Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Angry Miao
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Angry Miao
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Image Credits:TechCrunch/Frederic Lardinois
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Image Credits:Angry Miao
Fundraising
gizmo
back
Image Credits:TechCrunch/Frederic Lardinois
Government & Policy
computer hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
protection
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
conveyance
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
get through Us
To write about an Angry Miao keyboard always means to write about the design as much as the actual typing experience . Just look at theAM AFAorAM Hatsu . For the longest fourth dimension , I ’ve wondered what a more moderate offer from the company would attend like . The AM 65 Less came close , but the touch control board that replaced the arrow Florida key was its Achilles ’ blackguard — and perchance one gubbins too much . Currently on my desk is what may just be Angry Miao ’s most schematic mechanically skillful keyboard to particular date : the AM Relic 80 .
There ’s no technical gizmo here ( unless you need to matter Angry Miao ’s traditional overengineering as such ) . The AM Relic , with prices starting at $ 490 for the bare - ivory interlingual rendition , is a rather standard tenkeyless board . The catch is that the design is inspired by Daniel Arsham ’s “ Brillo Box ” from his “ Future Relic ” series . But where Arsham ’s box seat has roughly abbreviate corners , the AM Relic 80 has head - ignite corners in the lower - left and top - right corners . These depend striking with a cool meditative effect and diamond - baseball swing patterns , but almost elusive by Angry Miao standards . They do have their own light-emitting diode configurations , so you may prefer for strong colors , a rainbow effect or , if you require to get distracted , a strobe upshot .
In a way of life , that ’s exactly what I need to see from the company . You get all of Angry Miao ’s design and manufacture chops ( combined with a very pleasing typing sound ) and none of the trade - offs that sometimes come with its designs .
The overall design is boxy and while Angry Miao says that its 19 mm front height makes for a prosperous typing experience , I would advocate a wrist balance anyway . The samara sit at an eight - degree slant , which works for me , though that ’s pretty much a personal druthers .
Angry Miao sent me the Relic 80 in the Meteor colorway , which I can only identify as a silvery bronze . There are also lily-white and smuggled editions . I was upset that the Meteor color would be either too golden or too brown , but it find a nice middle ground . For the Meteor and dark versions , Angry Miao opted for its “ Glacier Dark ” transparent keycaps . Unsurprisingly , they do a prissy job of letting the shining per - fundamental light-emitting diode colors radiate through , but I ’ve never been a buff of how still they are . Depending on your point of view , this may be the one expanse where Angry Miao trade design for user experience . Keycaps are easy put back , though .
One thing the keycaps do seem to aid with , though , is the sound . Angry Miao choose for an FR4 home plate and seven layers of foam and pads to shape the Relic 80 ’s typing sound . If you like your keyboards to have a marbly sound texture , you wo n’t be disappoint . If I were building a customs duty keyboard from scratch , that would be the speech sound I ’d be going for , so this works for me .
As for the rest of the tech , Angry Miao prefer for what is now its time-tested and true adjustable leaf springs . I find they work well , though it ’s a routine of workplace to change them out . You ’re only likely to do this a few times , though , until you find your own preferred setting , so it ’s not a big wad .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
With the Relic 80 , Angry Miao also once again choose for its running Icy Silver Pro switch . These retail for $ 100 for a set of 90 , so you should have high expectation of them . In my experience , they are very suave and do n’t exhibit any leaf Ping River . They are also quite light with an actuation military force of 37 Gram . Since this is a hot - trade PCB , you could easily switch them out if you ’d like to prove something else , though . Or you could just prefer for the base kit and bring your own .
In terms of connectivity , there ’s the usual USB - C port , as well as Bluetooth support and , for the gamers , a 2.4 GHz dongle ( which was n’t yet usable when I received the revaluation whole ) . The wireless functionality is backed by two 5,000mAh battery .
Fully kitted out , the Relic 80 weighs in at almost five Cypriot pound ( 2.25 kg ) .
As common , you pay a insurance premium for an Angry Miao panel . With keycaps and switch , we ’re talking about a $ 650 investment into a keyboard . Many people would intend $ 65 for a keyboard is too much . It ’s a luxury Cartesian product and as with most high - end purchases always , there are diminishing return as you step up the price ravel . But if you ’re looking for a keyboard that makes a assertion and is a joyfulness to typewrite on , you ca n’t go wrong with the Relic 80 .
