It's kinda surreal to think that this could be someone's very first custom board, compared to my first custom board, that being the OG Tofu65. It's really cool to see all this variety in the entry level keyboard space now compared to just 4 years ago, when I first joined the hobby! Can't say I would pick one up for sure, but I appreciate the effort Omnitype put into this release.
IMO, Omnitype/Dixiemech took too long to come out with the Bauer Lite. The whole abs 65% was done and done over by Novelkeys and now the craze/hype has died out. Novelkeys already jumped in on the TKL and probably have other form factors in the works. Not saying they are the only ones as several others have also moved past this as well (KBDFans, Keychron, etc)
This could've been THE entry board to edge out the NK65, Portico, and KBD67Lite back in 2020-2021. Sadly they took way too long with this release, I kinda lost interest with the Bauer and the lite.
Totally agree, it would have had a bigger market impact back then, but I still think it's a really solid addition to the line up of injection molded keyboards. Do I think it will do as well now? Honestly no, but I still think there is a market for this for someone who maybe doesn't care for the aesthetic of the Zoom or QK boards.
@@ghst4740 IMO, there's more value in QK and Zoom boards vs this one. For a around 30-50 dollars more, you're getting a far better and customizable board vs an injection mold. This could've been my first board, but ended up getting the TKC Portico instead
Yeah it would have been better if it came out earlier, I guess we've now got it as a good recommendation for any mates getting into the hobby. Personally I like the plastic cases, so they can keep them coming. I truck my KBDFans 67 Lite too and from work and the lack of weight is a feature.
It very much feels like we’ve now reached the point where inexpensive boards are so good that aside from aesthetics, it makes little difference which one you choose. Personally, I’ll be buying boards from people I want to support, and Garrett and team are absolutely people I want to support. Well done!
Big fan of how this sounds, particularly the deeper spacebar. The open space in the case allows for some nice resonance, almost wish the alphas were a little lower pitched to match the spacebar tbh, it has a nice thunky sound (sounds solid and not flimsy). I like it!
I think this sounds fantastic and it's great that they planned to have regional vendors (as a EU lad myself). I'm gonna pay very close attention to this one! If it had wireless capabilities I wouldn't hesitate.
Ok yes, is it a little late to the party, sure. BUT… I think it’s the best looking/sounding one of its kind. I ❤ the thonk of the spacebar. A great board for folks like me who take their boards to and from work, and leave the alu stuff at home. Plus, for newbies, it’s in stock unlike QK and Zoom no GB to try to catch.
I currently have dualshot on a rama kara. I'm definitely going to move my switches over to a Bauer Lite. I love the way it looks with purple. Gives me that old Gameboy feel.
Gotta say I usually prefer 65% boards with a 6.25 space and a blocker but I'm digging the dual blocker look on this. Gives it a WKL aesthetic but with the functionality of a 65
@@foggytypes I bought the Zoom TKL AE, waiting on the shipment still. Bought AE because the value proposition there is better than the EE at the time of buying (really, I just wanted the corgi butt and cat paw keycaps that I missed in the GB). I'm likely going to wait for R2 of Zoom 75 in the future as my 75%, if not something else with a similar layout since I don't like staggered arrow keys
I'm pretty new, and I guess I haven't been paying that close attention, but I'm just now seeing the split backspace design and really like it. I tried it out a bit and it's much easier to reach than on the number row, and it gives you back the missing ~` from 60% boards or the delete key, on top of eliminating one of the stabilizers you have to worry about. On that note, is there any non-ortho layout that removes stabilizers from everything but the space bar or even entirely? 1.5u split-backspace/tab/caps, 1.75u enter/Rshift/Lshift, with 3 1u modifiers on each side? A keycap set I have almost fully supports that, I just don't know what it would be called.
Cool entry level option! Personally, love my windows key, and I have a Tiger Lite already, so it’s a no from me. Also, pretty sold on getting an Envoy as my next keeb. I’ve been really liking the Haze switches. They still have the pop of the long pole bottom out I like, but a softer typing experience due to having the full 4mm travel distance. I have heard from others there is some inconsistency with the factory lube in early batches like some other Aflion switches, but I think I got lucky with my set.
