Issue 204 / Week 50 / 2025
This is a hand-picked selection of last week's content from a keyboard enthusiast's perspective. Posts that may teach you something, make you think and contribute to the common knowledge of the DIY builder community.
There are 12+24 entries in this issue:
Editorial
Behind the scenes #204
Behind the scenes with the December best-seller switches, the Elytra, Epomaker RT82 reviews, plus open-source projects, keyboard art, meetups, vendors, discounts.
Switch trends
Best-selling keyboard switches of December 2025
Here are December’s top mechanical switches, the community’s favorites based on vendor sales data.
Review
Elytra review
The Elytra is a fancy split in a cool alu case. Pre-built, wireless, low profile, optimized for travel – from ElimKeys.
Epomaker RT82 review
Displays on keyboards? The retro-looking Epomaker RT82 is raising the stakes with a detachable TV.
Dierya DK81E review
This affordable 75% board arrived from Kemove: Dierya DK81E with gaskets, rotary knob, and nice lights.
KiiBOOM Cybrix 29
The Cybrix 29 by KiiBOOM is a wired 29-key hotswappable Hall-effect gaming (half-)keyboard with lots of RGB effects.
Projects
Slump52
A diodeless unibody split by Peter J. A. Cock: Slump52 with number pad.
VoidPointer
Rafael Furlanetto Casamaximo released his wireless 65% voidPointer with exposed diodes.
TrueStrike42
An open-source Hall-effect unibody split keyboard: TrueStrike42 by Choi Byungyoon.
Cheap03xD
The wireless Cheap03xD is an affordable open-source split by Lander03xD.
Tips & Tricks
Best keyboards of 2025 -- a personal top list
My favorite keyboards from those I tested in 2025 – in a couple of made-up categories. :)
Inspiration
Lapa v25
The 2025 version of lya Leonov's Lapa, an ergo split keyboard-mouse.
Quick news
Closed-source, commercial, WIP, etc.
New Silakka in the works. A project by Squalius-cephalus.
Crowkb_wing_mx by CrackerRobot. Splay with MX switches.
Handwired: a handwired Ergodox-like split by whateverworks325, a Cosmos build by bn326160, and a monoblock Skeletyl by alexisdelg.
History/Discovery
Comark Industrial 486 grabbed by sammothxc.
Ancient switch in a museum. Photos by CherryMXBrown69.
Panasonic W1500 – posted by solidpro99. I love these portables.
Chase Manhattan Bank Trading Facility (1997) with some trading keyboards. Posted by No_Seaweed6245.
Typing, Keymap, Tips
Some tips from ilikeacorns about removing and reusing Mill Max sockets.
Inspitation of box-boards: Nike box by Particular_Hawk_2356, and a handwired keyboard-in-a-box by bruhmomentumly.
"Hello my favorite switch is" badge. (Re)created by Toji, inspired by Yushakobo. (File download here.)
custom-keycaps.com – a new German service. XDA profile, per-key customization, lots of options.
Urob's ZMK Timeless Home Row Mods ported to native QMK. A configuration guide by pgetreuer.
Aroum's Project UFA – ZMK firmware porting for commercial wireless gaming mice. The result is a factory-quality mouse with an open, fully configurable firmware, Bluetooth support, and high polling rates.
Switch sound preview. Keep in mind that there are many factors contributing to the final sound, but such a tool still can help some people I guess.
A toplist of boards based on sentiment analysis of reddit comments. By NoodleSpringke3.
Keyboard art
Cool embroidered artisans by Gavin Austin aka Octonite.
Stoney pink Vault35. Photos by anonyzero2.
Hyper Apex – a case for the Elora Halcyon).
Weathered keyboard by xfactorxsuh.
Circuit 58 and Serpens by Rain2.
Lego keyboard case by OkDebate6649.
Already mentioned in August, but anyway: Yolochka Winter Edition by aroum. Perheps it's more timely now. A handwired 40% with github repo.
Diderot effect (aka accessories)
A trackball from Keychron spotted at CES. Shot by Yanko Design.
Awekeys lowpro metal caps Kickstarter placeholder.
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