Sony – INZONE KBD-H75 75% CNC Wired Aluminum Frame Gaming Keyboard with Rapid Trigger – Black

Great keyboard held back by price - Excellent keyboard. Very sturdy and responsive. Design is great, not overdone. The price is the only drawback.

A Swing and A Miss! - THIS… Is the Sony Inzone KBD-H75, A 75% keyboard with almost every feature a gamer could ask for. Which raises a big question, how does a feature packed keyboard only get two stars? As a self-proclaimed keyboard snob, let's take a look at how Sony not only completely dropped the ball on what could have been the perfect keyboard, but was misleading in the process. Out of the box… well… even before taking it out of the box… I knew something was off. The box just didn’t have that heft that I have come accustomed to with high end premium keyboards. Ok, so opening the box this keyboard was… made of plastic? This was supposed to be an aluminum chassis keyboard, meaning this should not only be HEAVY but completely made of aluminum. WRONG! After digging through advertisements and information hidden away, Sony lists that ONLY the top plate is made of aluminum. I found this to be a bit disingenuous as Sony stated that the chassis is aluminum… not JUST the top plate. Moving forward, Sony is a bit ambiguous on what switches are included as well, which leads me to believe that Sony isn’t really sure with not only what they are doing… but what makes a great gaming keyboard. Sony initially labeled their switches optical and later changed it to the correct Hall Effect… which is a big deal as these are two completely different switch types. Sony also only makes this keyboard… so it isn’t like they could have copied over from another keyboard by accident. That being said, a hands-on assessment shows that these are Gateron Nebula Dual-Rail 40g Linear Magnetic HE switches (with support for other 3-pin switches). These are upper mid range switches that while at baseline are good HE switches… but they aren’t even close to being the best Gateron HE switches, let alone the best on the market. This was something I expected better from Sony given the enthusiast level price tag. That being said, Sony didn’t do everything wrong. This keyboard has an aluminum top plate (where the switches are mounted to) as well as plate mounted stabilizers which makes the whole build feel more solid. The Sony Inzone KBD-H75 also has gasket mounted stabilization meaning that instead of rigidly screwing the aluminum plate/PCB into the case, thin strips of rubber, foam, or silicone “gaskets” are placed between the plate and the case walls. This makes typing feel a bit more comfortable with a softer feel, reduces fatigue, improves acoustics (the way the keys click clack) and reduces wear on the keyboard pcb over time. That being said, Sony was a bit elusive on what type of material they made the gasket out of… but further analysis shows that it's likely a non customizable silicone gasket. While I do appreciate that these are nice silicone gaskets, I do wish that the KBD-H75 allowed you to alter or customize your gasket arrangement at this price point for a more improved, personalized feel. The keys also don’t show any signs of wobble, which omitting the plastic base, reinforces that this is a solid build. One of my large gripes about this keyboard is its sound, as it really puts off a muted office keyboard clack. Sony says it has three dampening layers, but doesn’t specify what they are and if the gaskets are included as a ‘dampening’ layer. I am assuming these layers to be plate foam (between the plate and PCB), the gaskets, and a bottom silicone case foam. I truly wish that Sony would have put a bit more thought into the acoustics at this price point, as the sound really could have added a bit of soul to this devoid keyboard. I wanted to note that the space bar and other larger keys sound hollow due to the lack of proper dampening. Moving onto physical characteristics, this is a 75% keyboard, so we still do retain our full F key row as well as our arrows. Sony does have a rotary volume knob that they (at this time) don’t sell customizable colors for. The led’s are north facing which is great for compatibility with aftermarket keys - something I recommend as the black doubleshot PBT keys are… just somewhat bland. The RGB, however, is very well done. One of my favorite features about the KBD-H75 is that it has feet that can adjust the incline angle, allowing you to chose from the base/flat 2.5 degrees or 7.5 degrees. Onto software and features in these switches, this keyboard is not VIA or QMK compatible, and this keyboard also doesn’t have software that works with macOS. Sony does have downloadable software, however, Sony also offers browser based customization that works just fine. It is a tad bit annoying that it isn’t VIA compatible, however, their own browser based customization works well enough that I am willing to overlook it. You will need to download Sonys Inzone app to update the keyboard. This keyboard as mentioned before does host several coveted HE features such as rapid trigger and a very well done adjustable actuation point (0.004 - 0.13). That being said, there are a few features missing out such as snap-tap support. Overall, this was somewhat of a disappointing review to write. I really wanted to shower Sony with love as they entered into the market with what seemed to be a near perfect build on paper. However, with an MSRP at $300, and a list of features that I can find on almost any keyboard 1/3rd the price…. this just isn’t going to cut it for me. When you get above that $200 threshold, you are going to need to start pulling tricks out of the bag to support that price and Sony simply didn’t do that. This would have been a top tier keyboard… five years ago. Today, the KBD-H75 just doesn’t shout that wow factor or well… anything to shout about. As with all keyboards, BestBuy has an awesome return policy, so there is no harm in testing the KBD-H75. All things given, at $300 I will not be recommending this keyboard unless it has a stiff discount, but I look forward to the next generation that hopefully can bring something better to the table (or desk). Until next time :)

