Tag Archives: Mechanical Keyboard

These Rare Periodic Table Keycaps Come Machined From The Metals Mentioned On Them

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While not entirely serving a functional purpose, the Awekeys are perhaps the most expensive and beautiful set of keycaps you can attach to your mechanical keyboard. Made from 16 precious and semi-precious metals, the Awekeys turn your keyboard into a periodic table of sorts, giving it elite status!

The set of 12 keycaps come CNC machined from the different metals listed on them. You’ve got your more common copper keycap, an iron keycap, an aluminum keycap, as well as a few incredibly rare ones like a silver keycap, gold keycap, and even a platinum keycap. Each individual cap comes etched with its periodic table listing which details the metal’s abbreviated name, its position on the periodic table, and its standard atomic weight.

Designer: Drop

Launches as a limited drop on the Drop.com website, the Awekeys quite literally embody the phrase “what you see is what you get”. The 16 keycaps come with the SA shape profile, and fit onto most standard mechanical keyboards with switchable keys. The beauty of the keycaps lie in just precisely how nerdy they are. Each key comes made from the metal listed on it, and the 16 different caps are all machined to perfection from their respective metals. They all have the same shape, but have different weights and feel different to the touch. They’re literally a science lesson on your mechanical keyboard.

The keycaps weigh anywhere between 4 grams and 9 grams, with aluminum and magnesium being the lightest, and bismuth clocking in at the heaviest. The 16 Elements used for this project are Zinc, Nickel, Chromium, Aluminum, Copper, Iron, Brass, Black Aluminum, Titanium, Tin, Bismuth, Magnesium, Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Rhodium.

The only real problem with the keycaps lie in the fact that they’re labeled by their periodic table names and not by actual keyboard keys. Replacing keyboard keys with the Awekeys caps would require a fair bit of memory and intuition because you wouldn’t really know what the key actually stands for anymore. The folks at Drop.com recommend using them for your function keys and the arrow keys (12+4), although how you use these keys is entirely up to you. After all, you wouldn’t want to accidentally wear down your gold or platinum keycap with constant pressing, would you?! The Awekeys Element Artisan Keycaps are available on the Drop.com website, and although their price is available only on inquiry, rumor has it they start at a base price of $256 for the 16 keycaps.

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Lenovo’s ThinkBook KB Pro Mechanical Keyboard Delights With Its Color-Coded Functional Areas

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Designed to be serious but with a slight hint of quirkiness (the kind most creatively-inclined professionals will relate to), the Lenovo ThinkBook KB Pro mechanical keyboard pleases with its well-thought-out keyboard layout that color-codes functional areas. The keys come with a unique rectangle-to-circle design that has a retro appeal to it, reminiscent of typewriter layouts and are color-coded in a way that intuitively clubs them into functional groups that are easy to access while within your peripheral vision. Important conference functions such as volume control, locking the screen, or showing the desktop can be done at the touch of a button. Additionally, the keycaps are interchangeable, allowing users to choose between two different color schemes.

Designer: Lenovo

Designed with a focus on functionality, the ThinkBook KB Pro features 83 keys and is built using durable and wear-resistant PBT polymer. Notably, this mechanical keyboard offers the convenience of hot-swappable keys, allowing you to customize your keyboard layout by creating color-coded zones. It supports wireless connectivity in two modes: 2.4G wireless and Bluetooth, while also providing the option for a wired connection. The keyboard is equipped with a substantial 2,400mAh battery pack, delivering a week-long battery life even with the backlight turned on. Pre-orders for the new Lenovo ThinkBook KB Pro mechanical keyboard will commence on June 9, 2023, with a price tag of 699 Yuan (approximately $98 USD).

The ThinkBook KB Pro is a winner of the Red Dot Award: Product Design for the year 2023.

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This quirky mouse redesign reuses mechanical keyboard parts for buttons

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The venerable computer mouse hasn’t changed its basic format in decades, though there have been additions like the middle mouse button or scroll wheel and shifts from trackball to laser. That means that this essential tool for modern-day life still bears many of the ergonomic flaws of its ancestor, an almost literal pain point in the age of computing. There have been a few design ideas centered around fixing this problem, though many of them pretty much change the mouse to the point that it has become unrecognizable. This particular design concept, however, has none of those and is instead focused on making the mouse a little bit more sustainable, mostly by letting you reuse keyboard parts that you might already have lying around.

Designer: Hizin Joo

Rendered on KeyShot: Click Here to Download Your Free Trial Now!

