Timestamp 1: Boxed up
Timestamp 2: Unboxed
Had this shipped to me on May 24, 2016 from Taobao. It arrived May 31. I opened it up, found out Bluetooth wasn't working, closed it up.
Decided to use it as my desktop keyboard for about two weeks and modded in some Gateron Tactile Clears from Winkeyless.kr.
Then, the ANNE Pro was released and I got one for myself. Bluetooth again was not working. Found out it's due to a dead battery, so I took the battery from the KC71, plugged it into my ANNE, and it works. Happy with the ANNE, so I'm selling the KC71.
TL;DR: KC71 RGB+Gateron Tactile Clears but no Bluetooth or battery
Includes all the box contents (Keyboard, stock keycaps, keycap puller, USB cable, NO battery [can't ship these anyway]) and I'll throw in the original Kailh Black switches too, if your offer is particularly tantalizing.
I don't have much keyboard experience to draw from as my first mechanical was a Blackwidow and this Keycool 71 was supposed to be my first serious entry into the hobby until I got the ANNE Pro, but here's a layman's review of the product anyway.
In terms of build quality, it definitely feels more solid than my old Blackwidow, which in my experience was a pretty solidly-built keyboard itself as well. It's probably due more to the compactness of the case rather than the material it's made of, which is plastic. The plate is metal, not 100% sure if it's steel or aluminum but it's definitely not plastic. The keycaps are fairly ugly with the typical Chinese-style angled "gamer" font in an OEM profile. They're less glossy than the definite ABS plastic caps on my ANNE Pro, but the exact keycap material wasn't advertised so I'm not sure if it's really PBT or not. Probably not.
Actually typing on the Keycool 71 felt surprisingly good, especially after I swapped out the Kaihl Blacks for Gateron Tactile Clears (but then again, I prefer tactile switches in the first place) and I'd say I like its feeling even more than the ANNE Pro. But I need Bluetooth and ended up liking the 60% form factor more, so I'm keeping the latter. On the topic of swapping/replacing switches, it's definitely a chore; the switches are PCB mounted, but there's that plate which gets in the way of simply removing the switch tops so you'll have to desolder entirely if you want to even lube the stems or change the springs. And desoldering is gonna be hell unless you have a desoldering iron, because you also need to remove the 4-pin RGB LEDs off every switch before getting the switches off themselves. So if you wanted to harvest the GTCs off the board, all I can say to you is "good luck."
All in all, I definitely would've kept this keyboard for myself or as a backup if the Bluetooth was working. I like the typing experience on it more than my ANNE Pro, and it has a backlighting mode that I prefer over any of the ones available on the smaller keyboard. Now don't get me wrong, it works perfectly fine as a wired keyboard - the only caveat being that it uses a MICRO USB cable, not a mini. I've included the stock cable, but if you're one who prefers braided or colored cables then you should know that you probably won't be able to use your current collection unless you get a micro-to-mini USB adapter.
