Behind the scenes #206

Keyboard Builders’ Digest / Editorial

Behind the scenes #206

Behind the scenes with the IQUNIX Magi65 Professional evaluation, open-source and business tasks, keyboard artwork, meetups, a number of new distributors and reductions.

dovenyi
Revealed February 13, 2026

Hey, what’s up everybody!

Welcome again for one more recap and behind-the-scenes write-up – with some cool tasks from the DIY keyboard scene, but additionally promising closed-source business tasks.

In case you are new to kbd.information, you may learn how this began out and what that is all about these days. In the event you like what you see, subscribe to the publication (free) and donate some bucks to maintain this in any other case free and ad-free challenge alive.

Chef’s alternative

Yeah, this write-up is fairly lengthy. In the event you’re in a rush, deal with these posts:

Some posts value sharing

• Listed here are January’s high mechanical switches, the group’s present favorites based mostly on vendor suggestions. 18 outlets and producers have contributed their gross sales information, representing a tiny pattern of 1 million switches offered.

• The Magi65 Professional by IQUNIX is well essentially the most refined 65% wi-fi low-profile aluminum keyboard to cross my desk.

• A purely declarative break up keyboard designed through ergogen: Shoedler54 by Simon Schödler.

• The GlassToKey by disarmyouwitha is an try to make use of the Apple Magic Trackpad as a keyboard (and mouse).

• Nikita Shirokov‘s Lapka 42 is a wi-fi low-profile break up keyboard with splay.

• Yuburoll‘s ANSIC is a uniformly row-staggered 40-42 key break up keyboard.

• An open-source, low-profile, transportable, pseudo-split steno keyboard: ObiWanStenobit by ivndbt.

• Justin Lam‘s Dabao is an open-source, low-profile keyboard, usable each as a unibody or break up machine.

• The aphelo30 is MajinEvelyn‘s open-source, wi-fi break up keyboard design – with out thumb keys for a motive.

• The Snake is a 40% semi-ortho keyboard. PCB by 1000eyes}, additional case by {Technofrikus.

• Teased by scytile, the Calidris is the low-profile alterntive to his common Cygnus. No information launched but.

• SplitFish by Lander03xD_. A wi-fi break up ZMK keyboard with soldered switches.

• To every their very own: Compose – Ryan Peterman made this as a result of mechanical keyboards include “bizarre layouts”. Quickly on Kickstarter?

• The Smurve80 [GB] – with “smurve” derived from “smile” and “curve” – contains a light curve impressed by the IBM Mannequin M. With equally curved change plate and solenoid!

• OLIK 47 is a handwired ergo break up by kimfransman.

• Parallax Corne – powder-coated aluminum, fancy carry case, designed by heysakha.

• Wow. A Chocofi turning off robotically when packed up (magnetic halves snapped collectively) – because of reed switches. Superior thought and execution by AcceptableCharge9197.

• PSA from a keyboard producer. The IQUINIX group’s suggestions earlier than you pack up your “damaged” keyboard and pay for transport: Maintain FN + Spacebar (or generally FN + Esc) for 5-10 seconds. The RGB lights will flash white/blink. Allegedly, this fixes about 40% of the “ghosting/lifeless LED” tickets they obtain.

• Printable palmrest for a break up keyboard. Shared by Yuburoll.

Historical past/Discovery

• An actual beast posted by SadSkelly_Larry who used to work in a information station. This was used for lots of on-screen graphic stuff. With Cherry Black switches.

• Hehe. A Preh Commander posted by Rabbitmincer. I’ve the one with the Cherry-compatible colourful MDAish caps, however this one is simply as attention-grabbing layout-wise.

• Yeah, IQUNIX retains churning out these cool designs. This one is ‘The Silver Samurai’, a modded EV63 HE (through r/mk).

• One other daring backside design: RAE Aurum. Images by Sterlingandcophoto.

• I’ll have already talked about this right here: Trigon60. Posted by keka52.

• Panelka keycap set. For context: A panel constructing is a high-density condominium block made out of prefabricated concrete components. Extensively in-built Central and Japanese Europe in the course of the socialist period.

Jeez, what a high quality bundle! Distinctive packaging design, a cool low-profile alu keyboard with a curler encoder and loads of neat particulars. E.g. bonus metallic artisans. Within the meantime I’ve already reviewed it.

Have I discussed the Hokusai Womier already? A Womier SK80 Professional variant.

• New donors, yay! Thanks Joerg L., Lee L., and Nghi N.!
• As at all times, many because of my superior common supporters and everybody who helped this challenge to this point.

For all of the donation choices take a look at the donation web page!

Meetup database

The meetup database serves as each a calendar and an archive, so be happy to ship me upcoming occasions and even ones from the latest previous to make this assortment as complete as attainable.

Upcoming meetups

Not too long ago added

• Colorado MechMeets February 2026 meetup, February 22, Denver, CO, US
• SMKX 2026, March 28, Seoul, South Korea
• MKCZ 2026, Prague, Could 9, Prague, Czech Republic

Initially, be happy to make use of the KBDNEWS low cost code accepted by 193 keyboard outlets worldwide! And don’t hesitate to report any points! 🙂

New outlets and updates to the database of keyboard distributors these previous weeks:

• IQUINIX coupon reactivated. They might even auto-apply when clicking the hyperlinks on kbd.information. The code has been round for years, however I solely seen that it does not work when writing the Magi65 evaluation… No it is again once more.
• Whalebone Stands‘s Ed provided you a 15% low cost (KBDNEWS coupon code).
• ClayonKey website launched. Nonetheless WIP, however the 5% KBDNEWS low cost is already energetic. Some good images of their keycaps and wrist rests, not but added to the location after I final checked.
• Arktcat – some cute keycaps. Consideration, heavy cat and pink overdose hazard.
• Keysme is migrating to a brand new system, the coupon code could also be briefly(?) inactive.
• I used to be knowledgeable that the Divinikey coupon not works (faraway from the database).
• I haven’t got any expertise with KeebsForAll, however here’s a warning by kionii. By the way in which, the store entry has been marked as problematic for ages within the vendor checklist.

Weekly Yusha Kobo pilgrimage: images by thehaikuza.

• Some small tweaks within the vendor and change web page scripts.
• Swap and vendor emblem sprites up to date.
• I most likely managed to mess up caching of the change pages. Must repair it by fully rewriting the entire thing…
• However I am engaged on some extra change statistics now.
• And may actually wrap up a keycap set design for Aula Keyboard.

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That is all for in the present day. Thanks for checking by. As at all times: Continue to learn and constructing!

Till subsequent time,
Tamás

Revealed on Fri thirteenth Feb 2026. Featured in KBD #206.

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