Reviewing keyboards can be tricky. Unlike the best graphics cards or gaming CPUs, there's a lot of subjectivity at play when judging a mechanical keyboard. This was starkly apparent during my time with the Akko MU01, a rather new wooden wireless mechanical keyboard from Akko. Designed around the theme of Chinese landscapes and calligraphy, the visuals of the MU01 Mountain Seclusion are lovely, but may not appeal to everyone.

What would appeal to everyone, however, is the excellent typing sound and feel, thanks to solid construction and high-quality materials. Akko offers two other variants of the MU01 with different designs but similar construction. The one I am reviewing here is my first-ever wooden mechanical keyboard, which I can confidently recommend to most people looking for a well-built, gorgeous, and satisfying pre-built mechanical keyboard.

About this review: Akko sent me the MU01 Mountain Seclusion for the purpose of this review, but had no input in its contents.

Pricing and availability

The Akko MU01 is available on Amazon as well as Akko's website. You might have to wait for some of the variants to come into stock on Amazon, but Akko's website generally has better availability. Depending on the variant and where you buy it, the MU01 will cost you $120-$130.

What I loved

Unique design and superb typing experience

Of course, the highlights here are the wooden build and the singular design of the MU01 Mountain Seclusion. I specifically requested this variant, as I was instantly floored by the picturesque artwork on the keycaps, reminding me of serene Chinese landscapes. The natural vibe of the keyboard goes perfectly with the solid walnut wood case, which is smooth to the touch and, thankfully, doesn't add too much weight to the board.

Every design choice here speaks to the attention to detail — the Chinese sublegends, the artwork blending with the calligraphy on the spacebar and Enter keys, the various shades of brown used for the keycaps, and the gold strip at the top. The commitment to the theme is remarkable, but it could be polarizing, especially if you prefer a more minimalist style.

Akko had to nail the typing experience to complement the gorgeous design. And, for the most part, they managed to do it. Firstly, the dye-sub PBT keycaps feature the MOA profile, which I personally adore due to their cute shape and generous surface area. Secondly, the walnut wood gives the keyboard an overall hefty sound. Lastly, the gasket mount and 3-layer foam dampening muffle the keystrokes to result in the signature thocky sound that's extremely soothing to the ears.

Pressing the Rosewood switches required slightly higher force compared to some other linear switches. This might be preferable for some users as it might limit accidental keystrokes. Akko also sent over their Dracula and Botany switches (not available currently with the Mountain Seclusion) — Botany felt eerily similar to Rosewood, with only a slightly sharper sound, and the Dracula switches were considerably lighter to operate.

I mostly used the keyboard in the 2.4GHz mode, and the 4,000mAh battery showed no signs of running out anytime soon. The 65% layout might take some getting used to if you're transitioning from a TKL or 75% keyboard, but the onboard key combos are certainly helpful. The keyboard also comes with pre-lubed switches and stabilizers, which I appreciate since they aren't as common as I'd like to see in the market. The packaging felt much more premium than some other keyboards I've tested. Also, I highly appreciate the inclusion of a transparent keyboard cover.

What I didn't like as much

RGB lighting and software are lacking

The MU01 isn't perfect in every department. One of the biggest problems with this keyboard is using it in low light or a completely dark room. The keycaps aren't shine-through, hence the lighting can't do much to illuminate the legends. Even in daylight, I failed to make out the Caps Lock LED, unless I looked at it straight down. The reason is the profile and design of the keycaps, but it's still a minor issue.

For some users, the bigger problem could be the lack of VIA support and the limitations of the Akko software. The Akko Cloud Driver allows you to remap keys, add macros, use multiple layers, and customize RGB lighting, but it isn't as intuitive as some other programs I've used in the past. However, a cool feature is the ability to download lighting and macro profiles from the community.

Another questionable decision is keeping the power switch under the Caps Lock key. It would be less of an issue if you didn't switch regularly between the wired and wireless modes, but even then, switching between Windows and Mac modes also requires you to use the same toggle. Lastly, the typing angle is decent at 8 degrees, but some users might miss the adjustable feet seen on other keyboards.

Should you buy the Akko MU01?

The Akko MU01, despite being the first wooden keyboard I've used, has me sold on the concept. It sounds great, looks amazing, and is relatively portable. Despite some limitations, it's one of the best keyboards I've ever used.

You should buy the Akko MU01 if:

• You like a deep-sounding keyboard with satisfying feedback
• You love the Chinese artwork theme
• You're comfortable with the 65% layout

You should avoid the Akko MU01 if:

• You want VIA support
• You need a larger keyboard
• You need see-through keycaps