Keyboard Review: Weikav Lucky65 V3 - A less RGB 65%
Preface: I'm having to attach these introductory statements to give context. This series of blog posts is written from the perspective of me trying to recall what I was thinking back then, a reflection of sorts. Would I buy the same keyboards today? Most likely not. But I didn't get to where I am without experiencing these keyboards. With that said, I hope you enjoy the read. Thank you.
Disclaimer: The HMX Dirty Pink switches were provided to me by Milktooth. They had no say in the creation of the content included in this blog. Should you be interested in getting some Dirty Pinks, head on over to their website (non-affiliated link).
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| Weikav Lucky65 V3 |
Is this the cleaner sibling of the NUT65?
Immediately after getting the NUT65, I thought that my GAS (gear acquisition syndrome, quite common with digital photographers) or, in this case, KAS (keyboard acquisition syndrome) would be satiated. But I was wrong.
Alongside the release of the NUT65 was the Lucky65 V3. I purchased the NUT65 hot on the heels of greatly positive reviews of the Lucky65 V2.
So whilst I did get a great keyboard with the NUT65, it did not fill the curiosity that I felt with the Lucky65 V2 – so I went ahead and purchased the Lucky65 V3.
I have mentioned Weikav a few times now on UK Tech Blog, and I suspect this will not be the last time either.
At this point, I am starting to understand why the brand keeps popping up in keyboard circles. Weikav seems to have found a very specific lane in the hobby. They make aluminium keyboards that feel more premium than their pricing suggests, but they still keep things accessible enough for people who are not ready to spend silly money on a custom build.
That is where the Lucky65 V3 comes in.
This is not going to be a traditional review where I go through every single specification and pretend that each one exists in isolation. I am more interested in how the keyboard feels to use, how it fits into the Weikav line-up, and where I think it sits next to the NUT65.
Because honestly, that comparison is where things get quite interesting.
The Lucky65 V3 and NUT65 feel like they come from the same design philosophy, but they are not trying to be the exact same keyboard. One feels cleaner and more restrained. The other feels more feature-packed and expressive.
Same family. Different haircut.
Why the Lucky65 V3 interested me
When you first get into mechanical keyboards, there is a phase where everything looks fascinating.
Every layout feels new. Every switch sounds like it might be the one. Every aluminium keyboard looks like it could somehow improve your life, productivity, typing speed, desk setup, mood, and possibly your relationship with the universe.
Then, after a while, you start becoming a bit more selective.
You begin to notice the small things.
The case finish.
The mounting style.
The front height.
The software support.
The way the case opens.
Whether the RGB feels tasteful or slightly like a tiny nightclub trapped inside a keyboard.
The Lucky65 V3 caught my attention because it looked like a sensible aluminium 65% kit at a sensible price. Not boring, exactly. More like it knew what it wanted to be.
A compact aluminium keyboard.
A clean layout.
A barebones kit.
No screen.
No giant knob.
No unnecessary gimmick sitting in the corner begging for attention.
Just a keyboard.
There is something appealing about that.
The design: clean, but not completely plain
The Lucky65 V3 is a 65% aluminium keyboard, which means you get the compact layout while still keeping useful keys like arrows. For me, 65% is one of the most comfortable small layouts because it does not feel like you are sacrificing too much.
I can appreciate tiny keyboards, but there is a point where minimalism starts to become a puzzle box.
The Lucky65 V3 avoids that. It still feels practical.
Visually, it has that clean aluminium kit look that a lot of people chase when they first get into custom keyboards. The case is simple, the proportions are tidy, and it looks like something that belongs on a proper desk setup.
The small RGB light strip on the lower-right side is probably going to be the most divisive part of the design.
Part of me likes it. It gives the keyboard a bit of visual identity. It stops the case from looking too sterile.
Another part of me wonders whether the board would look even better without it.
That is the strange thing with RGB on aluminium keyboards. When it is done well, it adds a little atmosphere. When it is overdone, it can make an otherwise tasteful keyboard feel like it has wandered out of a gaming café in 2013.
Thankfully, the Lucky65 V3 does not go that far. The lighting feels more like an accent than a full personality transplant.
I think that matters.
The board still looks clean. It still feels grown-up. It just has a little glow in the corner, like it is quietly reminding you that this is still a keyboard hobby product and not a piece of office furniture.
Build experience: this is where Weikav gets clever
One of the things I like about this newer wave of affordable aluminium keyboards is that they are not just cheap slabs of metal anymore.
The Lucky65 V3 has a few features that make it feel much more modern as a kit.
