Finding the right mechanical keyboard can be a challenge, especially when you’re looking for a mix of aesthetics, performance, and versatility. The KiiBOOM Moonshadow V2 aims to check all those boxes with its sleek design, hot-swappable switches, and a feature set that caters to both gamers and professionals. With support for QMK and VIA, multiple connectivity options, and a 4000mAh battery, this KiiBOOM‘s keyboard is built for customization and convenience.
At its core, the KiiBOOM Moonshadow V2 isn’t just about looks—it’s designed to provide a smooth and satisfying typing experience. The inclusion of an FR4 plate, premium stabilizers, and a programmable rotary knob enhances both feel and functionality. Whether you’re hammering away in an intense gaming session or typing up a report, the keyboard’s ergonomic layout and creamy switches ensure comfort and consistency. Plus, with its vibrant RGB lighting, it adds a touch of personality to any setup.
In this review, we’ll put the KiiBOOM Moonshadow V2 through its paces, testing its build quality, performance, and customization options. Does it live up to its promises, or is it just another stylish keyboard with no real substance? Let’s find out.
Unboxing
Right out of the box, the brand sets a bold tone with a visually striking purple-themed box featuring a wireframe illustration of the keyboard. The back highlights key features such as VIA compatibility, a CNC aluminum body, and a patent tenon-and-mortise structure for improved durability. The playful mascot holding an “Enter” key adds a fun touch, but the real question is whether the keyboard lives up to its promising first impression.
Unboxing the keyboard, you’re greeted with a well-organized package that includes the keyboard itself, a keycap puller, a switch puller, a detachable USB-C cable, and an extra FR4 plate for customization. The accessories are neatly arranged, and the secure packaging ensures everything stays in place during shipping. The additional plate is a welcome inclusion, allowing users to fine-tune the typing feel without needing to purchase extra parts separately.
Design
The KiiBoom Moonshadow V2 takes a minimalist yet high-tech approach to design, featuring a refined aluminum chassis that feels both premium and durable. Our review unit, finished in anodized black, has a smooth, matte texture that resists fingerprints and minor scratches, ensuring it looks pristine even with daily use. The 6063 aluminum frame gives the keyboard a solid, weighty feel, eliminating any signs of flex while adding to its overall stability. With additional finish options like anodized silver and electrophoretic pink, the Moonshadow V2 caters to different aesthetic preferences while maintaining its sleek, futuristic appeal.
The Moonshadow V2 doesn’t just focus on aesthetics—it brings a well-thought-out design that prioritizes both usability and build quality. The 75% layout ensures a compact footprint while retaining dedicated function keys, making it a great middle-ground for gamers and productivity users alike. The inclusion of a metal knob adds a touch of convenience, allowing quick volume adjustments or custom functions. With its 1.56kg weight and sturdy frame, the keyboard stays firmly in place during intense typing or gaming sessions, reinforcing its premium feel without unnecessary bulk.
The addition of a metal volume knob on the Moonshadow V2 is a small but meaningful upgrade that significantly improves usability. The original model had a sleek, minimalist design but lacked dedicated volume control, which could be inconvenient during gaming or multitasking. With the V2, adjusting sound levels on the fly is effortless, whether you’re deep in a game, streaming content, or juggling multiple tasks. The tactile feel of the metal knob also adds a touch of refinement, making the overall experience feel more premium without overcomplicating the design.
The back edge of the keyboard features a well-thought-out layout for connectivity and compatibility. A centrally placed USB-C port ensures an easy wired connection, while two textured toggle switches sit on either side. One switch allows users to swap between Windows and macOS modes, catering to different operating system preferences. The other switch toggles between USB, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless modes, offering flexibility for various setups.
The underside of the KiiBOOM keyboard sports a sleek yet functional design. The combination of matte black and metallic silver creates a striking contrast, while the angular pattern adds a touch of modern aesthetics. The branding is subtly engraved into the silver section, blending in without being too aggressive. Four rubberized feet are positioned at the corners to ensure a firm grip on different surfaces, preventing any unwanted sliding during use. However, the absence of adjustable feet means users are stuck with a fixed typing angle, which could be a drawback for those who prefer customization in ergonomics.
The Moonshadow V2 is designed with a thoughtful approach to both customization and user experience. With the inclusion of FR4 and PC plates, users can choose between a firmer, deeper sound profile or a softer, bouncier typing feel. The ability to swap between these plates allows for fine-tuning to individual preferences, making the keyboard versatile for different use cases. Additionally, with support for both plate-mounted and screw-in stabilizers, the Moonshadow V2 provides smooth and rattle-free key presses, ensuring a refined typing experience.
