Keyboard Builders' Digest / Review
MoeeTech Glitter 65 R2
MoeeTech's Glitter65 R2 is a significant upgrade to a cool keyboard kit with a distinctive aluminum case and unique drawer structure. Easier assembly, split spacebar option!
Published September 11, 2024
The MoeeTech Glitter65 R2 has been available for some weeks, but this review took more time than intended, thanks to the local customs staff. ;) Anyway, let me talk about Moeetech's new flagship model, its hallmark milled and anodized aluminum case with the unique drawer style tray, coming with optional USB hub and card reader. This gorgeous 65% board with a distinctive look (wired, hotswap, Vial support!) went over a serious redesign.
If you remember my review of the Glitter65 (R1), I liked MoeeTech's first keyboard design a lot, but had some remarks, mostly with regards of the assembly. Good news: The unusual building process should go much smoother now.
TLDR; Moeetech listened to your feedback, so the Glitter65 R2 is a major improvement over the R1 design: much easier assembly, more room for the tray, the inconsistent LED strip has been removed and was moved to the front for a better RGB experience. Great offer packed with goodies (Ultra edition) whether you're aiming for looks or performance – thanks to the split spacebar options and Vial compatibility.
Disclaimer
Moeetech offered me this Glitter65 R2 review unit for free. In the photos you can see the Ultra variant (PCB with flex cuts), in a stunning shade of anodized purple. It looks better in reality than in my photos. The blue and white ones in some photos are R1 units, level 1 and 2 quality, respectively.
As always, receiving something for free can lead to various biases, both positive and negative in my experience. Take everything I write with a grain of salt.
Unboxing & Contents
The Glitter65 is a barebone kit, so no switches, caps or stabilizers in the package, you have to source them separately.
Since the tray comes partially assembled now, the box has been redesigned. Cardboard, simple design, but still huge for a reason: it contains the bag too.
In the bundle you can find the gorgeous aluminum (6063) case (five colors as of now, more colors coming soon), frosted acrylic tray, sound dampening for the Ultra edition (thick silicone switch layer, thick bottom poron foam),…
…the two-part PCB consists of a main PCB and a USB daughterboard – to be connected by an improved cable, replacing the dreaded ribbon cables familiar from R1. Also an additional anodized piece for the tray, plus screws, a nice PCB ruler, and a cool sticker pack. (I received this board in July, before the ruler wasn't finished, which is why it's not in the photo.)
No cable and no tools included. Prepare a 2.5mm hex screwdriver for the two fancy screws in the back. (The other screws which secure the USB daughterboard and an anodized piece are the usual tiny ones, 2mm I guess.)
As a bonus for new customers, the keyboard is accompanied by a matching carry bag. It was color-matched last time, black for the dark ink blue one and beige for the white version. I guess the logic is the same with R2. It has minimal padding, but fits the Glitter nicely.
I received an early version with the R1 units back in April (on the right), but your orders were accompanied by the updated one already (left). The new one is following MoeeTech's new branding, in accordance with the cool stickers here and there.
It may seem slightly unrelated, but you can get a free Glitter umbrella as well. This means Moeetech will refund the $23 cost of it if you join their discord and post a photo on social media.
Background
The Glitter65 R1 was MoeeTech's first keyboard model. With the team being located in Nanning City, Guangxi, China, this was originally a group buy domestically with some items allocated for the Western market.
It seems MoeeTech sees more potential in the unique structure and approach, and after listening to user feedback, R2 is the manifestation of an improved design.
Variants
The Ultra variant is similar to the R1 bundle: hotswap (or soldered), USB hub, card reader, full sound dampening, bag, PCB ruler, stickers, and also RGB lights.
The Pro variant is the more puritan alternative, without all the bells and whistles, and solder-only PCB.
Just like with R1, there are two quality levels. This means surface quality, but mostly on the inside. Last time I tested both level1 and level2 quality cases, and the visible parts looked the same in both cases.
Improvements
If you are already familiar with R1 and don't want to read this whole article, here are the major improvements of R2:
- Drawer structure: there's much more room inside the case, you can slide the tray in and out with switches mounted (while pressed down)! In addition, the tray comes practically pre-assembled (gaskets, daughterboard).
- PCB variants: there's a super-flexible 1.2mm PCB with per-key flex cuts now, beside the stiffer 1.6mm one, similar to the original.
- Ribbon cables: the old cables (hard to fold and handle) have been replaced by customized 5-pin ribbon cables.
- Light bar: completely redesigned with more LEDs and optimized diffuser, moved to the front to ensure an undisturbed, seamless case structure.
- Split spacebar option! Why is this not advertised everywhere? It's a game-changer!
Specs
- wired barebone kit
- 65% layout
- MX, hotswap
- plateless, drawer style structure
- 6032 aluminum case
- USB-C daughterboard with USB Hub and card reader (Ultra)
- frosted acrylic RGB LED decoration piece (no per-key RGB or underglow)
- Vial support
- extra carry bag, stickers, PCB ruler
65% layout
The Glitter 65, as the name implies, comes in the popular 65% form factor. Basically a 60% keyboard with an extra column on the right.
In addition to the few extra keys, this arrangement allows some room around the arrow cluster, which is essential for easier and better repositioning of your right hand.
Drawer structure
The hallmark of MoeeTech's Glitter 65 is the unique drawer style structure, which went through a major improvement.
Instead of the common layers and two-part case, you have a one-piece aluminum case here. Sort of. There is no top and bottom case but a main case practically milled from a single slab of aluminum, plus a second piece closing the opening in the back.
Removing the back cover is how you slide the tray in and out: a sandwich of the main PCB, switches, and optional silicon swich layer and poron foam. Other than this back cover, there are no seams if you look at it from e.g. the sides.
