I prefer this aluminum frame over the plastic one. I feel it adds to the sturdiness of the keyboard. I got the black frame, and the finish feels smooth and does well at hiding smudges/fingerprints.
I got this case to finish up the keyboard, and it has been great. A bit pricey, but still awesome. It isn't sharp and doesn't collect much dirt, grime, fingerprints, or scratches and adds a good amount of weight to the keyboard.
This is the case that should come standard with the CSTM80
If I were buying a new CSTM80, I would absolutely choose an aluminum decorative case for it. It feels very rigid, which is an improvement over the somewhat creaky plastic cases currently on offer.
If it were up to me, the CSTM80 would come with one of these by default since vastly it improves the typing experience.
As for looks, it's brushed aluminum with a silvery matte finish. If you've seen a MacBook then you know what to expect, and it adds a nice touch to a very customizeable TKL keyboard.
Noticeably smoother feeling than other aluminum keyboard cases. As the other reviewer said, not quite Apple smooth but pretty close.
Took some macro shots of both the silver and black and the top of my M1 MacBook Pro for comparison:
The Aluminum top has a nice refined finish and adds some weight to the plastic board. It feels a bit of thin but does not sound thin. Overall it does exactly what it is suppose to do, happy with the purchase especially at the dicounted bundled price when purchased with the barebone board.