mechanical keyboard newswire
daily mechanical keyboards, firmware & tools
Happy Topre Tuesday!¶
Showcase of a JustSystems 91U with 86U internals.
MID.1, a folded stainless steel 40% board I’ve been building for a long time¶
Showcase of the MID.1, a folded stainless steel 40% board by A.Okay!, now open for reservations.
Finally bought new switches¶
Review of BSUN Strawberry Cheesecake R2 switches on a Rainy 75 Pro, noting quieter/muffled sound.
QK80 Brown in 2026¶
Showcase of a second-hand QK80 with PBTFans Retro 100 caps and HMX Orange Grape switches.
I admit I've become dependent on this little guy.¶
Long-term review of the Geonix Rev.2 compact keyboard, praising its weight and portability.
Glitter Q4¶
Showcase of a Keychron Q4 with PC plate, PBTfans Neon R2 Glitter caps, and Gateron Oil King switches.
Trackpads! Who’s got the deets?¶
Seeking advice on wiring and sourcing trackpad modules for a KLOR Polydactyl build.
Anyone know about this kit? Good? Bad?¶
Inquiry about a specific split board kit for gaming/macro pad use.
Keyboard and switch compatibility¶
Question about compatibility between Keychron C3 Pro and Akko Penguin Silent switches.
NuPhy releases WH80 wireless 8K magnetic gaming keyboard¶
NuPhy launched the WH80, a wireless gaming keyboard featuring 8K polling rate and Hall-effect magnetic switches.
It's all wired up. Now all I have to do is learn to code.¶
OP is a complete beginner who just finished their first build and is now tackling the firmware coding aspect. High engagement due to the "journey" narrative.
Finally designed my own shell, PCB and top plate!¶
Custom build running KMK (Kaleidosaurus Microkernel) on an RP2040. Interesting technical discussion on the design process and sound test.
Free your minds! DIY no-stabs build.¶
DIY ortholinear build using a Pi Pico running ZMK. Discusses the challenges of a no-stabilizer layout and the "jank" involved in the build.
Levels54 is now fully open source!¶
Creator released all files for the split 54-key dual-trackball board, including PCBs.
Treasure announces TYPE-9 Series IV and 3 new projects¶
Treasure is launching the TYPE-9 Series IV along with three additional new keyboard projects.
Keyboard Builders Digest #210: IQUNIX EV63 HE, Laika, MMOrtho, Alatus, Krteq, and more¶
Newsletter highlights IQUNIX EV63 HE review and open-source projects including Laika, MMOrtho, Alatus, Krteq, Leonardo KeycapRio, Lemonshark, and PISIC.
ScottoAcademy live workshop: build a 3x3 macropad¶
ScottoKeebs is hosting a live workshop to build a direct-wired 3x3 macropad from scratch, with enrollment closing May 3rd.
Mode Designs announces 2026 Encore with Crown Mounting System¶
Mode Designs released the 2026 Encore keyboard featuring a new Crown Mounting System, with pre-orders open and fulfillment starting in July.
Self designed ISO MX PCB to fit Holy80¶
Small couple-designed ISO PCB that uses QMK — notable because it’s a custom ISO PCB + full RGB and shows a DIY ISO QMK build that others may reuse.
New Geonix teaser photo¶
Teaser image for a new Geonix—looks like a PC case variant; sparks discussion about a new revision/production.
Krteq (Open source)¶
New open-source 61-key unibody using Raspberry Pi Pico and QMK/VIA — notable for Gateron LP 3.0 compatibility and hotswap support.
Krteq 5x12 (+2)¶
Same Krteq board cross-posted to r/MechanicalKeyboards (build pics) — community attention on PCB/switch choice.
Connecting Issues¶
First-build connectivity problems (Supermini MCU + ZMK) — several troubleshooting replies (worthwatch if ZMK USB/bluetooth fixes emerge).
My first split keyboard: Keyball61¶
High-engagement photo/build post of DIY split board using Remap for keymaps — good signal for ergonomic board interest.
Open-sourced My Corne Eclipse Design w/Dual Encoder & nice!view¶
Custom Corne MX build with dual encoders, dual nice!view screens, ZMK firmware, and ZMK Studio support now open-sourced on GitHub.