Introduction

PC-Coolers is a Romanian distributor and retailer of various PC DIY products, including peripherals, such as keyboards and mice. In addition to working with other brands, the company has founded its own house brand called AQIRYS which we have covered multiple times before on TechPowerUp, including cases and mice. My first experience with the brand came with the AQIRYS Aludra TKL keyboard which has since been updated, we'll take a separate look at the newer Aludra in due time. Today we examine another keyboard and thanks to AQIRYS for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp!


The AQIRYS brand logo is in the shape of a galaxy, and most AQIRYS products are named after stars as was the case with the Aludra before. The subject of today's review is called the ADARA, which would be the brightest star in the visible sky if you consider the UV spectrum. No surprise then that this keyboard features rich RGB lighting for the various keys on this 1800 form factor in addition to a lit-up acrylic logo insert on the top right corner. AQIRYS is promising a gasket mount structure here in addition to various other premium features at a reasonable price so let's put the ADARA to the test in our review which begins with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

The celestial theme makes an appearance on the product packaging too, with a predominantly black background and some stars strewn around. The brand logo and product name are on the front, as is a large render of the keyboard lit up brightly. Salient marketing features are also listed here to where this is a good design overall if it were to ever catch your eye in a retail store. The same continues on the back with more renders, specifications, marketing features, and a contents list. A QR code on the side takes you to the product page, and two seals on the sides keep this outer sleeve neatly placed over the inner box.


The inner box is simpler in design and continues the black cardboard aesthetic with a lot of gaming lingo over a subtle, but huge AQIRYS logo. A double flap on the side with another seal on top keeps the contents in place during transit and, opening the box, we see a welcome note and a multi-language quick start guide that goes over the various pre-programmed functions. An online copy can be found on the previously linked product page, and it's worth going through briefly to make the most of the keyboard. Speaking of which, the keyboard itself comes inside a wax paper wrap and is enclosed by thick foam all around for added protection. The remaining accessories are neatly placed in individual foam compartments underneath as seen above.


AQIRYS includes a set of 20 pre-lubed customized HaiMu Ocean Blue Tactile switches to use on any set of keys you wish in addition to a standard profile replacement PBT keycap. There is also an oversized cleaning brush which opens up to reveal a tool for more precise keyboard maintenance. We also get a metal wire-style keycap puller as well as a standalone switch remover tool with a thick, somewhat tacky finish on the body.


Rounding off the unboxing experience is a black-and-white split aviator-style coiled keyboard cable. There is a white coiled section heading from the keyboard with a USB Type-C connector and then a straight black section that ends in the expected USB Type-A connector headed to your PC. The total length of the cable is thus longer than usual at 2 m but the coiled section is hard to get fully stretched out so it effectively makes for a shorter cable that can extend if needed.