To devout fans of the HHKB, the Heavy Grail is a long-awaited, luxury metal housing to elevate their beloved keyboard to an “endgame” status. To everyone else, it is a $650-1450 keyboard that doesn’t even include the actual keyboard. Over the past two months, I have had the fortune of taking an early look at the Heavy Grail to answer the question — does it retain the magic of the HHKB?
Read MoreThe Glorious GMMK Pro is easily the most controversial release in the custom mechanical keyboard scene as of mid-2021. It proposes a $170 option that checks off many of the boxes enthusiasts seek, namely a gasket-mount design and a CNC aluminum case (with a rotary encoder sprinkled on top). However, Glorious is a brand that has had a fairly murky history in the mechanical keyboard community. I spent two months with a GMMK Pro I purchased myself to find out if it’s simply an exercise in marketing buzzwords or if it actually delivers a viable option at an affordable price point.
Read MoreSince emerging late last year, Mode Designs has established itself as an up-and-coming manufacturer and vendor in the custom keyboard world. Their first offering, the Mode Eighty, is a premium TKL with a clean and professional-looking design. It also introduces a new construction style called “stack mount,” which has proven to be slightly controversial due to its use of foam as a necessary structural component. Read on to find out how the Eighty stacks up and if it makes for a great typing experience!
Read MoreThe Monstargear Alu XO v3 has two key factors which set it apart from other premium tenkeyless keyboards on the market. Right off the bat, its design is a distinct departure from the common “rectangle with hard edges” styling often found with TKL boards. On top of that, it is offered as an in-stock product, forgoing the group buy format most manufacturers have adopted. In this review, I determine whether the XO v3 is a viable contender in the custom keyboard space!
Read MoreIn making the jump from prebuilt to custom mechanical keyboards this year, I extensively surveyed the landscape of sub-$250 options to better understand what constitutes a good entry-level custom. After spending a couple of months with both the NK65 Entry Edition and NK65 v2 Aluminum, I put together this comprehensive look at what’s great about the NK65, what needs improvement, and what other options exist on the horizon. Read on to see if the NK65 is the right gateway for you to this rabbit hole of a hobby!
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