The big one is the way the case opens.
Instead of dealing with lots of screws every time you want to get inside the board, the Lucky65 V3 uses a ball-catch structure. That makes the whole thing feel much less intimidating if you like tinkering.
This is one of those features that does not sound exciting until you actually care about modding keyboards. Then suddenly it matters.
Because once you start testing different foams, plates, switches, or stabiliser tweaks, opening a keyboard becomes part of the experience. If the case is annoying to open, you start putting things off. If it is easy to open, you are more likely to experiment.
That is where the Lucky65 V3 feels beginner-friendly in the right way.
Not beginner-friendly in a cheap or simplified way. Beginner-friendly in the sense that it does not punish curiosity.
The pogo-pin connection is another good touch. Not having to deal with delicate internal cables makes the whole build process less stressful. Again, this is one of those small quality-of-life things that can make a big difference.
Affordable keyboards are no longer just about lowering the price. The good ones are now about making the whole experience smoother. Weikav seems to understand that.
Typing feel and sound
This is always the hardest section to write with barebones kits, because the keyboard is only part of the final sound.
The switches matter.
The keycaps matter.
The plate matters.
The foams matter.
The desk matters.
Even the room can make a difference.
So I do not want to present the Lucky65 V3 as having one fixed sound profile. That would not be fair. And in this blog post, I'll be sharing two typing test videos.
What I can say is that the board feels like a strong base to build a thocky build from.
The aluminium case gives it that solid, planted feeling. It does not feel toy-like. It does not feel hollow in the way cheaper plastic keyboards sometimes can. There is a reassuring density to it.
The FR4 plate gives it a sensible middle ground. Not too stiff. Not too soft. It is the kind of plate choice that works well for a lot of thocky builds because it does not push the keyboard too aggressively in one direction.
With the right switches and keycaps, I can see this being tuned to a nice thocky setup.
You could make it deeper and softer. This is what I can experience with the Akko Rosewoods.
You could make it a little sharper and cleaner. This, on the other hand, is what I found with the HMX Dirty Pinks.
You could probably get a fairly balanced everyday typing sound without doing anything too dramatic.
That is what I like about boards like this. They are not necessarily trying to impose one sound on you. They give you a starting point.
For the initial build, I used:
Switches: Akko Rosewoods
Keycaps: PBTFans Courage Red
Mods: I want to be clear that these Weikav keyboards have limited mod capability. They are foamy boards, and taking out the foam introduces some ping – so I will recommend keeping the foam.
Connection mode: Bluetooth
- Switch Type: Linear
- Operating Force: 40 ± 5 gf
- Bottom-Out Force: 50g
- Pre-Travel: 2.0 ± 0.5 mm
- Total Travel: 4.0 mm
- Spring Length: 21.5 ± 0.5 mm
- Stem Material: Nylon Pro
- Top Housing: PA12
- Bottom Housing: PA6
Let's change things up a bit. Here's a newbie attempt at doing a timelapse of me swapping opuit the switches:
This time, I'll be using the HMX Dirty Pink:
- Type: Linear
- Actuation Force: 50g (some configurations rated at 37g–42g)
- Bottom-Out Force: 57g (also offered in 42g–50g)
- Pre-Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 3.6mm
- Mount Type: PCB (5-Pin)
- Factory Lubed: Yes (205g0 on stem legs/sliders, dry film on springs/leaf)
- Stem: H2 material (with a waffle-shaped tip to reduce surface contact and deepen pitch)
- Top Housing: Modified PA12 Nylon (improves smoothness)
- Bottom Housing: PA66 Nylon (delivers a softer, less clacky sound)
- Spring: 22mm single-stage extended spring
The thing I would focus on here is not whether the board sounds “thocky” or “clacky”. Those words are useful, but they can also become keyboard soup after a while.
What matters more is whether it feels satisfying to type on. And the Lucky65 V3 does.
Here's a typing test with the board and the HMX Dirty Pinks:
Software and VIA
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| The Weikav website finally has a decent softwares page. |
This is the part of the hobby where the magic sometimes trips over a cable.
I like keyboards that support VIA because it makes remapping much easier. Once you get used to VIA, it is difficult to go back to awkward proprietary software.
The Lucky65 V3 is advertised with VIA support, but this is also where I would give a small word of caution.
With some of these budget aluminium boards, the hardware can feel very polished, while the software experience can feel a bit more scattered. Nowadays, it's quite often that you'll need the right JSON file. Sometimes the instructions are not as clear as they should be. Sometimes the keyboard itself is great, but getting everything working takes a bit of forum-hunting and quiet grumbling.