Great Perf, Solid Build - Buttery Keystrokes - The Sony INZONE KBD-H75 is Sony’s first foray into the keyboard market. This is a 75% form factor wireless keyboard, and Sony aimed straight for the premium end of the market. I have used several premium end keyboards over the years, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. For the most part I had a good experience with the keyboard and so did my partner’s son. This is my second 75% form factor keyboard – the other is a Razer Blackwidow V4 Pro Wireless, which occupies the same price point. I am on the fence when it comes to 75% and the slightly larger TKL boards as I generally prefer a fullsize keyboard with a numberpad. However, when desktop space is a premium, or when using a pullout keyboard tray the smaller form factors are appreciated. This is my first keyboard to employ Hall Effect switches, so I was curious to see how they felt and reacted when used. The switches themselves are a linear profile with adjustable actuation points for press and depress. Compared to typing on my other mechanical keyboards with linear switches – these feel very smooth, and have a nicely dampened sound. You won’t annoy a cubicle neighbor typing on this board. My biggest gripe is listening to my kids hammering away on my other keyboards playing Geometry Dash – it echoes through the house. Actuation force is a little lower than my other boards (~50g) at around 40-45g. That makes the switch nice and light, which is necessary if you want to dial in a narrow actuation window or use the rapid trigger mode. Design The layout is a tenkeyless design with full sized keys, but the spacing on the keys doesn’t feel cramped. The keycaps are doubleshot PBT with LED passthrough for easy legibility. The keycaps have a good feel – not too slick but with a light texture. The switches are made by Gateron, but I can’t tell what model or if this is a custom model for Sony. Speaking of the keycaps – they are borderline impossible to remove without a keycap puller. The chassis is a sandwich of a machined aluminum top with a gasket damper middle, and the textured plastic chassis. The gasket damper softens the sound of the keyboard, which is much quieter than other mechanical setups I have used. The gasket also takes the sharpness out of the bottom of the keystroke, so the key feels a little softer on the landing. The top right of the board has the only non-key feature, which is the volume wheel. The volume wheel is pretty limited in what it can do – system volume, chat mixer, mute/unmute. It would be nice to see this have expanded functionality for anything from macros to song controls. As far as the construction of the board it feels very solid. The machined aluminum topshell wraps down the sides before meeting the plastic underside. Since this is a wired keyboard it does have a cord. Thankfully it is a detachable USB-C cord, so you can switch the keyboard between systems fairly easy as long as you have a spare cord. With the 75% size there are no long reaches for keys. The keyboard, like most has a slight angle with the feet closed (2.5°), but opened up the board has a comfortable tilt (7.5°). What is surprising is that there is no palm wrest included with the board. I wouldn’t mind that, but unfortunately the keyboard is thick enough that I really feel like I want the the extra support. I ended up pulling a wrist pad from another board to supplement. This won’t be an issue for everyone, but the ergonomics of my setup kind of dictate the need for a palm rest. Adjustments, Lighting, and Software Fresh out of the box the keyboard is plug and play with default settings. In order to customize anything you need to install the INZONE software to adjust lighting, or actuation profiles. The software, once installed is easy to navigate. There’s not a whole lot to dive into since it’s the menu is well laid out and there isn’t a myriad of settings to dig through. You have a macro assigning function, keypress actuation point customization, and lighting settings. For lighting you can do the normal presets like a color wave, breathing, etc, or opt to do custom per-key assignments. The macro tool is easy to use as well, so you aren’t going to fully miss out on the macro-buttons of a fullsize keyboard. The actuation settings are where you can get more involved. The settings can be applied across the whole board or customized on a per-key basis. The default actuation point is 2.2mm, but it can be made as shallow as 0.1mm or as deep as 3.4mm. You can also enable rapid trigger on individual keys, which gives you the option to set a separate reset point. That allows you to keep the control how much you let the key come back up before its ready to trigger the next keypress registration. This isn’t something I have found a tone of use for in the games I play, but it is certainly an impressive feature. The lighting on the board is really solid. The backlight shows through easily on each key. The switch allows a good amount of underglow lighting as well. Customizing the lighting profile is straightforward. The presets work well, and I typically like the wave on everything I use – I just like a good color cycle. Speaking of colors – the RGB range is excellent, and vibrant. If you really like a crisp RGB look, this keyboard checks that box. Usage I started out using it for general work and typing to get used to the feel of the board and how the keys reacted. It’s really not a bad feeling keyboard, and I typically don’t like linear switches for this type of usage. I had very few fat-fingering moments so the actuation force isn’t too light. I can easily see myself using this for day to day office work – unfortunately as an engineer I do need a numberpad for work. Switching over to games I played a few games and then turned it over to my partner’s son as he is a big PC gamer and has far more free time to really try this out. My casual game for relaxation is Portal 2 and it’s what I always jump to when trying out a new keyboard or mouse. Playing some of the extra user created levels requires fast/accurate movement or you are mired in failure due to a mistimed movement. The weight of the keys provides enough resistance to help me avoid miskeys. I had no problem jumping around in the levels and the variable actuation depth let me dial in how fast I wanted the keys to respond. For me that was a successful first test. Handing it over to my partner’s teenage son I jumped right in and played his favorite games – Geometry Dash, TF2, and Minecraft. He went through and created profiles in the software for his macros/shortcut keys in TF2 and Minecraft. He really fiddled with the actuation depth for Geometry Dash since speed and accurate timing are crucial for that game. It was nice to not hear the clacking of the board as he played. He put in about 25 hours on the keyboard, and had positive things to say about it. He also mentioned the lack of palm rest to be a negative, but that the performance of the keyboard was excellent. He said it was a toss-up for him between this keyboard and our existing Blackwidow V4 Pro Wireless. Not having the a wireless option wasn’t a big deal for him, and it doesn’t bother me either. I like my mice wireless, but keyboards are less critical in that regard. After I played a few other games I turned the reins over to my partner’s teenage son. He plays quite a bit of TF2 and Geometry dash with the latter being a lot of rapid hammering on the space bar. From a parent’s perspective, the quieter keys were greatly appreciated. The volume of noise is massively reduced, and all without taking a performance hit. I am also thankful for the hot swappable switches in case he blows out another switch. He did note the higher actuation force and shallower actuation point caused him to adjust his timing a bit in Geometry Dash. He liked the softer landing on the FR4 plate, and said it was a welcome improvement and made for a better overall feel. Overall The INZONE KBD-H75 is a really well made and high performing keyboard. I have always been a fan of the gear Sony puts out as I have rarely come across a bad product from them. This keyboard really aims for the top end right out of the gate, which might be a tough market to break into with some well-established brands operating in the space already. With that being said this is a really good keyboard, and I think I like their take on the 75% form factor over my Razer’s. For me the only negative I have is the lack of palm rest. It really should come with something at this price range. I thankfully had a spare palm rest, so I was able to be comfortable while using the keyboard.

