According to Bloomberg Apple has hired veteran car development manager Luigi Taraborrell. Mr. Taraborrelli worked on models like Huracan and Urus for Lamborghini.
Apple will want to make a solid impression with the launch of the much anticipated Apple car. The experience of Taraborrelli will prove very useful here. The 20 year veteran was head of the Chassis and Vehicle Dynamics R&D division until recently.
In recent years Apple acquired hundreds of former employees of big car brands like Tesla and Mercedes Benz. This includes top level engineers and designers.
The Apple car is one of the company’s long awaited products and rumors keep popping up.
As expected both Apple and Lamborghini didn’t want to comment on the matter.
The Alice layout has become quite popular due to its ergonomic shape. Akko launched the white acrylic version last year and recently followed up with a spray painted white version. Still there were people wanting a black version. Akko has Finally answered the call with the Alice Plus Black! Fortunately for me I got the chance to test one out myself, so allow me to share my thoughts on this keyboard with you. Its full name is: the Akko Acr Pro Alice Plus Black, but I’ll just refer to it as the Akko Plus Black in this review for the sake of simplicity.
The Alice style layout explained
The Alice layout is one that aims to give users less muscle strain by forcing the wrists outwards like normal keyboards do. It is made with a space between the left and right sides both bending a bit inwards. Both sides have a smaller space-bar instead of just one big version. There are some different variations depending on which manufacturer makes these kinds of boards. Sometimes there are no dedicated arrow keys for example. Akko has chosen to include these, which in my opinion make for a more versatile keyboard. Basically this is a 65% keyboard with a more ergonomic shape.
Unboxing the Akko Alice Plus Black
Specifications
Structure: Gasket Mount Number of Keys: 68 Case Material: Acrylic+CNC Keycaps: ASA PBT Keycap Set Pink on Black Switch: Akko CS Crystal Switch Plate: Polycarbonate plate Gasket: Silicone Socks with Regular Silicone Gaskets PCB Thickness: 1.2mm Plate Foam: Poron Switch Pad: Silicone Case Foam: EVA (not pre-installed, for users who prefer more muted sound profile) Stabilizers: Akko Plate Mount Lubed Stabilizer (supports screw-in stabilizer as well) Hot-Swappable: Yes
The size of the Akko Alice Pro Black comes closer to that of a TKL model
Included accessories
The Akko Alice Black comes as a comprehensive package. Included in the box are:
USB C to A cable, Coiled
Additional keycaps from the pink on black keycap set
Keycap puller
Switch puller
Extra daughterboard
Spare silicon gaskets
Adjustable Acrylic keyboard feet
Hex Screwdriver
The Akko Alice Plus Black Comes with a lot of accessoires
First impressions of the Alice Plus Black
The first thing that surprised me when taking out the keyboard itself was its weight. It feels a lot more solid and hefty then pictures would suggest. It made a good solid impression lifting it up and holding it in my hands. The gasket mount seems to work pretty well here too.
The finish is nice with a solid spray painted black up front and a transparent black backside which extends to the sides of the keyboard. There are 12 gold plated screws on the back which can be removed with the included hex-screwdriver. On the back is a picture with Akko’s mascot and the model name is engraved at the bottom. At first I was surprised to see a B keycap on both the left and right side of the board, but after doing some research this appears to be common with Alice style keyboards.
The mascot on the back is a nice touchNotice the double B capsThe Akko Alice Plus Black can look good at the office as well
Akko CS Crystal Switches
The keyboard comes with Akko’s CS Crystal switches. The Crystal switches are one of the newer switches in Akko’s portfolio. They came as the name suggests in an all clear housing made of poly-carbonate. The CS Crystal switch is a relatively light linear switch. The clear housing helps to distribute RGB lights full and bright. A lot of switch housings have a bit of color on them which impacts the RGB, not with the crystal switches though.
The CS Crystal switches are a light switch with an actuation force of 43gf and just 1.6mm of pre-travel. They feel very comfortable to type on, are smooth as butter and are on the clacky side sound-wise. I didn’t feel the need to lube these switches and experienced zero spring-ping or crunchy sounds. I liked these a lot more than the CS Silver switches and could see myself using these on a daily basis.
The Akko CS Crystal switches
Keycaps supplied with the Alice Plus Black
The keyboard comes with double shot pbt keycaps in the ASA profile. The theme of the included keycaps is pink on black. The keyboard doesn’t just ship with the keycaps placed on it though. A full set is included so you can re-use these keycaps on almost any board you like, even ISO builds! In my case this seems like a real possibility, as both my wife and daughter immediately fell in love with the included pink novelties all pink caps like that came with it.
No more tape-mod on the stabs needed?
A cool new feature Akko included with the board are their updated stabilizers. The come with pom housings and stems which should eliminate the need for doing band-aid mods to reduce rattling. I can confirm that I didn’t experience any rattling myself. Great job Akko!