The ball catch locking system simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need for screws to secure the case. This design not only makes modifications and maintenance more convenient but also helps reduce vibrations, leading to a cleaner and more consistent sound profile. The locking mechanism ensures a firm connection between the case components without compromising structure, making it a great choice for users who enjoy fine-tuning their build without hassle.
To further enhance comfort and acoustics, the Moonshadow V2 integrates multiple layers of damping materials, including PORON sandwich foam, IXPE switch pads, PET acoustic film, and bottom foam. Combined with the gasket-mounted structure, these elements contribute to a softer typing feel while delivering a balanced and refined sound signature. Whether for gaming or extended typing sessions, this keyboard provides a well-rounded experience that meets the demands of both casual users and enthusiasts.
Keycaps & RGB Backlight
The keycaps follow the Cherry profile, a popular choice among enthusiasts for its sculpted and ergonomic design. This profile provides a comfortable typing angle, reducing finger fatigue over long sessions. Compared to OEM keycaps, Cherry-profile keycaps sit slightly lower, offering a more controlled feel, which is ideal for both gaming and daily typing. The colorway blends cream, black, and orange for a distinct yet balanced aesthetic, with novelty keycaps adding a bit of personality. The legends are dye-sublimated, meaning they won’t fade over time, but some alignment inconsistencies are noticeable, especially on darker keycaps.
Constructed from 5-side dye-sub PBT, these keycaps boast excellent durability and resistance to wear. PBT plastic is known for its textured surface, preventing the keys from developing a shiny appearance over time. The 5-side dye-sublimation process allows for more detailed and vibrant designs, ensuring the legends and side prints remain crisp even with heavy use. Additionally, the keycaps have a solid thickness, contributing to a deeper and more satisfying sound profile when typing. While the material and finish are premium, a slight refinement in print consistency would enhance the overall presentation.
The Moonshadow V2 features south-facing RGB backlighting, ensuring better keycap compatibility and a more uniform glow. The lighting is bright, customizable, and well-executed, allowing users to tweak colors and effects to match their setup. Whether you’re gaming late at night or working in a well-lit environment, the RGB remains vivid without being overly intrusive. While aesthetics play a big role, the keyboard doesn’t just rely on flashy lights—it also focuses on delivering a solid typing experience with responsive key switches and a well-built frame.
KiiBOOM Flick Switch
Pre-installed with KiiBOOM Flick switches, it offers a smooth and lightweight linear typing experience with a 45gf actuation force and 50gf bottom-out force. While this setup works well for those who prefer a softer keystroke, gamers who like a more responsive feel may want a different switch type. Thankfully, the hot-swappable PCB allows users to replace switches easily, making customization simple without the need for soldering.
Typing on the Moonshadow V2 feels comfortable and consistent. The 3.6mm total travel distance and 2.0mm pre-travel provide a responsive experience, whether for work or casual use. The polycarbonate housing gives the keyboard a sturdy feel while keeping the weight manageable. Stabilizers are well-tuned, reducing rattle on larger keys like the spacebar and enter key. This attention to detail enhances the overall feel, making typing smooth and enjoyable without unwanted noise or wobble.
For gaming, the Moonshadow V2 includes full-key rollover and anti-ghosting, ensuring every keystroke registers accurately. The linear switches provide quick actuation, which works well for fast-paced games, though some players may prefer switches with more resistance for better control. The keyboard also features programmable macros, making it easier to execute complex commands with a single keypress. This added flexibility helps both gamers and productivity-focused users streamline their experience.
Battery
The Moonshadow V2 packs a sizable 4000mAh battery, which ensures extended wireless operation without frequent interruptions. According to KiiBoom’s internal testing, the keyboard delivers around 23 hours of use with the backlight on and an impressive 200 hours with the lighting turned off. This makes it a solid option for users who prefer long gaming or work sessions without worrying about constantly plugging in. The convenience doesn’t stop there—whether you’re using Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless mode, the keyboard charges seamlessly when plugged in, so there’s no need to switch between wired and wireless modes manually.
Keeping track of battery life is just as easy, thanks to a simple onboard indicator system. By holding Fn + Backspace, the number row lights up to represent the remaining charge—for example, if keys 1 through 6 illuminate, the battery is at 60%, while a fully lit row means 100%. Additionally, the keyboard provides clear status indicators: a blinking red Fn key signals a low battery, while the Win key lights up when the Windows Lock function is active. These small but effective details make the Moonshadow V2 more user-friendly, ensuring you’re always aware of its power status without relying on external software.
