Keychron, known for its often reasonably priced, customizable mechanical keyboards, has announced the second iteration of the K8 QMK. The new TKL (80%) keyboard sports updated internal materials for added sound dampening. The new K8 QMK is available with the usual selection of mechanical switch types and two different frame designs, catering to different market segments. Compared to the original K8 Wireless, the K8 Wireless V2 has updated Bluetooth connectivity, QMK support, and new, custom Keychron switches.

The new Keychron K8 QMK V2 shares many similarities with its predecessor, including the same $99 starting price, although there are some differences that are likely to make V2 an attractive option for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. The biggest physical change is the move from shine-through OEM profile ABS keycaps to shine-through double-shot Cherry profile PBT keycaps, which are bound to be a mixed bag in enthusiast communities. On the one hand, many enthusiasts prefer the sound of ABS keycaps, but the Cherry profile is often highly regarded for comfort and ergonomics. While the external physical changes are mostly rather moderate, the internals have been significantly more impressive, with QMK firmware—and Keychron Launcher customization support—being the most important of the functional changes. That QMK support apparently comes at a cost, though, since the new Keychron K8 QMK V2 comes with the same battery capacity but significantly lower battery life when connected wirelessly, despite the move from Bluetooth 5.1 to Bluetooth 5.2. Keychron claims that the K8 QMK V2 can last up to 190 hours on Bluetooth without backlighting and up to 100 hours with the backlighting at its lowest brightness. Meanwhile, the original K8 is capable of up to 240 hours with the backlight off, with RGB backlighting coming in lower than the new K8 QMK V2, at up to 72 hours with the backlight enabled. The K8 QMK V2 also has new inner foam layers for sound dampening, which might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it helps provide more customization options.

Following the success of our debut mechanical keyboard last year, we are excited to introduce the MKey PRO, our latest innovation crafted to elevate your typing and gaming experience. Featuring premium materials and top-tier features, the MKey PRO is driven by the enthusiastic feedback and support from our community.

Available Starting November 11th, 2024
The MKey PRO will be available in two bold color themes, Freedom and Darkness, offering users a choice between Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow or Brown switches to perfectly match their typing style. With a competitive price of USD $89.9, this keyboard delivers incredible value.

In 2024, the use of magnetic switches in gaming keyboards is increasing at a rapid rate. Almost every brand has now come up with a magnetic gaming keyboard. Today, we are excited to announce that Varmilo has also came up with its latest magnetic gaming keyboard, presenting the Varmilo Muse65. Varmilo is a well-known brand among keyboard enthusiasts. The brand is known for its extensive range of mechanical keyboards with unique, colorful design themes.

The latest Muse65 is no different, the keyboard is available in multiple designer theme-based color options based on the Nordic mythology. The primary attraction on the MUSE65 keyboard would be the new-generation Gateron magnetic switches that support different functions such as Rapid trigger function, adjustable keystrokes, etc. The Muse65 can take your gaming and typing experience to the next level, the Magnetic switches not only offer silky smooth keystrokes, but also have instantaneous response making the keyboard an excellent choice for competitive gaming.

IQUNIX, a leading innovative peripherals brand, launched the groundbreaking EZ60 and EZ63 Magnetic Switch gaming keyboards on June 19th. Designed specifically for FPS gamers, the EZ Series aims to elevate gaming experiences to new heights. With its unique e-sport aesthetic design, IQUNIX brings a breakthrough 8000 Hz polling rate, 0.05 mm Release Sensitivity in Rapid Trigger with revolutionary hall effect technology, and Magnetic Auto-Tune for minimal latency, faster key response, and competitive stability in FPS gaming, such as Valorant, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, osu!, and Apex Legends.

The EZ Series offers a range of impressive features that set it apart from other gaming keyboards on the market. By prioritizing the enhancement of keyboard performance metrics like latency, key accuracy, and stability, the EZ60/EZ63 also shines in personalization options, delivering customizable settings and an unparalleled sound feel.

At Computex 2024, we discovered in Sharkoon's booth, among many other products, the latest additions to its keyboard portfolio: the Sharkoon SGK50 PBT Wood series. These newly announced mechanical keyboards have one particular thing - they are made of wood (body, baseplate, palm rest). To quote Sharkoon, "they are the world's first wooden mechanical keyboards to be mass-produced," so we can expect decent prices for something that was previously considered a premium, limited-edition product. They do look really nice and we already can see them fit to those who appreciate classic, elegant design with a touch of wood.