The stabilizers come with POM housing and POM+TPU stems to reduce ping and rattling.
Using the Alice Plus Black
I have used the Alice plus black for about a week before writing this review. I can honestly say I am positively surprised about this board. At first I had to get used to the shape of the keyboard. Having used a 96% board for a while now I can really get the appeal people have towards this shape and layout. The keyboard sits a bit higher than my 3098B (review here) does, so I might look for a wrist rest later on. I could use the included keyboard feet but personally I don’t like the idea of having to put these on with adhesive stickers. Meanwhile the rubber domes on the back of the board do a good job of making sure it doesn’t move away. The board also comes with extra smaller gaskets if you want more bounce.
The back of the Akko Alice Plus Black has rubber feet that makes it stay securely in place
Typing experience with the Alice Plus Black
Typing on the Alice Plus Black is a delightful experience. At first I had to retrain my muscle memory a little bit of course, but this took about a day for me. The CS Crystal switches feel VERY smooth and really combine well with the ergonomic shape of the keyboard. I can see myself using these switches more in the future! The gaskets make for a pleasant cushioned feeling and help make it more quiet as well. You can adjust the feeling, as the board also comes with extra smaller gaskets for if you want more bounce.
I later Included the optional case foam to reduce sounds even more and this really made for a totally smooth and silent board. It is nice to see the EVA foam has cut-outs in all the right places so it fits perfectly. Using this board has convinced me I can actually live with smaller sized models. Something I was always a bit hesitant to do. Typing on this board feels smooth like butter and really helps with feeling less pressure on my wrists.
RGB
As is common nowadays this board comes with optional RGB lightning as well. Thanks to the Crystal switches RGB is full and bright. The keycaps that come with the board do not shine through, but the illumination surrounding them is still pretty good thanks to the CS Crystals. The board comes with a wide variety of RGB and solid color options. From breathing to tracing your keystrokes but also screen mirroring and music mode. Screen mirroring sets the color of the board to the primary one being displayed on your monitor.
Not only is it possible to choose from a variety of colors and patterns to illuminate the switches here though. There is also a second pair of LEDS that can individually be controlled to light up the back and bottom row of the board.
These settings can all be done on the board itself, but it is even easier doing this with Akko’s software suite.
The CS Crystal switches keep colors natural and vivid
Akko Cloud software
The Akko cloud software helps you set up your keyboard the way you want it. Whether it is setting up macros or rebinding your keys. If for example you rather have Home and End instead of Del and Ins you can adjust this here. This is where all those extra keycaps come in handy! You can also make layers on your keys in the Akko Cloud software. There are people hoping Akko will make their boards compatible with VIA/QMK in the future, the Akko Cloud software isn’t the worst alternative though. It is easy to navigate and use. You can find the software at Akko’s website.
Conclusion
The Akko Alice is a keyboard that really surprised me. I was intrigued by the shape when I first saw these kinds of boards, but always thought it wouldn’t be my cup of tea. Well I teach my kids to try before you say no to food, the same goes for me with keyboards I guess! I absolutely love the typing experience the Alice keyboard gives me. The shape feels a bit alien at first but I adapted quickly and really found it to be comfortable.
Not only does the shape of the board contribute to the typing comfort though. The gasket design adds to this as well. But the biggest surprise to me was the fact I really like the Crystal switches that come with the board. These are very smooth and light, but not too light. They feel so incredibly good straight out of the gate that I didn’t feel the need to lube these. The same goes for the upgrades stabilizers that come with the board. These do not need a band-aid mod at all!
Is everything great? No, personally I wished there were some retractable feet on the board itself or made these a screw-in option or something. I don’t like to add things to my keyboard with adhesive stickers. I might look at a wrist rest in the future. Another thing I would personally love is a wireless option, but this is more a desire from a clean-desk standpoint. Minor things that don’t make this keyboard any less desirable. If you are looking for an ergonomically shaped keyboard which comes in a very complete package at a very competitive price, look no further!
The Alice Plus Black with discount
Want to get the Alice Plus Black with a nice 10% off? Use HELLOAKKO as your coupon code at akkogear.eu. You can use this for your first order. Why not get some nice keycaps while you are at it? The black and cyan looks great on this board!
Disclaimer
This product was sent to me by Akkogear.de for review. I did not get paid to write this review and my opinions are my own. This review is also posted in dutch at Tweakers.met you can check it out here
Some links here are affiliate links, when using these links to order a product you support my website by getting more products in for reviewing.
Not having used an air cooler for a few years now, I always remained curious about the performance of the Noctua air coolers. I used to have the famous Cooler master Evo 212 which did pretty good on my 4790K. After recently taking a look at their Chromax fans, I got a chance to review a Noctua cooler. Not just any cooler, but the NH-D15 Chromax Black Swap. This is the beefiest cooler Noctua has in its line-up at the moment. Not only did they send me this big boy, they also included their NT-H2 thermal paste and two boxes of Heatsink covers, which helps you match the cooler in style with the rest of your build.