There has been a surge of interest in mechanical keyboards, especially among workers and gamers that rely heavily on precision, comfort, and satisfying experiences. Because of this, there are plenty of keyboard switches and keycaps available in the market for those who not only love customizing their keyboards but also repairing them on their own. In contrast, computer mice have barely reached that point where you can easily replace broken buttons, let alone change certain parts to your heart’s content and delight.

That is the kind of limitation that the Gima mouse concept tries to overcome, and it does so in a rather curious and almost whimsical way. The typical mouse buttons are replaced by what looks like keyboard keys because they are actually keyboard keys. Underneath the keycaps are actual mechanical keyboard switches that you can mix and match with whatever spares you might be lying around.

The general idea is to offer the same level of customization and flexibility that mechanical keyboards have, but on the other computer peripheral that barely offers such features. You can, for example, use the level of resistance you prefer using different switches, or you can use different keycaps to reflect your personal style. You might settle for simple L and R letters, or you can use specially-designed caps with different graphics. This also means that should one or even both of the buttons break, you can easily replace it with any other keycap or switch.

While the design is definitely interesting, Gima, unfortunately, doesn’t address the mouse’s ergonomic problem and may, in fact, make it worse. The resistance offered by mechanical switches for keyboards might not exactly be ideal for repetitively clicking with the same finger. The soap bar shape of Gima might also lead to incorrect positioning of the hand and the wrist, and the location of the touch-sensitive slope for the mouse wheel exacerbates the situation. To its credit, Gima does touch on the need to have a repairable and customizable mouse, much like their larger keyboard partners.

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Ever wanted a concrete or aluminum faceplate keyboard? Say hello to the Tera 75 mechanical keyboard with custom fascias

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I distinctly remember when Google announced their first smart speaker, they spent a significant time talking about the speaker’s interior-friendly design. Ambient computing, the company called it. The speaker’s fabric-clad and interior-friendly color palette was designed so it could blend into its surrounding decor instead of standing out. The Tera 75 mechanical keyboard from AZIO takes on a similar approach. Designed to blend into your workplace setup rather than stand out as something glaringly different from the rest of your office space, the Tera 75 is a mechanical keyboard with a 75% layout and a series of customizable plates and details that let you either blend in or blend out.

Designer: Shih-Che Peng of Azio Corporation

Click Here to Buy Now: $140 $199 ($59 off). Hurry, only 83/100 left!

The highlight of the Tera 75 lies in its absolutely customizable nature. Sure, like any good mechanical keyboard you’ve got the ability to swap out keycaps, and even hot-swap Gateron switches so you can go as clacky or as quiet as you want… but the Tera 75 takes things up a notch with an entirely customizable design, all the way from the main housing to the upper faceplate and even the rotary knob built into the keyboard.

Interchangeable Faceplate & Knob – The faceplates include a magnetic liner to make plate swapping quick and easy!

Hot Swappable Switches – Equipped with Gateron G Pro hot-swappable switches to provide a range of typing feedback catered to the user’s preference.

Designed by the folks at AZIO, the Tera 75 offers a variety of design styles to choose from. The faceplate, for instance, comes in your standard black PVD and polished PVD finishes… but for the out-of-box user, there’s a multichrome faceplate, a damascus steel faceplate, and a personal favorite, a concrete-finish faceplate. Similarly, the rotary knob that sits on the keyboard comes in black, silver, and blue CNC aluminum variants, or walnut and maple wood variants that pair rather beautifully with the concrete faceplate to give you a Nordic-inspired keyboard like no other!

Wired/Wireless – Can connect up to 3 devices at the same time through Bluetooth.

75% Layout – A size that is ideal for many and keeps the board size compact so you can have more space on your desk.

At its heart, the Tera 75 is a keyboard with a respectable 75% layout, featuring an entire row of function keys too, along with the rotary control knob on the top right. It works in both wired as well as wireless formats, and is compatible with both Windows and Mac devices, allowing you to seamlessly switch with the press of a key.

The customizable design means a much broader appeal, with the concrete and wood finish being a perfect pick for the design community, the silver PVD finish being ideal for a tech and minimalist enthusiast, and the multichrome or damascus finish catering exclusively to people looking for a dynamic keyboard to stand out from the rest of their gear. Yes, the Tera 75 also comes with backlit keys, making it a compelling pick for gamers too! The customizability extends to the rotary knob on the keyboard, which can be configured to control volume and display brightness, or even be used with your video/photo editing workflow.