The keyboards come in three sizes: a 60% model, the SGK50 S2 PBT Wood; a 75% one, the SGK50 S3 PBT Wood; and the full-size 96% format known as SGK50 S4 PBT Wood. The primary difference lies in their size, as the internal components are the same - based on Sharkoon's SGK50 with Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow switches and a hot-swap PCB for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. Interestingly, each keyboard is unique in appearance, as the base is CNC-milled from a single piece of wood, giving them slight visual differences. We don't have an exact date for when these wooden mechanical keyboards will be available in stores. However, the prices seem to range from €149.9 to €169.9.

The MONTECH MKey PRO 75% keyboard, available in Darkness and Freedom editions, is a versatile compact (323 x 137 x 45 mm) mechanical keyboard, featuring built-in tri-mode connectivity options: Bluetooth 5.2, Wireless 2.4Ghz, and USB-C wired. The MKey PRO 75% Darkness features pre-lubed Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow switches, while the PRO 75% Freedom utilizes Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown switches. Both keyboards support VIA and QMK software for customizable key mappings and macros, a multifunctional rotary knob for easy control, a gasket design and Poron padding for enhanced typing comfort and sound dampening. The MKey PRO 75% is expected to launch in Q3 of this year at an MSRP of $79 for both the Darkness and Freedom versions.

Sitting right next to them MONTECH had on display the MA1 and MA2 concept mechanical keyboards, the key element here is that the full body is made of aluminium, looks great, and feels (are) heavy, let's hope they will turn into a real product in the future.

Introducing the RC Prestige Collection: Elevating the Art of Design and Mechanical Keyboard Functionality. The cornerstone of AZIO Corporation's success, the Retro Classic Collection, has epitomized our brand's vision to create premium lifestyle workspace tools. The original typewriter-style keyboard, born from our dedication to excellence, has delighted our valued customers with an exceptional ownership experience and unparalleled customer support. Today, we are thrilled to unveil the latest addition to our lineup: the RC Prestige Collection.

Remaining true to AZIO's distinctive brand identity, the RC Prestige Collection introduces two new captivating colors, Ebony and Ivory, further infusing our signature material-centric design philosophy. The Ebony variant features a faceplate adorned in an elegant black wood finish, embraced by a sleek gunmetal grey aluminium frame and accents. The Ivory edition stands as a striking contrast, showcasing a refined white leather face encased within a silver aluminium profile. Every keycap set impeccably follows their respective color schemes, either presenting black keycaps with gunmetal edges or white keycaps complemented by a silver framing. This time, the keycaps are thoughtfully designed with a rounded square profile, setting them apart from the renowned circular keycaps found in our Retro Classic Collection.

Drop, the leading community-driven mechanical keyboard brand, today launches the CSTM65 keyboard - a 65% mechanical keyboard that provides a compact canvas for personalization. On the heels of launching the CSTM80, the CSTM65 is the newest addition to Drop's CSTM line of highly customizable keyboards that offer a superior typing and customization experience.

Building upon the success of the CSTM80, the CSTM65 presents a compact 65% layout that caters to users seeking a more streamlined and portable typing experience while offering the same level of customization as its predecessor. A signature of the CSTM line, the CSTM65 features an interchangeable, magnetic case - available in polycarbonate or aluminium - that envelops nearly the entire keyboard, which not only encourages users to configure the keyboard to their liking with ease, but also provides designers with a broader canvas, fostering the creation of more imaginative designs. Designed to be easily removed and replaced, users can select from a wide range of colorful and decorative cases with stunning artwork to further personalize their keyboard. Combined with various keycap options, switches, custom weight options, switch plates, and cables, users can effortlessly mix and match designs to create a keyboard that reflects their personal style.

EPOMAKER at the 2024 International CES showed off its recent gaming peripherals. The company specializes in retro-futuristic looking keyboards that look like they're from the 1980s, but are backed by modern tech. Our tour begins with the CIDOO V87, a TKL wireless keyboard with matte linear key switches, an aluminium unibody chassis, a programmable metal rotary knob, and dye-sublimation PBT keycaps. It supports RF + Bluetooth + USB-C connectivity, and a 3,000 mAh battery with fast charging can run the keyboard for days with its lighting.

