The custom mechanical keyboard scene is known for high prices and exotic materials, but CannonKeys's latest announcement, a wood Bakeneko65 keyboard, takes this one step further with a $380 starting price for a bespoke wood case and PCB kit. The Bakeneko65 is an existing model from CannonKeys—and one of the more affordable kits, mind you—but the Wood Bakeneko65, as it's called on the site, is a collaboration between Seattle-based workshop, Functional.co, that adds a premium touch to an otherwise simple keyboard design. The design sticks to the traditional tray-mounted design of the Bakeneko65, but CannonKeys will include O-rings for mounting, and it will have an FR4 plate, and the wood will be finished with a Rubio Monocoat Pure 2C oil with a hardener. The keyboard will also come in a "custom wooden box."

The Wood Bakeneko65's case will be a two-part design, with an outer case and an inner case, the latter of which is sort of a bezel or frame for the keyboard itself. The outer case is made from maple, but users can choose between maple, walnut, purple heart, and paduak wood for the inner case. It will be available with both the wired and wireless Bakeneko65 PCB, and the kit will come in at $380 for the maple or walnut inner case or $410 for the purple heart or paduak inner case. Adding wireless functionality also brings the aforementioned prices up by $10. The Wood Bakeneko65 has not yet launched properly, but it will be available as a group buy on the CannonKeys website "soon."

CannonKeys is no stranger to peculiar mechanical keyboards, like the cutesy bento-themed Minimi40 we covered previously, and one of the company's upcoming releases stays true to that enthusiast nature. The Bullet Train is another small form factor keyboard, this time opting for a low-profile design and what has become known as the V4N4G0N layout—effectively a 40% layout with half a num row, 1-6, along the top left edge of the keyboard. The Bullet Train is designed to be a compact portable keyboard in a 40% form factor with enthusiast touches and a layout that works for gaming, hence the odd combination of a low-profile design with a num row and an aluminium case. The default plate will be FR4, allegedly for wireless signal integrity, but there will be optional aluminium and PC plates when extras become available.

The Bullet Train will support both wired and wireless connectivity, although the wireless protocol has not yet been confirmed. Given CannonKeys's affinity for ZMK firmware, it seems likely that the Bullet Train will be limited to Bluetooth for wireless. A wired-only version will also be available with QMK firmware, and both versions will support hot-swap switches and compatibility with Gateron KS-33 (low-profile V2) switches. One of the more interesting aspects of the keyboard is its 0° typing angle, but the split space bar with a 1.25 u middle key is also an unorthodox choice, although almost a necessity for a 40% layout. It will be available in black, dark green, lilac, pink, and silver color options, all off which will be anodized finishes. The Bullet Train will launch as a group buy on February 5, with a starting price of $170 for the wired hot-swap version and $200 for the wireless keyboard. The keyboard will be sold as a DIY kit, meaning users will have to supply both the keycaps and switches, although CannonKeys often offers discounted bundle deals on compatible keycaps and switches when launching keyboards.

Small keyboards, like the Epomaker TH40 we reviewed previously, might seem more like a novelty than anything else, but they do a good job of offering the same satisfying mechanical keyboard experience in half the space, making them, if nothing else, a worthwhile alternative to low-profile travel keyboards. CannonKeys's latest release, the Minimi40, takes the idea of stuffing as much as possible into the smallest possible keyboard and runs with it. The Minimi40, as the name suggests, is a 40% mechanical keyboard that is available in both a conventional staggered layout or an ortholinear layout, with both wired and wireless options, and a host of fun colors available. The Minimi40's design is inspired by a lunchbox, of all things, but the lid that sits atop the keys serves as much a functional purpose as it does a visual one. For starters, it serves as a way to protect the keyboard's switches and keycaps when it's being carried around in a backpack, but it is also designed to pull double duty as a wrist rest or stationary tray once you've set up shop to get some work done.