Good keyboard with tradeoffs and high price - The new Sony INZONE KBD-H75 is a 75% wired keyboard with hall effect rapid trigger switches, a machined aluminum top chassis, adjustable actuation, RGB lighting, and an 8000 Hz polling rate. Sony positions it for serious gamers, and it feels like a premium build. Right out of the box the build feels very solid. The machined aluminum top plate gives a rigid feel with minimal flex or rattling. Compared to my Feker IK75 which is already a well built board the H75 edges ahead in stiffness and overall precision. The Keychron Q1 is also sturdy but Sony’s tolerances and finish are a step above. It’s mildly disappointing that the bottom is plastic, however. The RGB lighting is clean and bright with good diffusion and visibility even in daylight at higher brightness. The INZONE Hub software makes it easy to adjust lighting effects and profiles, and the doubleshot PBT keycaps allow the legends to shine through well. The rapid trigger switches with adjustable actuation and reset points are the highlight of this board. You can set the actuation depth from very shallow to fairly deep which makes a big difference for competitive gaming. In practice, this means faster responses, easier double tapping, and less fatigue when pressing keys quickly. The hall effect mechanism also gives a smoother feel compared to traditional switches. Using this across FPS like Borderlands 4/Call of Duty BO6 it felt swifter than my other boards’ switches, which is the point. The software works well and is straightforward. Profiles, remapping, lighting, and actuation adjustment all function smoothly and having both installed and web access is convenient. The volume dial is handy and the restrained design without loud gaming logos makes the keyboard look more professional than flashy. That all said, there are some downsides. The doubleshot PBT keycaps are durable but the edges feel rigid and a bit sharp compared to higher end caps. They do the job but they are not as pleasant as the aftermarket caps I use on my IK75 or Keychron Q1. The price also feels high for what you get. The build and features are good but not so far ahead of boards like the IK75 or Q1 to fully justify the premium. It’s also wired only, and no carrying case or pouch were provided. At this price point I’d expect a bit more for a wired-only build. Against my IK75 the Sony wins on responsiveness and actuation adjustability but loses out on comfort for long typing sessions unless you replace the caps. Against the Keychron Q1 it offers more features out of the box and a slightly more refined build, but a well modded Q1 can reach a similar level at a lower overall cost. Overall, I think the INZONE H75 is a great foray into the keyboard business for Sony; excellent for speed, responsiveness, and build quality. It is a strong option if competitive gaming is your main focus. If you are more interested in typing comfort, premium keycap feel, or maximizing value, alternatives like the IK75 or Keychron Q1 might be better suited. If the price comes down it becomes much more compelling, but as it stands it’s merely a good keyboard with some tradeoffs.

Excellent keyboard experience! - With all the Sony products available on the market I am excited to see gaming peripherals added to the line for their quality products and the INZONE KBD-H75 delivers. The Sony INZONE KBD-H75 is packed with features in a machined aluminum chassis giving it a premium fit annd finish. The keyboard itself is a compact 75% layout so it doesn't take up a lot of space. There's also a nice aluminum volume dial on the top right hand corner that comes in handy when you need to adjust your sound Now let’s talk about the keys! You have adjustable actuation on your keys to fine tune the response for your preferred gameplay/typing style. You also have robust stabilizer key switches that help with smoother key presses, you even have dedicated stabilizers for the spacebar and shift key for when you hit them off center it still provides a consistent feel/key register. The feel when typing with INZONE KBD-H75 is excellent. It's so buttery smooth and registers each keystroke with a satisfying feel. It is not super clicky and loud in that annoying way. You can further adjust your keyboard settings and lighting using the INZONE hub app. The iNZONE hub has a simple layout/interface which I appreciate. I can go into there and adjust the things I need without any fuss. There are adjustments for assigning keys, macros etc. Then there are adjustments for performance like actuation points, reset and restart points and then setting for lighting. There are some cool lighting effects that you’ll have to try out. Overall a great keyboard and would recommend, would have gotten a stars if not for the price.