Next up, is the RT100, a 95% (97-key) format mechanical keyboard, featuring a gasket-mounting ergonomic design, flexible choices of key switches between Gateron and EPOMAKER (in-house); and 3 connectivity options. Pay attention to the stub near the Esc key—it has a little multi-color LED display that can be used to put out real-time monitoring stats. The EPOMAKER Feker Alice 98 is modeled after the early-1990s Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard that sees the main key cluster split and angled into two; except with all the "modern amenities," such as pre-lubed mechanical key switches, RF + Bluetooth + USB-C interfaces, and more. There is a variant with an off-white CNC aluminium top-plate, and another with a small programmable screen. Lastly, EPOMAKER displayed its MIX Pro retro-futuristic USB-C cable meant to mimic the coiled cord look of keyboards from the 1980s.

nerdytec, a leading gaming hardware company, today announces the launch of their CYKEY, an RGB mechanical keyboard that lets users tailor control features to suit their specific gaming style. The company aims to meet gamers' needs by delivering comfort, appealing design, and high performance in one keyboard.

The CYKEY features high-quality craftsmanship and a stylish design to immerse users in the gaming world. Compact and space efficient, the keyboard's 75% design fits on any size desk or perfectly on nerdytec's Couchmaster. Its RGB lights include over 20 pre-installed lighting modes that shine through keycaps, giving gamers the freedom to customize their color setup and enjoy a futuristic aesthetic.

Drop, the leading community-driven e-commerce brand, today unveiled the CSTM80, its inaugural keyboard in its CSTM series of highly customizable mechanical keyboards. On the heels of launching its Battlestations shopping experience earlier this year, Drop continues to push the boundaries of personal expression for its enthusiast community with design-forward innovations.

The CSTM80 is a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard featuring a magnetic top case that users can switch out and pair with a matching cable and keycaps to reflect their personal style and preferences. At launch, users can choose from several different color cases, as well as two designed cases, to match their preferred aesthetic. Unlike other "customizable" keyboards on the market that only allow the top cover to be swapped out, the magnetic case on the CSTM80 encapsulates nearly the entire keyboard, allowing for greater customization among users and expanding the canvas for designers to craft more intricate designs.

The headlining feature of the upcoming CSTM80 keyboard is the magnetically attached (and easily swapped) top case, allowing you to easily customize the aesthetics of your board on a whim. That said, there is a lot going on under the hood of CSTM80 to create a full-featured board out of the box, and we'll focus on those features in this story.

Typing Feel and Sound
CSTM80 features a peg-type gasket-mounted plate design, shipping with a polycarbonate plate by default for both the fully-built and barebones versions. The PC plate offers a satisfying typing sound and allows for a good amount of flex to take advantage of the gasket-mounting construction. The stock sound with the included linear switches (Gateron Yellow KS3) has a subtle marbly-ness while not sounding overly muted or deadened, and the included tactile switches (Gateron Browns) sound surprisingly similar while maintaining a strong tactility. We'll let the (soon-to-come) typing tests show the sound better than our descriptions, though—stay tuned for those.

DRY STUDIO, a startup consumer technology brand that aims to bring advanced niche designs to global users at an approachable price, is releasing its first product with the Indiegogo launch of the new Black Diamond 75. As the world's first mechanical gaming keyboard with leaf spring mount, the Black Diamond 75 will bring a striking balance between esports capability and typing experience to the masses, with features such as low-latency 2.4G and an ID design inspired by the Lamborghini Aventador "Black Diamond". The Base Bundle is priced at 240 USD, and the Advance Bundle is priced at 295 USD. Early customers can get 15% off by taking advantage of the 48 hours Indiegogo Early Bird discounts.

Black Diamond 75 design philosophy
Placing emphasis on creating a keyboard with a unique and fierce shape, the Black Diamond 75 takes its inspiration from the modified all-carbon Lamborghini Aventador - the MANSORY Carbonado - also known as the "Black Diamond". A combination of real carbon fiber (Carbon) or anodized silver aluminium (Mithril) and hand-polished PMMA acrylic with increased hardness are used to realize stunning supercar aesthetics while providing durability that users have come to expect from mechanical gaming keyboards.

Drop, the leading community-driven e-commerce company, today introduced enhanced versions of its CTRL, ALT, and SHIFT keyboards. First launched in 2018 and designed from feedback from the Drop community, these keyboards have since become best-sellers, offering a compelling combination of customization and quality. The new V2 variants of the Drop CTRL, ALT and SHIFT combine iconic, fully aluminium design with stand-out RGB lighting performance, improved features and enhanced performance, delivering an unparalleled typing experience for those seeking to elevate their desk setups.

"The new and improved CTRL, ALT, and SHIFT V2 keyboards represent a leap forward in design, performance, and functionality while preserving the cherished qualities that made their predecessors beloved by our community," said Jef Holove, CEO, Drop. "With the addition of highly requested features such as stabilizer upgrades, new switch options, and enhanced RGB LED capabilities, we offer the community an upgraded and unparalleled typing experience that will make them fall in love with these reinvented, classic keyboards all over again."

