Massdrop X 0.01 Z70 Mechanical Keyboard Review

By: Henz Llarves | Date Posted: May 25, 2022

0.01 (zero point zero one) has teamed up with Massdrop to bring this 65% collaboration to life. With a floating key design, the Z70 looks slick and understated but every bit as capable as its competitors.

Is the Z70 the right keyboard to choose from over the Pok3r or Tada68 keyboards? Compare and find out below.

Sold via Massdrop, this keyboard isn’t readily available. Massdrop is a group buys a website that offers deals on products, like the Z70, from time to time. You’ll have to subscribe to Massdrop to be notified when the next Z70 drop is on.

Massdrop offers the Z70 as an assembled board or kit (-$10). Switch choices are either Cherry, Gateron, or Zealios (+$60).

Details

Pros	Cons
CNC aluminum case	Keycaps wear incredibly fast
Floating key design	Split Backspace
PBT keycaps	Split spacebar positioning is off centre
Dedicated arrow keys	3u spacebars x2
Partial navigation cluster	Doesn’t wake Windows
Split spacebar	Fn key problems
Bright backlight	Key chatter
Fully programmable	Programming tool only available on Windows
Right-angle detachable USB-C cable	Non-standard layout
NKRO
Mac compatible (to an extent)

65% layout has part of the navigation cluster and arrow keys. The Z70 also features split Backspace

A new take on the 65% layout

An established keyboard designer, 0.01 has design experience from his time with Varmilo, and this experience shows when looking at the Z70. Design elements from various 60% keyboards have been combined to create a hybrid 65% keyboard.

Ergonomic elements grace this keyboard, as well as split Backspace, and split a spacebar. Arrow keys sit to the bottom right of the keyboard and surrounding keys have shrunk in size in order to adjust. Instead of the conventional six key navigation cluster, 4 of the more utilized keys sit to the right of the Z70.

An ergonomic layout

While this is a step in the right direction to better ergonomic support it may take some adjusting to fully appreciate the layout. Backspace is now the | key which makes it smaller and puts it lower than what I’m familiar with. In place of the Backspace key are the | and `~ keys.

Some people may be familiar with a split Backspace setup but for me I tend to stay with the conventional ANSI layout. It’s what I grew up with and it’s what feels natural to me when typing. I could try and relearn a better layout, however, my muscle memory instinctively knows the location and size of the Backspace key and it’s hard to go against it. Especially when I switch between keyboards quite regularly.

There are also the split spacebars which are not found on conventional keyboards. Preference for one spacebar over the other lies with the user. Some users solely use the same thumb for the spacebar and this means the other half is wasted space. Split spacebars are desirable as they can trade pinky for thumb usage of certain keys. And thanks to the ability to reprogram the Z70 this unused space can have more purpose.

Fully programmable improvements

So, rather than fight muscle memory, I opted to reprogram the Z70. I changed the | and `~ keys to be Backspace and change the Backspace to Delete. Now, this isn’t the best solution but for me, it’ll do for my time with the Z70. This solution is only makeshift as it does help but doesn’t restore my full typing functionality.

Programming the Z70 is easy. It’s all performed via a Windows program (at least at the time of writing) and every key can be reassigned or removed to suit your needs, like what I did. Adding keys to Fn layers is a breeze, as well as moving the Fn key entirely to somewhere better. There’s the ability to program macros as well as open programs.

Commendations

I’m a fan of moving forward with cable connectivity. Ideally, there’d be no cables needed in a perfect world, however, the slow adoption of USB-C for devices means an abundance of cables. Although not the best cables, the Z70’s cables are right angle and sufficiently do the job.

Stay frosty

Despite only having 3 modes (on, off, breathing) the LEDs of the Z70 really do shine. They’re not your standard white. These are Frosty White LEDs which means they’ve got a slight blue tinge to them. Complaints from other users that the LEDs are too bright and cause difficulty seeing the keys do exist, though you can turn down the LED brightness.

A case for good aesthetics

When I look at the Z70, I think it’s a great-looking piece of equipment. Its simple design is composed of a black (or silver) aluminium case and floating keycaps with a simple font. The black looks stunning and the case is really a sight to behold.

I am a big fan of the left side position of the USB-C port, this allows for the keyboard to rest completely against something without protrusion, however, you may have an entirely different experience.

Gripes

The split spacebar on the Z70 is not good. It’s not just the implementation of the split spacebar but also the keys used for the split. The problem lies in the sizing, the two 3u keys used to make up the spacebars. Here are KBC’s Poker’s key sizes.