That does not ruin the keyboard. But it is worth mentioning. It's a little thing that can dampen an otherwise positive experience so far.
Because for a lot of people, especially newer hobbyists, the difference between “VIA supported” and “VIA is effortless” can be quite large. I know, I've experienced it.
If Weikav could tidy up this part of the experience, their boards would feel even stronger overall. There is some improvement, but we're not there yet. When I bought the Lucky65 V3 and NUT65, both boards weren't even listed on the main Weikav website.
The hardware is doing the work. The software needs to catch up.
Lucky65 V3 versus NUT65
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| Check out my previous post about the NUT65 |
This is probably the most interesting part for me. It's almost like the tale of two siblings.
The Lucky65 V3 and NUT65 are both 65% aluminium keyboards from Weikav. On paper, they seem quite close. Both are compact. Both are aluminium. Both are barebones. Both sit in that attractive “affordable but enthusiast-friendly” space. Huge value for the price!
But once you start looking closer, they feel like two completely different answers to the same question.
The question is, what should a budget aluminium 65% keyboard be?
The Lucky65 V3 answers that by being cleaner, simpler, and slightly more restrained. Professional, even.
The NUT65 answers that by being more feature-rich, a little louder visually, and arguably more playful. Loud and proud!
Neither answer is wrong. They just suit different people. Or in my case, they suit different parts of the same person.
The Lucky65 V3 feels cleaner
It has the RGB accent, yes, but on top of the per-key RGB, that's about it. You don't get the front-facing LED light bar that doubles as a music meter. It feels significantly more understated than the NUT65. It looks like a keyboard that wants to blend into a clean desk setup rather than dominate it.
That can be a good thing. Not every keyboard needs to look like it was "designed for gamers".
The Lucky65 V3 feels like the safer visual choice. Sometimes safe is exactly what you want. It means you can pair it with more professional/office-friendly keycap sets. It means it will probably age better. It means you are less likely to look at it in six months and wonder what version of yourself bought it.
The design gives you room to make it your own.
Put a calm keycap set on it, and it becomes subtle.
Put a bright keycap set on it, and it becomes fun.
Put something retro on it, and it can look vintage.
Put something dark on it and it starts looking serious.
That flexibility is valuable.
The NUT65 feels more expressive
The NUT65, on the other hand, feels like Weikav decided to have a little more fun.
The most obvious difference is the lighting. The NUT65 has that more dramatic front lightbar, which gives it a very different personality. It is not just a small accent. It is part of the keyboard’s identity.
That makes the NUT65 more visually distinctive. It also makes it more polarising.
Some people will love it because it gives the board character. Others will prefer the Lucky65 V3 because it feels cleaner and less busy.
I think this is where personal taste matters more than any spec sheet.
If your desk setup leans more minimal, the Lucky65 V3 probably makes more sense.
If you enjoy keyboards that feel a bit more playful and visually alive, the NUT65 has more presence.
The NUT65 feels like the keyboard equivalent of adding ambient lighting to your room. The Lucky65 V3 feels more like choosing a nice desk lamp.
Both can work. They just change the mood differently.
Battery and wireless use
This is one area where the NUT65 has a clearer advantage.
The NUT65 has a larger battery than the Lucky65 V3. For people who use wireless mode all the time, that matters.
I know some people do not care about wireless at all. They plug in their keyboard and never think about battery life again. That is completely fair.
But I do like wireless keyboards, especially on a cleaner desk setup. Once you get used to fewer cables, it is hard not to appreciate it.
The Lucky65 V3 still has a respectable battery, but the NUT65 is the better choice if wireless battery life is a priority.
This is especially true if you like using RGB. Lighting can eat battery quickly, so having more capacity gives you more breathing room.
For a wired-only user, this difference may not matter.
For a wireless user, it absolutely can.
One thing to note is that if you use the lighting on the NUT65 a lot, the Lucky65 V3, even with its smaller battery, will last longer.
Mounting and tuning flexibility
This is another area where the NUT65 feels slightly more flexible.
The Lucky65 V3 uses a PCB-gasket mount. That is perfectly fine and should suit most people.
The NUT65, however, gives you more mounting flexibility with support for PCB-gasket and plate-gasket configurations. That gives you more room to experiment with feel and sound.
That may not matter to everyone.
If you just want to build the keyboard once, enjoy it, and move on with your life like a sensible human being, then the Lucky65 V3 gives you plenty.
