By: Jadon Lee
February 28, 2025
For those of you who do not know me, I have actually been moving for the past month or so. Moving has brought upon many pleasant changes in my life, such as the freedom to really do whatever I want. The simplicity of living with just my brother is quite nice, as I have much more control over what I can and cannot do. One of the biggest things for me was the ability to fill and use my fridge and pantry however I wanted. Before, I always felt a little guilty of taking up storage space or using random ingredients, as I never really knew why they were purchased in the first place. Now, I can simply just grab whatever I need when I need it, as the chances are I probably went out to buy them myself. I find myself generally just worrying less about things now that I have my own personal space and can make things that way I want them to be. Being able to decide the layout of my own home has been great, as I can better personalize it to my own comfort. You know what other layouts are also important for comfort? Your keyboard layout. Today, we have the MechLands Vibe99, which is an 1800 layout keyboard that can be used wirelessly. The 1800 layout is a rare layout nowadays, but is grossly underrated, as it achieves the full potential of a regular keyboard while cutting down its size. Will the MechLands Vibe99 satisfy my needs for functionality? Keep reading to find out!
Our review unit of the MechLands Vibe99 came alongside the AULA F99 PRO and Vibe75 in a tightly wrapped plastic that covered many layers of bubble wrap underneath. The box was shipped to us here in Calgary, Alberta from the People’s Republic of China via a local carrier that transferred the package to Canada Post. The shipping process was decent, having a few scuffs and marks on the retail box. I was not worried about the condition of the product itself, as there was no noticeable damage.
The MechLands Vibe99’s box design is quite quirky with a white, blue, and green exterior that imitates a graffiti art style. The front displays the Vibe99 in the right side of the box, having MechLands branding right above it and keyboard branding to the left. The back mentions some notable features. This is a straightforward design that offers very minimal information. Personally, I do not mind this, as I appreciate the lack of clutter.
Before we continue, here are the specifications for the MechLands Vibe99, as specified by the manufacturer’s website:
Model: MechLands Vibe99
Layout: 1800
Number of Keys: 100
Case Material: ABS Plastic
Plate Material: Flex-Cut PC
Stabilizers: Pre-lubed Plate Mount
Mounting Structure: Gasket Mount
Connectivity: Wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Battery: 4000mAH
RGB: South-facing RGB
Hotswappable: Yes
Anti-Ghosting: NKRO
Polling Rate: 1000Hz (Wired/2.4GHz), 125Hz (Bluetooth)
Keycaps Profile: Cherry
Keycaps Material: Double-shot PBT
Dimensions: 418 x 150 x 42mm
Weight: 1.14kg
Front Height: 20.5mm
Inside the Box: Keyboard, Manual, Keycap/Switch Puller, 2.4G Dongle, Type-C Cable
Out of the box, you will receive the MechLands Vibe99 keyboard with a cable, keycap/switch puller, 2.4GHz dongle, and a user manual. The keyboard is wrapped in foam to prevent any surface scratches. I was quite pleased when it came to packaging. The quality of the packaging is better than most manufacturers, as the foam usage surrounds the majority of the keyboard.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. A Closer Look - Disassembly and Internals
4. Conclusion
