Keyboard Builders' Digest / Review

MelGeek Modern97 review

The Modern 97 is one of the recent models in a family of gorgeous keyboards designed by MelGeek: a prebuilt three-mode wireless 90% board.

KBD.news
Published April 3, 2024

MelGeek's prebuilt Modern97 is for those who'd like a keyboard with stunning aesthetics, ready to rock right out of the box, while striking a balance between functionality and space-saving. With 97 keys you can have most of the functionality of a standard keyboard (without using layers) while shaving off three full columns compared to a standard keyboard: resulting in the semi-compact 90% layout still offering a dedicated numpad.

TLDR; Beautiful MelGeek design, awesome bundle with MCR caps and Kailh switches included. Hotswap, wireless, with numpad. Perfect for "normal" people. However, if you are an enthusiast deep in the keymap customization rabbit hole, the software part requires more features to appease you. (Now 8% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code.)

Discover Modern97, the keyboard that seamlessly bridges the gap between nature and urban life. With fingertips, effortlessly explore diverse landscapes and navigate between ethereal and vibrant realms – MelGeek.

As ridiculous as the usual marketing mambo-jumbo may sound, the Modern 97 indeed comes in an intricately designed case with a mineral-inspired texture reminiscent of natural patterns, and we haven't even mentioned the environmentally friendly box. I have to say that bridging the gap between nature and urban life checks out in this case.

Disclaimer

This Modern97 review unit was sent to me by MelGeek. As you know, I'm not paid to write these reviews, but getting a free sample may result in all kinds of bias, both positive and negative in my experience. Take everything I write with a grain of salt.

By the way, I was offered a MelGeek Pixel at the time of its announcement, but my contact at the company left in the meantime so the offer was forgotten. Recently, after chatting with a company representative to complete MelGeek's entry in the vendor database, she kindly offered me a more recent model, that's how this gorgeous Modern97 landed on my desk.

Variants

The MelGeek 97 comes in four color options. I could choose the variant in advance so was already familiar with this board after doing my research. Still, the pale green Fountain colorway I ended up with is simply breathtaking. (However, the Ocean, Nappa and Slate variants aren't less appealing either.)

They are available at MelGeek for $139 each, or $128 if you use the KBDNEWS coupon code for 8% off.

But wait a second, let's see if the MelGeek Modern97 is for you at all.

Packaging

I don't usually waste much time to describe the packaging, but we have to cover this one.

After getting rid of the usual thick outer cardboard layer quite savagely, I had a feeling of something missing. My first impression was this is the same material as those foamy protective cushions or fillings going by different names, so the "real" vanity box may be missing. :D But no! That's not the case of course. This is some eco-friendly material, made of bamboo and sugarcane fiber, with just a band of colorful shiny cardboard instead of a full box.

With a profound commitment to the environment, we have carefully chosen these materials for their exceptional attributes – MelGeek.

Not only is the packaging renewable and biodegradable, but – at least according to the manufacturer – it also leaves a significantly reduced carbon footprint, ensuring resource conservation.

It feels and looks like a hard kind of simple cardboard, but of course MelGeek added a nice touch: To spice up the simple box, there are some embossed patterns visible on the top.

Specs

• Layout: 90%, 97 keys, ANSI
• MX, hotswap
• Mounting: Gasket
• Material: PC+ABS
• Keycaps: Double-shot ABS, MCR keycap profile
• Switch Type: factory Lubed Kailh switches
• Per-key RGB
• Connectivity: Bluetooth & 2.4G & Wired
• Battery: 4000mAh
• Polling Rate: 1000Hz(1ms) (wired & 2.4GHz), 125Hz(8ms) (Bluetooth 5.1)
• Firmware Compatibility: MelGeek Hive
• Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, Android
• Typing angle: 7.5°
• Net weight: 990g
• Dimensions: 382mm143.3mm46.6mm
• Case height: Front 22mm/ Rear 42mm

Unboxing & Contents

In the exemplarily sustainable box you have the prebuilt Modern 97 with switches and caps mounted, along with a 2.4G dongle, matching cable, tools (separate keycap and switch puller), some spare caps, and a quickstart guide.

Layout

97 keys, 90% layout. It shares some similarities with 1800 boards, but the arrow cluster is not offset. However, there's a gap left of the arrows, á la Whitefox aria variant, which may help the orientation.

All in all, you retain a full numpad and sacrifice half of the navigation cluster to shave off more than 3 full columns or about 6 cm compared to a standard keyboard. The exact width is 382mm.

You can have every important key of a standard 100% practically: instead of the standard navigation cluster and PrtScr/Scroll Lock/Pause trinity (9 keys) you have 4 keys above the numpad.

Since the board is programmable, you decide which four keys you want to keep. (Or set up SpaceFN and have everything under your fingertips on and around the home positions.)

That's why the spare caps in the bundle: you can mount whichever you want.

