YUNZII AL80 Review — A Keyboard This Well Built Can’t Be This Cheap, Can It?

Unboxing the YUNZII AL80

The YUNZII AL80 comes in a simple packaging that tells people about the model and some of its key features. Inside, you do get a good suite of accessories:

• Keycap puller
• Extra switches
• Extra keycaps
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• Documentations
• Thee YUNZII AL80 keyboard itself

Walkaround

The YUNZII AL80 builds on the success of the AL65, offering a 75% layout in a CNC aluminum chassis with new standout features like an LCD display and a multifunction wheel. It retains the essentials; wireless and wired connectivity, QMK/VIA support, gasket mount construction, hot‑swappable switches, and double‑shot PBT keycaps. Positioned as a midrange option, it balances affordability with premium build quality, making it an appealing choice for enthusiasts who want a compact yet feature‑rich keyboard.

The AL80 leans into a minimalist aesthetic with subtle retro touches. Available in silver, black, and beige, it feels premium thanks to its fully aluminum body weighing 1.44kg. The CNC machining ensures tight tolerances and a monolithic feel, while the gasket mount and sound‑dampening layers deliver a softer, quieter typing experience.

The 75% layout strikes a balance between gaming and productivity, dropping the numpad but retaining essential keys. The LCD display replaces the usual Insert/Home/End cluster, adding a modern twist. Ergonomically, the default angle is comfortable, and the flat sides plus clean edges make it pleasant to use daily.

Specifications

Type	CNC Aluminum LCD Mechanical Keyboard
Layout	75% Layout, 80-Key and 1 Knob, LCD Screen and Back Weight
RGB	South-facing RGB and LCD Screen
Color Choices	Silver, Black, Beige
Switch Choices	YUNZII Cocoa Cream V2 Linear Switch / Gateron Zero Linear Switch
Structure	Gasket Mounted
Battery	6000mAh
Connection	Wired Type-C / Bluetooth / 2.4G Wireless
Size of Product	314.45 × 137.7 × 41.1 mm / 12.38 × 5.42 × 1.62 inch
Weight of Product	1438.5 g / 3.17 lb
Keycaps	Double-shot PBT Cherry Profile Keycaps
Hot Swappable	Yes
NKRO	Yes

Typing Experience

Equipped with YUNZII Cocoa Cream V2 (or Gateron Zero linear switches if you opted for that), the AL80 offers smooth, pre‑lubed keystrokes with stable stabilizers. Typing feels precise, moderately soft, and acoustically pleasing, with no scratchiness or unwanted noise. In extended use, from gaming sessions to writing articles, the keyboard proved reliable and enjoyable, with the 75% layout providing easy access to all essentials without requiring heavy customization.

The Good

Premium CNC aluminum build with gasket mount

The CNC aluminum chassis gives the AL80 a solid, flagship‑like feel. Combined with the gasket mount and sound‑dampening layers, typing feels softer, quieter, and more refined compared to typical midrange boards. This makes long typing sessions more comfortable and enjoyable.

LCD display and multifunction wheel

The inclusion of a bright, customizable LCD display adds personality and utility. It can show system info, images, or GIFs, while the aluminum volume wheel provides convenient audio control. Together, these features elevate the AL80 beyond standard mechanical keyboards, offering both flair and function.

Hot‑swappable switches and pre‑lubed stabilizers

Switch replacement is effortless thanks to hot‑swap sockets, and the pre‑lubed stabilizers ensure smooth, stable keystrokes. This makes the AL80 flexible for enthusiasts who want to experiment with different switches, while still being beginner‑friendly out of the box.

Strong connectivity and QMK/VIA support

With wired, RF 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth modes, the AL80 can connect to up to five devices simultaneously. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and (to my own surprise) the Nintendo Switch. There’s probably more but I can’t confirm as I don’t have the hardware to test it out with, like an Xbox Series X / S or even a Steam Deck. Paired with QMK/VIA firmware support, users can remap keys, create macros, and fine‑tune lighting, giving the AL80 serious versatility.

Solid battery life

The 6000mAh battery delivers up to 96 hours with backlight off and 36 hours with it on. Charging takes about 12 hours, which is reasonable given the capacity. That may sound abnormally slow for a lot of people but do keep in mind that this is a keyboard and not a smartphone or tablet with fast charging. You can always leave it connected and use it while it charges instead of putting aside to charge on its own. Sleep mode conserves power, and wake‑up delays are minimal compared to earlier YUNZII models, making it reliable for daily wireless use.

Affordable pricing

At around $109.99, the AL80 offers excellent value compared to other aluminum keyboards. It provides flagship‑like build quality and features at a midrange price, making it accessible to a wider audience. It’s really hard to find a mechanical keyboard that’s as well built as this one at this price range, and it’s wireless too.

The Bad

Sleep mode timeout is fixed

The keyboard enters sleep after 4 minutes of inactivity, with no option to adjust. While this conserves battery, it can feel restrictive for users who step away briefly and prefer longer responsiveness. Sure, 4 minutes isn’t particularly bad but if you often find yourself watching videos on your PC, it can feel rather annoying at times.

Update: As it turns out, there is a way to increase it. You’ll have to download a file on the official YUNZII website to toggle either 10 minutes or 20 minutes before it goes to sleep. Not exactly the most convenient but it’s an option if you really can’t stand the default period.

Reduced customization layers compared to AL65

The AL80 offers fewer firmware layers than its predecessor, limiting advanced users who rely on multiple profiles. While the 75% layout is practical, power users may miss the flexibility of the AL65.

Windows‑only LCD app

The customization software for the LCD display is currently limited to Windows. Mac and Linux users cannot fully utilize the display’s potential, which restricts accessibility for non‑Windows users. At the very least, this is strictly on the LCD display as the keyboard itself should be customizable for most non-Windows users thanks to QMK/VIA support.

Really heavy

If you’re not sure what a 75% layout looks like, the pictures you would’ve seen thus far should be a clear indication that it’s compact but not too small. As such, you might think that it would be easy to bring this around but there’s one issue with that; it’s really heavy. It’s 1.44kg in weight, and that’s actually heavier than a number of thin laptops these days. To put that into perspective, a modern day base model MacBook Pro weighs about 1.55kg, a Dell XPS 13 is about 1.2kg, and an ASUS Zenbook 14 is almost 1.3kg. That’s the price you pay for the all the premium materials.

YUNZII AL80 Verdict

The YUNZII AL80 is one of the strongest 75% keyboards in its price range, combining premium build quality, thoughtful features, and excellent typing feel. The LCD display and volume wheel elevate it beyond typical midrange boards, while QMK/VIA support ensures flexibility for enthusiasts. Minor drawbacks like the fixed sleep timeout and Windows‑only app don’t overshadow its overall value.

At the end of our YUNZII AL80 review, I award this mechanical keyboard with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.

BIg thanks to YUNZII for sending us this keyboard for the purpose of this review.