Keyboard Builders' Digest / Editorial
Behind the scenes #200
Behind the scenes with the September switch top list, Womier ERA75 and Redragon Eclipse K720 Pro reviews, open-source projects, tips, keyboard art, meetups, new vendors, discounts, etc.
Published October 22, 2025
Hey, what's up everyone!
Welcome back for another recap and behind-the-scenes write-up – with some cool projects from the DIY keyboard scene, but also promising closed-source projects or even prototypes.
If you are new to kbd.news, you can read how this started out and what this is all about nowadays. If you like what you see, subscribe to the newsletter (free) and donate some bucks to keep this otherwise free and ad-free project alive.
There weren't many noteworthy open-source projects in October thus far, so this is the month's first issue/newsletter (except for the switch mail I sent out for the first time). I had to come up with more original content, that's why the two reviews this time.
Some posts worth sharing
- Again, September’s mechanical switch toplist has been published – and the Oil King has finally been dethroned (by the Type R). Check out how the community's favorites stack up, based on vendor sales data.
- Keyboard review: The 75% wireless Womier ERA75 was a very fun build. Nicely cut alu case in six themes, hotswap switches and encoder, double-shot caps, VIA support. The DIY stickers will keep you busy for some time.
- Bonus review: The Redragon Eclipse K720 Pro is a 75% wireless gamer(?) board with pretty impressive features for the price: CNC alu case, display, rotary knob, cool decoration lights.
- The Visorbearer by carrefinho is a 34-key wireless unibody split keyboard with cool indicators.
- An ultra-low-profile wireless split keyboard supporting Cherry MX ULP and PG1316S switches: Delta Omega by unspecworks.
- A low-profile split keyboard with Corne 42 layout and Cherry ULP switches: ULK by Goga64.
- Tschibo00 shared the TokeyO+, a 33-key unibody split with a '70s vibe.
- TuxedoMakes released the Mantaray Pro Wireless, a split version of his Voyager-inpired, originally monoblock Mantaray. Available as kit or prebuilt.
- The Dial Gboard is Google Japan's yet another crazy input device.
Closed-source, commercial, WIP, etc.
- Marble 60 Pioneer group buy at ElecFox. Yes, it's carved from real, solid marble.
- Bully-Ribs – a nice monoblock offset ortho "split" by CREATINE0.
- A Chordie prototype by everydayergo.
- Phalanx 36 update. The split eliminating lateral movement – by mkovaxx.
- Retro version of the Flake – by kurisutofujp.
- Handwired: Caeli is a mini katana layout keyboard by leifflat.
- Imperial44 v4 from ergohaven.
- Atlas, WIP, is a classy low-pro split with trackpoints. By AsicResistor.
Typing, Keymap, Tips
- MorphKeys demonstration. A reconfigurable keyboard system using NFC tags that lets users freely arrange individual keys in three dimensions to match their ergonomic needs and specific usage scenarios.
- Current layer tray indicator by bskaplou. Reddit post with some background info.
- A write-up by devenv about how building his own keyboard cured his dev pain.
I always thought split layouts or exotic key shapes would fix my hands — turns out, it was all about my pinkies and the right thumb keys – devenv.
- A new case for the Silakka54 – designed and shared by Squalius-cephalus.
History/Discovery
- An old YAESU YK-901, wownicehat's flea market find in Munich. It only outputs upper case. Manual.
a special keyboard that is paired with other Yaesu radio gear for ham radio operations in Morse Code (CW) and Radio Teletype (RTTY). The CW/RTTY switch on the back enables special signals/shortcuts for each mode – ducksauz.
- Qtronix board with Mitsumi miniature switches, from 1986. Hupadupa's find.
It's hard to make out the layout exactly from the low res image, but I think I got it and wow is it bad. It's like the designers were aiming for high SFBs – cyanophage.
Keyboard art
- Rainbow titanium spacebar and keycaps from THOKMetalKeycap (aliexpress store).
- Alien metal keycaps by Persona_d.
- The Buck Stops Here encoder knob by NHValentine. 10 real dimes (a buck) with the top one being a real silver mercury dime. Fused and hand fitted to a 6mm D shaft encoder.
