In the crowded world of mechanical keyboards, finding the perfect blend of performance, customization, and value can feel like a quest. Enter the Aula F75 PRO, a 75% wireless contender that promises a premium typing experience without the premium price tag. This isn't just another keyboard; it's a meticulously engineered tool designed for gamers and typists who demand more from their peripherals. As the Aula F75 series continues to evolve, the PRO variant stands out with its gasket-mounted design, multi-layer padding, and versatile connectivity. But does it live up to the hype? This comprehensive review dives deep into every aspect, from its sound profile to its gaming prowess, to help you decide if this is your endgame keyboard.
Unboxing & First Impressions: A Premium Presentation
Right from the unboxing, the Aula F75 PRO makes a statement. The packaging is sleek and secure, housing the keyboard itself, a braided USB-C cable for charging and wired use, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, a keycap puller, a switch puller (essential for its hot-swappable nature), and a user manual. Our review unit came in the stunning Gradient Black colorway, which features a subtle, shifting color effect that looks sophisticated even before the RGB lighting is turned on. The keyboard has a substantial, quality feel in hand, belying its competitive price point. The compact 75% form factor immediately strikes a perfect balance, retaining the arrow keys and function row that many users need while saving precious desk space compared to a full-sized or even TKL layout. This makes the 75-percent-keyboard layout an ideal choice for both gaming setups and minimalist workspaces.
Design & Build: The Gasket-Mount Advantage
The core of the Aula F75 PRO's appeal lies in its gasket-mechanical-keyboard construction. Unlike traditional tray-mounted or top-mounted keyboards, a gasket mount uses silicone or rubber gaskets to suspend the plate and PCB within the case. This design is a game-changer for two primary reasons: sound and feel. The five-layer padding system Aula boasts includes silicone dampeners between the PCB and plate, a poron switch pad, an IXPE switch pad, a PE foam sheet, and a bottom silicone dampener. This meticulous layering works in concert to eliminate metallic pings, reduce case reverberation, and produce a deep, satisfyingly muted, and creamy acoustic signature. The typing feel is uniformly soft and bouncy across the entire board, offering a gentle cushion with each keystroke that reduces finger fatigue during long gaming sessions or typing marathons.
Performance & Typing Experience: Reaper Switches & Customization
Out of the box, the Aula F75 PRO comes equipped with Aula's proprietary Reaper switches. Our model featured the linear variant, which provides a smooth, consistent keystroke with a relatively light actuation force—perfect for rapid key presses in gaming and comfortable for daily typing. The switches are pre-lubed from the factory, resulting in a remarkably smooth feel that rivals some aftermarket lubing jobs. However, the true magic of this board is its hot-swappable-keyboard 5-pin socket design. This feature opens a universe of customization. Whether you prefer the tactile bump of a Holy Panda clone, the silent operation of Boba U4s, or the speedy actuation of Gateron Yellows, you can swap them in effortlessly without any soldering. This future-proofs your investment and allows you to tailor the sound and feel precisely to your liking, a hallmark of a true custom-keyboard enthusiast's dream at an accessible price.
Connectivity & Gaming Prowess: Truly Wireless Freedom
As a modern wireless-gaming-keyboard, the Aula F75 PRO offers triple-mode connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless via the included dongle, and USB-C wired. For competitive gaming, the 2.4GHz mode is the clear winner, offering a near-instantaneous 1000Hz polling rate with rock-solid stability and no perceptible latency. We tested it in fast-paced FPS and MOBA titles, and keystrokes registered instantly without any dropouts. The Bluetooth mode is perfect for connecting to multiple devices, like a laptop, tablet, or phone, and switching between them with a simple shortcut. The battery life is impressive, offering weeks of use on a single charge with the RGB lighting on, and even longer with it turned off. The inclusion of a programmable knob is a fantastic addition, allowing you to control volume, scroll web pages, or adjust RGB brightness on the fly, adding both functionality and a premium touch.
RGB Lighting & Software: A Symphony of Light
The per-key RGB backlighting on the Aula F75 is vibrant and customizable. While it may not reach the sheer brightness of some flagship models, it is more than sufficient for lighting up a dark room and creating immersive gaming atmospheres. It offers a wide range of built-in effects, from static colors and breathing patterns to reactive wave modes that dance with your keystrokes. The south-facing RGB LEDs have an added benefit: they ensure full compatibility with Cherry-profile and other sculpted keycaps without light interference, a detail often overlooked in budget keyboards. The shine-through legends on the stock keycaps are clear and legible. While dedicated software for advanced macro programming and lighting control would be a welcome addition, the onboard controls via key combinations are comprehensive enough for most users to manage profiles and lighting effects directly.
Sound Test & Acoustic Profile: The Thocky Dream
Let's talk about the sound—a critical metric for any mechanical keyboard enthusiast. Thanks to its gasket mount and five-layer padding, the Aula F75 PRO produces a deep, low-pitched, and consistent sound across all keys. The spacebar and other larger keys are stabilized remarkably well out of the box, with minimal rattling—a common pain point even in more expensive boards. The overall acoustic profile is a satisfying, muted "thock" rather than a sharp, high-pitched "clack." This makes it an excellent choice for office environments or shared spaces where keyboard noise can be a concern. For those seeking an even more customized sound, the hot-swappable nature means you can experiment with different switch and keycap combinations to achieve your perfect auditory signature.
Who Is The Aula F75 PRO For?
The Aula F75 PRO is a versatile champion that caters to multiple audiences. It's an ideal first custom-keyboard for newcomers to the hobby, offering a premium gasket-mount experience and hot-swap sockets without breaking the bank. For gamers, its reliable wireless performance, compact form factor, and comfortable typing feel make it a formidable tool for both casual and competitive play. Typists and professionals will appreciate the acoustically pleasant and fatigue-reducing typing experience, especially in open-plan offices. If you're looking to step up from a basic mechanical keyboard and want a taste of high-end custom keyboard features like a gasket mount and extensive modding potential, the Aula F75 PRO represents incredible value.
Final Verdict: A New Benchmark in Value
In conclusion, the Aula F75 PRO 75% Wireless Gaming Keyboard is a standout product that punches far above its weight class. It successfully brings hallmarks of the premium custom keyboard scene—gasket-mounted softness, extensive internal padding, and hot-swappable versatility—into a ready-to-use, wireless package at an accessible price point. Its performance in gaming is flawless, its typing experience is top-tier for its category, and its build quality inspires confidence. While the lack of dedicated software and a slightly muted RGB might be minor drawbacks for some, they are easy compromises given the overall package. Whether you're a gamer, a typist, or a budding keyboard enthusiast, the Aula F75 PRO delivers a compelling, feature-rich experience that is difficult to beat. It doesn't just compete; it sets a new benchmark for what a budget-friendly, high-performance mechanical keyboard can be.
