Let’s talk about the Akko Piano Pro switches!
I’m a keyboard nerd who’s built dozens of boards and swapped switches more times than I can count.
I’ve put these things through the wringer for you.li
This Akko Piano Pro review breaks down their specs, performance, and whether they’re worth your hard-earned cash.
Stick around to see if these switches deserve a spot in your next build!
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Switch Snapshot
Akko was founded in China in 2016. Its founders were focused on diversifying the computer and gaming peripheral industry and wanted to make your peripheral more than just a tool. They offer a wide range of mechanical keyboards and parts.
This is the third version of their Piano Pro switches. Akko notes that they’ve upgraded the switches with better lube on the rails for a better out-of-box experience. We’ll talk about their lube job below.
They’ve also included an LED Diffuser for better RGB.
Specs
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: Nylon
- Bottom Housing: Nylon
- Stem: POM
- Spring Weight: 53g (Bottom Out)
- Total Travel: 3.5mm
- Lubrication: Pre-Lubricated
- Pins: 5-pin
Specs were sourced directly from the manufacturer’s website.
Wanna get into details about mechanical switches? Learn more about them here.
Tempted already? Snag a pack and join the linear party!
Hands On Breakdown
I tried these switches as they came from the factory using the following setup:
Keyboard: Neo Studio Neo65
- Case: Aluminum
- Plate: FR4
- Mount: Gasket
Check out our keyboard case article, plate article, and gasket mount article for more info.
Keycaps: Wuque Studio BOW
- Material: PBT
- Printing: Double Shot
- Profile: Cherry
Learn all about keycaps here.
Note: Neo Studio Neo65 doesn’t have RGB. RGB was tested on a Keychron Q1.
Check out the force curve for the nerdy details:
I tested these switches in both gaming and typing scenarios.
Performance
Performance Score: 5
Preferences:
The switches I’ve used the longest are the Gateron Oil Kings. So, you can consider them the baseline for what my preferences are.
I like to rest my fingers on the keys when I’m typing. This often leads to keys being inadvertently pressed.
I also type like I’m hammering nails. I bottom out pretty hard when I press the keys.
General:
These switches were very, very smooth and I didn’t catch a hint of scratchiness.
They felt like they had a heavier initial force than most linears. If you take a look at the force curve above, you’ll notice that the initial force starts at 40g. I actually really enjoyed this.
However, the bottom out force at 53g was still a little light for my tastes.
Gaming:
I decided to switch it up a bit and play something new for once. I tried out the Clawed demo. It’s supposed to be a survival horror game with dinosaurs, but it’s not very scary at all. The dinosaurs are way too easy to kill and there isn’t any sneaking around to avoid any of them.
The switches felt good during the gameplay. I have no complaints with the switches. I have tons of complaints with the game. It’s totally unpolished, even for a demo. Would not recommend playing it at this time.
After a few hours, I got sick of Clawed and went back to playing Marvel Rivals. Bad move. I went 0-4 in competitive matches and logged off for the rest of the day.
For those that aren’t familiar, Marvel Rivals involves moving your character using the WASD keys and pressing a bunch of other keys to use your character’s abilities. Everything felt really responsive to me and I even ended up with the “Ace” title for a few of the matches.
Once again, the switches felt great during gameplay.
I continued playing various games throughout the week to test out the switches more. I never had any issues with the switches.
Typing:
I’m actually writing this review using these switches right now.
I struggled to type with these switches. On a lot of the previous switches I’ve tested, I was able to hit 100+ wpm without any warming. I had to try multiple times before I was able to break 100 wpm with these switches. Not sure why. They didn’t feel bad or anything.
I was able to somewhat rest my fingers on these switches. I still felt them starting to sink down, but I didn’t have any accidental actuations.
Though, I struggled with the typing test, I didn’t find myself with any issues while writing this review. Actually, these switches felt pretty good.
Overall, I really enjoyed typing on these switches. I just wish they were a bit heavier.
Check out the score I got on TypeRacer:
Sound Profile
Sound Score: 4.5
Sound Signature:
These switches sounded awesome. They were definitely thocky. I couldn’t help but notice how much I liked the sound while I was writing this review.
Pinging:
I had to try about a handful of switches before I found one with any amount of pinging that I could hear. It was only audible when I listened closely with the switch right next to my ear.
I couldn’t hear any pings when I was typing normally on the keyboard nor could I hear any when I brought my ears down to the keyboard.
Microphone Usage:
In the past, I regularly had complaints on Discord about my mic picking up keyboard sounds when I was using these switches, but I didn’t get any complaints at all during the play sessions where I was testing out the switches.
I even told my teammates to specifically listen for my typing as I mashed on the keyboard for them. They said they couldn’t hear anything.
