Bluetooth connectivity and wi-fi USB dongles. A 80% tenkeyless structure with a complicated thumb cluster. An built-in rubber palm relaxation. A stunning OLED show. The most important batteries of any cut up keyboard. Riser 80 for high-angle tenting. Say hello to the UHK 80!
We plan to begin transport in late November, so don’t delay; pre-order yours at the moment! It is first come, first served. Please observe, nonetheless, that relying on the variety of pre-orders, delivering all keyboards might take weeks or months. See the “supply timeline” part on the finish of this submit.
Let’s dive into what makes the UHK 80 actually particular.
Structure and switches
The UHK 80 structure relies on the UHK 60 structure with two important modifications.
We went from a 60% structure to an 80% tenkeyless structure, so Escape, F1 to F12, and a navigation cluster have been added. Due to the brand new floating key design, the outer edges of the UHK 60 are usually not current, making the UHK 80 extra space-efficient, so it’s solely 25 mm or 1 inch wider than the UHK 60. The double-left and double-right keys above the left and proper keys soar left and proper by phrase by default. Consequently, the fitting Shift and Management turned smaller by 1U, which continues to be snug to achieve.
We elevated the variety of thumb keys to eight. All the highest 4 thumb keys make the most of 1.5U convex keycaps. As for the underside thumb keys, as an alternative of the 2 mouse-like microswitches beneath the UHK 60 case buttons, we now use 4 Kailh Choc v2 switches with ergonomically formed keycaps, offering most thumb consolation.
We solely use backlight-friendly double-shot PBT keycaps for all layouts. The legends are simply readable even when the backlight is disabled.
When buying a UHK 80, solely the MX change kind is choosable, and the Choc change kind shall be offered accordingly:
- Choc brown (tactile) for normal brown, field brown, and silent brown
- Choc blue (clicky) for normal blue and field white
- Choc purple (linear) for normal purple, field purple, and silent pink
If you need a special Choc change kind, you should buy one from our webshop and swap it.
Connectivity choices
The UHK 80 has a number of connectivity choices. Like its predecessor UHK 60, you’ll be able to join it utilizing USB-C (or USB-A by way of the offered adapter). As well as, it additionally helps wi-fi connectivity with Bluetooth Low Vitality (BLE) and UHK USB dongles. As much as 20 wi-fi gadgets could be paired to the UHK 80.
For wired connections, each halves of the UHK 80 have USB-C ports. Presently, solely the fitting USB port is usable for host connections, however each shall be equally usable after a later firmware improve. Additionally, you will have the ability to join the USB ports to completely different hosts and change between them. In contrast to the UHK 60, the USB ports are usually not in small compartments, and could be accessed simply.
You should purchase the UHK 80 with or with out batteries included. Regardless, each UHK 80 helps wi-fi connectivity.
The spiral cable is not required. If it’s not related, the halves talk wirelessly. If it’s related, it’s used for communication and charging between the halves.
The spiral cable is now product of polyurethane, not braided, and we eliminated undesirable further twist with a reversal of the pinout. These modifications improve elasticity, enhance the aesthetics when related, and maximize the prolonged size to 45 cm or 1.5 ft. The modifed pinout, nonetheless, makes it incompatible with the UHK 60.
Built-in palm rests
A lot of our clients stated that the palm relaxation is ergonomically important, so we built-in a rubber palm relaxation into the UHK 80.
This design permits for a barely slimmer kind issue and gives nice worth for the reason that value of the keyboard consists of the palm relaxation as an alternative of requiring a separate buy. This palm relaxation has the same really feel to the UHK 60 rubber palm relaxation. No picket possibility shall be offered.
The OLED show
The phase LED show of the UHK 60 has served us effectively, however I felt it was time for a giant improve and changed it with a stunning 2.08-inch 256×64-pixel 16 grayscale OLED show.
Given the UHK 80’s many options, there’s loads of helpful info to show. Within the high bar, from left to proper, you’ll be able to see the connection standing of the keyboard halves, the state of Caps Lock and Num Lock, and the batteries’ cost degree. The keymap title is featured in the course of the show, adopted by the title of the present host connection on the backside.
Riser 80
4 hot-swappable ft are supplied with the UHK 80, permitting about 5 levels of tenting, constructive and destructive tilting. If you wish to use the next angle, you should buy a Riser 80.
