Designed in collaboration with UK-based digital artist Elora Owakita, The KapCo’s limited-edition “Night in the Neko City” keyboard accessory set transforms your desk into a vibrant, feline-friendly cityscape with nighttime neon vibes. ⌨️

I’ve always been a sucker for cartoony evening/nighttime art + color schemes, and while this set is a bit more cutesy than what I would normally post about on T&T, I just love how this stuff looks and couldn’t help but share it.

The set includes 121 MX-compatible ASA profile keycaps, an XXL anti-slip deskmat, and a spongy wrist rest, all adorned with Owakita’s distinctive art style that blends whimsical urban nightscapes with adorable cat motifs, granting your deskspace a whole lot more personality.

What’s more, the fact that they’re translucent on four sides allows RGB lighting to shine through, creating a mesmerizing effect that brings the city to life right under your fingertips.

Whether you’re coding late into the night or writing your next novel, the NiTNC set invites you to do it with style, comfort, and a touch of feline charm.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The full NiTNC keyboard bundle — which includes the keycaps themselves and a purple Zuoya LMK67 keyboard with pre-installed Gateron G Pro Yellow 2.0 switches — is $175 at The KapCo, or you can buy the accessories individually to kit out an MX-style keyboard of your own choosing:

• Keycap set ($80)
• Deskmat ($50)
• Wristrest ($30)

If I may also suggest, this pastel purple coiled keyboard cable that I recently wrote about would make a fine addition to the set.

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Computer users everywhere love to drool over their dream mechanical keyboard, but let’s not forget that pairing a keyboard with the right accessories is just as fun and makes your workspace all the more enjoyable. These coiled “Macaron” keyboard cables are a perfect example of what I mean.

Available in a handful of pastel colorways, these vibrant cables derive their name from those colorful sandwich cookies often displayed in bakery windows, lending your desk a refreshingly airy — dare I say whimsical — flair, all while keeping things neat and tidy.

Despite the cables’ delicate-seeming coloration and relatively low price point, the manufacturers didn’t skimp on build quality or convenience. Each cable features a TPU outer coating surrounded by a durable PP fiber braid, meaning it offers rubber-like flexibility while protecting against tangling, stretching, and fracturing.

The cables also boast a two-piece design, with coiled and straight sections merged by a 4-pin aviation connector that allows for quick disconnects and cable swaps. Out of the box, the coiled side ends in USB-C and the straight side ends in USB-A.

Each cable is $20 a pop on Amazon and comes in your choice of green, purple, pink, yellow, or blue. (The only one missing from the photos above is the red version, which you can buy directly from the EPOMAKER site.)

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If you adored 8BitDo’s line of retro mechanical keyboards I wrote about last August — which has since expanded to include Commodore– and IBM-inspired models in addition to the NES and Famicom ones — then you’re gonna love their upcoming series of matching numpads.

Dubbed the Retro 18 Numpad, each of these gizmos acts as both a numpad and a standalone calculator (with 9-digit 7-segment LED display), with connectivity to Windows 10+ and Android 9.0+ devices via your choice of USB cable, Bluetooth 5.0, or using the included 2.4GHz wireless adapter that magnetically tucks into a hidden compartment underneath.

These mechanical numpads make use of the same satisfyingly clicky Kailh BOX V2 White Switches and hot-swappable PCB as their keyboard counterparts, and along the top row you’ll find controls for wireless connectivity, the built-in calculator mode, and a shortcut button for the Windows calculator app.

Each numpad is powered by a 1,000mAh Li-on battery, with up to 160 use-hours and a recharge time of 4 hours.

The numpads are set to ship on July 15th, 2024 and can be pre-ordered for $45 on Amazon in one of four variants:

1. “N” edition (modeled after the NES console) — Dye-sub PBT keycaps
2. “Fami” edition (modeled after the Famicom console) — Dye-sub PBT keycaps
3. “M” edition (modeled after the IBM Model M keyboard) — Dye-sub PBT keycaps
4. “C64” edition (modeled after the Commodore 64 computer) — Double-shot ABS keycaps

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Released a couple months ago (March 2024), iClever’s BK09 foldable keyboard is like a newer, expanded cousin to the BK05 model I wrote about in 2019 (and which released in 2015).