The Minimi40 is made from injection-molded ABS and PBT plastic, and it is available as an ortholinear or conventional staggered kit from CannonKeys, with the ortholinear, with the wireless version of the keyboard coming in at $125, while the wired version comes in at $110. Note that this does not include switches, stabilizers, or keycaps, so those will need to be purchased separately. The Minimi40 is also a group buy, with the shipping date estimated for Q2 2026. There are a handful of layout options, including a 6 u spacebar and a two-split space bar that utilizes 2.25 u and 2.75 u space bars, with the bigger key optionally on the left or right side. The wireless PCB uses ZMK firmware, which has been shown by other CannonKeys keyboards to provide excellent efficiency and battery life—especially with the Minimi40's 1,000 mAh battery—and solid customization options via ZMK studio. Meanwhile, the wired version of the Minimi40 uses QMK firmware, the powerful open-source firmware that can be configured in the QMK Configurator web app.

For those unfamiliar with Jelly Key, I highly encourage going through our previous coverage of the Vietnamese artisan's works wherein we've seen several different examples of highly detailed themes which get put to life on your keyboard courtesy artisan keycaps that use a resin pour over a layer-by-layer assembly incorporating individually molded tiny pieces. The company is famous for its various themes and designs although I must say I quite liked the 8-bit Series: Pipeline City keycap covered in the very first article. It was clearly going for gaming nostalgia and as close to Nintendo IP as it could get without getting into trouble. As such, I was delighted to know there was a new 8-it series in the works—especially as this happens to be the most complicated and time consuming design the company has ever put out in the new group buy called 8-Bit Series: Pipeline Battle.

The theme is put to good use here with not only characters and environments but also game effects including explosions and bullets/missiles galore. I can probably identify three different games these keycaps remind me of immediately and the level of detail is such that you may want to consider going for a larger keycap to better appreciate everything. Jelly Key says every single element is individually cast with just the base taking ~20 hours to complete and the various tiny characters taking another 8-10 hours to assemble layer by layer before the resin pour and a final finishing process taking another 16-18 hours. There are four gaming scenes, nine sizes for each scene, and 156 character variations in this group buy which consists of 11 keycap sizes and five keycap profiles including a "naked" profile without the resin pour. Purchasing a bundle gives a free art toy display stand too. The group buy ends Oct 9 officially—usually sooner—although Jelly Key has promised TechPowerUp readers some extra leeway here while also giving us a 5% discount code (5-eodh2). See past the break for photos of a prototype keycap in the 2u size, Pipeline Gold design, and droplet profile.

For those unfamiliar with Jelly Key, I highly encourage going through our previous coverage of the Vietnamese artisan's works wherein we've seen several different examples of highly detailed themes which get put to life on your keyboard courtesy artisan keycaps that use a resin pour over a layer-by-layer assembly incorporating individually molded tiny pieces. The company is famous for its various themes and designs although this time is a big departure from the norm by having semi-submerged elements in the new group buy called Crystal Veil Series - Space Odyssey.

The theme is space exploration and how lonely/dangerous it can be. There is an astronaut with his lander in various space-related environments which jut out of the top layer of the resin itself to give a feeling of being trapped or exploring—depends on how optimistic you want to be. These are also UV-reactive and support backlighting to an extent while the Cherry profile adds support to many keyboards using south-facing LEDs too. Jelly Key says the goal here was to make something easy to type on which I don't necessarily agree with, at least compared to the previous keycaps which have a smoother top surface. Indeed, it comes off more like a display piece to me and that also explains the optional display stand and box accessories to use them outside of the keyboard too. These new keycaps come in four designs and five sizes with discounts/free gifts for purchases of multiple keycaps. The group buy officially ends soon but Jelly Key has promised support for TechPowerUp readers who wish to purchase it over the next few days as well. See past the break for photos of a prototype keycap, including under the microscope.

