Continuing the experience with a 65% layout keyboard, testing the Silver Eagle Y65S with WGA switches, is the mid-range switch feel worth it?

Preface

Keyboard is definitely something young people can't resist touching 🤦‍♀️

I've played with so many 75% keyboards ⌨️

Recently, I've become obsessed with 65% layouts （Is it just as the "keyboard guru 😎" says, that customization eventually leads you to a 45% layout?）

Last time we talked about the RK R65

It’s good, but the driver is terrible, and the official business practices are a bit ugly 💩. A year has passed, and they’re still clearing inventory with the old model that doesn’t support QMK/VIA protocols, even though it has been on sale abroad for a long time.

But despite the criticism, if the new model goes on sale domestically, I’ll still buy it through tears 😭

OK, this time I’ve set my eyes on another 65% layout keyboard, the Silver Y65S. Let’s take a look at how it is~

Packaging

Standard packaging

Back view

Unboxing

That's it

Accessories

Classic Three-Piece Set

The Keyboard Itself

So flashy! I love this color scheme.

Remove the Dust Cover

Back of the Keyboard

Small screen + knob

This combination was very popular last year~

However, by 2025, many people may have already cooled down on flashy but impractical small screens~

Turn on the Light

The keycaps on this keyboard are semi-transparent.

They are similar to the Hatsune Miku keycaps I bought last time.

The effect looks pretty good after turning on the light.

Here's a shot from the front.

(This one doesn't look as good, probably due to lighting issues.)

Small Screen

The experience on this small screen seems decent.

After booting up, it displays "Connecting..."

Display

This design is okay, I guess.

There are two modes: one is the time mode, and the other is animation.

When adjusting the volume, the small screen displays a volume bar, but it's not synchronized with the system's, and the upper and lower limits are also longer than the system's. This feels like a bug.

Interfaces & Switches

I forgot to take a photo.

Let me grab an image from the product page.

Driver

This manufacturer doesn't even have an official website.

I searched for a long time but couldn't find the driver.

Until I contacted customer support.

After installation, this is what it looks like when opened.

Such a familiar interface.

These drivers are mostly similar.

This driver looks very similar to the one for my previous retro keyboard, the Thunderobot ZERO75.

The dual-layer Fn (功能键) is pretty much standard on modern keyboards.

Furthermore, Fn2 + arrow keys can also be customized. Here, I have to call out the RK R65 for this.

Key Switches

The keyboard this time uses the WGA Leaf Switch (Naruto??)

The actuation force and bottom-out force are both listed as 58 ± 5gf. I suspect this might be a typo, but I found this exact switch sold individually on Taobao with the same data, which is quite peculiar~

Feel is subjective, but the feel of this keyboard is, among the keyboards I've used, at a below-average level... 😑

It feels like the keypress isn't crisp enough, somewhat scratchy, and the sound is rather muffled. It's hard to say whether this is due to the switch itself or the overall keyboard design, as a keyboard is a complete unit, and its feel is influenced by many factors.

Here, I need to bring out my switch comparison table again.

Arranged in reverse order of acquisition time, my current favorites are still the RK R65 and the Grey Wood V3 (灰木轴V3).

Next would be the Crystal Ice Switch from JZ750 (JZ750冰晶轴), which are the ones I've been using continuously.

Summary

The keyboard has a nice appearance, though it is heavier than the RK R65.

The texture and tactile feel are also slightly inferior, but the driver software is better.

However, the extra section on the left side still feels quite awkward for me.

It’s easy to press the wrong keys, especially since the left side relies on the edge of the keyboard for positioning. When I first started using it, I often made mistakes.

After using it for a while, I gradually got used to it, but it still feels uncomfortable… It seems hard to adapt to this design. I feel it’s unnecessary, perhaps it’s just to force a distinct design feature?