Unusual tech evaluations: a mouse with swappable keycaps, a transparent keeb and a speaker that appears like a video gaming PC

Will versus Strange Technology, Part 7.

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I’ve had the good fortune to try out a wide variety of fascinating and bizarre pieces of technology, but I don’t always get the chance to report on my findings in a comprehensive review or roundup. This column seeks to draw attention to those bits of technology that don’t quite fit anywhere else, but are nonetheless worth mentioning. Take pleasure!

This time around, I’m checking out a transparent keyboard, a Bluetooth speaker with more RGB than my gaming PC, and a gaming mouse that replaces its standard buttons with keycaps inspired by mechanical keyboard design. All three add-ons are useful in their own ways, but which one is the best buy? This is my mission, therefore after a few weeks of screening, let’s check out the results.

Lofree Touch Wireless Mouse (EO909)

I have a question regarding the lack of keycaps on gaming mouse. In a matter of seconds, you may modify your mouse’s search behaviour, allowing you to synchronise it with your keyboard or create a unique look. That’s the peculiar idea behind the Lofree Touch EO909, a mouse that swaps out the keycaps on the left and right buttons for new ones made of PBT and mounted on stems designed to look like those found on Cherry MX keyboards.

The EO909, with its beige shell and oddly high yet thin form, stands out as a retro-inspired peculiarity even before you pop on your choice of artistic keycaps (for an additional $84.99) and a mouse. If you take a closer look, you’ll notice still another unusual feature: a tiny OLED panel that displays information about the mouse’s DPI, battery life, and connection method (you can choose between a wired USB-C connection, Bluetooth, or 2.4 GHz with a USB dongle attached to the mouse’s underside).

Despite its unconventional appearance, the EO909 performs admirably as a gaming or office mouse. It’s heavy at 106 grammes, but the PBT keycaps and matte body feel good and are easy to grip, and the PixArt PAW3805 optical sensing unit provides reliable results up to 4000 DPI and handles glass; however, at 500Hz, it lags behind even entry-level gaming options. Not my first choice for first-person shooters, but adequate for work and casual games like Civilization 6 and Age of Wonders 4.

My only legitimate complaint is that the mouse requires a click to wake up from sleep in 2.4 GHz mode, rather than awakening upon movement, and there is no software to alter this behaviour. Nonetheless, the overall improvement in runtime is undeniable. It’s unfortunate that you can’t customise the mouse with your own keycaps, but realistically, no standard keycaps would work with the unusual stem location and steeply slanted design used here. Otherwise, if you’re into the unique design, the EO909 is a solid option that I’m happy to recommend.

Edifier QD35 Desktop Bluetooth Speaker

Although Edifier is most well-known for its reasonably priced bookshelf speakers, the company does occasionally release some odd products. The QD35 is a digital clock without an alarm or timer, a Bluetooth speaker without a battery, and a mobile battery charger with USB-C and USB-A ports, but nowhere to put your devices while they’re charging. The QD35, however, is fantastic, thanks to its impressively sturdy build, great hi-res noise, and superior RGB lighting in comparison to many PC accessories.

Despite its quirky design making it less adaptable than many Bluetooth speakers on the market, it nevertheless manages to feel as high-end as its 190 price suggests and is simply a pleasant thing to have on your desk. Its futuristic design doesn’t go with many kitchens, and its lack of alarms and timing features, as well as its bright screen (albeit the RGB components can be adjusted to a single colour and/or dimmed), make it less than ideal as a bedside clock radio. It looks fantastic on a desk next to a gaming PC, though, and I could see it selling well to anyone who want an eye-catching RGB gadget for their streaming setup or dorm room.

I’m crossing my fingers that this is a guiding philosophy for Edifier, as a few changes or additions may make it a much more potent all-rounder. – Allow for the setup of timers and alarms, the addition of an FM/DAB radio and a much dimmer sleep option for the illumination, the provision of at least two cordless battery chargers, and the design of a battery base that would enable me to move the speaker out into the garden would all be welcome additions. The QD35 is already much more expensive than similarly sized Bluetooth speakers, so for me it’s all about increasing performance despite the greater expense, and satisfying the wishlist would certainly result in a more expensive speaker.

Xinmeng X75 Pro Transparent Mechanical Keyboard

The $75/ ₤ 99 Although the Lofree 1% Dual Mode Keyboard (which retails for $219) was the first transparent keyboard I tested, the Xinmeng X75 Pro improves upon the concept with its smaller 75% design, cheaper price, and silicone noise dampening.

The idea is that you can see all the way through the device, from the case to the keycaps and the switches, thanks to the RGB lighting that permeates the entire thing. I tried out a layout with Kailh Jellyfish switches and found them to be quite pleasurable; they produce a relatively deep noise and have a very smooth essential feel while lacking the tactile bump and audible click associated with mechanical switches.

The X75 is a wired keyboard, but the X75 Pro has both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless technology built in. If you don’t like the ‘white’ transparent option, there’s also a black colour option that harkens back to the 1990s and looks great. For those who enjoy unique keyboards and/or RGB lighting, this is a fantastic buy.

That wraps up this week’s episode of “Will vs. Weird Tech.” Tell me what weird piece of technology you’d go for, and if you have any suggestions for me, by all means include them!