Wuque Studio is back with its latest premium custom keyboard kit: the Freya and Freya Ultra. This keyboard is one of the most gorgeous we’ve ever seen and features a built-in touchscreen display, an intricately designed case with a spring mounting system, first-of-its-kind dual material plates, and if you purchase the Ultra version, a modular left side that can feature a volume slider or macro keys. It’s entering group buy later this month and, trust us, this is one worth taking a closer look at — even if you’re not currently in the market. It’s more than a little unique.
Specifications
Wuque Studios Freya - Group Buy Information
The Freya will begin at $329 and extend to around $500, depending on configuration. It will be sold through the group by model, which is expected to launch in January. This post will be updated with specific details when more details are made available. In the meantime, you can join Wuque Studio’s Discord channel for announcements as they’re made.
Wuque Studios Freya - Overview and Key Features
The Freya is the latest keyboard from Wuque Studios, one of the leading companies producing custom mechanical keyboards today. It’s the parent brand to Meletrix, which has gained a lot of traction and acclaim over the last couple of years. Wuque Studios is where you turn for top of the line keyboards from these designers, though, and it’s where you find the most intricate, boundary pushing designs.
Freya is based on the Greek goddess and the folklore that surrounds her. The keyboard comes in two forms, the Freya and the Freya Ultra. Both are compact, 65% keyboards but have unique layouts that make their actual size roughly that of a TKL. Like other 65% keyboards, they remove the function row and number pad but have arrow keys, as well as a prominent knob in the upper right to control media or other functions.
Both models are modular too. On each, the knob can be swapped for a cluster of four keys if you’d rather have more buttons. The Freya Ultra extends the left side of the keyboard and allows you to fit either five macro keys or a dedicated volume slider. Otherwise, the two keyboards are alike.
Wuque has always been a company that pushes boundaries and that’s certainly the case with this kit. One of the biggest is with the mounting style. Rather than uses gaskets or silicone tabs, the keyboard utilizes a non-load-bearing gasket structure. In practice, it uses a series of gold-plated springs mounted into the bottom case. The plate rests on these springs, providing a soft typing experience. In between each are more traditional silicone barbell gaskets, but they don’t make contact until the springs have been bottomed out. It’s a unique mix of spring and gasket mounting styles and works quite well for sound and feel (the springs also come pre-installed).
Another innovation is the new dual material, split plate design. These plates essentially take a half-plate design (which doesn’t have any structure under the alpha keys) and fill that empty space with a second, softer material — with one exception. This allows the modifiers to pop and have a brighter sound without forcing you to have a firm typing experience across the board. At launch, you’ll be able to choose from: aluminum + PC (tested), aluminum + FR4, brass + PC, and carbon fiber + FR4. The only exception is the PC + aluminum split plate, which swaps the design and has brighter alphas and deeper modifiers. It’s a great way to tune the sound and, to my knowledge, the first time we’ve seen this kind of design within the mechanical keyboard hobby.
The other big feature is its volume knob. Not only is it big, reminiscent of the Mammoth75, but it features a built-in LCD touch screen. This screen is able to show custom GIFs, uploaded through the Pocket Wuque app, but also has a bunch of other features that are available by default. The default screen is a clock that includes the time, but there’s also a WPM counter, a system monitor to keep track of your CPU and GPU temperature, notifications, and an indicator screen to keep track of your layer, connection mode, and Caps Lock status.. The app allows you to utilize an alarm clock, a note screen, a countdown time, and, in time, extra features. A video on the product page shows things like the current weather and forecast, Discord notifications, air quality index, and a countdown timer. I wasn’t sure I’d like it at first but it’s really pretty neat and easy to use with taps and swipes.
The Freya’s case is absolutely stunning. It’s made of CNC-milled aluminum with what I believe is a stainless steel bottom (Wuque doesn’t disclose this). Each key area has gleaming polished bezels. The right side has the knob, which is surrounded by rounded, pyramid-like bezels, and has a swappable magnetic badge underneath. The arrow keys are slightly offset, making room for a blocker and giving the bottom row a more symmetrical design.
