The Luminkey98 is the latest release from Luminkey, a brand dedicated to bringing high-end enthusiast custom keyboard features to accessible price points without the need to build anything for yourself. Beginning at $220, this keyboard comes ready to use out of the box and is a great choice for both gaming and productivity.
Specifications
- Current Price: $220 (Luminkey)
- Version: Pre-built
- Size: 15.74 x 5.35 x 0.79 inches
- Weight: 5.73 lbs
- Number of keys: 105 keys
- Typing Angle: 7°
- Layout: 98% ANSI/ISO
- Mounting: Top Mount
- Programming Support: Luminkey APP
- Cable type: Type-C Data Cable
- Stabilizers: Plate mount Stabilizers(6x2U+1x6.25U)
- Connectivity: Wireless/2.4G/Wired
- Latency data
- Wired: 5ms
- 2.4G: 7ms
- Wireless: 18ms
- Polling rate
- Wired: 1000Hz
- 2.4G: 1000Hz
- BT Wireless: 125Hz
- Compatible System: Windows/MacOS
- PCB: 1.6mm Tri-mode hot-swappable PCB & Numeric Keypad PCB (with 4400mAh battery)
- Plate: 1.5mm PC Plate & Numeric Keypad PC Plate
Luminkey LK98 - First Impressions and Key Features
The Luminkey LK98 is the largest keyboard that Luminkey has produced to date, but that’s not all that sets it apart. Like its predecessors, the Luminkey80 and the Luminkey75, it brings with it a wide suite of enthusiast features derived from the custom keyboard world. It also comes completely pre-built, pre-tuned, and ready to use out of the box. It’s an effective alternative to building your own custom keyboard because, well, the people who designed it and build it are custom keyboard aficionados themselves.
The LK98 uses a variation of the 1800 layout. Another name for this is a 98% layout. In essence, what it means is that it includes a full function row number pad and arrow keys, but lacks the separating middle section where the arrows and navigation and editing keys would be broken out. Instead, it combines these into a more condensed area.
On the LK98 in particular, you essentially have a 75% keyboard with a number pad attached. The arrow keys bump right up against right shift and above the right arrow is a column of navigation and editing buttons. To the right of the function row, you have two additional buttons. In my case, I have those set to F 13 and Delete, though this is fully customizable within the Luminkey software. The number pad butts right up against this right column with only a small separation between them. Above the number pad are for additional keys that can also be remapped to functions of your choice. I set mine to be Print Screen and media controls.
Like previous models in this series, it comes in a fully aluminum case. It’s available in three colors: white, black, and green, which I was sent. Given that this is a 105-key keyboard, that’s quite a large piece of aluminum and the keyboard is quite hefty as a result, weighing in at 5.73 pounds. Each color also has a separate aesthetic weight on the back as well. Each one is black and has a pattern unique to that color. As per usual with custom keyboards, you won’t see this very much, but it is a nice touch the improves the style it’s able to offer.
One of its most unique features is that the number pad can be swapped to the opposite side to accommodate left-handed users. But even if you're a righty, this is something you might want to consider as it makes for a handy macro pad for MMORPGs. It does require taking the keyboard apart but the process of opening the case is very straightforward, as is swapping it.
It also comes with high quality switches and keycaps. The switches are Gateron Sylvas, which are long pole linear switches that come pre-lubed from the factory. They have a very nice sound profile that isn’t too loud but has a delightful pop, if you care about the sound of your keyboard. There also hot-swappable, so if you decide you’d like to change you can easily pull them out without needing to worry about soldering.
(Which is a common point in keyboard reviews, but seriously, does anybody actually decent solder their pre-built keyboard?! I’m about as deep into this hobby. As you can get, and I have never once it done that. I know some people have, but it’s got to be such a tiny minority that it’s just about a non-issue… But I digress…)
It also comes with a complete set of durable PBT keycaps. These are dye-sublimated, so you’ll never have to worry about them fading or changing in appearance over time. PBT is a denser plastic than ABS, so it wards off shining and finger oils much better. The keycaps have thick walls which, in combination with their denser properties leads to a more substantial feeling under the fingertips and a lower pitched sound. Because the keyboard uses long pole switches, however, it finds a sound profile that’s in the middle between thocky and clacky.