The basic idea is similar in that it’s a nondescript clamshell case you can easily fit into a bag pocket, and opens up into a fully functional Bluetooth keyboard to handle any typing jobs you’d rather not do with onscreen keys — no matter where you happen to be.

The main differences here are 1) the numeric keypad at the right end, and 2) USB-C charging instead of micro-USB. The first of those is obviously the bigger deal, especially for anyone whose work has requires a lot of calculating and/or data entry.

One feature I’m happy they kept is the ability to pair the keyboard with up to three devices, which you can switch between by pressing fn+Q, fn+W, or fn+E respectively.

There are plenty of other key shortcuts you can use as well, and they’re adaptable to Mac/iOS, Android, and Windows devices as needed:

Get the iClever BK09 keyboard for $40 on Amazon.

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To preface this post, I want to point out that the product I’m about to mention is currently a prototype, not an actual existing product — at least not yet. If you’re cool with that, then read on.

Designed in collaboration between keyboard startup Work Louder and 3D artist/motion designer Ben Fryc — who’s been documenting mockups on his Instagram page — the k•no•b•1 (aka “Knob” or “KNOB1”) is an interestingly designed mechanical keyboard going into production very soon and should be shipping later this year.

Here’s how Fryc describes it in his own words (bold emphasis mine):

But what is the k•no•b•1? At it’s core it’s a low-profile mechanical keyboard with uniquely designed keycaps that are designed look amazing and feel great to type on. Another novel feature is a small screen on the right hand side between the right arrow key and two rotary encoder knobs above. It’s only 100×310 pixels so pixel art should look great on it. We plan to support custom wallpapers, a timer, and computer control features when we ship. Down the road, we want people to be able to create their own features. Stay tuned on that front.

Before you ask, because I know you’re wondering: No, that small screen he mentions isn’t touch-sensitive. However, it does promise to be a UX playground of sorts where you’ll be able to create your own widgets and such, and in full color:

The bottom knob is what you’ll use to interact with the display, and the top one will be programmable to prefer whatever function you deem suitable. As for the keycaps, they’re mounted on custom-tuned MX Gateron low-profile hotswap switches.

All of this is encased by an anodized aluminum top and bottom shell (silver- and gunmetal-colored, respectively) for max durability and aesthetic appeal:

Gotta love those orange accents 🧡

The keyboard will support up to three saved Bluetooth connections and will also come with a braided USB-C cable (also orange) for wired usage.

The team’s current shipping target for the k•no•b•1 is Q3 2024, and while they still have yet to test any production models as I write this on April 23rd, you can bet I’m excited for the project and will be keeping an eye on it in the meantime.

If you feel confident in what the keyboard will bring to the table (or desk, as the case may be), then you can pre-order it now for $439 USD from the official website or from the Work Louder page. In a Product Hunt comment, Fryc states that the purchase price will increase to $479 USD once models are actually in stock.

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We’ve written about quite a few Satechi products over the years, but to my knowledge we’ve never written about any of their keyboards. Today that changes thanks to the launch of their first ever mechanical keyboard.

Dubbed the SM1, this Mac- and Windows-compatible wireless mechanical aluminum keyboard sports a compact layout (75%) for a more efficient typing and gaming experience without sacrificing essential keys.

It also makes use of low-profile brown switches (with removable keycaps) that provide wonderful tactile feedback without the loud sounds of clicky switches, so you can use it at the office without your coworkers hating you.

The switches themselves aren’t hot-swappable though, so keep in mind that you won’t be able to customize it to that level like some mechanical keyboards.

The SM1 can connect via Bluetooth 5.0 with up to four devices at once, and it offers a pleasant white backlight with 14 different lighting patterns you can switch between by pressing the lightbulb button near the upper right corner. (Note: The CAPS Lock backlight in particular will switch to turquoise when enabled.)

If you use the SM1 without the backlight on, it can last about two months on a charge. Keeping the backlight on constantly will shorten that to a mere 16.5 hours, so I would personally use it sparingly. The battery’s power indicator is located on the spacebar, so it’s easy to see when it’s starting to run down and needs a recharge.

