A budget full-size that earns its keep — fine as a first board, less likely to be your endgame.
May not satisfy the urge to upgrade for long
The KN104 keeps coming up as a fantastic budget pick — owners describe surprisingly good stock switches in a purple/lilac shade, a light easy-typing feel, and a price that makes it an easy first full-size. The honest catch is one owner loved it but kept hunting for more.
Switches that suit this board's sound and build.
The KN104 is a budget plastic full-size with a light beginner-friendly typing feel, and Milky Yellow's creamy thocky tone in a plastic gasket case is the well-trodden 'better-than-stock' upgrade. Budget price tier matches the board's slot, and the medium spring keeps the light feel beginners came in for.
A budget linear with a surprisingly deep thocky tone — exactly the 'sounds better than expected' value the KN104 is praised for. Light actuation and bottom-out preserve the easy, light typing feel that earns the board its beginner-friendly tag.
A budget silent linear with a light actuation suits the KN104's plastic gasket case and full-size office-friendly footprint — owners using a 104-key for daily typing benefit from a muted profile in shared spaces. Adds switch-type variety (silent) without leaving the budget bucket.
A budget tactile that introduces a clear bump for users learning what they like on their first full-size, while staying coherent with the board's solid plastic build through its smooth stem and light-medium force. Provides tactile variety in a sea of cheap linears.
The all-time budget linear default that any first-time full-size hot-swap owner can drop in confidently — medium force balances the KN104's light stock feel without raising the price tier. Safe community pick for new owners exploring the hobby on a budget board.