The keyboard is available in ten colors at launch and potentially more depending on community feedback. You can see a selection of these above, but the launch colors will be: Black, Burgundy, E-white, Lavender, Navy, Pine, Pink, Silver, Violet, and Ice Blue. With the exception of white, each case is anodized (e-white is finished with an electrophoresis process). Each color comes with a gold or silver accent color, though some of these really blend in for a much more subtle effect; the engraved wings on my silver version are hard to see unless the light catches them just right. Black, Red, and Pine look absolutely stunning with their gold accents.
The side and back profile are gorgeous and are formed into what Wuque calls wings. As you can see in the pictures below, the left and right have ridges, like flowing wings, carved into the top and bottom case. Wuque describes it like this:
Freya's Feathered Cloak, legendary for being woven from the feathers of various birds, is a powerful artifact that, when worn, provides the wearer with the ability to resist physical and magical attacks. But this isn't just a tale of folklore – it's a reality we've brought to your keyboard. We've meticulously sculpted the shape of wings into the sides of the keyboard, evoking a sense of connection to the mythical power.
Through the application of a secondary anodization process, we've beautifully carved the sides of the keyboard, offering you both aesthetics and texture. This isn't just a keyboard; it's a work of art that infuses your work and play with an atmosphere of mystery and magic. Unleash the power of Freya and experience an unparalleled keyboard journey.
Depending on your choice, these are re-colored with a second anodization process (something that seems like it must be rather complicated, since the bottom will already have been anodized). In fact, it looks like a mid-piece, but it’s not. It’s all the bottom case. This design not only looks great but adds a lot of visual interest when viewed from the side and practically makes the keyboard easier to pick-up and handle.
This carries through to the back with a contoured design where the bottom of the keyboard wraps around. It looks neat and is certainly a more complex manufacturing process than you’ll find on the more affordable, but still impressive, keyboards today.
The back is equally jaw dropping. It features a fully mirror finished bottom with a centered weight of Freya herself. It’s awe-inducing when seen in person and was completely flawless on my sample.
And that’s the other thing you expect and pay for with keyboards of this caliber: perfection in fit and finish. There should be no scratches or undue marks from anodization or milling and that certainly true on the exterior of my sample and on each of the other three Wuque boards I’ve tested — though you should always inspect your keyboard thoroughly before removing the plastic in case there are any problems that slipped through QC.
Of course, you can also expect a full set of foams to customize the keyboard to your taste. Included in the package is a sheet of switch foam, PORON plate foam, adhesive PORON PCB foam, a layer of case foam, and a smaller piece of foam that looks like it’s to replace one of the batteries (my sample came with two batteries, so it wasn’t necessary.
I also have to give kudos to Wuque for what is easily the fanciest unboxing experience I’ve ever had. The keyboard comes in a gorgeous cardboard box that unfolds to reveal a metal carrying case for the keyboard and its accessories. Below this is a pull-out drawer that includes the modular parts, PCB, and foams. It’s really next level and fit
My sample was a prototype and there are going to be some changes in the final version. These are to do with assembly, however, so the case that you seen in the pictures will match what you can expect in real life.
Overall, the Freya feels like the culmination of everything Wuque Studios has learned so far. You can see bits of each of its prior keyboards here, from the Mammoth with the knob and back, to the Promise87 with its shining bezels, to the Ikki68 with its swappable badges, and the Meletix Zoom98 with its screen. Then, you have the new ideas and you have what, in my opinion, may just be the best keyboard Wuque Studios has made yet.
Wuque Studios Freya - Assembly
Assembling my Freya prototype was slightly more complicated that the majority of mechanical keyboards, but good news! Production units are being change to make it simpler and take advantage of some of the more recent assembly advancements we’ve seen in the hobby. This includes using POGO pins instead of ribbon cables and a magnetic connection between the USB daughterboard and the PCB. Since these are some of the most finicky aspects of building any keyboard, they’re welcome additions.