I feel like your takes on the hobby are always a fair assessment of what the board is and who it’s for, I respect that. I recently came across a Reddit page that asks to ONLY post high end boards and not plastic boards like this unless they’re like CNC PC boards and stuff. I felt alittle confused because these boards are just as custom as the 50 unit one run designers pieces too right?
The biggest custom keyboard subreddit by far (r/mechanicalkeyboards) accepts boards of every sort, so you should check it out if you haven't already. If the people with high-end boards want to post in their own circle, I think that's fine too. It's just like how people who collect G-Shocks and people who collect Rolexes have their own separate communities, even though they're both interested in watches.
Bauer Lite isn't exactly the same thing as cheap plastic. What you're referring to is r/customkeyboards and the sole reason those rules are in place is so people stop posting hotswap tray-mount pre-builts that they've put Akko switches and XDA Milk and Honey onto. Tha'a what r/mechanicalkeyboards is for, that place has a chronic hatred for anyone who spends more than $200 on a mechanical keyboard. I wouldn't say r/ck even has an elitist attitude, it's just for CUSTOM keyboards, not *customised* off the shelf keyboards like Royal Kludge, Keychron, Akko, etc. Whereas Omnitype are pretty well-known in the hobby so the Bauer Lite matches into like the Ikki68, Portico and NK65 tier of customs as they're still not exactly in-stock and just run in frequent drops
I am really looking forward to picking this up at release in the Summer. Definitely going to snag the atomic purple. I think Dracula would look solid on the atomic case.
Sitting here trying to resist the urge to finally gram GMK Redline. I missed out on the group buy at the time due to low funds. Got the desk mat. Now that I can finally grab them...$400 CAD for the 3 options I want got me fucked up but I want them so bad...
This one is on my list as my first really custom keyboard. I ordered a Wooting recently but I'm not planning any modding with that one, maybe I'll just swap the case. Luckily I made the mistake of buying a G915 TKL a couple of years ago (I really really love the wireless and the super low profile, but I can't stand the keycaps and the fact I'd have to desolder the switches to lube them) so I can just sell it and use it to pay for this one :')
Hey Alex really loving your videos, plz keep it up! Just wondering if there is an estimated release date and how are availabilities of these boards (limited? group buy only? or like an in stock format)
It’s a shame there doesn’t seem to be an iso version, despite the fact that you can comparatively easily incorporate an option for that even in hot swap pcbs
Appreciate this video, but just on the board alone it sounds like my ikki68 v1 with fr4 plate and no foam. Like what others are saying, ABS kinda dead, over and done with at this point in time. But maybe Bauer Lite could revive a level of hype.. if its ever released (just teasing).
I don't disagree that market release timing isn't the best, but it's still an awesome board that I think a lot of people would appreciate. More options in that price bracket is a wonderful thing.
Well why though, it seems to bring in yet another budget gasket mount keeb, I guess because it's an injection molded plastic keyboard? Some like me are excited for that because the KBD67Lite is discontinued (and a bit dated with its strange silicone mat gasket mount that leaves little flexibility to change hardness/softness) and don't want a metal keeb that makes clicky switches sound tinny and have less asthethic flexibility like translucency. Only the Mode Envoy and the gasket-free tray mounted NK87/65 are also translucent currently and the Mode lacks color oprions for its polycarb case, requiring risky modding to make that into a preferred color. Everything else is Aluminum and while I know why Aluminum is good, honestly I want tech to return to more maximalistic designs like translucent plastic instead of the same simple often unibody aluminum trend that has been popular since the late 2000s.
The hype for sure has died down on 65% abs boards so I don't think it'll do as well as it could've back in 2020-2021. I heard about this board years ago but just ended up getting a KBD67 lite as it was readily available and got the job done. Regardless it's a good entry level board for newcomers to the hobby, if they can market it well, get people talking, and actually be in stock without a multi year wait, it should do well enough.
100% I'm stoked for this still! All I'm seeing is one of the only injected molded board (in awesome colorway) in a sea if QKs and Zoom keyboards, which is feeling a bit stale at this point tbh.