Peripheral and accessory manufacturer 8BitDo today announced pre-orders are open for their Nintendo themed 'Retro Mechanical Keyboard' and accompanying 'Dual Super Buttons'. The two themes available are the "N Edition" and "Fami Edition". The former features the red, gray, and white coloring of the classic NES, while the latter features the maroon, black, and white coloring of the Famicom. "Fami Edition" also features both English and Japanese characters on the keycaps. Both editions are the same base 87-key, or tenkeyless, layout with a power LED on the top right and two dials at the top left for controlling volume and the connectivity. On the topic of connectivity the keyboard features Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless, and USB wired options while up to four sets of Super Buttons can connect to the keyboard via the rear 3.5 mm jacks.

Beneath the themed PBT keycaps are Kailh BOX V2 White switches attached to a hot-swappable PCB, while the Super Buttons feature heavy Gateron Green switches for a more chunky tactile feel. The keyboard has n-key rollover support and the keys can be remapped using 8BitDo's Ultimate Software V2, with the Super Buttons being customizable on the fly without software. The software requires a minimum of Windows 10 1903 or Android 9.0. Inside the keyboard body is a 2,000mAh battery which 8BitDo advertises as offering 200 hours of usable life on a single charge.

One of the OEM superstars with mechanical gaming keyboards, Ducky Channel, released a vast lineup of keyboards across all known PC keyboard form-factors. We begin with a colorful set of Ducky x Faze Clan co-branded Ducky One Mini keyboards in the 60% layout, and the slightly larger Ducky One Mini in the 65% layout. There are several co-branded or themed variants of the One Mini 60%, including Sou Sou, Frozen Llama, and Faze Clan. We also spotted the full-size Ducky One 2 Keyboard co-branded with DJ Max, Ragnarok, Shiba Says, Dimanche (Alice in Wonderland), and the One 2 Pro co-branded with Neverland.

The larger One 2 keyboards feature Varmilo Iris Blue V2 EC switches with triggering pressure of 45 gf, and secture pressure of 60 gf, along with 19.5 mm springs that have factory lubrication. The One 2 Pro (Neverland) features stain-resistant R5 MDA keycaps, and factory-tuned stabilizers. The One Mini 60% Sou Sou comes with Cherry MX switches (Brown, Blue, Red, Silver, Black, and Silent, on offer).

MONTECH, an innovative PC components and peripherals brand known for its PC case, cooling systems and power supply, is introducing its all-new mechanical keyboard collection—"MKey" featuring 2 colors: Freedom and Darkness, available in both full size and TKL keyboard. The MKey collection was inspired by the monumental Osaka Castle in Japan. Montech captures the magnificence of the Osaka Castle within the MKey's design, incorporating the roof's color accents as well as implementing a stable infrastructure. To complement the keyboard's aesthetic, two special sets of 4 Osaka Castle-themed custom keycaps are included in MKey Freedom and MKey Darkness.

The MKey collection is equipped with pre-lubed Gateron G Pro 2.0 switches for optimal smooth key actuation. MKey offers 3 switch options: Red, Yellow, Brown. In order to provide users with ultimate precision and control, MKey is compatible with 3-pin and 5-pin switches, which allows users to customize their switch options for preferred typing sound and feel.

An evolution of the original Holy Panda, our Holy Panda X is a fully engineered mechanical switch with unrivaled consistency and authentic-yet-refined tactile feel. Now, we're making it available in hand-lubed packs for peerless performance right out of the box. Meticulously applying Krytox GPL105 on the springs and sides of each housing and stem, we've lent a hand in making the Holy Panda X even holier.

This is just the final step in a long journey, one that started when we departed from the original Holy Panda production process (disassembling two switches and combining their parts), working closely with Gateron and a few familiar faces to recreate the Holy Panda experience through a fully engineered product. With carefully selected components, the Holy Panda X feels incredibly similar to its predecessor, but with greatly reduced stem wobble and improved consistency across the board. Among tactile offerings, it's nothing short of a treasure—and you can only find it here, now hand-lubed for the first time.

ZALMAN today introduced the ZM-K610, a 65% format (68-key) wireless mechanical gaming keyboard. It offers hot-swappable key switches, letting end-users not just replace broken switches on-the-fly, but also mix and match switch types, giving specific keys a certain kind of switch. The keyboard uses Gateron-sourced G-Pro series switches, with hot-swappable sockets. You can mix between Blue, Red, Brown, and Yellow switch types. The ZM-K5610 comes in two trims—blue+white, and white+gray. Both offer PBT resin keycaps, with individual RGB LED illumination. The keyboard offers wired and 2.4 GHz RF wireless connectivity with fast 1000 Hz polling-rate; and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity with 125 Hz rate. A 3,000 mAh rechargeable battery provides up to 73 hours of use (measured with the lighting turned off). Measuring 311 mm x 103 mm x 40 mm, the ZM-K610 weighs 764 g (without cable). The company didn't reveal pricing.