Connectivity
The Moonshadow V2 wireless gaming keyboard is built with versatility in mind, offering three connectivity options—Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless, and USB Type-C. This makes it a strong contender for users who need seamless transitions between gaming, work, and general use. The keyboard maintains a stable connection across all modes, ensuring low latency when gaming wirelessly and providing a direct, zero-lag experience when plugged in via USB. Whether you’re looking for convenience on the go or a reliable wired setup, the Moonshadow V2 covers all bases.
Pairing Bluetooth
Pairing via Bluetooth is straightforward and allows users to connect up to three devices simultaneously. By holding Fn+1!/2@/3#, the keyboard enters pairing mode, making it easy to switch between devices without hassle. This feature is particularly useful for those who work across multiple platforms, such as a PC, tablet, and smartphone. The connection remains stable during extended use, with no noticeable input delay, making it a great option for casual gaming and everyday productivity.
Pairing Wireless 2.4Ghz
For users who prefer a more responsive wireless experience, the 2.4GHz mode offers a lower-latency connection using the included dongle. The pairing process is quick—simply toggle to the 2.4G mode, hold Fn+4$, and insert the dongle into a USB port. Once connected, the keyboard delivers a near-instantaneous response, making it a more viable option for fast-paced gaming where every millisecond counts. Compared to Bluetooth, the 2.4GHz mode ensures a more stable signal, especially in environments with multiple wireless devices.
Wired Mode
For those who prefer a wired connection, the USB Type-C mode provides the most reliable and consistent performance. Simply switching to USB mode and plugging in the keyboard guarantees uninterrupted use with no risk of interference or battery concerns. This is the preferred choice for competitive gamers who need the lowest input latency possible. Overall, the Moonshadow V2 strikes a balance between convenience and performance, making it an excellent choice for users who demand flexibility in their peripherals.
QMK/VIA Software
The KiiBOOM Moonshadow V2 delivers a refined balance between performance and customization, catering to both enthusiasts and casual users looking for a flexible mechanical keyboard. With QMK/VIA compatibility, users gain extensive control over key remapping, macros, and layers without needing complex firmware flashing. The VIA software provides an accessible way to tweak the keyboard’s layout, whether it’s for gaming shortcuts, productivity enhancements, or ergonomic adjustments. This level of customization, combined with seamless multi-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Android, makes the Moonshadow V2 a solid option for users who frequently switch between different workflows or gaming setups.
Setting up VIA is straightforward, with real-time changes taking effect instantly—eliminating the need for tedious trial-and-error adjustments. Loading a custom .JSON profile ensures users can personalize their keymaps right away, whether using the keyboard in wired or wireless mode. The intuitive nature of the software makes it easy to experiment with different functions, from macro assignments to per-key RGB lighting effects, without diving into technical hurdles. Once properly configured, the Moonshadow V2 becomes more than just a keyboard; it’s a tailored experience designed to fit individual needs, whether for high-paced gaming or daily productivity.
Use Experience
After using the KiiBOOM Moonshadow V2 for a week, the build quality feels solid with no noticeable flex. The aluminum chassis gives it a premium feel, and the 75% layout keeps it compact while still having all the necessary keys. Typing on the Flick switches is smooth, though they are on the lighter side, which may not suit those who prefer more resistance. The stabilizers are well-lubed, keeping larger keys like the spacebar and the enter key free from rattle. Over time, the keyboard remained consistent, with no key wobble or switch issues.
Wireless performance has been reliable in both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes. There was no noticeable input lag, and the 2.4GHz connection worked well during fast-paced gaming. The battery lasted several days with moderate RGB brightness, and with the lighting turned off, it easily went beyond a week. Switching between devices was quick using the dedicated toggle switch, which was useful for working across multiple setups.
Customization through VIA was easy to use. Changing key functions, setting macros, and adjusting RGB lighting didn’t take much effort. The rotary knob made volume adjustments and other functions more convenient. Default lighting effects looked great, but deeper customization allowed for a more personal touch. VIA offers a lot of flexibility, though users new to the software might need some time to get used to it.
The fixed typing angle might not work for everyone, as there are no adjustable feet. The Cherry-profile keycaps felt comfortable, but some legends had minor alignment inconsistencies. This doesn’t affect performance, but it’s noticeable upon close inspection. Despite these small issues, the Moonshadow V2 delivers a well-balanced experience, offering a mix of aesthetics, performance, and useful features.