Ima be real I was convinced the Bauer Lite was never gonna happen and was practically just a meme. Honestly they're just too late to the party with the budget side of stuff because there's already far better value for money boards out there, and the sound is just kind of what you'd expect of of injection-moulded stuff. Bauer always rubbed me the wrong way being solely alu but like 3 times what it should've been worth so it's prolly par for the course that I wasn't gonna like this
the shell is too thin and look really cheap, if they can make the case solid PC would look so much better, not sure if it can be done with injection molding
It's kinda surreal to think that this could be someone's very first custom board, compared to my first custom board, that being the OG Tofu65. It's really cool to see all this variety in the entry level keyboard space now compared to just 4 years ago, when I first joined the hobby! Can't say I would pick one up for sure, but I appreciate the effort Omnitype put into this release.
Our appreciation of Alex is real.
You're too kind
Facts!!!!
IMO, Omnitype/Dixiemech took too long to come out with the Bauer Lite. The whole abs 65% was done and done over by Novelkeys and now the craze/hype has died out.
Novelkeys already jumped in on the TKL and probably have other form factors in the works. Not saying they are the only ones as several others have also moved past this as well (KBDFans, Keychron, etc)
yeah they're way too late to the scene. Not sure whats their direction atm, seems pretty pointless coming out with this board at this stage.
This could've been THE entry board to edge out the NK65, Portico, and KBD67Lite back in 2020-2021. Sadly they took way too long with this release, I kinda lost interest with the Bauer and the lite.
True, they missed the train fr. specially with boards like QK and Zoom around these days
Totally agree, it would have had a bigger market impact back then, but I still think it's a really solid addition to the line up of injection molded keyboards. Do I think it will do as well now? Honestly no, but I still think there is a market for this for someone who maybe doesn't care for the aesthetic of the Zoom or QK boards.
@@ghst4740 IMO, there's more value in QK and Zoom boards vs this one.
For a around 30-50 dollars more, you're getting a far better and customizable board vs an injection mold.
This could've been my first board, but ended up getting the TKC Portico instead
they missed the train, the plane, and the boat with this
Yeah it would have been better if it came out earlier, I guess we've now got it as a good recommendation for any mates getting into the hobby.
Personally I like the plastic cases, so they can keep them coming. I truck my KBDFans 67 Lite too and from work and the lack of weight is a feature.
It very much feels like we’ve now reached the point where inexpensive boards are so good that aside from aesthetics, it makes little difference which one you choose. Personally, I’ll be buying boards from people I want to support, and Garrett and team are absolutely people I want to support. Well done!
Wort it for the Bauer blockers alone. Sound profile is just a bonus.
Big fan of how this sounds, particularly the deeper spacebar. The open space in the case allows for some nice resonance, almost wish the alphas were a little lower pitched to match the spacebar tbh, it has a nice thunky sound (sounds solid and not flimsy). I like it!
I think this sounds fantastic and it's great that they planned to have regional vendors (as a EU lad myself).
I'm gonna pay very close attention to this one!
If it had wireless capabilities I wouldn't hesitate.
I dropped nebula switches into my atomic, and topped it all off with gmk DMG
Love it!!!
PICS?
Ok yes, is it a little late to the party, sure. BUT… I think it’s the best looking/sounding one of its kind.
I ❤ the thonk of the spacebar.
A great board for folks like me who take their boards to and from work, and leave the alu stuff at home.
Plus, for newbies, it’s in stock unlike QK and Zoom no GB to try to catch.
I currently have dualshot on a rama kara. I'm definitely going to move my switches over to a Bauer Lite. I love the way it looks with purple. Gives me that old Gameboy feel.
Oh that purple is nice. Pretty good pricing too, wow.
ETA: the red is real nice too!
are you gonna look at the monsgeek boards?
A mixed smoked/black and purple case would probably look amazing
I love the matching blocker sizes, I’d totally go for one if it was a 75. 119 is pretty dope tho so i might end up caving 👀
Gotta say I usually prefer 65% boards with a 6.25 space and a blocker but I'm digging the dual blocker look on this. Gives it a WKL aesthetic but with the functionality of a 65
Def dig and gonna buy a couple if possible. Havent bought in awhile but I really like this board.
