Aftershock Oden V2 review: No complaints at this price
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Aftershock Oden V2 review: No complaints at this price
The Aftershock Oden V2 is the everyman's keyboard. Priced at just S$99, it is perfectly priced for folks looking for their first mechanical keyboard, or for those who simply want one that just works.
Like most other Aftershock products, the Oden V2 excels in terms of its value proposition. Its biggest rival is probably Tecware's Phantom+ Elite, which currently retails at S$109. Both keyboards actually look suspiciously similar, down to the logo placement in the bottom right corner, indicator lights, and overall construction.
They likely share the same OEM, but Phantom+ Elite supports wireless connectivity via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz whereas the Oden V2 is wired only. While the Elite has a toggle switch beside its USB-C port, the Oden V2 has a blank space where the switch would be, highlighted by a rectangular outline.
Nevertheless, the Oden V2 still crams a lot into its affordable price, including durable PBT keycaps to resist shine, sound-dampening foam, and pre-lubed and tuned stabilisers. It sounds pretty good for its price, although it doesn't quite deliver the deep thock sound some enthusiasts crave.
Either way, that's a lot of focus on the feel and acoustics for an entry-level keyboard, and it's definitely nice to see. The Gateron G Pro 2.0 Brown switches are pre-lubed as well and have an actuation force of 55g. They are supposed to offer reduced spring noise and less stem wobble. The latter point is borne out with my review unit, which had minimal side-to-side wobble along both the x- and y-axis.
These switches also feature a light opening on the upper housing to concentrate light and guide it to the keycap. The RGB backlighting was bright and even but there doesn't seem to be any way to adjust the lighting on the keyboard itself or via software.
Unlike many other gaming keyboards, the Oden V2 follows a standard TKL layout, which means that shopping for custom keycaps should be a breeze. There are no oddly sized keys to worry about, and so it should work well with the vast majority of keycap sets available on the market.
The USB-C connector also opens up the option of custom coiled cables if you want to further personalise your desk.
The TKL form factor is much welcome over more traditional full-sized models. It makes the keyboard easier to center and provides a more ergonomic typing experience, while still leaving enough room for your mouse.
The four rubber feet did their job of anchoring the keyboard to my desk, and I didn't have any issues with it slipping around. Build quality feels robust as well, with no twisting or flexing anywhere.
Conclusion
The Oden V2 is a great starter mechanical keyboard for someone looking to get into the hobby, with the leeway to experiment later. In a nod to the enthusiast market, it includes foam and is factory lubed to further sweeten the typing experience. However, this is definitely not a keyboard for veteran hobbyists, who will probably prefer to do their own lubing and tuning.
But if you're looking for an affordable mechanical keyboard, you could do a whole lot worse than the Oden V2. It is supremely affordable and has almost nothing against it, considering its S$99 price tag.
You can find the Aftershock Oden V2 mechanical keyboard at the Aftershock Online Store.