Build Quality
Build Quality Score: 3
Socket Fit:
They went into the sockets suspiciously easily. There wasn’t the usual snap you’d get when the switch was properly seated into the plate. Instead, all I felt were squishes when installing the switches.
I wiggled the switches in the socket and, no surprise, they were wobbling around.
Pins:
I poked around on the switches and didn’t discover anything wrong with the build quality.
The pins were nice and sturdy and I didn’t bend a single one while seating them into the sockets.
The switches were 5-pin design, but they didn’t seat very securely.
Errors:
There were no issues with ghost-typing and all my keys worked on KeyboardTester.com.
Lubrication:
I opened them up to check out the insides. These things had massive amounts of lube on them. So much, that even the springs had globs of lube on them.
Strangely, though, they felt super smooth. I would have thought all that lube would have gunked up the switches, but I guess not.
Aesthetics and Compatibility
Compatibility Score: 3
Colorway:
The switches have the following color scheme:
- Black: POM stem
- White: Nylon top housing
- Black: Nylon bottom housing
I know they’re called Pianos, but they remind me more of a panda than a piano.
I’m neutral towards the colors. My first thought when looking at them is panda, second is zebra, and third is referee.
Keycaps:
Keycaps went on with no issues. I got the usual resistance when pressing the keycaps onto the stems.
However, they wobbled around a lot more than normal when pressing the key on the edges. They really reminded me of my experience with the Wuque Studio Morandi switches.
With the switches fitting so loosely in the sockets, it wasn’t a surprise to me that a few of them also popped out when removing the keycaps.
RGB:
RGB worked phenomenally on these switches. The light diffuser really made a difference in how much the LED shined.
If you’re looking for maximum glow, these switches will put a smile on your face.
Quick Comparison
Here’s how the Akko Piano Pro switches stack up against some similar options:
| Switch | Type | Actuation Force | Travel Distance | Materials |
| Akko Piano Pro | Linear | 45g | 3.5mm | Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| NovelKeys_ Cream | Linear | 55g | 4.0mm | POM Housing, POM Stem |
| Glorious Lynx | Linear | 40g | 4.0mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Gateron Oil King | Linear | 55g | 4.0mm | Proprietary Ink/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Wuque Studio Morandi | Linear | 50g | 3.5mm | POM Housing, UPE Stem |
| EPOMAKER Wisteria | Linear | 45g | 3.6mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM+PTFE Stem |
| Cherry MX Red | Linear | 45cN | 4.0mm | Plastic Polymer Housing/Stem |
| Gateron G Pro 3.0 Red | Linear | 45g | 4.0mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Kailh Box V2 Red | Linear | 40g | 3.6mm | PC/Nylon Housing, POM Stem |
| Gateron Ink V2 Black | Linear | 60g | 4.0mm | Proprietary Ink Housing, POM stem |
Price and Value
Value Score: 4
At the time of this writing, the Akko Piano Pro switches cost ~$0.31 per switch this is budget pricing territory.
I think the pricing for these switches is very appropriate.
They’ve definitely been on sale before and are totally worth it at their sale price.
Be sure to set a price tracker and jump in when these guys drop to a price point you’re comfortable with.
Who Are These Switches For?
You’ll love these switches if you’re a typist looking for a light to medium actuation point. It’s a good balance for minimizing mistakes while also preventing fatigue during long typing sessions.
These things are also for those that are into thock. They sounded awesome to me. You should still give them a try if you’re a clack fan.
These switches are also for the lazy tinkerer, just toss them in your board and forget about them. They already offer a great experience straight out of the box. No need to waste any time lubing them on your own.
Wrapping Up
Performance Score: 5
Sound Score: 4.5
Build Quality Score: 3
Compatibility Score: 3
Value Score: 4
Total Score: 3.9 out of 5
The Akko Piano Pro switches, as they came from the factory felt pretty good to me.
Though I would have preferred a heavier actuation and bottom out, I did enjoy the way they typed.
I probably won’t be keeping them in my keyboard, though. It’s not because they’re bad. It’s just that I have some heavier switches that I enjoy typing with more.
Also, if I were to choose, I would be using a tactile switch as my daily driver ‘cus I really enjoy sharp, tactile feedback.
So, you ready to give them a spin? Grab a pack and upgrade your typing today!
How We Tested and Our Methodology
Keyboard Forge is a 100% independent publisher.
We purchased these switches with our own funds and were not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
We conducted numerous hours of hands-on testing with these switches in both gaming and typing environments. Majority of the gaming testing was done playing a variety of Steam games. Majority of the typing testing was done writing articles for Keyboard Forge.
We hope this review helps you get a better understanding of these switches. Feel free to reach out to suggest switches to review in the future.
Thanks for the support!
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