You can get the Satechi SM1 mechanical wireless keyboard for $100 on Amazon. As I write this on March 1st, 2024 however, the Amazon page is showing me a 15%-off coupon checkbox, so look for that when you go to buy.

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Somewhere within the Geek Venn Diagram™ there is a particular spot where the circles of “mechanical keyboards” and “retro gaming” overlap. And every person who lives in that segment will undoubtedly be shouting “TAKE MY MONEY!” when they see the upcoming Retro Mechanical Keyboard by 8BitDo.

With two designs inspired by the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Family Computer (Famicom) gaming consoles, along with its compatibility with Windows and Android devices, the 87-key Retro Mechanical Keyboard evokes the nostalgic design of 1980s electronics combined with the usability modern users expect.

For starters, you can connect the keyboard via Bluetooth, wireless 2.4G, or simply a wired connection — your choice. For wireless usage, you have a 2,000mAh lithium-ion battery to work with, which is enough juice to work for 200 hours straight before needing a recharge (which itself takes 4 hours). With the company’s own Ultimate Software application on PC, you can create complex key macros and map functions to specific buttons.

Both models feature dye-sub PBT keycaps that should be highly resistant to wear over time (even under the fingertips of the most intense gamers), along with Kailh BOX V2 White Switches that have a satisfyingly clicky feel with a smooth, fast return after each press. The PCB board is also hot-swappable so you can replace those BOX V2s with switches of your own preference if desired.

Perhaps the funnest thing about these keyboards is that they come with two “Super Buttons”, which are these huge programmable keys that look like the A and B buttons from an NES controller. Up to four sets of them can be wired to the keyboard’s “ABXY” ports, for eight keys total.

I could totally see using these as foot pedal buttons beneath your desk like some kind of hybrid between a mad digital scientist and a pipe organ player

Both the “N” edition and “Fami” edition can be pre-ordered for $100 on Amazon, with the release date slated for September 20th, 2023.

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ZAGG has released three variants of their Pro Keyboard, which are all Bluetooth keyboards that have the capability of being wirelessly recharged on a Qi charging pad. (I’d love to make a “Qi-board” joke here but sadly it’s pronounced chee, not kee.)

Here are the sizes to choose from, pictured above from top to bottom:

• Pro Keyboard 17 ($90) — Full size; best for desktop usage.
• Pro Keyboard 15 ($80) — Mid-size; can be used on desktop or as a portable keyboard with 10-key number pad.
• Pro Keyboard 12 ($70) — Compact; ideal for portable usage.

If you don’t already have a Qi charger, each keyboard can still be charged via USB-C, and there’s a cable included for that purpose. They estimate about three months of use per full charge, given 8 hours of usage per day.

Notice those three blue buttons at the top of each model? The keyboards can all be wirelessly paired with up to three devices at once, and those buttons are what you use to easily switch between them. Quite convenient, that.

Check out the full Pro Keyboard collection here to compare before buying.

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The Vissles-V1 wireless mechanical keyboard I recently wrote about is arguably — okay, probably inarguably — a clone of the Keychron K2, which has gotten some love over at our sister site in the past couple years. I’ve seen it talked about in lots of other places too; it’s a very popular model.

Anyway, Keychron is currently running a Kickstarter for the K12 model, which has a few differences from the K2:

Otherwise, they mostly share the same functionality:

• They can both operate wirelessly or over USB-C.
• They have the same latencies in both cases (30ms and 13ms, respectively).
• They can both connect with up to three devices.
• They’re both compatible with Mac/iOS/Windows/Android.
• They have the same number of Fn/media keys.

Another commonality they share is a 4,000mAh battery, which can last up to two months (assuming eight hours of daily usage without backlighting) before needing to recharge.

As mentioned in the chart above, the K12 offers both backlit and non-backlit versions, as well as versions of both those types that are either hot-swappable or not.

Head to the Kickstarter page and check out the various backer levels for all the available keyboard options. As of April 1st, 2021 they’re already getting close to doubling their $80k funding goal and still have 21 days to go.

