MelGeek Modern97 Mechanical Keyboard Review: Organic Vibes

POSITIVES

✓ Satisfying typing experience

Not too loud and great for any setting

✓ Earthy hues

A unique blend of natural tones

✓ Premium look and feel

Well built and sturdy

NEGATIVES

✘ No adjustable feet

Only one typing level

✘ Functions take some time to get used to

Lots of key configurations for adjustments and settings

✘ No slot for USB receiver connectivity

Easy to lose piece

super early bird pricing: $99.00

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Disclaimer: MelGeek sent us a unit of the Modern97 free of charge to review, but all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are our own and were not discussed with the company prior to publishing.

Last year, our team got to check out the MelGeek Mojo 84 mechanical keyboard and from the unboxing experience to using it on a day to day basis, we enjoyed how thoughtful MelGeek was in its approach to creating a unique and distinctive keyboard. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Modern97 mechanical keyboard, a 104 key layout utilizing hot-swappable functionality and a completely different aesthetic vibe.

earthy tones and eco-friendly packaging

From the get go, unboxing the Modern97 feels unique from its competitors. The box that the Modern97 comes in is a biodegradable package that adds to the design of this keyboard. The Nappa color that we’re looking at today is gorgeous, and reminds me of a woodsy natural look. The off-white colors and brown specs displayed across the keyboard with the combination of brown and orange tones make it unique and one of the most eco-conscious looking keyboards we’ve looked at this year. The bottom plate of the keyboard features a clear matte casing with some fun design cues that is a continuation of the earthy orange hues featured on the keys. There’s no adjustable feet on this keyboard, but the steep angle makes it comfortable when typing with a wrist rest. The rubber grips help to hold it in place firmly when the keyboard is placed down on a surface. It’s obvious how premium this keyboard feels and everything from the design to the layout feels intentional and thoughtfully crafted by MelGeek. 

The Modern97 features gasket-mounted and hot-swappable keys. Combined with the custom Kailh Sonic53 switches that MelGeek chose to incorporate by default, typing on this keyboard is very satisfactory to hear. There’s a noticeable level of clickiness when typing, yet it’s not over-the-top obnoxious. This keyboard can definitely be used in an office setting if preferred without sounding out of place.

subtle and glowy rgbs

i appreciate how natural the rgb effects look on this keyboard… almost like a halo effect

The Modern97 has a variety of RGB settings that users can choose between. There are an acceptable amount of colors and lighting effects that you can circulate through, but I found some lighting effects to be more vibrant and appealing than others. There’s also options to change the brightness using key combinations as well that we’ll talk about next. While the backlighting may not be as colorful as other brands focused on delivering gaming aesthetics, what I do appreciate is how natural the RGB effects look on this keyboard. The glow almost looks softer and more subtle, encasing the keys with more of a halo effect. It’s a nice touch that makes the look different, adding to the uniqueness of the Modern97.

multiple ways to connect

Whatever you prefer, the Modern97 has multiple ways for you to connect it to a computing device. Included is a USB-A to USB-C cable that can be plugged in. (Note that the cable shown in this review may not be the final form from the production version that it will ship with.) There’s also ways to connect using wireless options through the 2.4 Ghz USB-A receiver or via Bluetooth. I’ve used all three of these, and have had no issues connecting to any of my electronics. My only gripe is that the 2.4 Ghz USB receiver, while very cute, has no storage slot built into the actual keyboard body to keep safe when not in use. I’d much prefer a small slot to house this receiver so that it’s easier to find in the future. For those who have multiple devices, it’s easy to connect to them and switch between them. Users can connect up to 8 devices at a time on the Modern97.

impressive battery life

Since beginning my testing period 3 weeks ago with the Modern97, I have only charged this keyboard once to test it out (not due to necessity). MelGeek advertises an impressively long 406 days off of one charge. While I’ve come nowhere near that number as that is more than a full calendar year and we’ve only had this unit for a month, so far it actually has given me the best keyboard battery life I’ve ever experienced. Potentially utilizing multiple modes that you can swap between will help prolong that lengthy battery life number. Of course, this will all vary depending on your usage, frequency and time of use but I’m confident the Modern97 can withstand the majority of power users on a regular basis with reasonable charging time. I’m not sure what metric of testing MelGeek used to obtain that estimate, but even if it just lasts a full month without needing to charge, I’m already sold. Charging the keyboard is simple enough - simply plug it in with the provided cable and an indicator light at the top left of the keyboard will notify users what the battery life is at.

full features need instructions

The MelGeek Modern97 keyboard truly is plug and play, but if you want to take full advantage of all of its features, my biggest qualm was needing the instruction manual nearby for the first week or so of use. There’s a slight adoption period needed to maximize the utility on this keyboard, and unless you’re using the quick guide included with the keyboard, it’ll be easy to miss how to change settings like RGB, toggling between Mac and Windows, how to adjust the volume and play/pause using the keyboard, and how to adjust the keyboard’s brightness. There aren’t additional toggles or knobs here so secondary key functions are vital. Once you get familiar with what keys do what with the function button, it’s easy, but it took me a few days to fully understand how to adjust the keyboard to what I wanted. 

plenty to appreciate

There’s so many features that MelGeek has gotten right in the Modern97. Especially in this compact 104 key layout, typing feels comfortable and natural with the right placement spacing of keys. I absolutely love how earthy and natural this keyboard looks and feels and the subtle design cues that MelGeek inserted makes it all the more special. The combination of fantastic battery life, clean RGB lighting and clicky typing sound make it a solid choice for just about any mechanical keyboard lover.

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