Monokei’s New Standard Mechanical Keyboard Is A Class Act

Another month and here’s another keyboard. The world’s appetite for these gorgeously tactile types of keyboards shows no sign of abating and there are plenty of excellent models on the market, making it quite challenging to choose which model to buy.

This month I am trying out the Monokei Standard. This traditional-looking keyboard has been designed by friends Kerri and Caleb. The pair loved mechanical keyboards, but they thought building one from scratch using a kit was too much hassle, so they designed a keyboard that would offer all the benefits of a ready-made model.

Monokei is a designer keyboard manufacturer based in Singapore and Malaysia. The brand name blends two words: mono and kei, which loosely translates as “good things.” The Standard keyboard is compatible with macOS or Windows computers and comes with keycaps for the modifier keys for both operating systems. The switches are hot-swappable, so they can be changed to give a different feel and tactile feedback.

The Standard can be ordered with Cherry MX Red, Silent Red or Brown switches. The Red switches are linear, while the Brown switches have a clicky feel. I think the Brown switches are nicer to type with, but if you work in a busy office, you may prefer the quieter sound of the Cherry Red Silent switches. German company Cherry makes excellent keyboard switches, giving the Monokei Standard a high-quality feel.

Four colorways are available: Classic White, Blush Pink, Suave Blue and Dream Lilac. The keycaps are double-shot PBT, which offers long-term durability and crisp legends. The keycap legends were designed by Monokei rather than being bought off the shelf. The keycap legends have excellent contrast, making typing easier if you are not a hunt-and-peck typist.

The plate on which the Standard’s hot-swappable switches are mounted is made from polycarbonate for excellent flex and sound qualities. The keyboard’s plate has gasket strips to reduce vibration and sound. Overall, this is an incredibly satisfying device to type on. The design is conservative, but it works well and the pitch between keys feels right.

Like most mechanical keyboards, the Monokei Standard has USB-C wired and Bluetooth wireless connections. There are no LED backlights, which means the battery life is much better than keyboards with fancy lights. While backlit keyboards are handy, especially in dark rooms like a video edit suite, they do tend to gobble up battery power and require constant recharging.

The typing angle of the Standard is set at 5 degrees, but the height of the keys means that using a wrist rest is probably a good idea if you want to avoid RSI or just typing fatigue. The keyboard layout is standard with an offset cursor cluster. Although there is a row of Function Keys from F1 to F12, those keys in macOS mode will function as media keys for altering sound levels and screen brightness like Apple’s own Magic Keyboard.

The Standard ships with puller tools for removing keycaps and switches. In addition, Monokei supplies modifying, return and Esc keycaps in a choice of accent colors to make them stand out from the rest of the keys. The one missing thing is some software to customize the hotkeys on the Standard. I would like to see that as it would make the Monokei Standard even better.

Verdict: The Monokey Standard is an excellent mechanical keyboard that genuinely pleasures typing. The textured keycaps with high-contrast legends are easy to use and withstand plenty of use. The Cherry hot-swappable switches are perfect for typing; I prefer the Brown switches. One minor complaint from me is the positioning of the power switch on the keyboard’s base. Whenever you want to turn the keyboard on or off, it’s necessary to pick the keyboard up and turn it over. It would have been better to put the switch on the side. However, whether you are a macOS or Windows user, the Monokei Standard is a solid keyboard that should provide years of service and can be easily repaired and serviced. Recommended.

Pricing & Availability: The Monokei Standard keyboard is shipping now and costs $144.

More info: www.monokei.co

Tech Specs:

• Colorways: Classic White, Blush Pink, Suave Blue, Dream Lilac.
• Bluetooth: BLE 5.1 with support for up to four devices.
• Wired: USB C.
• Battery life: 30 days.
• Keycaps: Series 1 double shot PBT keycaps.
• Switches: Hot-swappable Cherry MX switches (Pink or Brown).
• Plate and mounting system: Polycarbonate with gasket strips
• Case material: Injection-molded ABS.
• Stabilizers: Cherry PCB mount stabilizers.
• Typing angle: 5 degrees.
• Switches: Cherry MX Reds / Silent Reds / Browns (hot swappable)
• Dimensions: 36.3 x 15x 3.9cm
• Weight: 940g.
• Compatibility: macOS / iOS / Windows / Android.
• No. Of Devices
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
• Certification: FCC / CE / IMDA / SIRIM.
• Accessories: USB-C cable, Windows and macOS accent keys, switch puller, keycap puller.