For those unfamiliar with Jelly Key, I highly encourage going through our previous coverage of the Vietnamese artisan's works wherein we've seen several different examples of highly detailed themes which get put to life on your keyboard courtesy artisan keycaps that use a resin pour over a layer-by-layer assembly incorporating individually molded tiny pieces. In particular, we've covered a keycap before from a previous 8-Bit Series and that is probably my favorite theme from Jelly Key to date. This time round, we have a new group buy that builds upon the previous work called 8-Bit Series—Gaismas Kingdom. The company was kind enough to provide a prototype keycap to examine and show off here for interested users.

This happens to be another of Jelly Key's fascinating Droplet profile keycaps in the so-called Izchili theme. I immediately thought of Amiga games the minute I had this in my hands, and please note that the final keycaps should be done to an even higher standard of finish. The current group buy is set to end in a few hours so those who are eager to buy one need to decide sooner than later! These are available in four designs, four keycap profiles including the naked profile that doesn't have a resin pour, and 11 sizes while costing $55-105 each. There are further discounts and free shipping for those buying multiple keycaps and TechPowerUp readers also get a nice 5% discount code: 5p-w02hfav. See past the break for photos of my prototype space bar keycap, including under the microscope.

For those unfamiliar with Jelly Key, I highly encourage going through our previous coverage of the Vietnamese artisan's works wherein we've seen several different examples of highly detailed themes which get put to life on your keyboard courtesy artisan keycaps that use a resin pour over a layer-by-layer assembly incorporating individually molded tiny pieces. In particular, we've covered a keycap each from the Zen Pond III and Zen Pond IV group buy series that depict a school of Koi fish swimming in a pond. This was the design that made Jelly Key famous and also where it introduced the so-called "Eden Effect" that makes the resin background feel like it is part of the scene itself.

Jelly Key's latest group buy is active now and it builds upon the previous two in the new Zen Pond V series group buy titled "Zen Pond - Lost then found". Thanks to some shipping logistics issues, once again the prototype sent over came after the group buy had begun so I had no time to do a quick look article on it. Instead, I figured those interested in the Zen Ponds theme that were not able to pick one up last time should know now is the time to do so, especially given the new Droplet profile that makes for spherical corners and an overall rounded structure to make the resin and craftsmanshop more easily appreciated at a typical viewing angle. The Koi fish models are larger and look more naturally swimming in the resin pond too, including with wakes left behind the tail fins. The new group buy started Jan 18 and is scheduled to end Jan 25, however they usually sell out a few days earlier to where you might want to jump into the pond early if these keycaps interest you. The Zen Pond V keycaps are available in five designs, four keycap profiles, and 12 sizes. These cost $55-105 each and, as seen on the group buy page, there are further discounts and free shipping for those buying multiple keycaps. Read past the break for photos of my prototype space bar keycap.

Update: Jelly Key had kindly provided TPU readers with a 5% discount code: 5%-tpu-498djh9

For those unfamiliar with Jelly Key, I highly encourage going through our previous coverage of the Vietnamese artisan's works wherein we've seen several different examples of highly detailed themes which get put to life on your keyboard courtesy artisan keycaps that use a resin pour over a layer-by-layer assembly incorporating individually molded tiny pieces. In particular, a little over an year ago saw the previous Dragons of Eden theme being covered and this week marks the latest group buy from Jelly Key that further builds upon this with finer detail and an expanded "Eden Effect" that makes the resin background feel like it is part of the scene itself.

Jelly Key had sent over a prototype keycap but it arrived just before the group buy started to where I was unable to do my usual quick look style article on it. Instead, I figured those interested in the Dragons theme that were not able to pick one up last time should know now is the time to do so. The Dragons of Eden: the Rise of Supreme Power artisan keycaps from Jelly Key are currently available under the group buy option that ends 22nd December 2022, with no further sales planned. The keycaps are available in five designs, two keycap profiles including a brand new Jelly Key "Droplet" profile that looks amazing for these artisanal works, and ten sizes. These cost $58-100 each and, as seen on the group buy page, there are further discounts and free shipping for those buying multiple keycaps. Read past the break for photos of my prototype keycap.