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Released only weeks ago, the Vissles-V1 is an 84-key mechanical keyboard that can be used either wirelessly via Bluetooth or over a USB-C connection, meaning it can be paired with just about any computer, smartphone, or tablet out there. In fact, you can pair it with up to five different devices, which you can easily switch between simply by hitting Fn + Q/W/E/R/T.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah0V2IKMvcM

For wireless users, the V1 contains a 3,750mAh lithium battery that delivers up to 19 hours of runtime with the brightest RGB backlighting on, or up to 180 hours with the lights off. As for the lights themselves, they offer 9 monochrome lighting modes and 19 dynamic effects you can switch between at will.

Beneath the doubleshot ABS keycaps, you get a choice between Red, Blue, or Brown Outemu switches, which are a budget-friendly alternative to Cherry MX or Gateron that helps bring the V1’s price to below $100.

Whether you want it for writing or gaming purposes, you can get this nicely made keyboard for $90 on Amazon.

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The GMMK gaming keyboard — short for “Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard” — is perfect for anyone new to mechanical keyboards and wanting to get their feet wet a little.

The premium and sturdy build quality somehow feels more expensive than it is, and you can endlessly customize it by swapping out and even mixing-and-matching the keycaps and switches (of the 3-pin, plate-mounted variety) to your heart’s content:

Trying out different switches, replacing old ones, and matching several types of mechanical keyboard switches used to be difficult and required extreme technical skill. The Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard (GMMK) is the world’s first mechanical keyboard featuring hot-swappable switches for Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh branded switches.

Ever wonder what Gateron Blues felt like? Or what is the craze behind the Cherry MX clears? Want to use Gateron Reds for your WASD, but Gateron Blacks for all your other keys? With the GMMK, you no longer have to purchase an entirely new keyboard, or disassemble and solder your switches – you can simply pop out the switch just like a keycap, and mix/match to test out and use any combination of switches you desire.

(It comes loaded with Gateron Brown switches out of the box, in case you’re wondering.)

On top of the hot-swappable keys, you can customize things even further with the GMMK’s 16.8-million color RGB LED backlighting, for which you can adjust the brightness and enable mesmerizing effects.

There are three sizes of the GMMK to choose from:

• Compact (61-key) — $120
• Tenkeyless (87-key) — $120
• Full Size (104-key) — $110 (don’t ask me why this one’s cheaper, I have no idea)

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When I last wrote about Logitech’s Slim Folio keyboard case for iPad, it was with the 5th (2017) and 6th (2018) generation iPad models in mind. And at the time, it was the best 3rd-party option you were gonna get. Now that the 8th-gen iPad for 2020 has hit the market, we’re discovering that this is still the case (pun intended).

Like the previous model, the 7th- and 8th-gen friendly version of the Slim Folio offers a laptop-like typing experience everywhere you take your iPad, while also keeping it safe from bumps, scratches, and spills. You get a full row of iOS shortcut keys above the number row — things like brightness control, show/hide the onscreen keyboard, music playback, etc — and the rest of the keys feel nice to type with.

Unlike a laptop however, the Slim Folio can be laid semi-flat, screen facing up, for the purposes of note-taking, sketching, handheld reading, and more.

…which makes it all the more handy that the keyboard case now includes a holder on top for an Apple Pencil or Logitech’s own Crayon stylus, so it’s always right there when you need it.

However you use the keyboard, it uses such a small amount of battery that the replaceable coin cell that powers it can last up to four years (assuming you only use it two hours a day).

Get the standard Logitech Slim Folio for $98 on Amazon. They also make versions for the 12.9″ iPad Pro ($123), the 11″ iPad Pro ($113), and the iPad Air ($88).

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If ergonomics are an important health consideration in your life, and you have an affinity for mechanical keyboards (with all the tinkering that entails), and you don’t mind changing up your entire way of typing, then boy do I have the product for you.

The ErgoDox EZ is a fully split mechanical keyboard that can be customized wholly to your personal needs. It’s kind of like having a vehicle already set up with the mirrors angled, the steering wheel tilted, and the driver seat adjusted juuuust right, every time you get in.

For instance, the two halves of the keyboard can be positioned 100% independently, not just in terms of where they are on your desk but also how they’re angled — that is, with the addition of the six custom aluminum legs in the keyboard’s Tilt/Tent kit.

