Akko Sakura Jelly RGB: Two minute review
Mechanical keyboard aficionados know that you don’t have to have the best-equipped, stylish, hundred-dollar build to be happy with your keeb. Sometimes, even the simplest mechanical keyboard can do wonders for your setup, whether it’s the typing experience you care about or the aesthetics.
The Akko Sakura Jelly RGB falls more into the latter category. Not that this keyboard isn’t a joy to use – I’ll talk about its performance later – but it’s very similar to one-I-have-a-specific-look-I’m-looking-for-and-this-keyboard-is-perfect-for-it pre-built than anything else. Especially with her pure pink, cherry blossom-themed look, which I obviously love, being obsessed with pink.
I wouldn’t say this is one of the best keyboards or even one of the best mechanical keyboards I’ve ever tried. The market for keeb mechs is incredibly saturated, and there are far more superior pre-builds than this. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t great in its own right, and if you’re looking for a translucent jelly design — in pink, no less — it’s definitely one of the best out there.
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The Akko Sakura Jelly RGB is a TKL keyboard, which means that while there’s no numpad, you still get those vital arrow keys, as well as miscellaneous keys like delete, insert, and page up/down that come in handy a lot. meanwhile . One thing to note is that at 364 x 135 x 30mm, it’s not as compact as other TKL keyboards. And at 830g, it does have some heft to it, so I wouldn’t recommend it as a travel keyboard.
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Not that you wouldn’t be tempted to because it’s a sight to behold and worth showing off in a bar. That translucent jelly frame and Pudding PBT with clear sides that give them that floating key effect are absolute stunners.
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Add RGB lighting underneath and fringing the keyboard edges for ambient lighting and you’ll be the envy of all. Even if it doesn’t support color customization, you still get different RGB lighting effects, allowing you to have some fun.
It’s not entirely without customization. Besides the set of pre-programmed shortcuts, you can create your own custom functions and record some macros. This gives it a little more versatility to help you maximize your time or streamline your workflow.
If you’re after that blissful cable-free experience, though, you’re out of luck because it uses a USB-C to USB Type-A connection. However, it does come with a pink cable, so it won’t necessarily ruin your aesthetic. Plus, you won’t have to worry about charging.
I just wish Akko put a lot more effort into its internal parts. While stabilizers have been used to protect the larger keys, there is some wobble in the rest of the keys. Not that it really affects the feel or performance, but if you want a keyboard with very stable keys, you might be disappointed.
I haven’t really tried taking the keyboard apart to see how much you can tweak here, but I know those switches are hard to get out. Akko doesn’t say whether or not the included Cherry Red switches are hot-swappable, but I couldn’t remove them with my puller. If you’re looking for something mod-friendly, this might not be your best bet.
However, if you’re happy to keep the keyboard as-is, there’s not much to fault about performance here. Linear switches are very satisfying to type on, even if they have a deeper actuation, a bit more resistance, and a little bit of clatter. They are also very responsive whether I am doing productivity work or some gaming. There’s also N-key rollover, so you can rest assured that every press is read regardless of how fast you’re typing or whether you’re mashing buttons.
Gaming on this keyboard is decent, though it won’t be the best for fast-paced gaming. I used it to play games like Hogwarts Legacy AND Kena: Bridge of Spirits without problems. However, the deeper activation makes it less ideal for games where quicker responses are needed. Still, it’s a fantastic keyboard for productivity and everyday use, and it’s more than responsive enough when I’m writing articles or composing emails.
I’d argue that this is definitely a keyboard more suited to productivity than gaming.
Akko Sakura Jelly RGB: price and availability
- How much does it cost? $109.99 (about £85, AU$165)
- When it is available? Currently unavailable at the time of writing
- Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia
Akko makes no mention of special dampeners or support for better performance and quality, so I’m inclined to think that the Akko Sakura Jelly RGB is the simplest mechanical keyboard you can get. This, in turn, makes me slightly hesitant about the price. Enthusiast keyboards typically hover around the $100/£100 to $300/£300 range, but the fact that this one doesn’t appear to have any special parts inside makes me think it should be cheaper than it is.
Also, this mechanical keyboard feels solid and well-built, and what’s more, it looks great. And many keyboard collectors would gladly pay that $109.99 (about £85, AU$165) price tag. If you’re not that much of a collector, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that there are cheaper options out there that work just as well – some Wormier keyboards come to mind. However, if you really want this look — and it’s a stunning look — you might be hard-pressed to find a better price.
Akko ships to many countries, including the US, UK and Australia. So if you don’t find this at your favorite online retailer, Akko should be able to ship it to you directly. The only problem is that, at the time of writing, the Akko Sakura Jelly RGB appears to be out of stock.
Akko Sakura Jelly RGB: Specifications
| Disposition: | TKL extension |
| Switch: | Cherry red switches |
| Programmable keys: | YES |
| Dimensions: | 364x135x30mm |
| RGB or Backlight: | YES |
Should you buy the Akko Sakura Jelly RGB?
| Value | This is a reliable mechanical keyboard, but here you pay far more for the design than for anything else. | 3.5/5 |
| Project | Who doesn’t love a Sakura themed keyboard? It’s well executed here, especially with its translucent gelatin case. It also feels sturdy and solidly built. | 5/5 |
| Performance | This might not win any speed tests, but it’s a fantastic keyboard for productivity and general use. The keys have some wobble, but that doesn’t affect the overall performance. | 4/5 |
| Average rating | The Akko Sakura Jelly RGB is a great looking and great performing mechanical keyboard for enthusiasts who want a very specific look to their setup. | 4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Akko Sakura Jelly RGB: Also consider
| Akko Sakura Jelly RGB | Epomaker RT100 | Lofree 1% transparent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price: | $109.99 (about £85, AU$165) | $115.99 / £93.07 / AU$172.67 | $219 / £181 (about AU$320) |
| Disposition: | TKL extension | 95% | 65% |
| Switch: | Cherry red switches | Epomaker Sea Salt Silent switches | Pre-lubed Kailh Jellyfish switches |
| Programmable keys: | YES | YES | NO |
| Dimensions: | 364x135x30mm | 397x147x30mm | 306 x 144 x 30.6mm |
| RGB or Backlight: | YES | Yes, customizable | 7 white LED backlit effects |
How I tested the Akko Sakura Jelly RGB
- I spent a month trying it
- Mainly used for work but sometimes for play
- Tested its features and performance
I’ve been using the Akko Sakura Jelly RGB for about a month now as my primary keyboard for work, which meant composing emails and writing articles with it. While it’s not marketed as a gaming keyboard, I’ve managed to test it on some of my favorite slower-paced titles. I also tested some of its features, such as on-the-fly macro programming and RGB lighting effects.
As a keyboard aficionado, I own a small collection of mechanical keyboards, many of them hot-swappable, and I customize them when I find the time. I’ve also been testing keyboards, from productivity keyboards to gaming options, for years now, even before I joined the TechRadar editorial team.
Read more about how we test
First revision July 2023
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