BOYI GMK67 Barebones Keyboard Kit, VIA, Tri-Mode Gasket Hot Swap RGB 4000mAh Wireless 65% DIY Kit with Knob (White) Review (2026)

A compact barebones kit

This kit provides the case, PCB, plate and gasket mounting hardware for a 65% layout board, which keeps arrow keys and a few navigation keys while dropping the numpad and function row found on full-size keyboards. As a barebones kit, switches and keycaps are sold separately, so buyers choose their own combination based on preferred sound and feel rather than being locked into whatever a prebuilt keyboard ships with. The PCB is hot-swappable and, per the listing, compatible with Cherry MX, Kailh, Gateron and other 3-pin or 5-pin switches, covering the large majority of switches sold to hobbyists.

Tri-mode connectivity and battery

The kit supports three connection modes: Bluetooth 5.0 for pairing with tablets or phones, 2.4GHz wireless through a USB dongle for lower latency gaming, and wired USB-C as a fallback when the battery is low or during firmware updates. Listings describe a 4000mAh battery, a notably large capacity for a compact keyboard, which should support extended cordless use between charges, though real-world runtime depends on backlighting brightness and how often 2.4GHz mode is used over the more power-efficient Bluetooth mode. Having all three modes built into the barebones kit means builders do not need to source or wire a separate battery or wireless module themselves.

Gasket mount and the included knob

Gasket mounting sits the plate on foam or silicone gaskets around its edges rather than screwing it rigidly to the case, which enthusiasts favor for a slightly softer, more cushioned typing feel and reduced high-pitched case ping compared with tray mount designs. The kit also includes a physical knob, which the listing describes as configurable through VIA for functions like volume control, adding a piece of hardware that many compact boards leave out entirely. VIA support extends to the rest of the layout too, letting every key be remapped or given macros through a graphical tool without flashing custom firmware.

Case material and what is preinstalled

The case is built from plastic rather than aluminum, which keeps the kit's price down but means the board is lighter and can sound or feel slightly hollow before adding case foam or other sound-dampening mods that many builders add during assembly. Listings note that foam is preinstalled and the kit includes a polycarbonate plate, so the core gasket-mount structure is ready to accept switches without additional plate sourcing. Builders wanting a heavier, more premium feel, or a quieter stock sound without adding foam themselves, should budget for an aluminum kit instead, which typically costs noticeably more than a plastic barebones kit like this one.

Value for a compact wireless kit

Combining a knob, gasket mounting, tri-mode wireless and a large battery in one barebones kit is a strong feature set for the price, which is why this kit ranks well against other compact custom kits in its category. The main costs to budget beyond the kit itself are a full set of 65% switches and a matching keycap set, plus optional case foam if the stock plastic sound feels too hollow once assembled. For builders who want a wireless, VIA-programmable compact board with room to choose their own switches and keycaps, this kit is a reasonable starting point without paying extra for a metal case they may not need.

Frequently asked questions