Other than aesthetic considerations, I thought this structure doesn't really have any practical significance until I realized that this way, you can lift the otherwise relatively heavy board with just one hand – thanks to the depressions on the back and front.
The assembly is a bit different than usual, and the tray system has some cons too: you still can't remove it with the caps mounted. But there's an online assembly simulator now. :)
There shouldn't be any problem during the building process once you've put the puzzle pieces together. I remembered the steps of the video I followed last time, but feel free to reach out to MoeeTech if you are stuck.
If in trouble, it's likely that something (e.g. foam, PCB mousebite residues) pushes the PCB upwards a bit, so you have to press it down while sliding the tray into the case. This is when the accompanying ruler comes into play.
Build qualities
When it comes to milling and finishing, as already mentioned, there are two quality levels and five colors you can choose from.
Colors: Black Samurai, Electrophoretic White, Electrophoretic Milky White (Pro), plus Anodized Purple and Pink (Ultra). The purple one looks exactly as in the official photos, at least on my screen.
Quality. If you only care about how your keyboard looks when assembled, there's no particular difference between the two quality levels. Last time, holding both versions in my hand, the difference was clearly visible when inspecting the INNER side of the cases.
The higher standard (and somewhat more expensive) version looks beautiful in and out. The budget option may have imperfections inside of the case, expect that if ordering this version.
If you're also picky when it comes to hidden parts, go with the level1 standard.
Plateless design
There's still no plate, your switches sit in the PCB, so maybe 5-pin switches work better. However, there's a thick silicone top layer (Ultra variant only!) which helps with positioning your switches beside affecting sound.
CNC & Price
As already told in the R1 article, what makes the most difference when it comes to relatively cheap models vs. more expensive higher end boards is the complexity of the overall shape and details, and the extra time manufacturing these kind of products requires.
Given the rounded outside of the Glitter, all the smooth transitions both on the front and back, plus the cool decoration piece in the color of the case (last time it was brass), the starting price of $149 seems reasonable.
USB daughterboard, USB hub, card reader
The USB daughterboard of the Ultra variant, beside the main USB C connector, accommodates two additional USB A sockets and an SD card reader as well.
By the way, I received the daughterboard in a separate parcel, and it gave the local customs officers a real challenge. I can't explain it any other way – they sat on the case for three weeks, and it took a series of phone calls and letters to finally get them to release this suspicious little piece of hardware. :D
Ribbon cables -> 5-pin cables
The only real annoyance during the original R1 Glitter builds was the ribbon cable: hard to position, hard to fold, hard to handle in general.
All the problems have gone with the new 5-pin cables. The sockets are much better positioned, and the 5-pin cables are easier to handle.
LEDs
While apparently a selling point for many, I personally don't care about RGB or any lights. However, the Glitter features a really tasteful solution, not the kind of over-the-top per-key RGB tackiness you see on many gaming keyboards.
The back diffuser is gone. The front one has much more homogenous light now (still not perfect), thanks to the increased number of LEDs on the PCB:
Despite the major improvement, the frosted acrylic still doesn't diffuses the light perfectly. One reason for this is that the gaskets interfere with the light looking at it from a certain low angle, and also some LEDs are missing due to the extra stabilizer footprints of the spacebar options. That said, I would choose the spacebar options over a perfect light any time, and the lights are more uniform from a normal typing posture.
(And if you are a gamer who insists on per-key RGB, and its absence is a deal-breaker for you, one model worth checking out is the GravaStar Mercury K1 Pro, which I reviewed recently.)
Software
Vial! Yay! No pesky proprietary software. Head to vial.rocks and start messing around with your keymap. As usual, I checked swapping some letters to roughly recreate my custom layout, and also to set up SpaceFN: everything works as expected.
In the Vial layout there are actually three space keys indicated as default. This gave me the idea to try out a three-key convex spacebar option, with each key acting as a double-purpose layer toggle.
Works like a charm. I can't stress enough how big of an improvement this means regarding efficiency and layout/layer options in general. You can have all the functions of a 100% keyboard with in a compact 30% form factors, basically without using the outer keys or the number row.
Pros
- Aesthetics, quality (level1!)
- Split spacebar option, Vial
- price, extras from the USB hub and SD card reader to the satchel and stickers, etc.
Cons
- You still have to remove the keycaps to slide out the tray, that may be inconvenient.
- Light diffusing is still not perfect.
Conclusion
The Glitter 65 R2 by MoeeTech, a major improvement over the original R1, is a gorgeous 65% keyboard kit with lots of extras. Significant updates to the case, PCB and lights ensure an easier building process and better typing experience. This is still a unique tray system so expect some differences compared to the standard way you build keyboards. Not just for the look, the split spacebar option combined with Vial compatibility makes this board ideal for keymap wizards too. Otherwise the stunning alu case, USB hub, bag, etc. justify the price. If you like the features and the 65% form factor, I can only recommend to try it.
Availability
You can purchase the Glitter65 R2 at MoeeTech. The first orders will arrive before Nov 16, and the actual batch will be shipped before Dec 31, 2024.
- MoeeTech Glitter65 R2 from $150 (Pro) and $180 (Ultra).
- MoeeTech umbrella – get a Glitter umbrella for free*
- MoeeTech on Discord
For free shipping use the R2KBDNEWS coupon code. While the old KBDNEWS code is still in effect (20% off of the R1), there's this new one for the R2.
Still not convinced? Then check out this cool sticker pack! :)
Other products in this review
- Akko Fairy Silent and Akko Penguin Silent switches, plus cream keycaps came from Akko EU.
- Kemove P10 switch puller – this is the "pink" one, the hot pink version is called "rose".
- the deskmat came from Zion Studios
- swap artisans by keebwerk
Published on Wed 11th Sep 2024. Featured in KBD #174.
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