Internally, it’s also using multiple layers of sound dampening and sound enhancing foam. This is nothing unusual for keyboards in 2024 but does mean that you’ll be getting a sound and feel in-line with some of the best choices available today. The foams dampen reverberations in the case, so there’s no hollowness to speak of. They don’t make anything feel soft, however.
That’s because this keyboard uses a top mount structure. This flies in the face of the vast majority of keyboard designs over the last year or so. Gasket mounting has become one of the most dominant way is to produce mass-market keyboards. There’s a good reason for that, as the cushioned nature of using foam or silicone beneath the switch plate leads to a more comfortable and more rounded sounding typing experience. Top mount has its place, however, particularly in the history of custom mechanical keyboards and I’m pleased to see it return.
If all of the sounds like Greek to you, let me break down the difference. Within a mechanical keyboard, the switches snap into a rigid plate that holds them in place in ensures they don’t pop out of their sockets or break their solder joint from wiggling around too much. Within a gasket mount keyboard, the edges of this plate are sandwiched between silicone or foam stoppers, isolating vibrations from traveling to the rest of the case. This also has the side effect of making keystrokes feel softer, as the foam or silicone depresses the impacts of typing.
A top mount keyboard, by contrast, simply screws into the top case. As you might imagine, there is no depression to take place in the typing experience is much firmer as a result. Many enthusiasts prefer a top mount structure, however, because it delivers a more consistent sound around all areas of the keyboard (a gasket mount keyboard tends to sound slightly different near its mounting points.
If this seems like were getting into the weeds, it’s because we are. If you are not already deep into the world of mechanical keyboards, you may not even notice that much of a difference in without listening to them side-by-side. The point here, is that Luminkey as a brand is taking these things into consideration for you. I also appreciate that they were willing to take a risk and release and mainstream keyboard that doesn’t consider flex in its typing experience.
It also doesn’t bother with RGB backlighting. The only LEDs present on this keyboard are therefore indication purposes only. There are lights behind the Q, W, E. R, and T keys to indicate your current connection mode (one of three Bluetooth devices, 2.4GHz for wireless gaming with a 1,000Hz polling rate, or USB wired), but that’s about it. In Luminkey’s line-up, this keyboard is definitely tending more toward the enthusiast side with its design decisions.
But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you want RGB, this isn’t the keyboard for you. If you want a keyboard that sounds and performs great, it’s a good option well worth considering.
Luminkey LK98 – Typing, Gaming, and Overall Impressions
As with other Luminkey keyboards, my impressions are positive. It should come as no surprise that the LK98 is a well-made board that offers a good typing experience that is well in excess of most pre-built keyboards you can find. With that said, just like those last boards, it’s very much worth considering this keyboard as a foundation to build on top of. Luminkey gives you everything you need to craft an outstanding custom keyboard for yourself if you are not immediately in love with the way it comes out of the box.
For example, I just was a big fan of the keycap design. This is entirely subjective, but for me one of the first things I decided to do was to swap out the keycaps. I had been looking for a keyboard to use a particular keycap set on for some time, so it worked out very well to make the change with the LK98. While I was there, I also decided to change out the switches. The Gateron Sylvas are very good, but I’ve been on a tactile kick lately and swapped them with the WS Heavy Tactiles, available on Amazon.
The end result is a keyboard that I really adore. The green color is unique in my collection and pretty rare in the wider world of mechanical keyboards. The high tactility of the switches is great – though, if you decide to stick with the original Sylvas, they’re a fantastic linear option, as I’ve described in past reviews.
The gaming experience is also very good. The 2.4GHz dongle provides a wireless gaming experience that feels just as responsive as any of my wired gaming keyboards. The software isn’t as rich something like Corsair or Razer’s software, but it does allow you to remap keys, program macros, and assign multiple layers of commands to customize the keyboard for different games and applications. In other words, he gets the job done, though I do wish it used VIA instead. I also miss RGB backlighting, but on the plus side the lack of RGB means its 4,400mAh battery is able to last for upwards of a month with daily use.
Luminkey98 – Typing Demonstrations
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Overall Impressions and Final Thoughts
Overall, the Luminkey 98 is another win for the brand. This one won’t be as universally appealing as its last releases due to its larger footprint and top mount structure, but it’s hard to argue against its quality and that it’s filling an open need in this space. If you don’t mind a firmer typing experience, or indeed, even prefer it, it’s an excellent choice.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Authors are not compensated based on clicks or commissions.