Cougar today introduced the Puri Mini and Puri Mini RGB gaming keyboards in the 60% form-factor (61-key set). The Puri Mini has passive illumination of the keys, with an ARGB illuminated ornament along its perimeter; while the Puri Mini RGB has fully ARGB-illuminated keys. Both models offer Cougar's Doubleshot PBT ball-shaped keycaps with 6.5 mm interkey spacing; and Gateron Red or Gateron Blue mechanical switches. A magneticaly-locking protective cover comes included, along with a detachable braided USB cable. Measuring 295 mm x 121 mm x 38.4 mm, the Puri Mini weighs about 680 g. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Give yourself the freedom to position your hands as you desire with this darn cute spacesaver. The Shrimp can enable some proper ergonomics. No more twisting your keyboard, hands and shoulders into awkward angles to find a feasible gaming position. The Shrimp can serve you both at home and on travels. At home it will wait patiently for when you hop into gaming.

The Shrimp is amazing for travelling. When normally travelling with a gaming laptop, you most likely carry a gaming mouse with you. You would probably not carry your keyboard along as it's way too big. You probably also don't much enjoy using the keyboard on your laptop. Tiny keys without proper feedback, hand positioned almost touching the laptop screen, yikes! The Shrimp is definitely something that would fit your backpack.

JamesDonkey is a fairly established peripheral maker based out of China with an unfortunate but catchy name, and has been known to provide good value offerings when it comes to keyboards, mice, headsets etc. The company reached out to us about its new TKL keyboard that JamesDonkey aims to make globally accessible courtesy vendors such as Mechkeys, and I thought it was worth talking about here at least—if not do a full review. The JamesDonkey RS4 is a new take on a feature-rich TKL mechanical keyboard with wired USB connectivity in addition to Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless options. There is a side-mounted multi-function wheel for volume and media playback, and a 4000 mAh battery helps with the available 16.8 M per-key RGB lighting too. It comes stock with two-tone PBT keycaps as well as Gaterons' new Pro Yellow 2.0 switches that promise a buttery smooth typing experience. The JamesDonkey RS4 is up for pre-order now at $79 and is expected to ship in May for those interested.

DeepCool announced the KG722, a 65%-format mechanical gaming keyboard. With compact dimensions of 31 cm x 10.16 cm x 3.9 cm (WxDxH), the keyboard features a 68-key layout, with the lettering printed along the frontal side of the keycaps, rather than on the top. The keys are RGB illuminated. Under the hood, you get Gateron RGB Red mechanical switches. Its electronics offer N-key rollover, 12 ms response time, and 1000 Hz USB polling rate. Other features include 32 KB onboard memory for storing macro and lighting profiles, and a 1.8 m braided-sleeved cable that offers both USB type-A and type-C connectivity. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Epomaker announces the Epomaker NT68, a wireless 65% compact mechanical keyboard designed with versatility, which comes with a foldable carrying case which can be used as a movable stand. This is a slim, sleek, and smart keyboard designed for creators, developers, gamers, and anyone who seeks performance, portability, and comfort anywhere they need to work and game.

Type and play games efficiently and comfortably on your familiar keyboard layout - the NT68 can directly sit on the top of your laptop's built-in keyboard while preserving the laptop's trackpad at your most familiar position for more precision and control. No matter you are using windows system or macOS, the media keys you need can be easily accessed by designated shortcuts. By pressing FN+W/E, you can effortlessly switch the keyboard layout between Windows and macOS. If there are any specific preferences, NT68's software allows you to customize the layout and remap the keys based on any personal needs. Your customized layout can be stored as a layer in the keyboard, and you can save up to 3 customized layers， which refers to three different layouts to fit your various devices.

[Editor's note: Our review of the Epomaker AK84S can be found here for those interested.]

The Epomaker AK84S, now available on Kickstarter, is an 84-key wireless hot-swappable mechanical keyboard that is specifically optimized for macOS compatibility. It's versatile and customizable, even for its switches and keycaps. Compared with Epomaker previous GK/SK keyboards, the AK84S is equipped with a new set of silicone keycaps. On top of that, the proprietary Chocolate switches are available in different types to offer various tactile feelings. The AK84S provides several types of designs, including an aluminum frame version, a full aluminum case version, and a unique bold acrylic design version.