Anyone big into flight sims will know what a Hall Effect sensor is. They’ve also become more prevalent in controllers as of late in an attempt to eliminate the dreaded joystick drift you get when an analog stick starts to wear out. And now, some high-end keyboard manufacturers have started producing models with magnetic actuators that use the Hall Effect to upgrade their mechanical switches. Keyboard manufacturer Akko has been tinkering with magnetic switches for a while now, and the MOD700B PC Santorini keyboard is their latest offering to utilize the old technology - the Hall Effect was discovered in 1879 - to enhance user customization and gaming performance. I doubt anything can improve my horrible gameplay, but the MOD700B PC Santorini may be the keyboard that takes your gaming to the next level.
Specifications
- Price: $134.99 (Amazon) / $149.99 (Akko)
- Layout: 75% With 82 keys
- Switch: Akko Cream Yellow Magnetic (reviewed) or Kailh Sakura Pink Magnetic Switches
- Material: Polycarbonate Case, PBT Dye-Sublimation Keycaps
- Keycap Profile: Cherry
- N-Key Rollover: Supported
- Connectivity: 2.4G Wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type C
- Backlit: Per-Key RGB
- Battery: 3600mAh
- Dimensions: 333 x 147 x 32mm
- Weight: Approx. 1Kg
Akko MOD007B PC Santorini - What Is It?
Akko’s MOD007B PC Santorini is a long name, and none of it does much to identify what kind of keyboard we are looking at, so let’s break this down Barney style (kudos if you catch the reference).
The MOD007 PC takes on a 75% layout with 72 keys, with an additional control knob located in the top right corner of the keyboard. The B variant designates this as an upgraded model with multi-mode wireless. A 3600mAh battery will give you 30-40 hours of use on a single charge, depending on whether you connect via 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth. You can squeak out a little extra life by adjusting the RGB shutoff and standby mode settings to a more aggressive timing. Charging is done through a high-quality USB-C cord, which is also used for a wired connection in a pinch.
Finally, the Santorini callsign references the customized aesthetics inspired by the iconic scenery of Santorini, Greece. The all-white polycarbonate case of the Santorini is paired with a custom set of PBT keycaps, all backlit by per-key RGB. I’m not generally a fan of backlit keyboards and solid keycaps - I prefer transparent lettering that allows the RGB to shine through. I do admit that the Santorini’s white caps with their large blue lettering look lovely, and of course, the Santorini-themed keycaps add a stylish bit of customization to the keyboard.
The alphanumeric keys are of standard size, so general typing will feel familiar to someone used to a regular-sized board. The most obvious size reduction is from the absence of a ten-key pad, and the layout of the navigation keys is changed to further truncate the board's length. The extra space between the function keys is squashed down to make room for the Del key, while the right shift key and Ctrl/Win/Alt/Fn keys are shortened so the arrow keys can be moved in. Finally, the Home/PgUp/PgDn/End keys are placed vertically, with the PrtSc/Scrlck/Pause buttons removed completely (their functionality is reassigned as secondary key functions).
I use a tenkeyless board as my daily driver, so I am already accustomed to using less than the standard 104-key layout. Still, getting used to the smaller form factor of the Santorini has been a struggle. While gaming, there really isn't much difference between my daily driver and the Santorini, and the smaller size of the MOD007B PC means more space for mouse movement. It's another story when trying to get some work done. The biggest challenge is having the home and end keys in a vertical configuration. Even after using the Akko to type up a few articles, I still instinctively reach to the right for the Delete key.
Physically, the MOD007B PC Santorini provides a solid typing platform. The keyboard rests at a 4.5° angle, with feet that can increase the angle to 7° or 10° if you prefer a higher angle of attack. When resting on its base, the Santorini feels weighty, and I didn’t have any issues with slipping when typing or gaming.
The included magnetic switches (we’ll talk about that later) have an operating force of 50g +/-5g, putting them on the stiffer side. I found the stiffness a good pairing for the linear switches, with each keystroke being smooth and uniform. The rigidity of the case counteracts the floatiness of the gasket-mounted switch plate, lending to a solid keystroke with a soft but well-defined bottom to the stroke.