Riser 80 permits for adjustable tenting at exact 5-degree increments, starting from 10 to 60 levels, and boasts the identical robustness and fast folding/unfolding design as Riser 60. As a bonus, it’s now barely decrease and has thumb screws permitting for toolless meeting.
Provided that the fitting keyboard half is wider than the left, it is sensible to set a decrease angle for the fitting Riser half than the left half so the peak of the keycaps is extra even. I like to recommend 20 levels for the left half and 15 levels for the fitting half.
Wi-fi USB dongle
The UHK Dongle could be individually bought if you need wi-fi USB connectivity. It plugs into USB-A or USB-C (utilizing the offered adapter). You should purchase a number of dongles, pair them to your UHK 80, and use them to modify between many hosts.
You need a dongle both when you intend to make use of your UHK 80 wirelessly with a few of your hosts that don’t help BLE or if the responsiveness of BLE doesn’t fulfill you. BLE works nice, however mouse motion is noticeably extra responsive and smoother by way of the dongle.
Batteries
To my information, the UHK 80 has the biggest batteries of all of the cut up keyboards. The left half encompasses a 3500 mAh LiPo battery, and the fitting has a monstrous 5000 mAh battery. The bigger battery is justified in the fitting half as a result of it has proportionally extra LEDs.
If you happen to’re on the highway and wish to maximize your battery time, you higher disable the LEDs, as they’re large energy hogs. On this case, the batteries ought to final a few month.
If you happen to set the LEDs to most brightness and no LED timeout, your UHK will solely final a day.
The batteries are simply replaceable; we’ll present them individually on our webshop. The substitute process requires no instruments and takes about 5 minutes.
The UHK 80 helps 3A quick charging. To max out the charging pace, use two USB cables, one for every half. If you happen to’re not in a rush, one USB cable and the spiral cable are adequate.
Full {hardware} reconfigurability
Some keyboards supply many product choices, however require you to decide on effectively on the time of buy since you’re caught perpetually with what you selected. That is not the case with the UHK 80: you’ll be able to improve and alter product choices as your wants evolve.
If you happen to all the time use your UHK 80 along with your PC, do not select the “embody batteries” product possibility as a result of batteries price further, are dangerous to the setting, and solely final about 2-3 years. In case your life state of affairs modifications, you should purchase them individually, and voila, your UHK will run off batteries.
The identical flexibility applies to each different product possibility, equivalent to case shade. You possibly can even change from an ANSI structure to an ISO structure and vice versa. Given the hot-swap sockets, altering switches (even Choc switches) is a no brainer, as are keycaps.
Agent and firmware standing
Agent already works nice with the UHK 80 and all of the modules.
You possibly can go to the Configuration display screen, choose your UHK 60 and migrate your configuration to your UHK 80 with a single click on. Agent will add default mappings for the additional keys not current in your UHK 60.
I’ve been utilizing my UHK 80 for over a month, and it already works nice by way of USB, BLE, and the dongle. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless bugs and lacking options. We’re nonetheless engaged on switching host connections by way of keys. A bug causes a random key to be nearly held till one other secret is pressed day by day. Battery share readings are inaccurate, and there are a couple of different small bugs. The firmware and Agent progress has been phenomenal, and I count on us to repair probably the most urgent points in some weeks or months.
When UHK 80 supply begins, on the newest, I’ll merge the personal UHK 80 firmware and Agent repos, migrate their points to the official public repos, and launch new firmware and Agent variations supporting the UHK 80. All our code shall be within the open, and upcoming releases will proceed to help the UHK 60.