The NH-D15 Chromax, NT-h2 Cooling paste and the heatsink covers
Measurements & Clearance of Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black Swap
Unboxing the Noctua NH-D15 Chromax Black
Opening up the large black box reveals a nicely organised set of separate packages. There is of course a large box which houses the cooler itself. One of the two included fans comes pre-mounted whereas another is packaged separately. Lastly there is a box containing all of the included accessories. Noctua delivers a very complete package here for both Intel and AMD systems. Not only do you get all the relevant parts to mount the cooler to modern AMD and Intel sockets, you als get extra’s like a case badge, low noise adapters, and a syringe of the high quality NT-H1 thermal paste.
Click on the Images to view them in full-size
Taking a closer look
The NH-D15 Chromax makes a solid impression. Everything feels sturdy, no flimsy feeling fins and everything is made in a solid black color. They didn’t forget the heatpipes either which I can appreciate. It’s this attention to detail that makes Noctua set itself apart from other brands. The one thing not being painted black is the nickel plated copper baseplate. The baseplate looks very smooth and almost like a matte mirror. Nice!
I see a cooler and I want to paint it black…
Its one big piece of black solid beauty, except for the smooth baseplate that is!
Installing the Noctua NH-D15 Chromax on a X570 board
The right tools
Noctua included all the tools I needed for my AMD system. If you happen to buy a new cpu in the future Noctua will almost certainly be able to provide you with any needed mounting system. Just contact them and they will be happy to send out the right bracket for you. This is a great service and gives the consumer the reasurrence they make a good investment with this cooler.
Cooling Paste
Noctua included a syringe of their well knows NT-H1 thermal paste. I did however used the newer NT-H2 paste which Noctua included in the package they send to me. This is an improved version which should keep temperatures even better in check while using it on high end processors. I wiped off almost all of the thermal paste on my cpu. Using the NA-SCW1 alcohol wipes Noctua provides with their thermal paste I was able to get every last bit of residue off my cpu. The Cooling paste itself was easy to apply.
Difficulty of installation
Installing the cooler was quite easy. The hardest part was keeping the backplate from the AMD motherboard in place. In the past I had horrible experiences with installing air coolers. I couldn’t reach the screws, the fan mounting system was terrible or I cut myself on sharp fins. Installing this cooler went pretty fast. It only needed two screws to mount down on the baseplate. There was a large screwdriver included in the package which came in handy here. The fans could be easily clipped in place and I used the included Y-splitter to mount the two fans to my CPU-header.
Installing the NF-A14 Chromax wasn’t that hard
Heatsink Cover
The heatsink cover was pretty easy to add to the cooler. You just choose the colored strip you want put and put at the back of the unit that clips on the cooler. Then it’s just a matter of putting the metal cover on top. Everything sits secure and well thanks to the build in magnets.
The heat sink covers take the build to a whole new visual level
Performance
In all honesty I didn’t think an air cooler could come anything near my Arctic Liquid Freezer II , which is considered as one of the best AIO’s at the moment. Well I was very pleasantly surprised. I didn’t get the same temperatures, But I got much closer than I expected. I set all the fans in my system at which gave me very good results without being too noisy. With these settings I wasn’t bothered by the sound of my system standing under my desk.
Temperatures and results
When running Cinebench R23 the maximum temperature of my CPU got to 72°C. When doing a Timespy run the results weren’t too far off from my run with the 280mm mounted on top. After removing one of the top exhaust fans, I got even better results. The difference was only 4°C compared to the AIO. Do note that an AIO comes with the potential risk of leakage!
Open in a new tab to enlarge
Final Looks
Well looks are personal and beauty isn’t everything they say. But Personally I think this is one of the most aesthetically pleasing builds I have made so far! But don’t take my word for it, take a look for yourself at the picture below. I have added the Noctua NF-A14 Chromax Black Swap fans from my other review to make the build complete.
I did eventually remove one of the top fans and moved it to the back to get even better results
Conclusion of the Noctua NH-D15 Chromax
The Noctua Chromax NH-D15 is a true beast. Not only does it look like one, it also cools like one. Keeping the temperature of my 5900x in tests like Timespy just 4°C lower than one of the best selling 280mm AIO coolers is very respectable. The cooler, despite being big is quite easy to assemble thanks to the well made manual and choices made in the design.
The cooler comes with well packed and with everything you need to install it on your favorite processor. The included NT-H1 cooling paste is one of the best on the market. If you want even better results you can buy the new NT-H2 paste.
The price is higher then some of its competitors but buying this cooler is an investment which will be sure to cool not only your current CPU but also the ones in your future builds. This is thanks to Noctua’s commitment to its customers, providing mounting plates for future sockets when needed.
I can highly recommend this cooler and to anyone looking for a high quality, maintenance free cooling solution.