Akko MOD007B PC Santorini - Software Customization
Basic lighting, multimedia functionality, and Windows favorites can all be activated through predefined hotkeys. There are also hotkeys to switch between connectivity modes so that you can have multiple devices connected to the MOD007B HE Santorini simultaneously - one 2.4GHz wireless connection through the USB dongle and three Bluetooth 5.0 connections.
You'll need to use Akko's Cloud Driver software to gain full access to the Santorini's customization options. While the on-board hotkeys allow you to rotate through a handful of preset lighting effects, you can create multi-layered, per-key lighting effects. The driver software is also needed to remap keys, add additional hotkey functions, create and assign macros, and change miscellaneous settings like the wireless sleep timers.
There is a downside to Akko’s Cloud Driver software. Although it is powerful and gives you total flexibility in setting up your keyboard and stabilizers, it could be more user-friendly. Compared to Razer’s Synapse or Corsair’s iCUE software, Akko’s offering is bare-bones, barely a step above custom keyboard options like QMK and VIA.
Akko MOD007B PC Santorini - Gaming Performance
Beyond its aesthetics, the main selling point of the MOD007B PC Santorini is its magnetic switches. Akko’s Cream Yellow Magnetic switches are the same ones used in the MOD007B-HE keyboard, and they are made for gaming. Instead of using a typical mechanical switch with a set actuation point, the magnetic switches in the Santorini use the Hall Effect to measure travel. Using the on-board hotkeys, you can switch between two preset actuation points - .5mm and 2mm. Further customization is done through the Cloud Driver software, which allows you to set the actuation and reset points keyboard-wide or on a per-key basis anywhere from .2mm to 3.8mm in .1mm increments. A shorter travel distance means a quicker response time in games, giving you a physical edge over the competition.
The Cream Yellow switches also allow you to set two actuation points on the downstroke and two points on the upstroke for each key. Each activation point can be remapped to any key or even a macro. For example, you could set all four points on the A key to activate an A keypress, effectively registering four keypresses for every physical keystroke. Or you could set the four points to B, U, T, and T, with a result of typing ‘BUTT’ with a single keypress.
Each activation point can also be assigned a key and modifier (Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Win). This can be very helpful during gaming. You could, for example, you could set the first actuation point on the W key to a W, with the second actuation point set to Shift+W, effectively binding both walking and running in a first-person shooter to a single key. The same could be done to combine strafing and dodges, jumps and double jumps, or any two- to four-key combo to a single key. Toss in a macro or four, and the sky is the limit on what complex commands you could pull off with a single keystroke.
Final Thoughts
There’s no question that the MOD007B PC Santorini is a curated experience. At first glance, the Santorini appears to be a niche product, given its 75% layout, white case, and themed keycaps. Like a white PC case or other themed peripherals, the Santorini (or its pink Tokyo-themed sibling) is attractive yet polarizing.
As for the Santorini’s size and configuration, I personally do too much work on a full-sized board to transition to something as radical as a 75% layout. However, anyone wanting a compact keyboard that still has dedicated function, navigation, and arrow keys could find the MOD0077B PC Santorini to be a perfect fit; my teenage daughter has been using a 75% board for a couple of years now and is eagerly awaiting the completion of this review so she can swap in the Santorini for her current Keychron board.
The beauty of the Santorini is more than skin deep, though. A gamer looking for fast and consistent key actuation will find the Hall Effect switches in the Santorini a perfect choice. Actuation distance can be configured for the entire keyboard or per key, giving a level of control that regular mechanical switches can’t provide. And let’s not forget the dynamic keystrokes, which can have up to four actions on a single key press. Yes, multi-function keystrokes sound gimmicky and difficult to utilize effectively; I found myself constantly activating the second action on accident. But spend as much time practicing the multi-action keystrokes as you do training on your mouse-hand muscle memory, and multiple actuation points could easily be the advantage you are looking for in a competitive match.
The product described in this review was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Purchasing products through our links results in a small commission for the site. Authors are not compensated based on clicks or commissions.