quick responsive keys makes this KB a contender - Out of the box, the keyboard looks sleek and compact, featuring a volume dial with a press-to-mute function and wired USB-C connection. Installing the INZONE Hub software is worthwhile for added keyboard features. The software lets you assign unique functions to every key, even the volume knob button press in the customization software, which was a nice feature too see available. The pre-set lighting effects in the software are pretty impressive as well,... not to mention it also features options to customize your own settings. The performance settings of this keyboard are really unique, allowing you to customize the actuation point and pressure required for each and every key press, allowing you to really dial in and tweak your settings of your keypresses to your hearts content. pros super quick keys, with customizable levels of actuation the illumination of the keyboard is very bright and responsive the keyboard feels pretty heavy duty, definitely has some weight to it super compact (75% TKL) sharp looking keyboard all around cons the keyboard isn't very portable, in the sense of, the keys are soo compact it can be hard to move around (grab and move quickly) without pressing keys, but this is more of a personal gripe then an actual problem with the keyboard. Overall, The keyboard's usability is excellent for gaming. After customizing all keys i was going to use in game, in the software. I found it highly responsive in any FPS I played, I would have to say, it's likely the most responsive keyboard I've used in the past two years. Compared to other gaming keyboards, this one has undoubtedly the fastest keys out there. Combine it with the paired software and this keyboard is a beast of a contender. From the fast keypresses to the nice looking exterior you really can't go wrong with this gaming keyboard.

Easily the best big box brand gaming keyboard out! - Ive built plenty of keebs myself, I have extensive experience with Hall effect switch style keyboards and modifications of them as you can say im a bit of a keyboard elitist. That said, this keyboard is 100% out of the blue from a big box brand like Sony is actually insane when you break it down! For being their first gaming keyboard I cant believe it is this good. It has usb-c input that is open enough to fit any custom cable you desire which is a great touch. As is the metal volume knob at the top right. Single incline feet though I like to use it without these out as the angle is just right. It’s a super simple design that I give props to Sony for as it’s very clean. This has double shot PBT keycaps on it stock. Has a great weighty aluminum case with a gasket mounted PCB. With gasket mount you usually end up with some bit of mushiness and feels kind of strange if done poorly but this was done correctly and feels really good. It also sounds extremely good for a big box brand I cant believe all the stops they pulled out here. It has multiple dampening foam / silicone layers inside and the stabilizers come lubed to perfection to prevent any rattle sound when typing. The spacebar especially has pcb mounted foam, inside the bar itself and the stabs are perfectly lubed out of the box. This is the type of stuff you only find on HIGH end keyboards. Spec wise this is a rapid trigger style keyboard that uses Hall effect magnetic switches which is currently the top tech in keyboards. I have several others including ones ive custom built using Hall effect switches and love them. This one is no different as it comes with dual rail gateron switches that are absolutely butter with a 42g actuation force its on the light side but just enough that you dont get accidental presses. Of course if thats not your thing these, like many other Hall effect keebs have hot swappable switches to swap to your desired compatible switch or change out the springs if you prefer. Stock is perfect though for me and I can adjust the actuation distance in the software to my perfect height. After a few tries my preferred height is 1.4mm with rapid trigger on set to min .1 to create a sort of quick tap type of reaction time which I love strafing in FPS games. You can adjust them anywhere between .1 all the way as deep as 3.4mm so whatever your in to this can do it without a switch swap. With the 8000hz polling rate (not adjustable at the moment in software) and an ultra low latency mode available this thing is absolute top tier response time in every and any situation. You can disable certain keys in the software and combos with the win key as usual to prevent accidental presses as well as the standard RGB settings, color profiles and per switch key assignments for regular layer and Fn layer (for example I change page up and down to previous and next track for media) and actuation force settings which is absolutely perfect. Sony really dropped an insanely good keyboard for their first entry into the gaming space and im shocked at how good it is. I cant wait to see if they turn this into a wireless model later on down the line or how they can make this better along with maybe a white version to match the inzone headsets they also have. Only time will tell but as of now this is the best big box brand gaming keyboard ive ever seen / used.

