After so many hobbyist-focused keyboards, today we have a rather chill product from ASUS – The Jelly75 (KD201). After putting years of attention on ROG, perhaps they realized that the casual consumer market needed something too, and with the Jelly75, they could downstream some of the good stuff while making it approachable and accessible to most people.
So let’s check out what’s in store.
Unboxing
So you have this cleanly designed box – nothing more, nothing less. Straightforward labels, no nonsense.
Inside, you are greeted by the keyboard straight away. Then you have the manual, a small box containing the USB cable and wireless dongle.
A quick appreciation for them to print some of the instructions and “FAQ” things directly on the box, because you know, 99% of people won’t consult the manual the first time they run into a problem. Well, just look at the box then.
Quick Looks
The keyboard kit itself features a smoky black translucent case, coupled with SA-like tall keycaps made of PC material for anti-slip and longevity. Not only do they look clean and nice, but the legends are also quite clear and uniquely styled. Meanwhile, the 75% layout is the most balanced out of everything that is not full-sized, as it has the Function row, arrow keys, and navigation keys. But the non-exploded layout does make it slightly cramped than usual, but it is just a matter of time before adapting fully to it.
Then you have the switches running a transparent top (which is almost always gonna be PC), a purple stem (should be POM most of the time), and an opaque white bottom. ASUS didn’t state the exact specs of the switch, but initial feel places it at around 45g-50g bottom out, which is plenty light for most people.
And props to them for using hot swap sockets, so none of that soldered nightmare has to be cursed upon its users. The LEDs’ north-facing, though, so if you want to change keycaps down the line, be sure to take note of the shine-through legends’ position.
On the front side, you have the USB-C port for charging and wired connection alongside the tri-mode toggle for quickly swapping around connected devices. Those who need to switch between the smartphone, tablet, and PC can really use this to the best potential.
At the bottom, there are the 3-stage feet and nothing else. One may also see that it is running some sort of clip mechanism for locking the top and bottom cases in place.
Suffice to say, ASUS did a good job in making sure that the Jelly75 does not get overloaded with useless elements to focus on delivering on features, simplicity, and minimalistic looks. And yes, they are aiming for it to be the daily driver for most office and home users.
The keyboard is offered in colorways of Orange Meadow and Volt Green, dictated by the keycaps, and we got the former here. Either way, they both come in this 3-tone pattern with the Esc and Spacebar getting the extra pop and contrast. ASUS said that it is for better visibility, but is anybody out there need to find out where they are consistently? I hope not.
Typing Feel
Now, this board is using a gasket mount structure, and one can see it through the smoky translucent case, so it’s fair to say that it sounds objectively better than the lousy tray-mounted boards. Coupled with all the internal dampening materials like foams, which I assumed there’s at least the plate foam and perhaps PCB foam but not PE foam, together with the silicon piece for the case, makes it thocky in sound signature yet not overwhelming in the sense of amplitude – Just the right amount. And also none of that marble sound. Good or bad, it’s up to you.
Yet there’s one thing I feel like it’s been “overused” by brands in general, and it is how gasket mounts contribute to flexibility. Now this is not wrong. But it is done in the assumption of the absence of dampening materials, therefore letting the overall structure flex and move with more vertical freedom, resulting in a comfy and soft typing experience.
And that is not the case for the Jelly75, with the amount of things stuffed inside the case. Strictly speaking, I rate this as “soft and pleasant” but definitely not “flexible”, despite it using a PC plate.
Balancing the pros and cons of the structure of the board is definitely the switch, as it is pre-lubed and is super smooth, which I did not expect to be this good. The scratchiness is little to none, and can be neglected even for sensitive ears like mine.
I mentioned that the keyboard is running a clip-mechanism, a.k.a not really designed for modding purposes, except for the hotswap-enabled sockets. But I don’t see the need to replace these switches in the sense that they are “bad”; you’d probably swap them out because they are not to your sound palette, or if you want to venture into silent switches. Take your pick.
But oh boy, do the large keys with the stabilizers are bad, like “old gaming keyboards” bad. And it’s easy to know why – they are not lubed.
Dry stabilizers in 2025?? I swear, even gaming brands have caught on to the trend of custom keyboards and learned how to apply them. If you want to lube your own board, Kinetic Labs offers a solid keyboard lube to start with. Heck, even ASUS’s own premium ROG keyboards have balanced, nicely tuned stabilizers with an ample amount of lube in them. Why not the Jelly75? Come on, we need fair and equal treatment, please.
Making things worse is the Spacebar key, where they seemingly include a spacebar foam for reducing the hollowness and amplitude. However, the state I received the keyboard in has the foam pre-installed in a state where it is impossible to remove without utterly destroying it. Considering that this is just a review unit, I can only rate it as it is.
Not only is the upstroke distance reduced (subject to whether you are willing to trade less noise for the mushiness), but it also amplifies the ticking stabilizer noises. This issue is literally the “hero to zero” moment against its goal of “low-noise typing experience”.
Here’s a quick typing test for reference:
Conclusion
All in all, I think that the Jelly75 has a good direction in terms of what they are marketing for – Casual use with multi-connectivity for swapping among devices, a nice set of keycaps and switches that make it stand out from the rest of the product category through a hefty and sturdy unit, making it a trusty peripheral that can be used for years to come.
But then, ASUS does need to fix the stabilizer issue, and forget pre-installing the spacebar foam so the user can decide whether to use it. This is a necessity in my opinion, and I strongly advocate that, partly as a custom mechanical keyboard enjoyer, and I do want even the most “layman of laymen” getting the benefits out of this hobby.
At RM399, I think this is slightly expensive when compared to the rest of the segment, but the quality is there, and it can be competitive as long as ASUS solves everything I mentioned. Aside from that, brand confidence is also the factor where fans would trust them more than some “random Chinese brand” and their “affordable aluminum CNC keyboard”. Without prior knowledge, info, or know-how, it is actually better for them to just get the Jelly75 and call it a day.
Oh yes, don’t forget to include the “keycap + switch puller” tool. Can’t call it a hotswap keyboard without it.