- Leather keycaps by Mrs_Fancy_Pants.
- Armani retro computer tie. Posted by _idENTity.
In the mailbox
A bunch of MoeeTech stuff. Thanks!
A prebuilt purple Glitter65 HE, the new (plastic) Hall-effect board, and also a red kit – with lots of switches and keycaps.
Jeez. I'm not usually into Hall-effect keyboards, but the MoeeTech Glitter65 HE might just have the best typing feel I've ever tried – even compared to my 100+ MX boards.
I was a bit sceptical when I heard that they're working on some custom switches, but it turned out that those might be the secret sauce in this great mix. At least the pink 38gF ProSilk coming with the pre-built Glitter in the photos. For some reason, the typing feel is INSANELY GOOD!!!! These custom HE switches, particularly the black and pink one, are super smooth and super creamy. (The blue one has a bit more wobble than the other two.)
A cheap, compact, light 65% Hall-effect board, translucent acrylic cases in various colors, with awesome switches and double-shot keycaps. Pre-built or kit. Price starting from $80.
(Haven't even plugged them in, but was amazed by the feel. Full review later.)
Donations
- Two new donors, yay! Liz L. and Hirohito F. Thank you!
- And as always, many thanks to my awesome regular supporters and everyone who helped this project thus far.
For all the donation options check out the donation page!
Meetup database
As always, this meetup database serves as both a calendar and an archive, so feel free to send me upcoming events or even ones from the recent past to make this collection as comprehensive as possible.
Upcoming meetups
- 2025 Milwaukee Mechanical Keyboard Meetup, October 25, Milwaukee, WI, US
- YugoMK Meetup 2025, October 25, Belgrade, Serbia
- Berlin MK Meetup, October 27, Berlin, Germany
Recently added
- ZFX 2025 Shanghai, November 22, Shanghai, China
- Keyboard Meetup in Hamburg, January 10, 2026, Hamburg, Germany
Vendors & Discounts
Feel free to use the KBDNEWS discount code at 186 keyboard shops worldwide! And do not hesitate to report any issues! :)
New shops and updates to the database of keyboard vendors this past two weeks:
- Ikasaya (US) is closing. Clearance sale with e.g. lots of switches.
- Coffeekeys (IT) is moving to a new, larger warehouse. Shipments are temporarily suspended and will resume starting October 27. In the meantime, enjoy a 5% discount, autoapplied at checkout.
- Tuxedo Devices (US), home of the Mantaray Pro, added. 5% off first orders, use the KBDNEWS coupon code.
- TTCswitches.com migrated to a new shop platform, and the discount
has gone (temporarily?)code is back now. Still 5% off. - Some clarification on the now defunc thok.design site vs their Aliexpress shop:
Our team of artisans stayed the same as before. All the products of GB are made by the same team. Thok.design is handled by our partner before who is no longer working with us and disappeared without any news. We have shipped out products without getting the last few payments as well. You can purchase keycaps directly on aliexpress. We are also setting up an ebay website here : EBAY THOK . All item listed are in stock for fast delivery worldwide with tracking – THOK Metal Keycap.
- Fellow redditor aiendail went to Seoul and visited Funkeys and Swagkeys. Photos.
Developments
Continued optimization because of the recent attack, plus many other tweaks.
- More caching: Serving the full switch list is 2x quicker now.
- The order by popularity option was messed up weeks ago I guess. Just found it out and fixed it.
- Freshly cached: issue pages.
- Meetup calendar update. Two-day events like the next zFrontier one made it necessary to tweak date handling.
- Switch offers – updated order: For some popular switch models I may list over 20 offers. It's high time to spice up this section with various ordering modes – other than the original list ordered by shop name. As a start, the new default is now from lowest to highest price, with out-of-stock shops put at the end of the list.
I still have a long todo list, but it's been another productive week anyway!
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That's all for today. Thanks for checking by. As always: Keep learning and building!
Until next time,
Tamás
Published on Wed 22nd Oct 2025. Featured in KBD #200.
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