Solid, durable, customizable, but expensive - Sony is a company with an excellent product pedigree. Some of the best products on the market are Sony's, and rarely are Sony products pure duds. So when I heard Sony’s making a gaming keyboard through their fairly new INZONE brand, I was intrigued. The keyboard and gaming peripheral market are fairly crowded and competitive, so I was curious what Sony would come to the table with. First of all, the box is a fairly simple affair. Clad in purple hues, the H75’s box is easy enough to open and filled with the keyboard, a usb-c to usb-a cable, and some paper inserts (including your own INZONE sticker). The keyboard is wrapped in a soft cloth, and exudes premium from the moment you grab it. Build quality wise, this by far has to be the closest keyboard I’ve had that I’d compare to a swiss watch. It’s so overbuilt that it would double as a weapon in a pinch. The aluminum construction exudes quality and is jet black. Nary a fingerprint will show on this perfectly anodised aluminum chassis. Due to this solid construction, the keyboard is heavy, especially given its size. This isn’t a knock in my opinion given that you really want your keyboard to be planted and rarely move it around anyways. This would be a heavy keyboard to travel with. One important thing about this keyboard is its layout. The layout is considered a 75% keyboard (hence the H75). This means you get the standard F-row, normal keys including left and right ctrl, alt, and shift. You also get a selection of middle keys: delete, insert, and page up/down plus the arrow keys. These are all sandwiched together quite tight in a keyboard that’s only slightly larger than a 60% keyboard which don’t even have arrow keys or an F-row. One other small interesting feature of this keyboard is the volume knob, which is a neat little feature. The knob feels like it was lifted from some of their pro audio equipment bins, and in fact when you pull up, you reveal a potentiometer that does look like it was made for audio equipment. Overall this is a really cool layout and featureful keyboard. The keytype in use here is a magnetic hall-effect style switch. The switch manufacturer is Gateron, and these are well regarded switches. It's obvious they’re mounted very well, and Sony says the H75 is gasket mounted, and I can definitely confirm that they are both soft, and quiet for a mechanical keyboard. The switch type enables features such as custom actuation points and retrigger points so you can do rapid trigger. The keycaps are PBT double shot with nice backlit legends. Typing on this keyboard is a treat due to the construction and gasket mounted nature. The keys spring back with just the right amount of force, and feel really good. Generally (and I would say this is still true) any keyboard is a personal preference, but this keyboard would be a crowd pleaser. While this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it feels tight, fast, and quiet. I’d feel quite good about this keyboard in an office setting. Sony worked with Fnatic when creating this keyboard. I find this interesting, as Fnatic has their own keyboard division. This is definitely no rebrand, as I have a Fnatic keyboard and not only is the construction very different, but the software is completely different as well (not just some rebrand). This keyboard definitely has Sony’s imprint of design and build on it. The software is quite nice, if not as intuitive as some other keyboard software I’ve used. It’s easy to adjust the backlight, including per key illumination control. You can select individual keys by control clicking, or drag to select then adjust their brightness and color. The inbuilt color presets and effects are really nice. My favorite is the ripple effect, which is a visual treat while I’m typing. I wish I could invert it to have full backlit and have them shut off as the ripple. Adjusting the actuation point and rapid trigger is found under the performance section, where pre-key settings are the norm as well. Under allocation settings, you’ll find the ability to adjust key assignments on both the main layer, and ‘fn’ layer (what happens when you press FN+ a key). Here you can set to the default function, another key, mouse control, macro, shortcut (multiple keys press together), or just outright disable the key. These profiles are stored on the keyboard’s internal storage and are accessible by Fn+Tab (allowing you to define say a profile that’s optimised for mouse control, or one that disables a certain set of keys for a challenge run). Overall this is an excellent implementation, and considering the software is fairly new, it’s pretty solid. One cool thing is you don’t even need to install the software, as you can use inzone-hub-for-web.sony.net to actually adjust all these settings straight in Chrome. I’ve seen this trend on certain other keyboard manufacturers and it’s a breath of fresh air. Rapid trigger is a really cool setting that allows you to repress a key before the trigger point of the key was initially reached. In other words, you can trigger a key, and immediately reset the state as soon as the key travels up and then retrigger immediately if pressed back down. This is a feature that has become quite popular and is now table stakes in the profession gaming world. This combined with the 8000hz polling rate (enabled as the “Ultra Low Latency Mode” under Device Settings in the software) guarantee that you are the limiting factor when pressing keys for the rapid trigger effect. Now, should you enable the 8k polling rate (default is 1k)? I would say no, it’s just extra load on your computer, worse battery life if it’s a laptop and in general 1k keeps up with the fastest of reflexes and highest refresh rates. So, this keyboard sounds amazing, what's the catch? Well, the eye watering $300 MSRP comes to mind. Seriously, I get that magnetic hall effect keys are the new hotness, but even Gateron sells the keys for less than a quarter per key switch. While this is a solidly made keyboard, and unique in its own right, $300 is a lot for a keyboard that doesn’t have a lot of clout in the gaming keyboard community yet. Sony may be pricing themselves out of the market with this one. It definitely screams premium and feels as such, but it’s a tough sell in such a saturated market. MSRP is the only con I can hurl at this keyboard honestly. Overall if you can catch it on a decent sale, and/or you want to have a keyboard that’s not just a joy to type on but offers some solid gaming features like rapid trigger, and a build quality that will turn this keyboard into a family heirloom, then go with the H75. There are plenty of other keyboards for much less that give this a run for its money, but on its own, this is a fantastic keyboard.

Very Good First Gaming Keyboard from Sony! - For quite a long time, Sony's focus for gaming peripherals has been headsets and monitors (of which we have one of their INZONE wireless headsets). Now, after working with the Fnatic esports team on the design, they have created their first entry into the gaming keyboard area, and what a way to get started! First off, for those who like a nice and loud "clicky" keyboard, this is definitely not one. By using gasket mounts, the key presses are nice and mostly soft, with very minimal sounds, which is actually my preference. They also have used double-rail stabilizer to keep the keypresses nice and smooth with minimal to no side-to-side shifting. The keys have just the right amount of curve to keep fingers in place, which wasn't too bad to use as I am used to the flat-key keyboard I have for my everyday use. Speaking of everyday use, for me, I would only be using this for gaming as it is a "75%" design, with the keypad missing (which is a requirement for my work). The arrow keys are placed under/beside the right shift and Del, Ins, P[age]U[p] and P[age]D[own] keys down the right side. There is also a volume knob at the top right corner. The main chassis is machined aluminum, and the overall weight isn't too heavy, but not really light at all, with nice, curved edges (for all edges) and height-adjusting feet. Also, this is a wired keyboard, with a detachable cable (probably for easier travelling without bending the cable at the chassis attachment) The INZONE app does have the basic, expected customizations. Note: For any key-related changes, the key can be selected individually, Ctrl+Click to add to/remove a group to change, or click and drag the mouse to select all or as many of the keys desired. The RGB lighting is fully customizable, from using presets to setting a color for each individual key. While I normally don't care to use any RGB lighting, it is required as the key characters are only visible when illuminated. Also, the keys can be remapped to anything desired, with being settable main layer as well as for Fn toggled uses. The biggest feature of the keyboard (like most higher-end gaming keyboards) is being able to control the actuation point for either the entire keyboard, or individual keys. It can be set anywhere between 0.1mm and 3.4mm. Also, a Rapid Trigger mode can be enabled to set different points – reset and restart points. Mix all that in with 8000MHz polling rate, and there will definitely be no delay on the key activations. You will need to take some time to try out the different points to see what works the best. The initial Actuation point is set at 1.5, which isn't too bad (some are at 0.1 which makes it basically useless for typing (non-gaming) as when any key is barely tapped, it types that character). After trying out different Actuation point levels, I found that at 2.5 the accidental type wasn't as bad. The performance when gaming is really great. I didn't have any issues when playing my normal games. My son also tried it out with some of the games he plays, with one of them that having a shorter actuation point is very helpful for quickly "building" items in the game. He likes it much better than his current gaming keyboard from a different company that he has been using for the last couple of years. I will say Sony has done a really good job of producing a very nice (first) gaming keyboard without feeling the need to go over the top. I would definitely recommend taking a look at this one!

