Akko MU02 Mountain Seclusion Mechanical Keyboard – Wooden Magic Now Bigger And Better
Akko MU02 is a $139 USD Mechanical Keyboard, the larger, 75% version that’s based on the AKKO MU01 we have recently reviewed, and it comes with a Walnut Wooden Case, Gastek Structure, and it has the same beautiful and soothing Mountain theme with Moa profile PBT Due-sub Keycaps as the MU01, but now with an added Function row, and better coverage for gamers, programmers and anyone who’s into both productivity and leisure time work on their Personal Computer.
Introduction
I really liked the original MU01, but I found that it was too small for my usage, so today I decided to also get the MU02 Mountain Seclusion Keyboard, which is larger, but still based on that beautiful Walnut case I liked so much when reviewing the MU01. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to Akko for providing us with the sample for this review.
PROs – Ergonomic MOA profile, beautiful sound and dampening to the keyboard, Rosewood switches that have a deep thocc, or you can purchase it with Akko V3 Piano PRO Switches, better productivity features and you have to learn less key combination than with the MU01, and it has a long battery life, and beautiful RGB lighting.
Cons – Slightly louder than MU01, with a different sound profile, not a direct upgrade, more of a different product with the same idea.
Product Link
Official Link – https://en.akkogear.com/product/mu02-mountain-seclusion-mechanical-keyboard/
Amazon – https://amzn.to/40z2zP9
Build Quality/Aesthetic
You may remember the Akko MU01 which was my favorite keyboard for the design and sound, but which failed to become a daily for me, as I could not get used to the small form factor. To freshen things up, today I grabbed the Akko MU02, which is a 75% design, less than 100%, but much more than MU01.
We once again have the same beautiful MOA profile keycaps, with a height of 9.8mm, and an even profile, they are made through the dye-sub process, and have durable PBT Materials, with legends that will not fade easily. Just like MU01, you can connect the MU 02 to multiple devices, including tablets, smartphones, Windows PC Computers, and MAC devices too. The connections include a bluetooth 5.0 connection, a 2.4 GHz connection using the included USB Receiver, and also the Type-C connection which means using the MU02 wired.
Coming with a large 4000mAh battery, you can expect to get more than a week of actual battery life if you keep the RGB turned on, and more than 2-3 weeks if you turn off the RGB light effects. This is aided by the fact that when using the 2.4 GHz receiver, MU-02 goes to sleep and saves battery. You can order MU02 with one of two switch options, including Akko Rosewood and Akko Piano Pro V3. While both switch options are linears, the Piano Pro switches have a higher operating force, a lower total travel, and sound louder, with a more mid centric profile, while rosewood imitates a wooden sound, which is more authentic with the identity of the keyboard.
To bring more sparkle into your life, MU02 comes with a high-quality RGB light effect, and a Walnut Wooden Case, having Hotswap Socket for each switch. You can basically replace every keycap, every switch, and you can even open up the keyboard to replace the battery if need be for it. There is support for Akko Maco V1.0, and you can program the entire keyboard from a web browser with no need to install any additional software. Weighing 1.15 KGs, the keyboard itself is much lighter than my Daily Keychron Q6 Max, but thanks to a wide rubber band at the back, it is stable on my desk and doesn’t slide around.
The included cable is of a good quality, and we have everything needed to run the MU02, although the manuals have a large number of useful key combinations you will need when using the MU02. For example, switching the RGB lights, switching between PC modes, and basically any other customisation is done using a combination of the FN Key with another key. The number of RGB effects is high, and the colour can be strong and beautiful, while the keyboard itself has zero bugs, works flawlessly.
Subjective Usage / Sound Quality
The most important question is whether the new MU02 has better productivity features compared to MU01, and that’s an absolute yes, as mentally it is much easier to use the F Row keys when programming, and when debugging websites, plus the delete key and the home key are more comfortably placed on the right end of the keyboard. As there are no extra keys on the left side, I can quickly pinch the keyboard edge with my pinky, which adds to my comfort and speed. I like having just the 100% profile usually, with no extra keys on the sides.
Although the idea of purchasing the MU02 to get more keys does not get you a 100% keyboard, it does get you a more practical keyboard, even for games. The one thing that it does not do is have the right angle, as it is too flat on the back, and I still have to apply my trick of adding rubber erasers at the back and glue them to the keyboard with double sided tape to bring it to a more natural angling for my hands.
The key feel is the same as it was with MU01, smooth, with almost a tactile feel to each key press. It feels a bit like playing on and using wooden keys, which is extra nice, although the sound profile of the MU02 is quite a bit louder, more metallic and more serious. While MU01 sounded loud, it was a dampened bump, that sounded full and thockky, really deep and bassy. The sound profile of the MU02 is mid-centric, it has a bit of damping, but each key press resonates louder throughout the keyboard case, it is much closer to what you get from a traditional keyboard in terms of sound and feel.
Having a larger size for your keyboard is undeniably a plus and MU02 feels more tank-ish than MU01, but it loses the unique appeal that MU01 had, replacing it with a more traditional keyboard. I can see myself using the MU02 more in general, it is more practical, but for a really unique wooden experience, I would still check out the MU01 and see if you can get used to the smaller profile. Having the volume wheel on the corner is really nice too, as it allows me to quickly control and mute my music, and having the arrow keys separate and normal-sized helps a lot with gaming, as much as it does having an F function row.
Value and Conclusion
With a pocket-friendly price of 139 USD, the larger MU02 keyboard is more of a choice compared to MU01, and it won’t be a budget constraint to get either, but I would really insist that you should get the one that seems to fit your usage better. There are many alternatives on the market, but none quite as beautiful, with the same wooden casing and none has the same reliability as Akko makes some really high-quality kebs for the price range they’re playing at.
At the end of the day, Akko MU02 is a brilliant keyboard with a beautiful design, it is easy to program in macros, and it has a reliable and proven design, plus still the wooden magic of the MU01, but now in a keb better designed for productivity and work, larger and more comfortable to learn, especially if you’re coming from a 100% one.
Product Link
Official Link – https://en.akkogear.com/product/mu02-mountain-seclusion-mechanical-keyboard/
Amazon – https://amzn.to/40z2zP9
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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