When choosing your Tera 75, you get to customize its entire design, from the base to the faceplate to the knob that sits on top, as well as the keycaps and switches. You can further modify the keyboard to suit your needs and aesthetic requirements by changing the RGB backlight or the knob’s functionality through its desktop software. You can even choose to use your Tera 75 as a wired keyboard with the USB-C cable that comes bundled with it, or as a Bluetooth 5.0-powered wireless keyboard with a stellar 4,000 mAh battery that gives you weeks worth of use on a single charge. If the idea of an entirely customizable keyboard excites you, or if you’re just tired of the boring plastic keyboards and are looking for a metal or concrete upgrade, the Tera 75 is available for a discounted price of $140, with the ability to add extra faceplates, knobs, and keycaps to your pledge.

Click Here to Buy Now: $140 $199 ($59 off). Hurry, only 83/100 left!

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OnePlus goes beyond mobile with a stylish mechanical keyboard

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OnePlus may have started out as an upstart that challenged the status quo of the smartphone industry, but it has long moved beyond making phones only. Never mind related accessories like earbuds and wearables, the company has also launched its self-branded TV in a few of its key markets. Then again, a smart TV might not be that far removed from the mobile ecosystem, especially one that’s running Android TV. A mechanical keyboard, on the other hand, could be stretching the association a bit, but that is apparently what OnePlus’s community has been thirsting for. As a company that prides itself on listening to strong community feedback, that is exactly what OnePlus will be doing, presenting a customizable mechanical keyboard that admittedly looks elegant and very much a OnePlus product, at least based on teasers.

Designer: OnePlus

You might find it strange that OnePlus users would be clamoring for a keyboard accessory, mechanical or otherwise, at least until you realize that these very same people often have to spend hours every day in front of a computer. If that’s the case, it makes sense that they’d want a tool that not only makes their lives easier but also reflects their lifestyle choices. A mechanical keyboard definitely addresses the first part, but one that is branded and designed like a OnePlus product definitely checks all the right boxes.

Responding to this resounding desire for a OnePlus mechanical keyboard, the company partnered with the famed keyboard maker Keychron to lay the foundations for such a product. Of course, the highlight isn’t just the mechanical keyboard itself, which you can also get from a pure Keychron keyboard, but the way it is designed to match OnePlus’s aesthetics and design philosophy. For example, unlike typical flashy mechanical keyboards, this upcoming OnePlus peripheral embraces a very minimalist design, using tones of gray with some red accents in the Escape key and the switches.

There are also a few design highlights that give the keyboard a unique OnePlus flair. The slider that switches between Wireless and Wired (USB) mode, for example, looks quite similar to the Alert Slider on OnePlus phones. There is also a visually stunning glass knob in the upper right corner, which could probably be programmed for different functions. OnePlus is also quite proud of its double gasket design and the use of “ultra-precise” CNC aluminum manufacturing that covers the sight, sound, and tactile experiences of using a sophisticated mechanical keyboard.

OnePlus also talks about the customization options available for the keyboard, from hot-swappable switches to highly configurable software. It doesn’t go into detail about how far those options go, however, and they will most likely be limited to switches and key caps on the hardware side. A lot of information about the keyboard is still unavailable at this point, but the scheduled February 7th launch is just two weeks away anyway.

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This glass mechanical keyboard boasts of animated, interactive designs underneath

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I see a lot of people that get obsessed with having different kinds of mechanical keyboards with different colors, designs, and even sounds. Maybe this is because they spend so much time in front of their computer that they need to be amused or at least distracted by other things in front of them. I understand the appeal although it’s not applicable to me since I use a laptop 99% of the time. This new glass mechanical keyboard from Finalmouse has got me rethinking about getting a PC or using an external keyboard for my laptop.

Designer: Finalmouse

The PC accessory brand has come up with a new mechanical keyboard that will have koi fishes swimming underneath your fingertips and even the Eye of Sauron (a reference lost to non-Tolkien fans) keeping a close eye on you as you work. The Centerpiece Keyboard has animated images underneath the glass that will provide you some much needed distraction as you work or do your homework. These interactive skins are projected at the bottom of the glass keyboard and becomes animated as you work on your keyboard.

Instead of the usual RGB lights that most mechanical keyboards have, you can have swimming kois, ice cracking, lions grazing, cherry blossoms falling, a spaceship flying through the galaxy, a galaxy itself, and other things you might want to see. These are generated through the Unreal Engine 5, a 3D computer graphics game engine. Artists can actually submit their own skins through the Freethinker Portal, a Steam app run by the company where people can download various skins and these artists can monetize their work.