Solid 75% keyboard - I used to think keyboards are all the same...boy was I wrong. After testing a quite a few of them, I'm more familiar with the variety, how much of a difference certain things make, and, what I like specifically. After some time with Sony's Inzone KBD - H75, I can say it's a solid keyboard...but definitely better than over 75% of other keyboards (see what I did there?). Setup is standard. USB C to the keyboard, USB A to the computer and bam, you're good to go. To make adjustments to the lighting or setup your profiles, you have to download Sony's Inzonehub app. The app is relatively simple and easy to use at it's basic level, however, it has depth. The customization goes past just lighting. The app also lets you customize the performance settings on a per key basis, adjusting things like actuation point, turning on rapid triggers, and adjusting reset points. Me personally...I'm not tweaking any of that...but I could see how it could make a differnce in gaming. Not being at the competitive lvel where I feel I need that level of advantage..I've yet to dive too deep in to that, however, having the option is appreciated. The regular push of the keys...? Feels smooth. Smooth enough for me to not feel the need to adjust the actuation points. I will say though, after using the keyboard I've used for awhile...the angle of the keys feels...a little different. The chasis of the keyboard sits lower then my normal keyboard..so the top of the keys are also lower. While I'm able to hit the keys no problem, my left wrist does indeed feel the difference.The overall build quality is solid. The chasis is aluminum, so it feels legit...maybe not as heavy as some of my other keyboards, but legit nonetheless. The RGB is as bright as any of my other accessories on my desk making the keys easy to recognize in the dark and decent display when not in use. The Sony Inzone KBD - H75 is a solid 75% keyboard for gamers with depth that goes past a lot of the competition on the market. Will the average gamer need that level of depth? Probably not...better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. Toss in great build quality and this is a keyboard I could easily recommend to someone in the market for a 75% keyboard

GREAT! - The Inzone KBD-H75 is Sony's first entry into the gaming keyboard world and what an entrance! The KBD-H75 is a 75% size keyboard yet delivers full size performance. It was developed in conjunction with Esports "Fnatic", and is built on a machined-aluminum chassis giving it a solid feel and weight. It offers rapid trigger technology and ultra-fast switches for increased precision. It also utilizes an 8000hz polling rate so your inputs are almost instantaneous, giving you a competitive edge. Sony also offers the Inzone Hub PC software where you can remap keys, make adjustments, and even change the key colors/patterns. Although I prefer a solid color, the changing patterns are really cool. Overall, it has a really good feel to it and the keys are comfortable. They provide a quiet click with the space bar making a definite "click" noise. Volume is controlled by a round knob located on the top right corner of the keyboard - no fumbling with roller wheels that accidentally change the keyboard mode. Although I've used 75% keyboards before, for some reason my fat fingers seem to miss the correct keys when typing. Since I never took typing class, I'm sure this is operator-error! This is an awesome keyboard with a solid feel to it, nice keys, and some great technology. Welcome to the gaming keyboard world, Sony!