Keycaps are generally measured in units or u for short. Alphas and numerical keys are 1u, | are 1.5, and so forth. Notice how you don’t see any 3s on those layouts. That’s because no keys are 3u and 3u keys are seldom used (Filco Minila has a 3u spacebar). 3u keys are very far from standard and barely any keycap manufacturers cater to this size.

While the theory behind it is solid, 0.01’s execution of the split spacebar is flawed. Having the split of the spacebar between the H and J keys means my right thumb position sits in the chasm rather than on the spacebar. I let a few people rest their hands on the Z70 and perform a typing test, only to have them also make note of this awkward placement.

Keycaps

This wouldn’t be a problem if the keycaps were decent. But they’re not. They’re terrible. They don’t look bad but at the rate they wear, they will. The keycaps are PBT which won’t shine over time and won’t wear like ABS. If you’re a fan of PBT blanks then you won’t have a problem with the Z70’s keycaps due to how fast the letters will rub off.

I’ve actually got 2 of these keyboards. Here’s a picture of one that I tried for the day and haven’t continued to use.

At a glance they look fine, the font isn’t gamer-y nor is it over the top. It’s overtime that keycaps start to show their true colors. Unfortunately, that isn’t much time.

The profile of the keycaps are OEM.

First-round flaws

Though this is the first round of keyboard there are just a few things that need refining. I’ve had a few instances of key chatter on the Backspace which does have the potential to be problematic and irritating. Key chatter is when a keyboard registers one press as multiple. Eg, pressing “A” and getting “AA”.

Also, I’ve experienced issues with certain Fn combinations. Things like volume keys working sporadically (usually after I’ve woken up the computer and started doing something that requires volume). There’s also difficulty with the keyboard working after waking Windows, simply unplugging and replugging the cable back into the computer brings the Z70 back to life.

If you’re on a Mac and you want to reprogram the Z70, you’ll need to find a computer with Windows.

Price

And that leads me to my biggest problem, the price of the Z70. With a final drop price of $159, I expect a keyboard on par at least with the Pok3r or Tada68 keyboards. Both of these keyboards are cheaper (the Tada68 with the aluminium case is $160) with features as good or better than the Z70, and when compared to these two more refined keyboards it’s hard to justify the price.

All of these keyboards either have or offer aluminium cases. The Z70’s weight is a bit over 500g, while the Pok3r is 800g, the Tada68 is 618g with the stock case, and with the aluminium case, it’s 1.4kg. Though the Z70’s aluminium case looks good it lacks the weight to give it that premium feel.

It’s not just the premium quality that these two keyboards offer. It’s the reliability of these keyboards that makes them better than the Z70.

Pok3r

60% keyboard

Pok3r vs Z70

Better	Worse
Cheaper	Not fully programmable
More reliable	No dedicated arrow keys
Premium aluminium case	No dedicated navigation cluster
Easier programming	Only Cherry MX switch option
Programming doesn’t require a computer	No split spacebar
LEDs with more modes and even RGB
Double-shot ABS keycaps on LED models
PBT keycaps on non LED models
DIP switches to change between keyboard profiles
No split Backspace
No 3u keys
Standard layout

With the option for LEDs and even RGB LEDs, there’s a wide range of options when it comes to choosing a Pok3r. Colour options are black or white and pricing varies from $130 to $140 for non-backlit and RGB models.

Its case is superior, the programming doesn’t require software (though one is coming), and keycap offerings are either printed PBT or double-shot ABS. There are even DIP switches on the back to change the keyboard profile or swap keys around. It works straight out the box with Windows, Mac, or Linux machines.

Tada68

65% keyboard

Tada68 vs Z70

Better	Worse
Significantly cheaper without a case	No preinstalled LEDs
More reliable	Only Gateron switch options
Aluminium case is one of the best	No split spacebar
Website based programming allows any OS to program	No floating key design
Significantly better PBT keycaps	Non-standard layout
No split Backspace
No 3u keys

With a price tag the same as the Z70, the Tada68 gets you an excellent aluminium case. This thing is hefty and well worth the money. Combined with the Tada68 this whole unit weighs roughly 1.4kgs. Otherwise, the base model without the heavy aluminium case is sub $100 and well worth the money.

Programming is all done via a website so there won’t be any OS compatibility issues. Keycaps are thick PBT which are much better than the Z70s. The Tada68 does lack LEDs, however, they can still be added with a soldering iron afterward.

So which keyboard should you buy?

Get the Pok3r if you don’t need dedicated arrow keys, and the Tada68 if you do.

Get the Z70 if you’re willing to stick out the first iteration in hopes of the future. Those of you who prefer a split Backspace and spacebar should look into the Z70 as well.

Looking for more information on compact keyboards? Have a look at my Best Cheap Compact Keyboard List.