The Centerpiece keyboard uses a Laminated DisplayCircuit Glass Stack with an aluminum chassis underneath. It has its own CPU and GPU so it has enough power to run the interactive skins and not take away resources from your computer. There should also be a knob on the side to control the brightness and serve as your on and off switch, in case you don’t want the distraction of Sauron looking at you while working. There are no other details about the specs of the keyboard but it is definitely something to watch for all the mechanical keyboard collectors out there.

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MelGeek Pixel lets you customize your keyboard using LEGO-like bricks and minifigs

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There are dozens of keyboard designs available in the market targeting different audiences, from the suave professional to the chic influencer. Almost all of these keyboards come with a fixed design, and all but the most expensive mechanical keyboards for gamers let you customize their appearances. Even then, however, you’re still limited to the parts and designs that the manufacturer provides rather than having free reign on how you want your keyboard to look. When it comes to creative freedom, there is probably nothing that beats LEGO blocks, and this mechanical keyboard tries to bring that same system so that you can customize your own keyboard to match your style and mood without locking you into a single design.

Designer: MelGeek

The most customizable keyboards offer is the freedom to change keycaps. Many gaming keyboards have RGB lights that you can also personalize through software. Other than that, however, you’re mostly stuck with the color and design of the keyboard chassis, and you only get to choose from a selection of pre-made keycap designs anyway.

That’s what makes the MelGeek Pixel mechanical keyboard quite liberating. It uses a “LEGO-inspired” system that lets you customize almost every part of the keyboard. Both the front and the back of the keyboard are like blank slates, and you can create any blocky design you want. You can even set up mini-figures on top to give the keyboard a unique flair. Of course, you’ll have to make sure those don’t get in the way of your typing.

The customization options go beyond just the chassis, though. All the keys are studded, and you can remove them to customize the keys underneath. This way, you don’t have to settle for a single color and mix and match patterns to your heart’s content. MelGeek doesn’t mention which mechanical keycaps are used, only that it uses a gasket mount design. The keyboard’s LEGO theme continues even to its USB connectors, making sure that no piece looks out of place.

The Pixel Keyboard isn’t just all looks, of course. It has the standard features of a pro mechanical keyboard, including customizable RGB lights and both wireless and wired connections. Of course, its real appeal is its retro 8-bit aesthetic, thanks to its blocky design, which you can customize over and over again. If one day you decide you no longer like what you made, you can simply just start all over again. Your imagination and patience are the only limits.

The keyboard isn’t that expensive either, at least for a highly customizable mechanical keyboard, though it only has a pre-order price at the moment. The Pixel’s LEGO-like design will definitely not appeal to everyone, but it’s probably the next best thing to having a fully customizable keyboard you can change to suit your tastes and whims.

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Mechanical RGB keyboard for creators comes with its own multimedia keys and a neat jogdial

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Here’s a massive overlap that not many people know about – gamers and creators have a lot in common. A lot of creators invest in expensive rigs not just for being able to run their heavy editing software… but to be able to game too! In fact, I’m using a gaming laptop right now because its CPU and GPU meet my 3D modeling and rendering needs, and occasionally, I like to unwind by playing a game. Designed clearly to cater to this specific overlap is the HUIO THK-1 keyboard – a nifty, clickety-clack mechanical keyboard with RGB backlights and also a set of multimedia-focused controls for when you want to get into intense work mode.

Designer: HUIO

The THK-1 is Australia-based brand HUIO’s first-ever product. It’s a satisfyingly tactile wireless keyboard with RGB-backlight and mechanical red switches under each key, just like your traditional gaming laptop… but it has a column of Japanese characters on the left (presumably for the Japanese demographic) and a set of multimedia keys + jogdial on the right. The jogdial works best to control your machine’s volume, although it can easily be programmed to work with other software too, ending up being a seek knob in a video editing software, a brush-size controller for PhotoShop, or to cycle through weapons in your first-person shooter.

The keyboard is currently in its pre-launch stage, although HUIO hasn’t given a concrete timeline on the launch date as of now. However, we’ll keep our eyes open so you don’t have to.

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Cyberboard R2 looks more like a Daft Punk DJ deck than a keyboard

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To some extent, computer users are like musicians, creating a beat with the thumping of their fingers on their keyboards, like hi-tech percussion instrument that reflects their player’s style. Some type slowly with breaks and pauses like a tango, while others fire in rapid taps like a salsa. Keyboards, especially mechanical ones, are instruments, both literal and musical, producing their own kind of harmony and musical style. With RGB lighting, many of these keyboards also become light shows, often changing to a specific theme or application. The Cyberboard R2, however, takes the musical analogy to a new level, where technology and art meet in a psychedelic disco party inspired by fashion.