Moreover, you can change your own keyswitches, no soldering iron required! The EZ even comes with a double-sided key puller tool to make the process painless. Any plate-mounted Cherry-compatible keyswitches will work, although the company does offer a large variety of switches for you to choose from when you buy.

Watch this guy’s 5-minute review to get an idea of how much customization is possible:

Now, one thing to know up front is that the EZ boasts a unique ortholinear layout, which is a fancy way of saying the keys are arranged in straight columns rather than staggered left and right. Here’s their reasoning for that:

When you extend your finger, it doesn’t go sideways, does it? So why are the keys on your keyboard not directly on top of each other? The answer is archaic design, which we fixed. The ErgoDox EZ has linear columns of keys, reducing finger travel and fatigue.

This is the one part of the EZ that most people struggle with at first, after years and years of typing muscle memory. You’ll have to decide for yourself how much of a dealbreaker that is.

The ErgoDox EZ comes in black or white, and the most straightforward way to buy it is with the original bundle ($324), which includes the Tilt/Tent and the separate split wrist rest. However, I found it helpful to go through their “Help Me Choose” feature, especially as it pertains to keyswitch selection and glow/backlight options.

Once your keyboard arrives, read their thorough getting started guide to get the most out of it.

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Whether you’re a game streamer looking to boost your production quality or someone who wouldn’t mind a novel way to up your productivity levels, Elgato’s Stream Deck has something to offer. It’s a USB 2.0 peripheral (designed for Mac or Windows 10) with a grid of dedicated programmable keys, each of which is also its own tiny LCD color display.

The idea is, you can assign one of any number of functions/actions/keyboard shortcuts to each key. For streamers in particular, you could have separate keys dedicated to putting memes on-screen, switching cameras, firing off sound effects, starting/stopping/recording a stream, tweeting out that you’re about to go live, muting/unmuting your mic, taking screenshots…you name it.

The trailer gives an idea of what it can do:

Every single action you assign is one button press away, without having to leave the game. The images displayed for each button are completely customizable in the Elgato software, and you can even set up nested “folders” of action sets — for example, a media playback page, a gif repository page, a sound effect page, etc.

Even if you’re not a streamer, this device is beyond useful. It works extremely well for executing macros in Adobe apps, opening specific files or system folders, launching apps, pulling up websites, controlling media playback, and much more. The sky’s the limit, really.

The Stream Deck features integration with a number of 3rd-party services, such as Elgato’s own Game Capture software, OBS, XSplit, Mixer, and TipeeeStream, along with big names like Twitch, YouTube, and Twitter.

Even at the hardware level, the Stream Deck excels. The keys are built into a premium-feeling metal case that’s weighty enough to stay in place, whether it’s sitting on its own silicone feet or placed on the included stand, which can be swiveled up and down to your ideal angle. The illuminated keys themselves have a solid, snappy mechanical feel to them, yet are utterly silent so as not to draw attention.

The stream deck comes in three forms to suit any need:

• Stream Deck Mini (6 keys) — $80
• Stream Deck (15 keys) — $130
• Stream Deck XL (32 keys) — $246

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One should never underestimate the usefulness of always having a physical keyboard on hand for typing out long emails, messages, status updates, and more on any phone or tablet, wherever you go. iClever’s BK05 tri-folding Bluetooth keyboard gives you a full-sized typing experience without sacrificing portability.

Both ends of the keyboard are able to fold inward like wings, condensing the device into a small clamshell unit you can easily stow in a bag or large pocket. When open, you can have it wirelessly pair with up to three separate devices and switch between them at will using the keyboard shortcuts Fn+Q (device 1), Fn+W (device 2), and Fn+E (device 3). There’s also a USB connection allowing for a potential fourth device if you need that.

The scissor-switch keys themselves feel pretty good and responsive to type with, and there are a series of media-control keys on the top row. You can even enable a dim or bright backlight in one of three colors: red, blue, or green.

The “backbone” of the BK05 is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, the rechargeable battery lasts up to 300 hours, and there are a couple balance stands included to keep things stable as you type.

This is a remarkably handy little gadget, and at only $49 on Amazon, it doesn’t break the bank too bad at all. If you’re okay with an even smaller typing experience, they offer the mini-sized BK03 model for $37.

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