In just three days, Cannon Keys will be launching its latest custom mechanical keyboard, a successor to the ever-popular and oh-so-influential Satisfaction 75. While that keyboard debuted at $400 back in 2019, the Sat75 X is a keyboard for a new generation. It trades the heavy aluminum of the original for an injection molded case, customizable gasket mounting, and a far more approachable $111 asking price. And surprise, surprise… this “entry level” keyboard has become one of my absolute favorites — and it’s not just because of the cute cat.
Specifications
Current Price: Starting at $111 (Cannon Keys)
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Where to Buy the Cannon Keys Sat75 X
The Cannon Keys Sat75 X will be available for pre-order directly from Cannon Keys on August 15th. It will be available in three colors: Stratus Black (translucent), Octo Purple (translucent), and Cloud White (opaque). It will come with the case, PCB, silicone inserts, gaskets, and all of the accessories you’ll need to complete the build. Note that like most custom keyboard kits, it does not come with switches or keycaps, but does ship with Cherry clip-in stabilizers.
If you’re reading this early, you can visit the product page to see more photos and find out more.
Cannon Keys Sat75 X - Design and Highlights
The Sat75 X is a 75% custom mechanical keyboard kit. It’s ostensibly aimed at newcomers to the hobby, but it also comes as a successor to the original Satisfaction 75 which launched to massive success back in 2019 and again with a second round in 2020. This was back when yours truly was just getting into the custom side of the mechanical keyboard hobby and, believe me, you couldn’t help but hear about it.
The Satisfaction 75 was a hit and its impact is still being felt today. Because of its popularity and “end game” status to many hobbyists, it was one of the most influential keyboards in popularizing the 75% layout that is so incredibly popular today. Before the Satisfaction 75, the layout was out there, especially on laptops, but now it’s a mainstay even among massive gaming keyboard companies like Razer, HyperX, and Glorious.
If you’re new to custom keyboards or aren’t sure what I’m talking about, 75% refers to the keyboard’s layout. It’s sometimes called a Compact TKL. It lops off the number pad and navigation/editing cluster to save space but includes a full function row, arrow keys, and a column of nav and editing buttons. It’s a great middle-ground between gaming, productivity, and functional minimalism.
The Sat75 X adds its own spice to the mix with its OLED screen and a rotary knob. Screens and knobs on keyboards are also becoming common, but it’s worth remembering that the original Satisfaction 75 also played heavily in the knob craze (settle down, Britains). It can be programmed in VIA like the rest of the keys but I prefer to keep it set to volume like God intended.
The screen is downright charming. It’s not a full color display but a simple OLED with four modes. The first focuses on indicators. It displays your current layer, lock status, rotary encoder (knob) mode, the current time, and even has a tiny real-time display of the keyboard that highlights the keys being pressed. Holding the Fn button and pressing the knob sends you into a simpler mode. It pares locks down to Caps only but still shows the encoder mode, layer, time, and also the date.
The third mode, AKA: the best mode, displays a chubby little cat who taps his paws along with your keystrokes. When you stop, he waits and catches his breath. This mode also shows your current typing speed in WPM and the time. The last mode is a variation of this that just shows the cat and nothing else.
The screen will come with white lettering by default but blue and yellow will also be available.
While the original Satisfaction 75 used a full aluminum case and cost an arm and a leg by today’s standards ($400-500 without switches or keycaps), this version uses an injection molded polycarbonate case. It comes in three colors, translucent purple or black, and solid white. Contrary to what trends might have you believe, a high quality plastic case can be a cheat code to good sound and that’s definitely the case here.
The case is light, which some people might consider a drawback, but you can purchase a silicone insert that adds quite a bit of heft and, to my ear, improves the sound of the modifier keys with PBT keycaps (ABS may be another story). It’s not cheaply made, however. There are threaded metal inserts for every screw so you won’t need to worry about stripping them out over time… just don’t overtighten them. Plastic breaks under pressure, hold off on going He-Man. Snug is tight enough.
There’s a delightfully retro aesthetic to the translucent cases. I went with the black version, but Octo Purple give definite N64, Apple iMac vibes. If you’re a fan of RGB lighting up translucent cases, I’m sorry to disappoint: the only light on this keyboard comes from the OLED screen. You’ll need to find your keyboard rave elsewhere. Instead, the aesthetics come from the case and keycap colors, and the graceful, ship-like contours of the case.
Internally, the keyboard features most of what you would hope for from an affordable keyboard kit in 2024. The PCB supports hot-swapping switches, it’s gasket mounted, and if you want them, you can buy silicone or PORON case foam and plate foam to tune the sound. It uses a polycarbonate plate by default for a bit more cushion to the typing experience. The included stabilizers also work well once you clip their feet and add a bit of lube. It even includes a braided cable and carrying case, though my early sample lacked the case.