The process of building, then, should fall in line with most others in terms of difficulty, which is impressive considering how many extra elements it brings to the table (screen, slider, knob, spring mounting). You’ll start by lubing and prepping the switches and stabilizers. Then, add PE foam if you’re using it and install the stabilizers. Next, add the PCB foam if you prefer it, set the plate into place (the two materials are already assembled), and use switches to secure the plate and PCB together. I like to put one in each corner and then intersperse some extra in the middle of the PCB to keep things tight and aligned. Add the silicone gaskets to the plate.
With that done, you’ll need to attach the PCB for the left module. On my unit, this was with a ribbon cable but the final models will be much simpler. If you’re using the slider, you’ll need to screw the metal frame into place in the top case first. Remove the bottom plate covering the battery compartment and add both batteries if you received the wireless kit, being careful not to pinch the wires when you put the plate back into place. Add case and PCB foam if you’re using it. At this point, I had to flip the PCB to make plugging in the batteries, daughterboard, and the ribbon cable for the LCD knob, but your process will be simpler with POGO pins and magnetic connectors.
With everything connected, set the assembly onto the springs, lining up the holes in the corners of the plate with the alignment pins on the bottom case. This will make sure that the PCB can move up and down on the springs. Add PCB foam and case foam if you’re using it, add keycaps, and push the top case into place.
From there, flip the keyboard over and screw the fasteners into each corner. Flip the keyboard upright. If you’re using the slider, you’ll need to secure the magnet base to the slider using the smallest included allen key. This will prevent it from popping off. Put the small topper onto the magnet and you’re done.
Drop DCX Solarized Keycaps
For this build, I used a set of Drop’s DCX keycaps. These keycaps are direct competitors to GMK, which has long been a community favorite. While GMK keycaps can take months or even years to manufacture, and can cost well over $100, Drop’s DCX keycaps are the single best competitor I’ve seen. They’re well-made, available in-stock, and are usually only $79 to $99. Drop also has sales throughout the year allow you to pick these keycaps up at a discount or even buy one, get one free.
Developed by Ethan Schoonover, the Solarized set is inspired by a software development theme that, as Drop puts it, “puts software development in a new light.” In keycap form, Solarized adopts a deep navy color for the modifiers and cream white alphas with navy legends. The text on the modifiers is a mix of teal, green, yellow, red, and orange. Since the keyboard I was sent was silver, I thought this color scheme would match well and it definitely does.
DCX keycaps are exceptionally well made. Like GMK, they’re crafted using a doubleshot molding process that produces the legends from a second piece of plastic, bonded to the outer shell. They’re made to tight tolerances for exceptional crispness and each keycap is lightly textured for a comfortable typing experience.
The keycaps are made of ABS plastic, which allows for more vibrant colors and poppier-sounding modifier keys. One of the biggest drawbacks to ABS is that it wears down and shines over time. While DCX sets do eventually shine with extended use, the sets I’ve tested have been much more resilient than those I’m purchased from GMK. My BoW set that I purchased at launch has only a small amount of shine on the WASD keys and spacebar, many months later. In contrast, my GMK sets have all began to shine within a couple of months. The plastic blend Drop is using here is unquestionably better.
When you factor in build quality, shipping speed, and price, Drop’s DCX keycaps are some of the best value keycaps among all premium sets. You don’t mind any of the strangely positioned or spaced legends that are common on cheap clone sets from Amazon or AliExpress. You don’t have abnormalities in sound between the keys. They just work and sound and feel great in the process.
In my opinion, Solarized really makes this particular build.
Wuque Studios Freya - Typing and Gaming Impressions (Sound Demo)
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Freya Ultra. I had never used a keyboard mounted on springs before and those that did use it, like the Akko SPR67 didn’t have the best reputation. But Wuque surprised me. The Freya is not at all what I expected.
For starters, the springs aren’t overdone like on the SPR67. You’re not literally bouncing around all over the place — at least if you use PCB foam. There is a lot of movement with no foams in the case, but the way that the springs rest around the the rim of the keyboard helps balance out this effect. The non-load-bearing gaskets also act as bumpers if you go down too far. The plate can’t bottom out because the gaskets ensure a soft, cushioned landing.