This Keyboard Feels Amazing - It was only a matter of time until Sony started releasing gaming PC peripherals and their first go at a gaming keyboard really hit the mark for me as a casual gamer and in my work profession. The KBD-H75 is a 75% keyboard, so no ten-key is present, and the only piece of flare is the addition of an aluminum volume knob. The chassis bezel is made out of aluminum and the bottom of the keyboard is made out of plastic, so it’s not quite all aluminum if you were wondering. It has those standard feet that you can extend to increase the keyboard angle and rubber feet to keep the keyboard from moving around when you type. From a plug-and-play start, the typing experience from this keyboard has been one of the best I’ve used in awhile. There’s just a premium feel when you first type on the keyboard, and the mechanical clicking from it is extremely satisfying. Sony advertises that the keyboard switches have a double-rail stabilizer helping to minimize key wobble, and other stabilizers to keep long key presses smooth and consistent when pressed at any angle. From a construction standpoint, this keyboard is definitely impressive. But you don’t buy a keyboard like this just for the “feels”. A lot of the R&D is in each switch and the software that drives them. Each key has the ability to adjust the actuation point, allowing you a level of customization that could be advantageous during gaming sessions. You can set actuation on and off points as small as 0.1mm and up to 3.4mm, and you can set them for specific keys. Other manufacturers do offer adjustable key actuation points, but not at this customization level. Each key offers Rapid Trigger, which offers what I can only describe as a “quick reload” of a key. So once a key is activated from a cold press, you can customize the “release” of that key to a point to where it resets itself for another key press without allowing the key to fully extend back to its rest position. These changes can only be done in the Sony INZONE Hub, which you’ll have to download and install onto your PC. These settings can be found under the “Performance Settings” tab. As far as key polling: the keyboard is rated for 8000Hz and cannot be changed. I mean, there’s really zero reason to change as it is a full-time USB cable connected keyboard. Aside from the key press performance settings, there are your key behavior settings themselves. Each key can be customized to a different purpose other than its default behavior such as a macro or a shortcut, or even a mouse button. They can even be set at the Fn layer so the key press can serve two purposes. INZONE is very good about isolating which key you’re updating so that you don’t get confused about what’s changing. The macro recording is very easy to use as well as the shortcut creation. Because we sometimes play more than one game, a profile can be saved specific to a game or setup. You just simply name the profile you’ve just created based on a game or games that benefit from your customization. If you mess up, you can always undo the customization on that key. These settings can be found in the “Allocation Settings” tab. Finally, there’s RGB in the “Lighting Settings” tab. Here you can select preset modes or customize your own RGB layout. Maybe you only want certain keys illuminated; you can certainly do that on INZONE. Brightness and speed settings are customizable as well. Yes, I do love this keyboard. I fell in love with it right when I started putting it through its paces. It performs amazing during my gaming sessions given the customizations I’ve done thus far, and when I’m not gaming I can switch back to my “Work” profile so that I can have my heavy hands on the keyboard while I work. This feature has won me over because I do own a keyboard that is masterful for gaming, but when it comes to work I get a lot…A LOT…of unintentional key presses. Finally, there is the elephant in the room: MSRP. At its price point, we’re venturing into full customizable keyboards, also with aluminium bodies and hot swappable components. But here’s my take on Sony’s solution: you get multiple keyboards rolled into one chassis, and it’s a very nice one at that. The keys can be whatever you want them to be with a simple switch of a profile. And INZONE makes that possible and easy. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a keyboard. The KBD-H75 is a solid, well built keyboard with an amazing feel and a trove of performance customization without taking it apart. Value for the price? I think so.

Luxurious and classy, completely customizable - The INZONE KBD-H75 is part of Sony's premium line of gaming peripherals, developed in collaboration with Fnatic. I'm not really sure what the "H" stands for, but the 75 indicates that this is a 75% keyboard. Removing the num pad from that side of the keyboard is advantageous for gamers as it allows easier reach of the mouse while still retaining the arrow keys, which I didn't know I'd miss for everyday stuff until I was stuck with a 65% for a while. Right out of the box, the keyboard drips with luxury and well thought-out design. The aluminum chassis has a matte finish that is fingerprint resistant. The knurling on the volume knob is reminiscent of a high end stereo receiver (which makes sense, since Sony and all). The knob isn't free-spinning, it clicks when you rotate it, and also clicks when you press it in. The braided USB-C to A cable with branded silicone cable tie is very soft and pliant, but I might have to swap it out for something a little more rigid just because it looks all limp and lifeless on my desk. The legends only appear on the tops of the keys, with no alternate legends on the side for the Fn layer (more on that later). The branding is quite tasteful and limited to a small Inzone logo on the top edge of the keyboard where the USB-C port is, and the Sony logo inscribed in the middle of the back side of the keyboard. There is also a Sony logo on the plug part of the USB cable. Mechanical switches are old hat it seems, as this is another premium keyboard sporting optical switches with adjustable actuation points. What this means is that instead of having to press the key all the way down for it to register, you can customize the sensitivity of the keys so that it has a hair-trigger, gets triggered half-way down, or doesn't trigger until you fully bottom out. The range of .1mm to 3.4m allows for complete customization of every single key. Maybe you want your movement keys to be super sensitive, but you want your ult or grenades to have a more purposeful stroke required to actuate so that you don't accidentally set them off. This is a game changer for FPS and other fast twitch games where reaction time is the difference between a positive KDA ratio and getting flamed in the chat for feeding. Combine this with an insanely high 8000Hz polling rate, and your character is off dodging headshots before you can hear the gentle thip-thip of the keys bottoming out. And yes, that "thip-thip" is the gentle sound of the keys being pressed at high speed. Not clicky at all, a gentle staccato like a summer rain on the top of a convertible with the rag top up. In order to do all the cool stuff with the keyboard, you're going to need to interact with the software. Fortunately, Sony has not just an app, but also a website that allows you to customize everything about the keyboard. You can remap keys, adjust the sensitivity or actuation levels of each key, and set up what each key does when you hold the Fn button. This is probably why there are no alternate legends printed on the keys, since you can basically make it do whatever you want. You can choose from a key, a mouse click, a macro (with robust editor that allows you to adjust the timing between keystrokes or rearrange them altogether), or assign a media function. The knob, however is not remappable. What I like best about Sony's implementation of the software is that you can either install yet another app on your PC, or you can go to the website and customize everything from there, which is super handy if you are using a PC other than your main. All things considered, Sony swung for the fences on this one, and I feel like they really hit it out of the park. The build quality feels like they made the keyboard out of spare parts from one of their stereo receivers. I love the sound of the keys and the texture of the tops of them. Even the Inzone software is useful and bloat-free without any banners advertising other services or products, and I appreciate that I can benefit from the software without having to actually install it on my PC by going to the website.

