First, a desire to purchase caused by a small advertisement that pops up frequently. I used to be a keyboard enthusiast who loved collecting computer hardware. One day, my colleague gave me a mechanical keyboard, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Now, I have over 30 mechanical keyboards at home, making it a full set of peripherals. Enthusiasts often get deep into the peripheral world, but fortunately, keycaps and custom paints are not yet available for this model—otherwise, I can't even imagine what would happen next.
I started searching online for mechanical keyboards more than ever. On the right side of many websites, a small ad kept popping up, showing all kinds of wooden keyboards. They looked fresh and intriguing, but I couldn’t find them on major e-commerce platforms. Maybe they were just limited models or advertisements meant to catch attention. Then, I accidentally saw the AZIO walnut retro mechanical keyboard, which changed my mind. It turned out there really was a manufacturer producing wooden keyboards.
The price was quite high—1299 yuan. But after seeing the price drop to 1099 with a 799-120 voucher, I couldn’t resist. I spent over 300 yuan, and now I’m the proud owner of this unique keyboard.
AZIO is a U.S.-based company based in Industry City, Los Angeles, California. It's a game brand that provides various peripheral Solutions such as mechanical keyboards, HTPC keyboards, wireless keyboards, iPad professional keyboards, built-in card readers, wireless routers, wireless adapters, premium cables, and advanced hard disk drives. The name AZIO stands for "Input" and "Output" from A to Z, symbolizing its focus on input and output devices.
The AZIO walnut retro mechanical keyboard isn’t entirely made of wood. It uses walnut wood for the panel, while the frame and keycaps are made of other materials. I chose this one because I love wood. My home has wooden shelves, a headset stand, and a monitor shelf—all bought through wood. I wonder if there are any manufacturers planning to make wooden headphones or mice. It could be a great addition to a desktop setup, serving both function and decoration.
Second, the packaging and accessories. The packaging of the AZIO keyboard is interesting. It features a walnut wood pattern on the outside, with black leather and a black box. The front shows the keyboard’s appearance, with “RETRO CLASSIC†written underneath. Further down, it says “ELWOOD,†which I later found out is the name of this specific model. The back of the package also shows the keyboard and lists four product features in English. There's a Chinese label on the left, but it only mentions the manufacturer’s name.
Inside the package, there’s a transparent plastic cover that acts as a dust cover. A small pocket contains the manual, a card, and a cleaning cloth. While the accessories are minimal, the magnetic closure is convenient and practical. It’s nice to have a secure way to open and close the package without worrying about broken buckles.
Third, the design and details. The walnut model is my favorite among the four options. I prefer the gray border over the copper one, which feels too serious. The keyboard has a 104-key layout with an indicator light in the upper right corner and a metal nameplate above the arrow keys. The keycaps are typewriter-style, with round shapes and oval long keys. The F-zone keys include multimedia and office functions, like FN+F4 for Windows Media Player and FN+F12 for the calculator.
The four LEDs in the upper right corner indicate Num, Caps, ScrLK, and Win switches. Above the arrow keys is a bronze medal with the AZIO logo and a retro emblem. The screws on the medal match those on the border, creating a cohesive design. Initially, I thought the rivets were permanent, but upon closer inspection, they’re actually hexagonal screws.
The keycaps are rounded, with flat long keys and concave regular keys. The lettering on the indicator light is clear, and the four corners of the border have a curved design. The border is made of zinc-aluminum alloy, with a gun color finish that looks gray to me.
From the side, the keycaps are uniform in height, giving it a typewriter-like feel. However, the layout is different from traditional typewriters, so the experience isn’t identical. The keyboard’s back has four large rubber feet, two of which are adjustable for height. The middle part has a large anti-slip mat, though the ring frame is made of plastic.
The wire exit is fixed, which is a bit of a downside. I prefer keyboards with key-line separation for easier cable management. The black nylon braided wire has anti-jamming rings and a gold-plated USB interface, showing attention to detail. However, the black wire seems a bit out of place compared to the brown and walnut panels.
Fourth, the switch and keycap. The AZIO Typelit mechanical switch is similar to Kailh’s KO full-color center axis, with a pressure of 50 ± 10gf and a total travel distance of 3.6 ± 0.3mm. The backlight is single white, and the keycaps are translucent with centered fonts. The shafts are hidden under the panel, so the Kailh logo isn’t visible. The keycaps are made of ABS material, with a deep bronze border and a transparent back.
The long keys use satellite axes, which are easy to pull up but may cause the white satellite axes to fall out accidentally. The keycaps are stable, and the long keys move smoothly. The side view gives a hover-like appearance, but the stability is good.
Fifth, lighting and effects. The backlight is centered on the axis, with a soft, frosted look that isn’t too bright. There are two modes: breathing and reaction. The breathing mode is gentle, while the reaction mode lights up when touched and fades afterward. The lighting effects are simple, lacking special features like flashing or wave patterns. The brightness of the Caps Lock and some letters is dimmer, and the space bar could use a logo for better aesthetics.
Sixth, the final result. Collecting a set of wooden peripherals started with cheap items like a wooden hand rest (¥69) and a wooden earphone holder (¥79). Eventually, I added a wooden display rack (¥119) and the AZIO walnut keyboard (¥1299). The final look is nice, though the keyboard’s wood tone is lighter than the others. I wonder if a wooden mouse will come soon.
The retro design is visually appealing but not highly functional. Typing with software improved my speed, and playing games felt similar to a laptop keyboard. The green-axis-like feel is slightly astringent, and the spacebar lacks strong feedback. The keycaps have gaps, leading to occasional typos. The non-ergonomic layout makes gaming less comfortable, especially for competitive titles.
Seventh, final thoughts. The AZIO walnut retro mechanical keyboard uses walnut wood, a zinc alloy frame, and Kailh-customized Typelit switches. It has a bronze nameplate and adjustable feet. The price is a bit high at 1299 yuan, but it adds a wooden element to the market. I hope future models will be fully wooden and more affordable. Overall, it’s a unique keyboard with some drawbacks, but it’s worth considering for those who appreciate retro style.
**Features:**
- Walnut wood panel, typewriter-style caps, zinc alloy frame, strong retro feel.
- Centered backlight, good light transmission.
- Four large rubber feet for excellent anti-slip performance.
**Insufficient:**
- Custom keycaps have larger gaps, slightly astringent, not ideal for gaming.
- Price is relatively high.
- Limited lighting effects, no macro editing software.
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