Is there any update on when this is actually going on sale? The wait is getting ridiculous at this point
Man. This board has a little bit of everything for everyone in terms of sound.
Very nice budget board!!!!
I want this so much but I already have the Ikki68 aurora 😢
this is nothing different. keep the ikki, save up some more then get a qk/zoom/envoy
@@foggytypes I bought the Zoom TKL AE, waiting on the shipment still. Bought AE because the value proposition there is better than the EE at the time of buying (really, I just wanted the corgi butt and cat paw keycaps that I missed in the GB).
I'm likely going to wait for R2 of Zoom 75 in the future as my 75%, if not something else with a similar layout since I don't like staggered arrow keys
I'm pretty new, and I guess I haven't been paying that close attention, but I'm just now seeing the split backspace design and really like it. I tried it out a bit and it's much easier to reach than on the number row, and it gives you back the missing ~` from 60% boards or the delete key, on top of eliminating one of the stabilizers you have to worry about. On that note, is there any non-ortho layout that removes stabilizers from everything but the space bar or even entirely? 1.5u split-backspace/tab/caps, 1.75u enter/Rshift/Lshift, with 3 1u modifiers on each side? A keycap set I have almost fully supports that, I just don't know what it would be called.
Cool entry level option! Personally, love my windows key, and I have a Tiger Lite already, so it’s a no from me. Also, pretty sold on getting an Envoy as my next keeb.
I’ve been really liking the Haze switches. They still have the pop of the long pole bottom out I like, but a softer typing experience due to having the full 4mm travel distance. I have heard from others there is some inconsistency with the factory lube in early batches like some other Aflion switches, but I think I got lucky with my set.
What brand are the haze switches?
This would look cool with PBTFans Atomic Purple
I feel like your takes on the hobby are always a fair assessment of what the board is and who it’s for, I respect that. I recently came across a Reddit page that asks to ONLY post high end boards and not plastic boards like this unless they’re like CNC PC boards and stuff. I felt alittle confused because these boards are just as custom as the 50 unit one run designers pieces too right?
Yeah they are custom and I've always felt that elitist attitude is really just to swing around the dollar amount you spent on a board.
The biggest custom keyboard subreddit by far (r/mechanicalkeyboards) accepts boards of every sort, so you should check it out if you haven't already. If the people with high-end boards want to post in their own circle, I think that's fine too. It's just like how people who collect G-Shocks and people who collect Rolexes have their own separate communities, even though they're both interested in watches.
Bauer Lite isn't exactly the same thing as cheap plastic. What you're referring to is r/customkeyboards and the sole reason those rules are in place is so people stop posting hotswap tray-mount pre-builts that they've put Akko switches and XDA Milk and Honey onto. Tha'a what r/mechanicalkeyboards is for, that place has a chronic hatred for anyone who spends more than $200 on a mechanical keyboard. I wouldn't say r/ck even has an elitist attitude, it's just for CUSTOM keyboards, not *customised* off the shelf keyboards like Royal Kludge, Keychron, Akko, etc. Whereas Omnitype are pretty well-known in the hobby so the Bauer Lite matches into like the Ikki68, Portico and NK65 tier of customs as they're still not exactly in-stock and just run in frequent drops
Where can I get a small form factor desk mat like that??
I am really looking forward to picking this up at release in the Summer. Definitely going to snag the atomic purple. I think Dracula would look solid on the atomic case.
looks like a nice introductory board to get into the scene like the kbd67 lite and tiger lite.....but i wish it had rgb or some kind of underglow
this board or mode envoy? i like the layout of the bauer lite more
Hey, super late but does anyone know the switch brand and name that was used here?
Sitting here trying to resist the urge to finally gram GMK Redline. I missed out on the group buy at the time due to low funds. Got the desk mat. Now that I can finally grab them...$400 CAD for the 3 options I want got me fucked up but I want them so bad...
I need to get my hands on the Special Edition Gameboy Color looking Bauer!
This looks and sounds soo good!
This one is on my list as my first really custom keyboard. I ordered a Wooting recently but I'm not planning any modding with that one, maybe I'll just swap the case. Luckily I made the mistake of buying a G915 TKL a couple of years ago (I really really love the wireless and the super low profile, but I can't stand the keycaps and the fact I'd have to desolder the switches to lube them) so I can just sell it and use it to pay for this one :')
do you think omni will sell cases separately like how kbdfans sells cases?