High Quality Professional Gaming Keyboard - This 75% footprint wired keyboard has the look, feel and functionality of a real professional gaming keyboard. What I like best is it's across the board per key customization capability. Sony has made it easy with their INZONE Hub for Web which allows you to customize the KBD-H75 directly in an internet browser. Or alternately, you can download the INZONE Hub app. Either way, you can assign new functions to any key(s), including macros and shortcuts, adjust actuation (firing) point of any key(s), enable Rapid Trigger (refiring on one stroke and quicker repeat strokes) on any key(s), and customize the RGB lighting. Customize the RGB lighting by selecting one of twelve preset special effects or choose per key or zone custom lighting. The key legends are translucent so the lighting effects glow through and around the keys. One feature it does not have is layering, so you cannot create any of your own special effects. The RGB lighting will be static if use choose Custom rather than a Preset effect. The keystroke action is smooth and solid. The switches are magnetic, which allows, as mentioned, actuation point adjustment and Rapid Trigger. The keycaps are high quality double-shot molded PBT. Volume is controlled by a round knob on the upper right of the keyboard, press to mute and unmute; it's much more efficient than individual keys for volume up, down, or mute. The 8K polling rate is very fast, giving near instantaneous response. Connectivity is wired only; there's no wireless functionality. The chassis is smooth machined aluminum. A high-quality braided USB-A to USB-C cable is included. Bottom line this is a high quality, high performing customizable gaming keyboard for serious gamers.

Sony quality, but mixed feelings. - Starting off, I've always respected Sony as a reputable electronics brand. They've always had a good pulse on what should be bare minimum when it comes to designing a product. I'll admit, I didn't really expect Sony to enter the gaming peripheral market but better late than never I suppose! BUILD QUALITY: It's quite decent. Not the heaviest keyboard but not exactly "cheap" feeling either. Just a good balance of plastics with a top aluminum casing. Key caps are PBT and basically what one would expect out of a modern gaming design. The Volume knob is VERY good. Solid notches and seems like something out of a legacy Sony product. Quite honestly my favorite part of this keyboard aside from the 75% layout, which is generally something I enjoy as a compromise between 60% (missing arrow keys and F keys) and TKL (80%). KEY FEEL: I generally like around 3.5mm of travel.. So having a 3.4mm spec isn't too far off, aside from general tolerances which can go +1/-1 either way. IE: 3.3 to 3.5mm. I would say these are closer to the 3.3mm side which does feel a little off to another keyboard which I was using prior. I wish they did go with the more balanced 3.5mm spec given it would shift the tolerances to a more favored spot (subjective), but it's not bad either. Anything is better than full 4mm travel like other gaming KB's from popular brands. Relative to other HE keyboards, this is closer to a custom build gasket KB with FR4 plate IMHO. I can't exactly feel a metal plate when typing. It's actually throwing me off a little because the other HE's I've used have a more stable metal plate and feel a little more responsive when bottoming out in game. The keys themselves are custom Gateron's and seem to have a sub 60gF bottom out feel from personal experience with other keys. SOFTWARE AND LED: LED power is actually a bit weak to other keyboard's I've used. Just seems like a basic setup. The keys themselves have LED diffusers, but the caps don't shine through as well as competition. As far as software goes, It's pretty basic and barebones. This is both good and bad and I'll explain. For a competitive player, you don't want the software overloaded with useless settings and features. You just want your KB to be setup with your profile and ready to go. The problem I have with this software? Seems unrefined. Macros will break key configs if setup improperly. Actuation point? Has to be setup per key itself and there's no way to be able to set the full keyboard higher or lower without going through each of the 80+ keys. Pretty annoying. Also had trouble setting up a print screen shortcut, but eventually figured it out. So yeah.. The SW itself could use some pre binds to assist users just getting into it. The cool thing about this specific keyboard is that it does have the ability to use a web interface as well as downloading software. Pretty cool for competitive players that travel around or users that don't like extra SW loaded onto a PC. Works as expected! VALUE: It's a quality keyboard, but that's relative to price bracket and I think this one is over ambitious given you're not going to please everyone with the design specs as they are. This is especially true in a market with esports sponsorships from legacy brands. I think this is a very hard sell, even for someone like me. OVERALL: I really like this keyboard and see where Sony-INZONE wants to target, but feel they're going to struggle unless there are better incentives for certain types of gamers. The physical design itself? 10/10 It looks awesome on my desk and they pretty much nailed the competitive gamer aesthetic. On the flip side, I subjectively think the keyboard is tuned for a typist that wants a gaming keyboard, but not excelling in either demographic. Good, but not amazing. Sony has the basis for a solid platform, but further refinement and competition with legacy brands is needed. 4/5.

Compact and solid gaming keyboard - I have always preferred to type on mechanical keyboards. Even before they became popular and became gaming keyboards. I love the sound they make and how the keys fell when you press them. The Sony KBD-H75 feels really good to type on. It is much quieter than the other mechanical keyboards I have. The size is good. The desk I use it on is cluttered – I call it organized confusion, and it fits nicely. You do lose the numeric key pad but that is the cost of a smaller keyboard. The keys themselves are a good size. There is not much adjustment except those times I reach to the right think I have the numpad there. I am glad there is a volume dial to control my music sounds. You will need to install the software if you want to do customization with the lighting. You can also disable certain key combos like Alt+Tab, Alt+F4, and the Windows key. Under the Performance Settings, you can set things like Actuation Point and Rapid Trigger, for EACH key. You can have up to 4 profiles also. There are many color display modes. My favorite is reactive. It displays the color on the key you press as well as the keys around it. You can set the brightness and speed. There are two things I wish it did. The first is I wish it had the option to be wireless and rechargeable since my desk has a lot of clutter. The other is it would be nice if it came with a wrist pad. The one I have is a little higher than the keyboard itself so rather than it being helpful it is not as comfortable. Other than that, I like the keyboard. I like how it feels typing on it. The keyboard is solid and feels very durable. The software is easy to use and supports other Sony peripherals.