AJAZZ AK980 Mechanical Keyboard Review: Feature-Packed for Under $70

A mechanical keyboard with a gasket mount, TFT display, hot-swappable switches, tri-mode wireless, RGB lighting, and a full numpad — all for under $70. That’s the pitch behind the AJAZZ AK980, a 98% layout keyboard that tries to pack flagship features into a budget-friendly package.

I’ve been daily-driving the AK980 for several weeks, testing everything from the 2.4GHz wireless connection during gaming sessions to long typing stints on the gasket-mounted switch plate. At 3.3 lbs, this keyboard has genuine heft that keeps it planted on your desk. The question is whether AJAZZ cut corners to hit that price point — or whether the AK980 mechanical keyboard delivers the typing experience and build quality its spec sheet promises.

After extensive testing, I can say the AK980 earns its spot as a strong contender in the budget mechanical keyboard space, though it’s not without a few rough edges that you should know about before buying.

What I Liked

The AJAZZ AK980 keyboard packs a lot into its compact 98% frame. Here’s what stood out during my testing.

Gasket Mount That Delivers

The gasket mount on the AK980 is the real deal — not just a marketing checkbox. Most budget keyboards use a tray mount where the plate is screwed directly into the case, so every keystroke sends vibration straight through the rigid housing. With the AK980’s gasket mount, silicone material sandwiched between the plate and case absorbs that impact, giving you a softer, more cushioned typing feel.

In my experience, this makes a noticeable difference during extended typing sessions. Your fingers don’t fatigue as fast because you’re not slamming into a hard surface with every keystroke. The gasket mount also eliminates the hollow, pingy echo that plagues cheaper keyboards. This is a feature you’d typically find on keyboards costing twice as much, and the AK980 implements it properly.

Cherry Profile PBT Keycaps

The keycaps are made from PBT plastic, which is harder and more durable than the ABS found on most budget keyboards. ABS keycaps tend to get shiny and greasy-looking as the oils from your fingers wear down the surface. With PBT, you keep that matte, slightly textured feel even after months of use.

These are also Cherry profile keycaps — the most popular shape in the keyboard community. Each row has a slightly different sculpted angle so your fingers naturally fall into the right position. The keycaps feel thicker and more satisfying to press than what I’d expect at this price point, and the south-facing RGB setup ensures the backlight doesn’t wash out the legends.

Hot-Swappable Switch Freedom

The AK980 ships with Murad linear switches that are factory-lubed for a smooth, creamy feel with no tactile bump or click. But the real advantage is the hot-swappable PCB that supports both three-pin and five-pin mechanical switches. You can pull out any switch with the included tool and drop in your preferred alternative — no soldering required.

This makes the AK980 an excellent entry point for anyone interested in customizing their setup. Start with the stock switches, and swap in something different as your preferences develop. It transforms the keyboard from a fixed product into a customizable platform.

Impressive Battery Life

The 10,000 mAh battery is one of the AK980’s standout features. With RGB lighting enabled, you get roughly 28 hours of use. Turn the lights off and you’re looking at approximately 110 hours — which translates to several weeks of daily use between charges in my testing.

I kept the RGB off most of the time and genuinely went weeks without plugging in the AK980. The included 1.6m USB-C charging cable lets you charge while you use the keyboard, so even if you run low mid-session, it’s not a disruption. For a wireless mechanical keyboard at this price, the battery life is exceptional.

Smart TFT Display and Knob

The 1.14-inch TFT color display on the AK980 shows time, date, battery level, and connection mode at a glance. You can also upload custom GIF images to personalize it. The metal volume knob beside the screen doubles as a menu navigator — hold Fn and scroll through RGB effects, brightness, speed, and language settings without memorizing keyboard shortcuts.

Having on-screen controls instead of relying on function key combos is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement. The knob itself has a satisfying weight and smooth rotation. For volume control during gaming or video editing, it’s far more convenient than hunting for media keys.

What Needs Improvement

No keyboard is perfect, and the AK980 has a few areas where AJAZZ could do better.

Software and Driver Issues

The biggest pain point with the AJAZZ AK980 is the software experience. Multiple users report that drivers from the official download center fail to install, throwing errors regardless of which version they try. The problem is especially pronounced on macOS, where advanced features like display configuration and key remapping are largely inaccessible. The companion software is also scattered across different websites with no clear centralized download point, making it a chore to find the correct version for your specific keyboard variant.

For basic keyboard functionality, the AK980 works fine out of the box on both Windows and Mac. But if you want to customize RGB effects through software or set up macros, plan on spending time troubleshooting — particularly if you’re not on Windows.

Display Defaults to Chinese

The TFT display ships with Chinese as the default language. Switching to English requires pressing Fn+V, but this shortcut isn’t immediately obvious unless you dig through the manual. For an English-language Amazon listing, this is a frustrating onboarding experience that could be solved with a simple language selection on first boot.

No Extra Switches or Keycaps Included

Some competing mechanical keyboards in this price range include a few spare switches and extra keycaps in the box. The AK980 doesn’t. It’s a minor omission, but having backup switches is helpful when you’re experimenting with hot-swapping for the first time and want to test different options without buying a full set immediately.

How It Compares

The budget mechanical keyboard market has strong competition. Here’s how the AJAZZ AK980 stacks up against two popular alternatives.

AJAZZ AK980 vs Keychron Q5 Max

The Keychron Q5 Max is the premium option in the full-size mechanical keyboard space. It features an aluminum case that feels noticeably more refined than the AK980’s plastic shell, with superior out-of-box typing quality. However, the Q5 Max costs roughly twice as much. If build material quality is your top priority, the Keychron justifies the premium. If you want comparable features — gasket mount, hot-swap, wireless — at half the price, the AK980 delivers on functionality where the Keychron delivers on materials.

AJAZZ AK980 vs AULA F99

The AULA F99 competes at nearly the same price point with its own gasket mount construction and sound dampening. In direct comparisons, the AULA F99 sounds slightly better overall, especially the spacebar. However, the AK980’s volume knob has a noticeably better feel than the AULA’s implementation, and the TFT display gives the AK980 a feature advantage that the AULA doesn’t match. Both are strong budget picks — the choice comes down to whether you prioritize sound profile or display features.

Final Verdict

The AJAZZ AK980 mechanical keyboard delivers an impressive collection of features that you’d typically pay significantly more for. Gasket mount construction, tri-mode wireless, hot-swappable switches, a TFT display, metal volume knob, and PBT Cherry profile keycaps — all for $67.99.

I’m giving the AJAZZ AK980 a 4.7 out of 5. The software and driver situation holds it back from a perfect score, but the hardware execution at this price is difficult to fault. The battery life alone — weeks of wireless use without charging — sets it apart from most budget competitors.

Bottom line: If you want a mechanical keyboard that checks every major feature box without demanding a premium budget, the AJAZZ AK980 is one of the strongest values on Amazon. Beginners and intermediate keyboard users will find it particularly rewarding as a platform for customization and daily use.