But if you are already deep enough into the hobby that you enjoy changing the personality of a keyboard from the inside, the NUT65 gives you more to play with.
This is where the NUT65 starts to feel like the more enthusiast-focused option.
Not necessarily better.
Just more tunable.
Which one feels more “Weikav”?
This is a strange question, but I think it is worth asking.
To me, the NUT65 feels more like Weikav showing off.
It has the bigger battery.
It has the more dramatic lighting.
It has the extra mounting flexibility.
It feels like a board designed to make people say, “Wait, this costs how much? ”
The Lucky65 V3 feels more like Weikav refining the formula.
It is not trying to throw every feature at you. It feels more focused. More restrained. More confident in being a clean aluminium, 65%.
That makes the comparison interesting.
The NUT65 is probably the one that gives you more on paper.
The Lucky65 V3 might be the one that more people can live with every day.
That is not always the same thing.
Which one would I recommend?
This depends on the person.
I would recommend the Lucky65 V3 if you want the following:
a cleaner-looking 65% aluminium board
a simple and tasteful base for different keycap sets
a slightly more restrained design
an affordable first aluminium custom kit
something that feels easy to build and easy to like
I would recommend the NUT65 if you want the following:
a larger battery
more dramatic lighting
more mounting flexibility
a keyboard with a stronger visual identity
something that feels more feature-packed
For me, the Lucky65 V3 feels like the more mature-looking board.
The NUT65 feels like the more fun one.
That probably says more about the hobby than it does about either keyboard.
Because at this point, the difference between two good keyboards is not always about which one is objectively better. It is about what kind of experience you want from it.
Do you want clean and calm?
Or do you want a little more theatre?
Things I wish more people talked about
One thing I have noticed with keyboards like the Lucky65 V3 is that a lot of discussion tends to focus on value.
That makes sense. Price is part of the appeal. But I think there are a few smaller points that deserve more attention.
First, the case-opening experience matters. A ball-catch structure and pogo-pin connection may not sound exciting, but they make the keyboard feel less intimidating. That matters for beginners and modders.
Second, the placement of the wireless switch matters. Hiding switches keeps the case clean, but it can also make everyday use slightly less convenient. It sure as hell is not recommended to leave your keyboard "on" when you're travelling.
Third, ANSI-only layouts are worth mentioning, especially for UK buyers. A lot of us are used to ISO keyboards. ANSI is completely usable, but it is still something people should know before buying.
Fourth, software support needs to be judged by the actual user experience, not just the logo on the product page. VIA support is great, but only if the setup process is clear.
These are not dramatic issues. They are not deal-breakers.
But they are the kinds of things that separate a proper hands-on impression from just repeating the product listing.
Final thoughts
The Weikav Lucky65 V3 is another example of how strong the budget aluminium keyboard market has become.
A few years ago, getting an aluminium custom-style keyboard at this kind of price would have felt much more compromised. Now, boards like this are making the hobby far more accessible.
That is good.
Not everyone wants to spend hundreds on a keyboard. Not everyone wants to join a group buy. Not everyone wants to wait months for something that may or may not arrive exactly as expected.
Sometimes people just want a good aluminium keyboard that looks nice, feels solid, and gives them room to build something personal.
That is where the Lucky65 V3 makes sense.
It may not be the flashiest keyboard in Weikav’s line-up. It may not have the larger battery or the more dramatic lighting of the NUT65.
But that might actually be part of its appeal.
The Lucky65 V3 feels like the cleaner, calmer sibling. The NUT65 feels like the one that turns up with RGB underglow and a slightly louder jacket.
I like both approaches.
But if the NUT65 is Weikav having fun with features, the Lucky65 V3 feels like Weikav proving they can make something simple, solid, and genuinely appealing without overcomplicating them.
And honestly, that might be exactly why I like it.
About the Author
Hi there, my name's Alan and I'm the creator of UK Tech Blog (UKTB), a UK-based technology website covering smartphones, gadgets, computing, mechanical keyboards, and the digital world that surrounds us all.
This blog is a place where I share my thoughts and journey through tech. I do this through hands-on reviews, commentary, and practical experiences.
Alongside my passion for tech and photography, I'm also an advocate for autism awareness and accessibility. I draw from personal experience as a parent. I believe technology should be inclusive, useful, and empowering for everyone.
Outside of tech, I enjoy photography, gaming, and music ranging from atmospheric black metal to post-rock.
UKTB was created as a space for my honest opinions, curiosity, and enthusiasm for modern technology without the unnecessary hype.
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