Designer: Angry Miao

The Cyberboard R2 cites the Le Smoking as its spiritual inspiration. The 1966 original was revolutionary for its time, offering a stylish tuxedo suit for women, and became an iconic fashion style in the decades that followed. In 2013, fashion designer Hedi Slimane revived the glossy suit and transformed it into a glittery item for famed electronic music duo Daft Punk, creating a unique look that blended past and future in a glamorous way. This harmony of contrasts is what gave birth to this eye-catching keyboard, blending matte and gloss, darkness and color to create an experience that goes beyond mere typing.

The aluminum ingot that forms the body of the keyboard undergoes multiple polishing processes to create a PVD polished mirror effect. This shiny front contrasts with the textured matte finish of the keyboard’s sides, a nod to the original Le Smoking tuxedo. The RGB-lit keycaps shine like sequins on black scales reminiscent of the Daft Punk incarnation of the suit.

The keyboard’s real claim to fame, however, is its new LED panel with RGB lighting and 256-level dimming, allowing creative users more freedom in expressing their unique taste in scrolling text, animated emojis, and a kaleidoscopic display of colors. Whether you choose the Jet Black model of the keyboard, which sharply contrasts with this panel’s colors, or go all out on the Psychedelic colorway, you’re sure to catch the attention of anyone within visible range while letting your dazzling creativity free.

Of course, the Cyberboard R2 isn’t just all show, even if that’s what makes it special. Gateron Ink Black switches deliver a satisfying click to every tap. Bluetooth connectivity, which immediately turns on when you remove the USB-C cable, gives you the freedom to really go to town even when away from the computer. Remappable multimedia keys let you be the conductor of your computer orchestra, deciding what happens at each press of a key.

Of course, computer keyboards don’t need to look as colorful and bright as the Cyberboard R2. Of course, tuxedos don’t need to have shiny sequins either. But when you let your imagination and creativity fly, there’s no telling what you’ll come up with. And just like a DJ mixing music, there’s no reason you can’t create your own mix of colors on your keyboard, as long as you have a keyboard as retro-futuristic as this.

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This stone-inspired mechanical keyboard turns typing into a meditative activity

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When you need to finish a story or program, this keyboard could help you to get into the zone with its appearance and sounds.

Conventional keyboards are pretty much made from plastic, giving them a bit of a cheap look and feel. Of course, there are mechanical keyboards that raise the bar higher in terms of materials as well as typing experience, and there are even all-metal variants that give the typing tool an industrial character. It is only recently that both designers and computer users have become a bit more interested in making their keyboards look more appealing or unique, but many of them tend to lean on the wild side of colors and design. Enter the Mason60- Zen Series of keyboards that give the most used and abused computer peripheral are more somber look and feel, inspired by the most stoic part of nature: a stone.

Designer: Brazen Studio

While many people will find it a bit annoying, there is also something almost hypnotic about the sound of keyboard typing, especially when using mechanical keyboards. Proof of that is how some ASMR videos or sounds make use of typing as part of these sometimes comical antics on the Web. Of course, when you’re frantically typing to meet a deadline, the sound coming from a keyboard will be similarly chaotic and stress-inducing, so it might sometimes help to have a visual reminder to slow down, stay still, and take a deep breath. Unsurprisingly, imagery related to Zen gardens is perfect for inducing such a calming mental state.

It’s easy enough to paint a keyboard case with a stone-like coating and call it a day, but that is a little boring and only addresses one of the two main senses. The Mason60- Zen keyboard, in contrast, uses a cement resin composite that gives it nearly the same substantial feeling and weight as stone, but without actually having to carve out the keyboard case from rock. It isn’t as heavy as stone either, but it’s no featherweight either at 1.65kg. While it does make moving the keyboard more taxing, it also makes it more stable and less likely to slide on your desk.

Brazen Studio goes beyond the looks, however, and makes sure your fingers can also feel the Zen. After being cast in a mold, the case is acid-etched to create a surface that closely mimics the texture of stone. Unfortunately, that does mean the process uses harmful chemicals that make the product less sustainable.

If those weren’t enough to set the Mason60- Zen keyboard apart from the crowd, the fact that each one is painstakingly finished by hand cements its status as an artisan piece, pun intended. That means that no two keyboards will exactly be identical, elevating their status beyond mere computer accessories. Those could be some of the thoughts and inspiration that go through your mind while you happily type on this beautiful mechanical keyboard, hopefully helping you to get into the mood and focus on the task at hand.

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