Imo, if there is no option to mix -match the top and bot case, then it's gonna be another L for omnitype.
im gonna pair mine with laser r2, which color case should i get?
purple on lavender keebmat looks 🔥! as with all plastic boards, the bauer lite will probably benefit a lot from our keebtape too! 👍
Is pcb 1.6 or 1.2 size??
What is the front height?
Why is this he so freaking cute? Oh and the board is aight too
Hey Alex really loving your videos, plz keep it up! Just wondering if there is an estimated release date and how are availabilities of these boards (limited? group buy only? or like an in stock format)
This sounds pretty similar to the Tiger 80 Lite!
It’s a shame there doesn’t seem to be an iso version, despite the fact that you can comparatively easily incorporate an option for that even in hot swap pcbs
IDK about this. Tiger Lite sounds great without foam, lubed linears like alpacas or whatever. Blows so many keyboards away.
I wonder how it feels/sounds compared to Kara.
Appreciate this video, but just on the board alone it sounds like my ikki68 v1 with fr4 plate and no foam. Like what others are saying, ABS kinda dead, over and done with at this point in time.
But maybe Bauer Lite could revive a level of hype.. if its ever released (just teasing).
Kinda too late now imo
I don't disagree that market release timing isn't the best, but it's still an awesome board that I think a lot of people would appreciate. More options in that price bracket is a wonderful thing.
@@alexotos oh 100%! I just remember there being a ton of hype for it initially :D
Well why though, it seems to bring in yet another budget gasket mount keeb, I guess because it's an injection molded plastic keyboard? Some like me are excited for that because the KBD67Lite is discontinued (and a bit dated with its strange silicone mat gasket mount that leaves little flexibility to change hardness/softness) and don't want a metal keeb that makes clicky switches sound tinny and have less asthethic flexibility like translucency. Only the Mode Envoy and the gasket-free tray mounted NK87/65 are also translucent currently and the Mode lacks color oprions for its polycarb case, requiring risky modding to make that into a preferred color. Everything else is Aluminum and while I know why Aluminum is good, honestly I want tech to return to more maximalistic designs like translucent plastic instead of the same simple often unibody aluminum trend that has been popular since the late 2000s.
Way too late. $120 for injection molded keyboard in 2023 lmfao.....
@@Fleshlight_Reviewerclearly not as they almost sold out of stock on the day of release.
The hype for sure has died down on 65% abs boards so I don't think it'll do as well as it could've back in 2020-2021. I heard about this board years ago but just ended up getting a KBD67 lite as it was readily available and got the job done.
Regardless it's a good entry level board for newcomers to the hobby, if they can market it well, get people talking, and actually be in stock without a multi year wait, it should do well enough.
Between this and tiger lite, tiger hands down unless you really want a 65% wedge
they need to make two tone color otherwise that lip/curve on the back just doesnt show well.
For all the people saying Omnitype missed the hype train on this, that just means it’ll be easier for the rest of us to purchase 👍
100% I'm stoked for this still! All I'm seeing is one of the only injected molded board (in awesome colorway) in a sea if QKs and Zoom keyboards, which is feeling a bit stale at this point tbh.
smol purple mat
Yes please
Road to 100k lets go!
Very good price, i like it
Ima be real I was convinced the Bauer Lite was never gonna happen and was practically just a meme. Honestly they're just too late to the party with the budget side of stuff because there's already far better value for money boards out there, and the sound is just kind of what you'd expect of of injection-moulded stuff. Bauer always rubbed me the wrong way being solely alu but like 3 times what it should've been worth so it's prolly par for the course that I wasn't gonna like this
for a minute i thought it we had a budget topre
Typical abs case spacebar. Pretty much same as my tiger80 lite w kang whites
Shadow ans atomic? I see.
too little too late omnitype...
It sounds like a Bauer
the shell is too thin and look really cheap, if they can make the case solid PC would look so much better, not sure if it can be done with injection molding
It looks super cheap ngl
feels a bit late