high-quality keyboard for work and more

What kind of device is this?

Mode Sonnet, as you can see in the photo, is not split, it looks almost standard. But she has many advantages. The fact is that the build quality, judging by the opinions of device owners, is very high. And the ease of operation also deserves attention – all thanks to the successful design and the ability to install your own switches and keycaps.

However, it is worth saying that the cost of the device is high. Now the starting price for the basic configuration is $299, and the maximum is something around $900. On average, the cost of a Mod Sonnet model does not exceed $450, which, of course, still cannot be called a low price.

The keyboard, like many other models from different manufacturers, can be configured in the configurator, including both the placement of keys and nesting levels – there are 4 in total. Compatible software – QMK/VIA. The device is connected to the PC using a USB cable.

Dimensions – 143 × 315 × 19 mm, this is a 75% keyboard. It is made of aluminum, stainless steel, copper and plastic. There are arrow keys, function buttons, and all the other keys we’re used to seeing on full-size keyboards. The only thing missing is a number pad, so if you need it every day, you’re probably better off choosing a different model.

More about design

The case consists of three modules, each of them can be customized. So, the top panel is made of aluminum, and there are 9 different colors available: black, lavender, green, silver, gray, white, dark blue, cream and ice blue. The stripe that runs along the top edge is available in 11 colors, with different materials ranging from brass to walnut. The lower part is available in 8 colors and five different materials – from aluminum to plastic.

The configurator on the manufacturer’s website allows you to see what the keyboard will look like – you can combine colors and materials.

It is important that the manufacturer offers to choose not only external components, but also internal ones, including the mounting plate, the presence of a sound absorber, its configuration, etc. The user has the ability to even change the weight of the keyboard.

If the buyer has everything he needs – keycaps, switches, etc., he can only order the base. If all this is missing, then the best option is to assemble it from scratch, and the appearance of the keycaps can also be changed using the configurator.

When customizing a keyboard, you should understand that the price will also change. So, the base cost is $299, but if you choose any color except black, the cost will increase by $10 to $50. Additional weight is $50, foam kit for acoustic tuning is another $12, etc. The most expensive configuration, with switches, keycaps, etc., will cost $850.

The manufacturer and experienced users recommend purchasing a base for keyboards of this type. And then, once you’ve gotten used to it and, if necessary, pay extra for additional features and “luxury elements.”

What about work and rest, that is, play?

First, let’s see how this keyboard is assembled, a video made for fans of custom devices:

As already mentioned, the materials and workmanship are of high quality, so there are no problems with all this. There are no backlashes, creaks, etc., which accompany poor-quality construction. It is convenient to work if the user does not require a numeric keypad.

Thanks to noise absorbers, case materials, different switches and keycaps, you can choose your own configuration – quiet, medium or loud, which will definitely let others know that a person is working.

The advantage of the current model is that even without a noise absorber there are no microvibrations or third-party sounds. Yes, it will be louder, but there are no particular problems with that.

The Sonnet is not a gaming keyboard, but it does the job well. Not least thanks to the ability to reassign keys. Macros are also attached to them, which are often used by gamers. You can also save separate profiles for different games.

Software

As for software for setting key values, it is better to use VIA. This is optimal software with the ability to hot-change anything and everything, without the need to flash the microcontroller every time. By the way, VIA works with a huge number of models of custom keyboards – both the simplest and complex devices.

As mentioned above, the keyboard supports working with 4 levels of nesting, so in addition to the usual reassignment of buttons, it is possible to use separate levels for different tasks. You can change profiles on the fly.

Bottom line

Mode Sonnet is a great custom mechanical keyboard. Of course, it is expensive, but some other models are even more expensive if we talk about direct competitors. The advantage of the device is that on the website you can configure the appearance of the keyboard, choosing the option that you like best.

As an alternative, we can recommend the Keychron Lemokey L3, which we wrote about quite recently. Its price is lower than that of Mode Sonnet. The cost of the device without switches is $189, and fully assembled with switches and keycaps is $209.

But if you want something that both works great and looks great, then you should consider buying a Mode Sonnet. By the way, the keyboard went on sale more than a year ago, so it can already be called time-tested and time-tested by users.