After using dozens of mechanical keyboards over the last three years, I've realized that the case itself is actually a huge determinant of how a keyboard sounds and feels. Despite multiple factors being at play, such as the switch type, keycaps, plate type, mounting style, and internal foam, the case of a keyboard contributes heavily to the typing experience, beyond the looks, of course.

The vast majority of mechanical keyboards on the market are made of plastic (ABS) and metal, with wooden keyboards ranking a distant third. After trying various models with ABS plastic and aluminum cases, and even a Hall effect keyboard with magnetic switches, I finally got my hands on a wooden keyboard, and naturally compared it with everything else I had tested. This is a brief retelling of that experience.

Wood is undoubtedly a polarizing choice

You either love it or hate it

One of the only reasons I wanted to try a wooden keyboard was how great it looked. Specifically, the Akko MU01 is one of the best examples of the unique design language you can create when working with wood. Of course, a lot of it has to do with the Chinese calligraphy and artwork theme chosen for this model, but the walnut wood case was the whole reason behind picking that theme.

I especially loved the way the keyboard felt to the touch — the smooth and polished texture has an understated yet assured charm to it. Fans of natural materials, users who like to keep plants and wooden accessories on their desk, and those after a keyboard that truly stands out, might gravitate toward a quality keyboard with a well-rounded wooden finish. Even the feedback on your fingers when typing on a wooden keyboard is unique — a tad unforgiving, but surely satisfying.

Not everyone, however, will fall in love with wooden keyboards. You might prefer the industrial finish of an aluminum keyboard that feels cool to the touch, or the lightness and portability of a plastic case. Personally, I can no longer "love" plastic keyboards, with my CNC aluminum keyboards leaving them in the dust when it comes to a premium feel. The walnut wood of the MU01 feels equally premium too, but it felt slightly hollow compared to, say, the aluminum-based Epomaker MS68.

Another concern is the difficulty of working with wood — it's not as versatile as plastic and metal, and might result in an inconsistent finish or a delicate, fragile case on some keyboards. The Akko MU01, however, is a great budget mechanical keyboard, being one of the best-looking, well-built, and sophisticated keyboards using walnut wood.

Walnut wood is easy to work with, looks and feels premium, and stays hard and scratch-resistant, making it ideal for not just keyboards but also furniture and musical instruments. This is why you'll also find it on keyboards such as the XVX M68 and M61, and the Yunzii Skyloong GK61 and GK68.

How does it sound?

The wood and the bad

This is what you buy a keyboard for, isn't it? Well, it has to look nice and vibe with your aesthetic, but if it doesn't sound pleasant to your ears every day, you're not going to use it. The Akko MU01, fortunately, doesn't disappoint in this area, emitting a deep, thocky sound with each keystroke. Getting such a great-sounding keyboard without any mods is fantastic, and I'm now willing to try out other keyboards with walnut wood cases.

I'll admit that sometimes, a wooden keyboard can feel scratchy from time to time (say, 1 out of 10 keystrokes), which is likely down to how well the stabilizers and switches have been tuned. However, in my experience with the wooden MU01 and the aluminum MS68, the latter felt more consistent to type on, providing a slightly softer and more marbly sound.

All the plastic case keyboards that I've tried, such as the Aula F87, Ajazz AK820 Max, and the Royal Kludge RK84, now sound thinner and arguably cheaper than this wooden keyboard, and obviously the aluminum keyboard. The only Hall effect keyboard I've typed on, the Chilkey ND65 CS HE, features an aluminum case and aluminum plate, and I much prefer its high-quality sound and feel over that of the wooden MU01.

Another thing I noticed on the MU01 was it had considerably less flex when compared to the metal and plastic keyboards I've tried. This hasn't affected my typing experience, per se, as the MU01 is still a gasket-mounted board with 3 layers of sound-dampening foam inside. But this might be relevant to you if you like a lot of flex on your keyboard.

Should you care about wooden keyboards?

It's a question of esthetics vs. sound

After my experience with various plastic keyboards, aluminum keyboards, and one wooden keyboard, I've realized that if I have to choose one keyboard forever, it will be an aluminum keyboard, hands down. Don't get me wrong, wooden keyboards can (and do) sound good, feel satisfying to type on, and look absolutely stunning. They're certainly far ahead of keyboards with ABS plastic cases as far as the typing experience goes.

However, when I can get budget aluminum keyboards that sound premium, and cost less than wooden models, there's little reason to go for the latter. Of course, if you've fallen in love with the looks of a particular wooden keyboard — maybe the Akko MU01 or XVX M68 — and can't do without it, the typing experience will not disappoint you. Most wooden keyboards have gasket mounts, pre-installed foam, and pre-lubed switches & stabilizers, so you know you'll get a decent package.

Keyboards, after all, are highly subjective, and my observations might vary wildly from yours. The best you can do is consume as much information as you want before you make a purchase, make the best decision possible with the available information, and then hope for the best.

A wooden keyboard can be a great addition to your collection

If you're moving to a mechanical keyboard for the first time, you might want to focus on the more fundamental aspects first instead of the case. Of course, the case matters, but you'll probably be able to notice the difference it makes after you've tried out a few different keyboards for yourself. Wooden keyboards generally cost more than plastic and even many aluminum keyboards, so they might not be a good option if you're looking for a cheaper entry into the world of mechanical keyboards.

On the other hand, if you're thinking of adding another great keyboard to your already sizable collection, a wooden keyboard should be high on your list. It will bring a fresh look and feel to your setup, and will give you something new to play around with.