There's something about the clickity clackity sound, or a thocky sound of a mechanical keyboard. I never thought I'd be one to truly appreciate a keyboard's sound profile, and then I started as a reviews writer at Tom's Guide. Now, nearly 90 keyboard reviews later, I know what my favorite sound profile is. It falls right between thocky and creamy, and it's what I hear when I type on a keyboard like the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro or the McHose x Unbox Therapy UT98.
I've spent a week testing the latter and if you want a productivity keyboard that looks good, sounds great, performs outstandingly, and lasts forever, you need to check this deck out. Currently available to pre-order for $139 / £103, this keyboard has been co-designed by tech YouTuber Unbox Therapy, and typing on it makes me feel so peaceful.
Thing is, the UT98's responsive, creamy switches aren't even its best feature. The best part of using this keyboard is that you can keep using it for hours. And hours. And hours. And hours. You don't have to worry about running out of charge unexpectedly or mid-task. Its switches and mahoosive battery make it a powerhouse for productivity, and here's why you'll love the UT98 as much as I do.
Hours and days and weeks
You're probably thinking, "How long can this keyboard actually last? Surely it can't be that long." Well, McHose says that the McHose x Unbox Therapy UT98 can last up to 909 hours on a single charge. This, of course, will depend on whether you're using RGB lighting and if you're connected via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz, but that's still a mind-boggling number.
Let me break that figure down. 909 hours = 1.24 months. 909 hours = 5.41 weeks. 909 hours = 37.87 days. So that is a big number. The only other keyboard I've tested that lasts longer than the UT98 is the Logitech MX Keys S which can last up to 5 months (backlighting off) — but that isn't a mechanical keyboard.
Most mech decks — or even magnetic ones — I've tested last under 100 hours so how McHose has managed to fit such a gigantic battery into the UT98 is beyond me. I haven't been able to drain the battery yet but I'm looking forward to seeing just how long it takes for me to kill the UT98.
Sounds so pleasing
But how does it matter that a keyboard lasts ages if it doesn't offer a downright fantastic typing experience? Thankfully, the McHose x Unbox Therapy UT98 is up to the task, and this is another area it excels in. You can get the keyboard with one of two sets of linear switches: Silent Peach V3 or Icy Creamsicle. I tested the latter and I have to say, these might be some of my favorite switches out there.
Keyboard | Type test speed (WPM) | Type test accuracy |
|---|---|---|
McHose x Unbox Therapy UT98 | 98 | 92.02% |
110 | 96.48% | |
102 | 93% | |
101 | 94.91% | |
99 | 92.89% | |
Nikita’s overall averages (all keyboards) | 89.3 | 91.36% |
First of all, they require just 42g of force to activate so they're quite light and don't make your fingers feel fatigued if you're typing for extended periods of time. With a pre-travel distance of 1.3mm, I don't need to press them all the way down either for my input to register, enabling me to type fast. You can see how the UT98 compares to other keyboards I've tested in the table above.
Secondly, they sound oh-so-lovely. Like I said, the sound profile is slightly thocky, slightly creamy, and it's every bit as perfect. Combined with double-shot PBT keycaps, a gasket mount design, and five layers of sound dampening foam, the UT98 sounds so pleasing that it nearly gives the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro a run for its money!
Should I buy it?
If it's a stunning typing experience, responsive mechanical switches, creamy sound profile and long battery life you're after, then yes, I can't see any reason why you shouldn't buy the McHose x Unbox Therapy UT98. Alongside being a beast for productivity, it looks lovely too, sporting a retro design and customizable RGB lighting.
While the Keychron K4 HE is my daily driver at the office and the Hexgears Immersion A3 TKL is my work-from-home keyboard, you'd best believe that the UT98 has become part of my arsenal. I've loved typing on it and listening to it, and the 909-hour battery life is really just the cherry on top of the cake.
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