AJAZZ x Attack Shark X85 Review: 75% Wireless Keyboard Tested

Switch terminology in the mechanical keyboard market has become genuinely difficult to parse. Manufacturers apply labels like "linear," "tactile," and "clicky" with varying degrees of accuracy, and the underlying physics, specifically actuation force measured in centinewtons, pre-travel distance in millimetres, and total travel depth, rarely appear in the marketing copy where they'd actually be useful. When a budget-to-mid-range board like the AJAZZ x Attack Shark X85 lands on my desk claiming hot-swappable linear switches and a five-layer dampening stack, the practical question isn't whether those features exist. It's whether the numbers behind them translate into a keyboard worth buying at this price point.

I've been testing the X85 across several weeks of daily use, splitting time between extended typing sessions, competitive FPS play in Counter-Strike 2, and some longer RPG sessions where I'm less concerned about milliseconds and more concerned about whether my wrists hate me by hour three. The 75% form factor is one I've warmed to considerably over the years. It keeps the function row, adds dedicated arrow keys, and cuts enough bulk that it doesn't dominate a desk. The X85 sits in a crowded bracket, though. At this price, you're competing with established names and some genuinely capable Chinese-market boards that have been filtering into the UK market over the past couple of years.

So what does the X85 actually deliver? That's what this review is going to establish, with specific numbers where I have them and honest assessments where the marketing copy gets vague. No fluff. Just what it's like to actually use this thing.

The case is plastic, which is worth being upfront about at this price tier. The plate material isn't explicitly specified in AJAZZ's product documentation, which is a minor frustration. Based on the sound profile and the feel underfoot when typing, it's almost certainly a polycarbonate or FR4 plate rather than steel or aluminium. That's not automatically a problem. Polycarbonate plates flex slightly, which can actually improve the typing feel, but it does mean the board won't have the same rigidity as something with a brass or aluminium plate. Weight comes in at a reasonable figure for a wireless 75%, and the board includes a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box alongside the 2.4GHz dongle.

Battery capacity is 3000mAh, which is on the larger end for this form factor. AJAZZ rates it at approximately 4000 hours without RGB and significantly less with lighting enabled, though I'll get into my real-world experience with that in the battery section. The board charges via USB-C, which is the correct answer in 2024. There's a physical power switch on the side, and the function layer handles connectivity switching between the three modes. Below is the full specification breakdown.

The linear feel on the X85's included switches is smooth through most of the travel range, but there's a slight scratchiness noticeable in the first millimetre of travel that you don't get on a properly lubed Gateron Yellow or a factory-lubed Akko switch. It's not bad. It's not going to ruin your gaming session. But if you've used a premium lubed linear before, you'll notice it. The good news is that the hot-swap socket is 5-pin compatible, which means you can drop in almost any MX-footprint switch without needing to clip pins. I swapped in some Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellows during testing, and the improvement in smoothness was immediate and significant. The board supports the swap well, with no wobble in the socket and consistent switch seating across the board.

The five-layer padding stack does meaningful work here. AJAZZ lists the layers as a case foam, plate foam, PCB foam, a silicone gasket layer, and a poron layer between the PCB and case bottom. Whether all five are genuinely distinct materials or whether some of that is marketing categorisation is hard to verify without destructive disassembly, but the acoustic result is real. The stock switches produce a muted, medium-pitched thock rather than the sharp, high-pitched clack you'd get from an unpadded board. Bottom-out is dampened without feeling mushy. For a board at this price, the sound profile is genuinely impressive, and it holds up even better once you swap in better switches.

One thing worth flagging: the stabilisers on the spacebar and larger modifier keys are pre-lubed from the factory, but the lube application is uneven. The spacebar in particular has a slight rattle on the left side that's audible during normal typing. It's fixable with a small amount of dielectric grease applied to the wire ends, and it took me about ten minutes to sort. But it's a quality control issue that shouldn't exist on a board claiming premium dampening. The enter key and backspace are fine. It's specifically the spacebar that needs attention.

The PBT quality itself is good for the price. The texture is slightly rough, which is typical of PBT and helps with grip during long gaming sessions. The legends are crisp and show no obvious bleed or misalignment on my review unit. Thickness feels adequate, roughly 1.4-1.5mm based on feel, which is thinner than premium aftermarket keycaps but standard for this tier. The RGB shines through the side legends reasonably well, though the illumination is naturally less even than you'd get with top-printed or double-shot legends. If RGB visibility matters to you, this is a genuine trade-off to consider.

The 75% layout itself is well executed. You get a full function row, dedicated arrow keys, and a column of keys on the right side that typically includes Delete, Page Up, Page Down, and End. This is the layout I'd recommend to most people who are considering dropping to a smaller form factor but aren't ready to lose the function row or arrow keys. The X85 adds a rotary encoder knob in the top-right corner, which is a genuinely useful addition. By default it controls volume, but it can be remapped via the software. After several weeks of use, I find myself reaching for it constantly, and I miss it when I go back to boards without one. The keycap compatibility is standard MX spacing, so aftermarket sets will fit without issue, though you'll want to check that your chosen set includes the 75% specific keys.

