Neo60cu / 65cu Review

keyboard by: QWERTYKEYS 
Photos taken in House by alex

QwertyKeys Delivers Again, But Is It for You?

We’ve been seriously spoiled in the custom keyboard scene lately. With releases like the Pangea Mini, the Vany Alice, and so many other standout boards, February kept the momentum going strong. Right at the tail end of the month, QwertyKeys dropped the Neo60cu and 65cu—and they even sent me a unit to check out.

These boards follow up on the already well-loved Neo75cu, bringing some refinements and layout options. According to QwertyKeys, they’ve made some small but meaningful upgrades while expanding the lineup. This time around, not only do we have the signature copper bottom, but there’s also a brass bottom option at a discounted price, which is pretty awesome.

Pricing and First Impressions

The Neo60/65cu share nearly identical pricing and features, with only minor differences in screw placements between the layouts. To keep things simple, I’ll be referring to them as a pair. The pricing structure can feel a bit overwhelming but it starts at $165 USD for the plateless brass bottom variant, and caps out at $220 USD for the most premium configuration. For what you’re getting, that’s an insane value.

If you want the short version: this board nails the classic, timeless aesthetic that’s tough to get right. It feels great, sounds great, and both mounting styles work well. There are some thoughtful improvements over the Neo75cu, but of course, no board is perfect. If you want all the details—including the quirks—stick around, because I’ve got a lot to cover.

Full Disclosure and Affiliations

This is not a paid article and these boards were sent to me to look at, but there are some affiliate links. These links give me kickbacks and allow me to continue making content! For clarity and transparency, all of this content will remain objective and unswayed. My thoughts are my own. I very much value being transparent with my content.

Twitch

Neo65cu

What’s New This Time Around

If you’re coming from the Neo75cu, there are some big and small changes! Other than the layouts being different, the Neo60/65cu have a refreshed design. Unlike their older brother the 75cu, these boards now sport cleaner lines on the side profile and opt to ditch the futuristic-esque side profile. The Pokéball-style bottom? That’s gone too. Instead, we have soft, organic curves and a larger accent piece that feels refined and timeless. Honestly, this might be my favorite design from QwertyKeys since the Ergo.

We still get awesome features like a tri-mode PCB, which is great for those who adore wireless boards. Battery life seems great, while I don’t have a number on that, I’ve been using it on and off in wireless mode and plugging it out of habit sometimes.

More importantly we now have a gasket mount and top mount. Finally, a secondary choice that doesn’t feel like a strange after thought or quick add-on. I’ll dive into the internals later, but this is a big win for customization. Plus, we still have a solid range of PCB, plate, and color options.

But there’s one change that might be controversial: the removal of the ball-catch system.

The Removal of the ball-catch System

I know this is going to be a dealbreaker for some people. The ball-catch mechanism made it incredibly easy to open up the board for quick adjustments. But I’ll be honest—I’m okay with this change, and here’s why.

Even before this board was announced, my thoughts on the ball-catch system were already shifting. My turning point was a prototype keyboard I covered that had a misaligned top frame due to a faulty ball-catch mechanism. The result? A resonant, pingy mess that made the board feel defective. Once I got it replaced, I started wondering—was I the only one dealing with this issue?

Turns out, I wasn’t. After talking to other community members and colleagues, I found that plenty of people had similar problems—some without even realizing it. A batch of users assumed they had built their boards wrong when, in reality, the catch-ball system itself introduced variables that led to unwanted noise. I even had peers in the content space share some oddities they were finding. Speaking even with designer Bowl, he shared the same worries.
Digging deeper, I found even more drawbacks:

  • Replacement parts were difficult to source, often proprietary to the manufacturer.
  • Tuning the system for just the right balance between easy access and stability was tricky.
  • Some implementations made the board too loose, while others made it frustratingly hard to open.


Fast forward to now, and QwertyKeys has opted to remove the mechanism entirely. Here’s what they had to say:

We addressed metal contact vibrations between the top and bottom cases by adopting an internal locking structure. While ball-catch mechanisms are convenient, they create unavoidable metal-to-metal contact that causes inconsistent typing sounds around the latches without foam dampening. Therefore, we’ve implemented internal locking screws to attach the top and bottom cases. With additional buffering around the screw holes, the noise from direct metal contact is nearly eliminated.

So, instead of the ball-catch system, we now have an internal screw structure with added buffering to minimize vibrations. On one hand, I get why some people might be bummed—losing the convenience of tool-free access isn’t exactly ideal. But on the other hand? I’d rather have a board that sounds consistent and doesn’t introduce unwanted noise. Personally, I’m in favor of this change but again, I know this is a tough one for some. At least we still have the POGO pin connector!

The Internals And Sound Pt.1

For the second time in a row, QwertyKeys has absolutely nailed the mounting options. Both the gasket and top mount feel great, and the plateless gasket option is a standout. The board is highly plate-dependent, so choosing the right configuration is crucial.

Here’s what I found:

  • Plateless builds feel amazing on both copper and brass bottoms.
  • Top mount pairs best with a softer plastic plate.
  • Gasket mount shines with carbon fiber.
  • Stiffer plates didn’t do it for me in a top-mount build.


Internally, the board features a stepped or ribbed bottom case, which acts as an acoustic chamber. This design helps scatter sound waves rather than letting them reflect harshly, resulting in a deeper, more controlled sound profile. Across all the configs I tried, the sound leaned bass-heavy with a pleasant pop on the spacebar and well-balanced modifiers.

Sound — The Feet Pt. 2

Now, I’ll be honest—I wasn’t sure where to put this, but I think this category works since it’s tied to the overall acoustics of the board. And that is: the feet. Oh boy, this is another nitpick of mine, and just to warn people, this does come down to preference.

The board has adhesive feet and opts for a longer foot near where your wrists would be. Typically, longer feet create more surface area with the desk, which can transfer vibrations and create a ‘thuddy’ sound signature. Not only does it do that here, but the front foot is so low that if you use a desk pad, it sinks into it—causing the bottom of the board to rest on the pad and further affecting the sound.

Personally, I don’t quite get why they went this route—maybe for aesthetics? I wish they had used the same two smaller adhesives as the top of the feet arrangement, and slightly thickened them to avoid case contact. That being said, this could mean nothing to you, because the board still sounds great. But if their goal was a cleaner sound, this is one area where I think improvements could be made.

Closing Statements, Notes And Comparisons

Another observation: the case has some minor gaps as seen in the Twitch streams VODS. These don’t affect acoustics at all—I tested plugging them, and there was no difference. One gap is only visible with no parts installed, and the other is just above the accent piece. The latter is only noticeable under studio lighting, so it’s really a non-issue, but worth mentioning.

Now, one major question I’ve been getting is: Neo60/65cu vs. Mode Envoy/SixtyFive?

Honestly, both boards have very different sound profiles. The Mode boards are brighter, while the Neo lineup leans deeper and bassier. Aesthetically, it’s personal preference. But value-wise? You just can’t beat Neo. The scale of their operation makes it hard for other premium 60-65% boards to compete. Truth be told, I can’t tell you what to do here or what is objectively better since I think there is space for both boards in the hobby.

So, is it worth your money? That’s a big yes from me.

TL;DR—Even with its few quirks, the Neo60/65cu is a solid pickup—whether you’re into 60% or 65% layouts. It offers great value, solid sound, and a clean aesthetic that doesn’t try too hard. You’re gonna love it.