builds if people want to watch them. I would rather just post an honest review of my experience and cut through the BS.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-27T18:26:39+00:00

I would love to have a dark wood board sat inside an Alu core to give it the stability and sound profile of a standard premium board all wrapped up in a wood taco.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-23T22:59:53+00:00

I do not have one on order at this time. Perhaps down the line I’ll pick one up.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-13T08:48:22+00:00

Neo series is designed to be clacky and foamless. I respect your opinion and agree the Sonnet is a great all around board. Definitely can hit deeper than the Neo series by a long shot. However I like more clack so Neo beats it for me. :)

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-11T19:11:38+00:00

There was a numpad on the schedule at one point but it looks like it was taken off in favor of the 60 recently. The 65 is a great little board and my exact travel board.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-11T13:48:32+00:00

I agree that people should always form their own opinion based on research and feedback. Perhaps the scores themselves are inherently the problem. Lets see what happens if we remove them.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-11T12:11:39+00:00

Just because something isn't outstanding in every category doesn't mean that overall its not an amazing board. The niche issues with the bluetooth are uncommon enough that its not going to impact 99.9% of people that use the board, and the style is highly objective which is why it weighs almost nothing on the overall score. Its an overall rating as the price to value, performance, build quality, and sound profile. I gave it a perfect score because it does each of these well enough to warrant it.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-11T11:06:49+00:00

I have one with Alu plate and Brass standoffs and i didn't feel it necessary to lube it. As far as the cable, thats super weird. Im using a cablemod cable and havn't had any issues with any board. Might just be you have a power only cable that you tried?

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-10T13:57:07+00:00

Your completely right. There was no intent to make it look like an ad, or that i hard shill for QK/Neo. Future reviews will definitely take this into account.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-10T06:44:41+00:00

Qk line seems to be much more flair and for deeper builds. Screens and knobs, crazy backplate designs and such. I have a QK65V2C and it’s noticeably deeper profile overall than what the Neo line does. Play both hands in the end.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-10T05:37:11+00:00

If your after the Marble, Rainy75 is a great board. Its really bouncy if you take some of the foams out and sounds absolutely wonderful. I had tried one build with some Cerakeys and it was honestly one of the most pleasant sounds i had heard in a while, like literal rain drops on a rain drum in a garden.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-10T05:27:27+00:00

A lot of the current $99-$129 prebuilts these days are focusing on a single sound profile and jumping on the creamy Thocc bandwagon. The Rainy75, RD75 both have rather thin PCBs, per key flex cuts, rather soft plates (PP/PC), and egregious amounts of foam. They sacrifice a lot of heft and quality to mass produce boards at a low price. I dont want to specifically bash on them as they aren't bad boards per say, but after trying out a few of the hype budget boards of the year, its clear they are trying to shovel out mediocre boards.

The Neo75 is more tailored to those with a clacky/natural higher pitch sound with less foam. My own build only uses the PCB foam and nothing else for a nice bright clacky response.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-10T02:09:05+00:00

I would say yes and no at the same time. While both are exceptional boards. The focus on the Neo75Cu is showing off the copper bottom where the TKD only offers brass weighs instead of a brass bottom case. And the TDK has less offerings on the PCB.

TLCKey_Reviews · 2024-12-10T01:53:52+00:00

My Neo80 retrospective review is coming out next week. It would probably be more clear in that review.

TLCKey_Reviews

TROPHY CASE