The “Suspended Gasket” structure of the Dareu Flex87 essentially replaces the traditional continuous silicone gasket strip with 12 highly elastic, air-cushioned silicone units, shifting the internal assembly from being “clamped” to being “supported.” The immediate benefit of this structural change is significantly increased room for flex, eliminating the jarring vibration often felt when pressing edge keys; however, its true value is best understood in the context of achieving a “soft, bouncy feel” and “HiFi sound quality.” Feedback from teardowns and initial user reviews indicates that the Flex87 delivers outstanding sound and consistent typing feel for its price point, though issues with wireless stability reveal shortcomings in engineering maturity.
I. Suspended Gasket: From “Clamped” to “Supported”
The logic behind traditional gasket structures involves “clamping” the internal assembly between the top and bottom cases using silicone strips or foam. While cushioning layers typically line the perimeter, the central area of the assembly may still make direct contact with the bottom case, resulting in a stiffer feel and noticeable vibration when pressing keys near the edges.
The Flex87 addresses this by placing 12 highly elastic, air-cushioned silicone units along the edges and corners, effectively “supporting” the internal assembly and allowing it to float above the bottom case. The cushioning elements shift from a “linear” arrangement to “point-based” supports, strategically positioned where cushioning is most needed.
This structural change results in a tangible difference in typing feel. In traditional gasket designs, the internal assembly is clamped, limiting flex to the compression range of the silicone strip; in the suspended design, the space beneath the assembly is open, allowing for greater downward travel and a softer rebound. Teardown reports describe the feel as having “large-scale flex and ample softness/bounce,” specifically noting that “when paired with a flex-cut plate, the typing feel is truly soft.”
Dareu calls this cushioning component “Cloud-Wheel Silicone.” Physically resembling a tire, it offers a greater range of deformation than standard silicone mounts while serving as a comprehensive cushioning layer. The manufacturer claims that compared to traditional gasket structures, this design offers “greater room for compression, a softer and more responsive feel, and reduced vibration feedback when pressing edge keys.”
II. Sound Engineering: Noise-Dampening Bosses and Internal Damping
The Flex87’s acoustic performance and structural design were developed in tandem. The included “Haokong” switches (Sky Switch V5) feature a specially designed noise-dampening boss in the bottom housing, intended to make the bottom-out sound deeper and more focused. This boss functions similarly to an “early bottom-out” mechanism—the stem contacts the boss at the end of its travel rather than striking the bottom housing directly, thereby altering the acoustic characteristics of the impact.
Teardown reports indicate that this early bottom-out design offers a solution for achieving a “softer feel while maintaining distinct bottom-out feedback.” The white Haokong switch stems feature a light 40g actuation force, while the blue stems used for larger keys require 45g. The spacebar also features custom-fitted internal foam to further optimize its sound profile.
Combined with multi-layer dampening foam beneath the PCB and a flex-cut polycarbonate (PC) mounting plate, the Flex87’s sound profile is described as “deep and focused,” aligning with the popular “Mahjong-like” or “Hi-Fi” typing sound aesthetic.
III. Performance Specs: Dual 8K Support and 8000mAh Battery
The Flex87 does not compromise on performance despite its mechanical switch configuration. It supports an 8000Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4GHz wireless modes, offering a theoretical latency as low as 0.125ms. The keyboard also supports advanced SOCD key functions and offers tri-mode connectivity, including Bluetooth.
It is equipped with an 8000mAh battery—a high-capacity configuration for an 87-key layout. While the dual 8K performance setup places a significant load on power consumption, the large battery provides a necessary buffer.
IV. Limits of Engineering Maturity: Disconnection Issues
Following the Flex87’s market launch, early users reported a notable issue: disconnections and system restarts occurring in 2.4GHz wireless mode. One user reported that the keyboard failed after just one night, suffering from frequent disconnections and reboots—specifically, the lights would suddenly cut out, switch to a multicolored display, and then revert to the default lighting preset. Neither swapping cables nor changing USB ports resolved the issue. Customer service suggested a firmware update, but the user questioned the feasibility of this approach given the constant disconnections; a stable wired connection is required for firmware updates, yet the keyboard itself could not maintain a stable link.
This case highlights the tension between structural innovation and engineering maturity. While the “floating gasket” design offers tangible benefits in terms of typing feel and sound, the introduction of twelve silicone airbag mounts alters how the internal assembly is secured, potentially affecting PCB stress distribution and the clearance zones required for wireless antennas. Although it is currently unclear whether the disconnection issue is directly linked to the structural design, it represents a quality control challenge that the Flex87—a product prioritizing structural innovation—must confront.