Tester testimonials
Listed here are some opinions from our testers concerning the UHK 80:
“The UHK80 is all the pieces I beloved about my UHK60, however now with extra options and extra keys! At the same time as a heavy consumer of layers and macros, the extra keys is a really welcome addition, permitting me to floor extra to my base layer and proceed down the rabbit gap of optimizing my workflow with hardware-bound automation. The built-in wrist relaxation, wi-fi halves, OLED display screen, and added 2.4 GHz/Bluetooth connectivity make this an much more important improve over my UHK60v2 and handily takes its title as my all time favourite keyboard.” – Zetaphor
“The UHK80 is a triumph! The construct high quality is so excessive that it takes a leap above the venerable UHK60, which was my benchmark for knowledgeable developer’s keyboard. Having the additional keys on the underside of the keyboard which can be within the thumb-zone are so helpful! And having an additional row of perform keys is nice for coding. There are such a lot of premium touches, such because the OLED panel and smaller Shift key sizes. Having the choice to get customized keycaps from YUZU is yet one more means you can also make this keyboard yours!” – Nazmul Idris, R3BL CEO & Engineer
“The brand new UHK-80 is a game-changer for fans and professionals alike. Having owned, modded and beloved the unique UHK v1 till this present day, I used to be thrilled to see the evolution on this newest mannequin. The standout function for me is its true wi-fi functionality, which is a big enchancment over my earlier BT-500 wi-fi mod. The keyboard connects seamlessly by way of Bluetooth and/or RF, and the 2 halves themselves at the moment are actually wi-fi. The construct high quality is outstanding, and the upgraded show is a big step up, making it straightforward to see crucial info at a look whereas giving the keyboard a extra premium look. Whereas it retains the beloved modules of its predecessor, the addition of additional thumb keys is a welcome enhancement. Hats off to László and the Final Gadget Laboratories group for his or her meticulous craftsmanship and evident ardour. This keyboard is not only an improve; it’s a strong enchancment in each means.” – Roger
“I believed the UHK60v2 was good, however the UHK80 actually shocked me. I am wheelchair sure, so I’ve to consistently shift my sitting place. With all the brand new connection choices, further keys, and the power to pair the halves wirelessly, I can sit as wonky as I need and the UHK80 can transfer with me.” – Phil (pcooke9)
“The UHK 80 is by far the most effective keyboard I’ve ever used. I favored the earlier UHK designs, however I all the time missed the perform keys. Now they’re again, and the brand new kind issue is considerably extra nice to kind on. I additionally like the truth that I can now use the keyboard wirelessly — with every half being utterly impartial!” – Jan
Supply timeline
The UHK 80 is already FCC and CE-certified, the plastic and rubber molds produce almost production-grade parts, and we’ve bought virtually each half for 1,000 keyboards. Only a few parts are lacking: Presently, solely the batteries are in transit. Our PCBA contractor is refining the stencil to assemble extra PCBs, and our molding contractor will make extra instances.
Given our on-demand manufacturing operation, the meeting process is the bottleneck. We will assemble lots of of keyboards weekly, which is often adequate, besides when our webshop is inundated by orders, as hopefully would be the case now.
Relying on the variety of orders, it may possibly take weeks or months for us to finish the orders. If justified, we are going to rent contractors to hurry up meeting. Ordering extra components in time gained’t be an issue.
As soon as UHK 80 supply begins, which is anticipated in late November, each order, together with UHK 60 orders, shall be put into the identical success queue, so UHK 60 orders gained’t ship in per week as they at the moment do.
I’ll replace the supply standing web page weekly and write month-to-month updates about our progress.
What concerning the UHK 60?
The UHK 60 and its equipment and spare components are right here to remain. We plan to improve it will definitely, however not anytime quickly.
Thanks, and shutting phrases
There you will have it, the UHK 80! When you have made it this far, we salute you!
As you’ll be able to see, the UHK 80 just isn’t an evolutionary, incremental improve just like the UHK 60 v2 was however slightly revolutionary, and it’s taken plenty of work to develop it.
Karel, Robi, and Benedek, thanks for creating the UHK firmware and Agent! Most individuals wouldn’t imagine that three part-time builders are adequate for this process except they’re as wonderful and devoted as you. Seeing your fixed progress and spotless work ethic places a smile on my face.
Max, Jan, Gary, Roger, Nazmul, Nadia, Phillip, and Peter, thanks for testing the UHK 80! Your suggestions has helped us tremendously in discovering and fixing quite a few bugs. Due to you, UHK 80 clients could have a way more nice expertise.
Final however undoubtedly not least, an enormous due to our great clients! You’ve been supporting us from the get-go all through the years. Thanks to your help, believing in us, and all the type phrases and encouragement you offered. It might sound cliche, however you’re the very cause the UHK exists, and we will pursue our ardour.
Thanks for studying this lengthy announcement! Discuss to you in a month!
