It was a random Friday morning of 2023 and I was sitting in front of my computer and trying to solve a coding problem. But suddenly, my old keyboard didn’t work and became unresponsive which was a complete nightmare for me. I have been using my old keyboard for the last 4 years since the early days of my university life. After a few days of researching and watching keyboard reviews I thought It was the perfect time for an upgrade and this time I went for a bit mid-range mechanical keyboard called Dareu Ek87.  So, after using it for the last 6 months, I decided to write an extensive review of it. I’ll break down my review into several key aspects:

Unboxing and First Impressions:

I bought the keyboard from Startech and it arrived in a sleek, black box that makes the outlook more catchy. As I carefully unpacked the keyboard, I was immediately impressed by its solid build quality. The plastic casing felt sturdy and durable, and the keycaps had a smooth, textured finish.

Design and Build Quality:

• Aesthetics: Dareu EK87 comes with a sleek and modern look. It has a compact 87-key layout, making it ideal for both desktop and laptop use.
• Material: The build is primarily plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap. 
• Key Layout: The layout is standard, with all keys intuitively placed. New users will find it easy to adapt to.

Typing Experience:

• Brown Switches: Brown switches are known for their tactile feedback without being too noisy. This means you get a satisfying bump when you press a key, but it’s not loud enough to disturb others around you.
• Key Travel and Responsiveness: The keys have a balanced travel distance, not too deep nor too shallow, providing a comfortable typing experience. They respond quickly to presses, which is great for both typing and gaming.

Features:

• Backlighting: It comes with backlighting, which is excellent for working in low-light conditions. The lighting is adjustable, so you can set it to your preferred brightness.
• Connectivity: This model uses a USB connection, which is reliable and offers minimal input lag.
• Additional Keys: While it doesn’t have dedicated macro keys, the function keys double up for additional features, which is a clever use of space.

Durability and Reliability:

• Longevity: Based on my experience and testing, the keyboard can last several years with regular use. The switches don’t wear out easily.
• Maintenance: It’s relatively easy to clean. The keys can be removed for dusting, which helps maintain its performance over time.

Value for Money:

• Price Point: Considering its features and build quality, the Dareu EK87 is priced reasonably. It’s an excellent choice for students and programmers who are looking for a budget friendly and reasonable mechanical keyboard.

Who is it for?

• This keyboard is ideal for regular users, programmers, office workers, and casual gamers. It’s versatile enough to handle everyday typing tasks.

Pros:

• Exceptional build quality
• Satisfying tactile feedback
• N-key rollover
• 16.8 million-color backlighting
• Compact and lightweight design

Cons:

• Lacks dedicated macro keys
• plastic build 

Conclusion:

In summary, the Dareu EK87 with brown switches is an excellent keyboard for its price. It offers a comfortable and quiet typing experience, durable, and has enough features to satisfy most users. Whether you’re typing up reports, working on a tech projects, or enjoying some light gaming, this keyboard won’t disappoint you I swear. I’ve had the opportunity to test a wide range of keyboards over the years. But none of them have quite matched the joy of using the Dareu EK87. It’s truly a special keyboard that has made my work and life more enjoyable.