MIKIT may seem like a newer brand, but it’s actually a sub-brand of one of the best in the keyboard business: IQUNIX. For years, it has been quietly making top-of-the-line mechanical keyboards that compete with some of the best in the enthusiast class, whether you’re gaming or just looking for something nice to get work done on. MIKIT aims to bring that craftsmanship to more affordable price points with even more unique designs.
We’ve looked at two of its keyboards so far, the DK65 Currant and the M65 Evergreen, and today we’re coming to my personal favorite, the C96 Dimension C. It’s a compact full-size keyboard with an eye-catching design, excellent wireless connectivity for gaming-grade performance, and, though it’s not gasket mounted, a typing experience that’s satisfying to use. At $129, it’s a good value and definitely worth considering for your next set of keys.
Specifications
- Current Price: $129 (MIKIT)
- Key Features
- 96% Layout -A "full-size" keyboard with a smaller form factor
- Hot Swappable - Swap out the Switches Easily As Per Your Preference
- Tri-mode Connection - Bluetooth 5.1 / 2.4ghz / Wired
- Wireless 2.4GHz - Lower Latency & Consumption
- Bluetooth 5.1 - 3-device Connectivity
- Seamless Switching - Connecting and Switching Between 3 Devices
- macOS Compatible - Function Keys Fully Compatible
- Long-lasting Battery Life - Endurance of 50 Days with 4000mah Battery
- (8 Hours of Use Per Day Under Bluetooth Connection with Backlit Off)
- PBT Double-shot Keycaps - Shiny-look-proof, Tactile and Tough
- RGB Backlit - Built-in 16-million-color Rgb Effects
- N-key Rollover - Unlimited Key Press
- Detachable Cable - Separated Keyboard and Cable Management Programmable Software
- Model: C96
- Layout: 96% | ANSI
- Type: Mechanical Keyboard
- Case Material: ABS
- Key Count: 100
- Switches: Gateron / TTC
- Keycaps Material: PBT
- Keycaps Profile: Cherry
- Legends Printing: Double-shot
- Larger Keys Style: Cherry Plate-Mount Stabilizer
- RGB Backlit: 16-Million-Color Modules (RGB Variants)
- Connection: Bluetooth 5.1 / 2.4GHz / USB-C *(Connect to 3 devices at once)
- N-Key Rollover: Support
- Response Time: 1ms (Wired & 2.4GHz) / 8ms (Bluetooth)
- Polling Rate: 1000Hz (Wired & 2.4GHz) / 125Hz (Bluetooth)
- Interface: USB Type-C
- Battery Capacity: 4000mAh
- Battery Type: Li-ion Polymer Batteries
- Dimensions: 386 x 139 x 39 mm
- Weight: Approx. 960g
- Compatible OS: Windows / macOS / iOS / Android
- Warranty: 12 Months Limited Hardware Warranty
MIKIT C96 Dimension C - What Is It?
The MIKIT C96 Dimension C is a stylish mechanical keyboard that comes in a compact full-size layout known as a 96%. This layout features most of the keys of a full 104-key but trims out any extra space and several of the rarely used keys. You still have arrow keys, a function row, and a full Numpad, but all of the extra space between each section has been removed, creating a solid grid of keys. The navigation and editing buttons (Page Up, Page Down, Home, End) have been moved above the Numpad. Scroll Lock, Pause have been removed and Insert has been moved to a secondary layer (0 on the Numpad).
This layout is popular among MMORPG players and people who also need their keyboards for work. The presence of a Numpad allows you to quickly enter numbers into spreadsheets but can also double as a macro pad. It’s also very useful if you play sims. Microsoft Flight Simulator virtually requires it, which means if you’re a sim fan many of the most in vogue keyboards simply won’t suffice.
96% keyboards are nothing new, but the C96 Dimension C manages to stand out with its unique design. It uses a blue, white, and teal color scheme that is reminiscent, but not a clone of, of GMK Hammerhead. The case, made of ABS plastic, is a dark blue to match the modifier keys. It’s full of character and looks fantastic.
One of the biggest selling points of MIKIT and iQunix keyboards is their keycaps. The company has invested significantly in its keycap manufacturing over the last several years and the results are plain to see. The caps on the C96 are doubleshot PBT plastic. The doubleshot process uses a second piece of bonded plastic to create the legends, so they’ll never chip or fade and look more crisp than the dye sublimation legends found on many similar keycaps. PBT is also a denser plastic than the traditional ABS and is far more resistant to shining. They’re also thick walled, which makes typing sound and feel more substantial.
Underneath those keycaps are the hot-swappable switches. There are many to choose from and only one has an extra cost to choose. The options are: Gateron Pro 2.0 Blue, Brown, Red, or Yellow and TTC Gold Brown Pro, Gold Red Pro, Gold Pink, Speed Silver, and Holy Panda. Holy Panda switches are more expensive and raise the price to $159 but are quite good with a highly tactile feel, pre-lubing, and a great stock sound. You really can’t go wrong with any of the options. They’re all pre-lubed, smooth, and offer a sound and feel that exceeds traditional Cherry MX switches (Cherry’s fall from the limelight has really been something to behold!).