What you’re left with, then, is a typing experience that is reactive but also constrained. Wuque has really honed the typing experience to make it feel balanced.
The other thing I was unsure about was sound. One of the highlights of gasket mounting is that the foam or silicone gaskets absorb some of the sound and round out the profile. But without those gaskets coming into contact, they’re simply not going to work the same. Likewise, there’s a big difference between a soft gasket and a coiled wire spring.
I didn’t need to worry. I built the keyboard in every configuration and quickly discovered that the Freya has multiple elements going for it which speak to how well designed it is. For starters, the bottom of the case uses multiple types of materials to deaden any reverberation. The removable plate for the battery compartment accomplishes this quite well. Even though Wuque includes it, I didn’t find any need for the case foam at all. There was no hollowness to my ear.
For each of my builds, I did use plate foam for my personal preference of a smoother, more rounded switch sound. I also built the keyboard using Laguna Blue switches, which are a pre-lubed linear switch that sound and feel great completely stock. No matter what configuration I went with, the sound was smooth and rounded.
Because of the options the foam kit provides, the keyboard is very versatile in what you can accomplish with it. With all of the foams, you can achieve the muted, marbly sound signature that has been in vogue for quite a while. In this configuration, there’s hardly any flex at all, even with the springs in place, since it takes up all of the cavity within the bottom case. Just dropping the case foam gets rid of the muting, leaving your with a rounded, poppy sound signature. This is the middle ground for flex and puts it in line with Wuque’s other boards.
Removing the PCB foam leaves the bottom case completely open and then you can see the springs really work. There’s a lot of movement then, including some side to side if you push the keys, but the fixing pins do a decent job of making sure it doesn’t move much out of place. The final version will actually have refined fixing pins which should make this even better.
My preferred build consisted of only plate and PCB foam. Just using plate foam still sounded quite good but the modifier and spacebar in particular sounded best to my ear with the PCB foam as well. There’s still a bit of flex, so typing still feels soft. It’s a wonderful middle ground.
The slider on the left is interesting. I’ve never used a keyboard with a slider before, so seeing it here was novel. It controls volume by default and, as of this writing, isn’t remappable yet. When/if it becomes available, I’ll be remapping this to lighting brightness or another feature since the knob also controls volume. It feels good to use, though, and looks neat, so I’ll definitely continue using it when the time comes.
I love the modularity of the keyboard. Though I haven’t yet, being able to add up to eight extra keys (or four on the standard Freya) is a great feature to tailor it to your needs and tastes. This is a feature I hope other manufacturers take up in the future. Give me options, and I’ll be a happy gamer.
With all of that in mind, have a look at the keyboard for yourself and hear how it sounds in different configurations here:
Of course, nothing can be perfect. On my sample, I experienced some issues with the screen, like it not turning off even when the keyboard is put into Deep Sleep mode. I worry that this could decrease its lifespan and will surely increase battery drain. The wires for the batteries also had a tendency to get caught in the springs (I taped them down), and removing the slider was always a bit of a pain due to the tiny retaining screw on its magnet. But in the end, these are small issues in the face of a great overall experience.
Final Thoughts
The Wuque Studios Freya is a unique and highly polished custom keyboard that’s destined to impress. The designers at Wuque have applied all of their lessons, delivering a final product that looks amazing, sounds fantastic and feels just as good, and gives you the options to transform it to exactly what you want from a mechanical keyboard. At $300 to $500, it’s quite expensive, but it’s also a prime example of what makes the mechanical keyboard hobby so fun and compelling. It’s a keyboard designed to last a lifetime, a desk accessory with elements of modern art, a luxury item, a conversation starter, and a show piece. If you spend a good chunk of your life at a desk, it’s an instant quality of life enhancer.
In short, Wuque Studios knocked it out of the park with this keyboard. It’s a culmination of design built on the backs of multiple generations of keyboards and the result is nothing short of impressive.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