The gasket mount system is customizable to help you dial in the feel you’re looking for. It uses silicone gaskets that are pre-installed on plastic chips that insert into slots rimming the inside of the case. You can use them all, go for just the top and bottom or sides, whatever you like. The PCB isn’t flex cut, though, which might be good for sound but doesn’t allow for much flex when typing, especially with the silicone. The gaskets do a good job of isolating keystrokes and creating a typing experience with a rounded sound profile that isn’t harsh on the fingers.
One thing to note is that it doesn’t use a USB daughterboard — a separate circuit board for the USB port. This can be helpful for flex and long-term durability of the port. But, since there isn’t a lot of flex anyway, it doesn’t make a big difference and saves an extra step for new builders.
With that in mind, let’s get to the build process!
Cannon Keys Sat75 X - Assembly
Cannon Keys was kind enough to send over switches and keycaps to complete the build. While this saves my having to buy these out-of-pocket (I am sadly not reimbursed for the hundreds of switches and keycaps I go through every year), it also highlights the one-stop-shop benefit of buying from Cannon Keys. One of the most obnoxious parts about building your own keyboard is having to buy from different sites and then wait on the different shipping times for each product. Cannon Keys sells switches, keycaps, stabilizers, lube, and all kinds of accessories. It’s also an established brand with a long track record and positive reputation in the community.
Anyhow, since I knew I was getting the black case, I went with CannonCaps ZeRo keycaps for the matching black, white, and gray aesthetic. It also had some badass sword novelties which made this man-child smile inside. They keycaps are made of dye-sublimated PBT plastic and are thick-walled for that deep, rich sound PBT keycaps are known for.
For switches, I went with Gateron Smoothies. I used them for my last Cannon Keys build, the BakenekoGO, and really liked them. They’re a long-pole, linear switch that are very-well pre-lubed. They have a refined sound that’s on the clacky end but plays nice with PBT keycaps too. I honestly love these switches — and even more because they’re cheap at only $0.30 a switch.
Building the Sat75 X is pretty straightforward. You’ll go through the usual routine of lubing stabs and slotting them in place. Then you lay down the plate foam if you’re using it, followed by the plate, and insert switches. From there, you can add keycaps and turn to the case.
Since the keyboard is wired-only and doesn’t have a daughterboard, all you need to do is remove the twelve screws holding the two halves of the case together — which seems a little excessive — and you’re in action. All you need to do is add the bottom case foam or silicone, optional add-ons, and remove any of the gasket strips you don’t want.
Finally, you set the PCB assembly on top, put the top case back on, and screw it back together. The keyboard supports VIA for programming and doesn’t even need a JSON if you use the web configurator. It’s a good idea to stop by the site and make sure all of the switches work and that no pins were bent during installation.
With that, you’re done!
Cannon Keys Sat75 X - Typing Demo and Impressions
My sample came with plate and case silicone inserts. I tested the keyboard with and without both, as well as with all of the gasket chips installed, just the sides, and just the top and bottom. My favorite configuration with the PBT keycaps was with both silicones and all of the gasket chips installed.
Removing the bottom silicone opens up the sound. I can see a lot of people liking that. But keeping the case silicone helps enhance the modifiers and the spacebar in particular, so I kept it in. The typing experience is on the firm side no matter what configuration you go with. It’s not severe and certainly has more give than a top mount or tray mount keyboard, but this isn’t a keyboard you should turn to if you crave bounce and flex.
But that’s the wonderful thing about the keyboard hobby: it’s subjective. I know from hearing from other influencers that a lot of people love this keyboard with no foam or silicone at all. That’s great for them! And because the keyboard doesn’t have any cables or ribbons plugged into the PCB, opening it up and changing how it’s built is easy and inviting. Just… too many screws.
At this point, I should also mention that it’s not very accommodating to different layout options with the hotswap PCB. You can use split backspace, stepped caps, and either two or three buttons to the right of the 6.25u spacebar. If you go for the soldered PCB, you can then add split shift, 7u spacebar, and ISO support. It would be nice to see more options available to people who don’t want to solder, but I suspect that most people will be happy with the standard configuration anyhow.
Turning to sound, whether I used the silicone dampeners or not, I found the sound profile to be deeper and very smooth. That deeper pitch is common with PC cases like this one, especially if you use the included PC plate (FR4 and aluminum will also be available as add-ons). In my opinion, I think it sounds very good with the long-pole Smoothies and ZeRo keycaps. For $111 for the base kit and around $200 for the exact config I have here, it’s an impressive value.
Final Thoughts
It’s a golden age for affordable custom mechanical keyboards. Like the BakenekoGO I reviewed last month, it offers a great value with appealing sound, feel, and looks. If you’ve considered building a keyboard but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, or the idea of a heavy aluminum keyboard acting like a brick on your desk, the Cannon Keys Sat75 X is well worth its asking price.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