One layout note for Mac users: the board ships in Windows layout, with Windows keys where you'd expect Command keys. There's a function-layer shortcut to switch to Mac mode, which remaps the modifier keys appropriately. It works, but the keycap legends still say Windows-specific labels, which is a minor annoyance if you're using this primarily on a Mac. A Mac-specific keycap set would sort this, but it's an extra cost to factor in.

The weight is light for a 75% board, which is partly a consequence of the plastic case and partly a result of the wireless hardware. If you prefer a heavier board that stays planted, you might find the X85 moves around more than you'd like, particularly during aggressive gaming sessions. A desk mat helps considerably. The USB-C port is positioned on the top-left of the board, which is a sensible placement for cable management. The cable itself is a basic braided type, functional but not particularly premium. The 2.4GHz dongle is small and stores in a compartment under the board, which is a nice touch for travel.

The hot-swap PCB is a genuine highlight of the build. The sockets are 5-pin compatible and feel secure when inserting and removing switches. I swapped switches multiple times during testing and experienced no socket damage or loosening. The switch puller included in the box is the basic wire type, which works but isn't the most comfortable tool for extended swap sessions. A proper switch puller costs a few pounds and is worth the investment if you plan to swap frequently. The plate, as mentioned earlier, appears to be polycarbonate or FR4 based on the acoustic and flex characteristics, which contributes to the pleasant sound profile but does mean the board has a slightly softer feel underfoot compared to aluminium-plate alternatives.

The five-layer padding stack is the build's headline feature, and it does deliver on its acoustic promise. The board is noticeably quieter than similarly priced competitors with single-layer or no foam dampening. Whether you attribute that to five distinct layers or to a well-implemented two or three layer stack with some marketing embellishment, the end result is a board that won't annoy your flatmates or colleagues, and that's what actually matters.

The number of preset lighting effects is generous. There are somewhere in the region of 15 to 18 built-in effects accessible via function-layer shortcuts, covering the usual suspects: wave, ripple, reactive typing, breathing, and static colour. Cycling through them is straightforward once you've memorised the key combinations, though the lack of an on-screen indicator means you're doing it by feel until you learn the sequence. The RGB can be turned off entirely to save battery, which is the sensible choice in wireless mode if battery life is a priority.

Colour accuracy is solid across the spectrum. Red, blue, and green are clean. White is slightly warm rather than pure white, which is common with RGB LEDs and not a significant issue. The per-key control available through the software (more on that in the next section) allows for custom lighting profiles, and the on-board memory stores these profiles so they persist without the software running. The rotary encoder has its own LED that participates in the lighting effects, which is a small but appreciated detail. Overall, the RGB implementation is competent and covers everything most users will want, without the software depth of something like a Corsair or Razer board.

On-board memory stores up to three profiles, which is adequate for most users. The profiles persist when the software isn't running, so you can configure the board on a Windows machine and then use it on a Mac without needing the software installed on the Mac. This is important for multi-device users and it works reliably in my testing. Macro support is present and covers basic gaming macros without issue. Complex scripted macros with timing-sensitive inputs are possible but require patience with the software interface.

Firmware updates are delivered through the software, and the update process worked without issues during my testing period. The board recognised the update, applied it, and restarted cleanly. One thing I'd flag: the software doesn't always detect the board immediately on launch, and occasionally requires a USB reconnect to establish the connection. It's a minor annoyance that a firmware update might address, but it's worth mentioning. For users who want to set the board up once and then never think about software again, the X85 is perfectly capable of operating entirely without the software after initial configuration.

Bluetooth 5.1 supports pairing with up to three devices simultaneously, with quick switching between them via function-layer shortcuts. I used this primarily for pairing with a MacBook and an iPad alongside the main Windows gaming PC. The pairing process is standard and worked first time with all three devices. The Bluetooth polling rate drops to 125Hz, which is worth understanding. For typing and general productivity use, 125Hz is perfectly fine. For competitive gaming, you want the 2.4GHz or wired connection. The Bluetooth 5.1 specification does support lower latency than older Bluetooth versions, but the 125Hz polling rate is a software implementation choice rather than a hardware limitation, and it's a common trade-off for battery efficiency.

Wired mode via USB-C delivers the full 1000Hz polling rate and enables N-key rollover. The USB-C cable connection is solid with no wobble in the port, which is reassuring given that a loose USB-C port is one of the more common failure points on budget boards. The cable included in the box is adequate for wired use, though it's not a coiled cable or a premium braided type. If aesthetics matter, aftermarket USB-C cables are cheap and plentiful. The physical power switch on the side of the board is a good inclusion, preventing battery drain when the board is packed away. Overall, the connectivity implementation is one of the X85's stronger areas.