Wireless modes

The Modern97 is a three-mode wireless keyboard, so you can use it as wired, 2.4GHz (both 1KHz sampling) or Bluetooth (125Hz).

You can change between the modes by using the switch on the back, next to the USB socket.

The Modern97 comes with a protective sticker which also indicates the modes, but by removing the sticker you end up without any indication other than the light on top.

Case & Typing angle

7.5 degrees default typing angle. Fixed, no feet this time.

The combination of PC and ABS parts of the case is super nice. Intricate design as it is usual with MelGeek's boards.

Luxury is often associated with aluminum cases, but these boards by MelGeek are as posh as it gets in plastic.

I especially love the play with the glossy and matte parts, just like transparent, translucent and completely opaque layers.

Keycaps

The Modern97 comes with MelGeek's really nice MCR keycaps. MCR is a profile similar to Cherry, just a bit taller (9 vs 9.4mm) and edges/corners – maybe also fonts and legends – a bit more rounded. Or differently rounded. Otherwise the familiar sculpted, cylindrical design.

These are nice ABS double-shot caps, a pleasure to type on – I'm saying this despite being a big fan of MelGeek's MDA profile.

Switches

The board is hotswap of course, so you can use whatever switch you want. However, since this is a prebuilt keyboard, you can choose from a limited selection of switches at the time of purchase:

• Kailh Sonic53
• Kailh Box Plastic
• Kailh Tactile / Pixel T

I was familiar with the linear Box Plastic: my Mojo84 came with those switches, and I liked them a lot. This time I chose tactiles just to try out something different, but maybe I've become irreversibly a linear guy in the meantime: from these two I would definitely choose the Box Plastics.

Despite its harsh colors (not that you would see them with caps mounted), this tactile Kailh works well too, but the Box Plastic lives on as an awesome linear in my memories.

Build quality, internal structure

The prebuilt Modern 97 is apparently not for disassembly: no visible screws on the back. Actually, disassembling it will void the 1-year warranty MelGeek offers – as a sticker warns you in Chinese.

Well, I wouldn't really care this, but the case is probably snapped together, quite tightly, and since I didn't want to break or damage anything, to my greatest regret, there will be no internal pics this time either.

PCB

Horizontal cuts for increased flexibility, hotswap sockets, per-key RGB.

The RGB has enough firepower for daylight use.

Gaskets

A generous number of layers, with "upgraded" gasket mount plate and multilayer foams. You can clearly feel and see the gaskets in action. In fact, the translucent parts of the case make it even visible looking at it from the side.

Sound dampening

Plate foam, switch foam, hotswap layer, bottom foam, and the hexagonal inner grid of the bottom case may affect the overall sound too.

Portability

The 38cm width of the 90% form factor is still on the wider side of the layout spectrum so if portability is your concern, I'm sure you'll find something smaller even at MelGeek.

Software

No QMK or VIA/Vial compatibility. There's the proprietary MelGeek Hive software (formerly KBTools) to program your keyboard.

The installation is straightforward, but a trojan alert pops up… Most likely a false positive alert, I was told MelGeek hasn't had this issue before, and of course all of their software is carefully checked before being published.

Making basic changes to the keymap (e.g. swapping alphas) is easy-peasy, however, reproducing SpaceFN doesn't work because of the lack of a lot of common layer functions. You can set up your macros and lighting, but practically no layers. I mean, there are four layers by default, but how are you supposed to use them effectively without double-function keys?

That said, the proprietary software does have some neat features: keystroke analyzer, performance and power management settings, and there's a QMK tab too – doesn't seem to work at the moment, but it's promising. (Not top priority at this time though, I was told the team is focusing on magnetic boards and features.)

By the way, updating your firmware (which is done seamlessly and very elegantly in the app) resets your keymap, so the upcoming user profiles and export/import features will come in handy for sure.

Conclusion

The MelGeek Modern 97 is a beautifully designed and incredibly well build wireless keyboard. With its gorgeous look and excellent out-of-the-box typing experience I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who prefers the standardish 90% layout with more keys, and don't want to bother with too much customization or tweaking the keymap. For the serious enthusiast considering a custom keymap with layers and double-function keys, I'd wait for a major software update.

Pros

• Design & build quality
• Hotswap, easily customizable
• Three-mode connectivity

Cons

• Software limitations
• Hard to disassemble

Availability

Right now there's a 8% discount in effect so the Modern 97 is available from $128 at MelGeek:

• Melgeek Modern97, $139 $128

Other products in the photos above:

• QwertyKey Rice deskmat (5% off with the KBDNEWS code)
• Zuiver.one Coral black deskmat
• QwertyKey Black deskmat (5% off with the KBDNEWS code)
• Stackable tray (tall) by keebwerk (10% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code)

Published on Wed 3rd Apr 2024. Featured in KBD #160.

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