If you ever want to change your switches, they can simply be unplugged using the included combination keycap and switch puller. New switches can be pressed into place without soldering. It’s a great feature that allows you to explore different switches and supports the right to repair. If you happen to spill a drink and have a switch get sticky or stop working, you won’t have to throw away your whole keyboard. Just pull the switch and replace it at a fraction of the cost.
Typing on these keys is surprisingly nice on the TTC Gold Brown switches which my sample included, but it’s not exactly soft. The keyboard uses a traditional tray mount structure with a steel plate. There’s no flex to speak of. That doesn’t make it unpleasant, though, and after using so many keyboards that do have bounce and flex, it’s somewhat refreshing to find a firmer keyboard that also sounds and feels as good as this one does.
One of the reasons for that is that MIKIT smartly uses sound dampening foam throughout its construction. This removes any sense of hollowness or reverberation from the typing experience and instead draws out the sound of the switches themselves, which are quite nice. The stabilizers also come pre-lubed and were mostly good to go right out of the box.
As you might expect, the keyboard supports full per-key RGB backlighting and is programmable using companion software. There are more than a dozen lighting presets and you can set custom colors within the software. It looks good and is both fast and easy to get up and running with, but don’t expect the kind of in-depth programmability of iCUE or Razer Synapse. MIKIT is a much smaller team and the software is still in development. You can set lighting, remap keys, and assign macros, however, so all of the basic functionality is present and accounted for.
The final major selling point is its tri-mode wireless connectivity. It can connect over Bluetooth 5.1 to up to three different devices or over 2.4GHz using the included dongle. If you're planning on gaming, the dongle is the better choice for its wired-like 1ms response time but for use with laptops, tablets, and smartphones, Bluetooth connectivity is steady, reliable, and quick to switch using a quick Fn key combination.
MIKIT C96 Dimension C - Performance
Compared to both of the MIKIT keyboards I’ve tested so far, the C96 Dimension C is easily my favorite. I didn’t expect that going in, especially since I’ve grown so fond of softer typing experiences. But with the Gold Brown Pro switches, it’s just so satisfying in both sound and feel that it’s hard to argue that it's not an excellent value for the money. It’s genuinely one of the best built, best sounding pre-built keyboards I’ve tested under $150.
Over the last month or so, I’ve swapped back and forth with the C96 and the other keyboards I was testing. Apart from my custom keyboards, which are typically triple the price, this was the keyboard I kept coming back to. For gaming or typing, it provides an excellent, responsive experience.
Using its 2.4GHz dongle, I was hard pressed to tell any difference whatsoever against the Corsair, Razer, and Logitech keyboards I had on hand. Even in competitive settings, you don’t need to worry about the signal failing, even as it gets low on battery. But since it has a 4000mAh lithium pack, it easily lasted me a week of dedicated use with RGB on and should last a month or more with backlighting turned off.
Compared to the iQunix boards, there were only two noticeable differences in quality. Like the DK65 Currant and the M65 Evergreen, the lubing on the stabilizers wasn’t consistent across the board. My unit was perfect except for the backspace key, which was very slightly rattly. The other five were perfect. Two small drops of lube later and it was just fine and consistent across the board. And bear in mind, as someone who has tested and built dozens and dozens of mechanical keyboards, I’m much more sensitive to these things. Most people would likely not even notice that slight difference until it was pointed out to them.
The other difference is that the USB Type-C cable is simply braided and isn’t color matched. This is a relatively standard feature on iQunix boards, but if you want a color matched cable, you’ll need to supply one for yourself. The included braided one is nice in its own right, though, so it’s not much of a drawback, especially if you plan to use the keyboard wirelessly anyway.
There is a slight learning curve for the layout, but it’s still one of my absolute favorites. The “0” key on the Numpad is half-width to make room for the arrow keys, and the right Shift button is also slightly smaller. If you use these keys often, you’ll need to train yourself to be a bit more precise with your presses.
The Gold Brown switches, thick keycaps, and layers of foam all combine to create a very satisfying experience. The tactility of the browns is quite a bit more prominent, which cuts down on typos for hacking out essays and assignments, but the switches are still smooth due to the factory lubing. There is no spring ping. No hollow sound or emptiness anywhere across the keyboard. It’s consistently very good, on every key.
Final Thoughts
The MIKIT C96 Dimension C is a great keyboard at an affordable price. It isn’t “budget” but when you look at what you’re getting — great pre-lubed switches, excellent keycaps, sound dampening foam, pre-lubed stabilizers, and great wireless connectivity — it is a great value. At $129, this is definitely a keyboard you should consider, especially if you’re looking to add more character to you desk.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