With RGB enabled at medium brightness, battery life drops significantly, as it does on every wireless keyboard with backlighting. Expect somewhere in the region of two to three days of mixed use with RGB running. This is consistent with what I see from comparable boards, and it's the reason I keep RGB off during wireless use. The board does have an auto-sleep function that activates after a configurable period of inactivity, which helps extend battery life during work sessions where you step away from the desk frequently.

Charging is via USB-C, and the board charges while in use, which means you can plug it in and keep working without interruption. Full charge from near-empty took approximately two hours in my testing, which is reasonable for a 3000mAh cell. There's no battery percentage indicator on the board itself, which is a minor frustration. A low-battery indicator LED would be a useful addition. Instead, you get a flashing LED when the battery is critically low, which gives you enough warning to find a cable before the board dies entirely. Not ideal, but workable.

For gaming, the 1000Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4GHz mode is the correct spec for competitive play. In Counter-Strike 2, the input response felt tight and consistent. I didn't notice any missed inputs or unexpected delays during fast key sequences. The N-key rollover in wired mode means you can hold multiple keys simultaneously without ghosting, which matters for games that require complex key combinations. The linear switches suit gaming well. There's no tactile bump to push through, so rapid repeated keypresses feel smooth and consistent. If you're coming from a tactile switch and find linears feel "empty," that's a legitimate preference difference, not a flaw in the X85.

The rotary encoder is genuinely useful during gaming. Volume adjustment without taking your hand off the keyboard is a small quality-of-life improvement that I find myself missing on boards without one. The encoder has a satisfying click resistance and doesn't feel cheap or loose. The dedicated media key row accessible via the function layer covers play/pause, skip, and mute, which rounds out the media control options nicely. One minor gaming-specific note: the function layer key placement means some function-layer shortcuts require a slightly awkward hand position. It's not a significant issue, but it's worth spending an hour learning the layout before a gaming session rather than discovering key combinations mid-game.

Mobile pairing via Bluetooth works with both iOS and Android. I tested pairing with an iPhone 15 and a Samsung Galaxy S23, and both connected without issues. The typing experience on mobile is fine for occasional use, though the 75% layout with its function-layer shortcuts is less intuitive on a device where you can't easily reference the key combinations. iPad pairing worked well, and the board is a reasonable option for productivity use with an iPad if you're already using it as a desktop replacement.

Console compatibility is limited. The board will function as a basic keyboard input device when connected via USB-C to a PS5 or Xbox Series X, but gaming-specific features like N-key rollover and the software customisation won't be available. Using a keyboard on console for gaming is a niche use case anyway, and the X85 isn't specifically marketed for it. For PC and Mac users, which is the target audience, compatibility is solid across the board.

The X85's five-layer padding stack gives it an acoustic advantage over the K2 Pro, which has a more traditional single-layer foam implementation. The K2 Pro has a better software ecosystem and more established community support, which matters if you want to dig deep into customisation. The Nuphy Air75 V2 is a fundamentally different typing experience due to its low-profile switches, so if you're committed to standard-height MX switches, it's not really a competitor. The X85's hot-swap support is comparable to both alternatives, and its battery capacity is competitive.

Where the X85 loses ground is in brand recognition and long-term support confidence. AJAZZ and Attack Shark are less established in the UK market than Keychron, and the software quality gap is real. But on pure hardware metrics, the X85 punches above its weight, particularly on acoustics and switch feel with the dampening stack doing its job properly.

The weaknesses are real but mostly addressable. The spacebar stabiliser needs a few minutes of attention with some dielectric grease. The stock switches are decent but not exceptional, and if you're going to spend time with this board, budgeting for a switch swap will noticeably improve the experience. The software is functional but rough around the edges. And the side-printed legends, while aesthetically clean, do reduce RGB visibility compared to top-printed alternatives. None of these are dealbreakers, but they're honest trade-offs to understand before purchasing.

Who should buy this? Someone who wants a wireless 75% gaming keyboard with good acoustics, hot-swap support, and a rotary encoder, and who doesn't need the brand recognition or software polish of a Keychron. Someone who's comfortable doing a bit of maintenance work on the stabilisers and potentially swapping switches. And someone who values the 2.4GHz wireless option for gaming rather than relying solely on Bluetooth. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs cross-platform software support, anyone who wants double-shot keycaps for better RGB visibility, and anyone who wants a heavier, more premium-feeling board. The X85 earns a solid 7.5 out of 10. It's not perfect, but at this price, it's a proper contender.

If you're open to a low-profile switch experience, the Nuphy Air75 V2 is worth a look. It's a slimmer board with a more laptop-like typing feel, and it has a strong reputation for build quality in the low-profile segment. But it's a fundamentally different typing experience, so make sure you know what you're getting into before committing.

For users on a tighter budget who are willing to sacrifice wireless connectivity, the wired 75% market has some excellent options from brands like Akko and Royal Kludge that deliver comparable or better switch quality at lower prices. Wireless convenience has a cost, and if you're primarily desk-bound, a wired board might be the more sensible choice.

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, vividrepairs.co.uk may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This does not influence our editorial recommendations. We only recommend products we have genuinely tested and believe offer value to our readers.