Hot-swap sockets, per-key RGB backlighting, double shot PBT keycaps, USB-C, braided cables, and much more – Say hi to the UHK 60 v2!
The previous UHK version, the UHK 60 v1, is out of stock and discontinued. The UHK 60 v2 is expected to ship around the end of January 2021, and you can pre-order yours now. We haven’t raised the price yet, but we will eventually. If you own a UHK 60 v1 and want to purchase accessories, be sure to read the “UHK 60 v1 parts availability and compatibility” section at the end of this update.
Regarding the modules, we’ve upgraded every key cluster module pre-order for free to per-key RGB backlighting, hot-swap sockets, and double-shot PBT keycaps. All the modules are fully compatible with both the UHK 60 v1 and the UHK 60 v2, and firmware upgrades will be released as usual. We expect the first injection molded parts of every module type to be ready in a week, at which point we’ll publish a dedicated update about them. In the meantime, please read the “Hot-swappable, backlit key cluster module” and “UHK 60 v2 timing rationale” sections below.
A little history
Our first keyboard, which you know as the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard, or more precisely as the UHK 60 v1, has been exceptionally well received. But it's been three years since we started mass production, and based on your feedback, we could make it even more powerful.
That is why we've been working over the last few years to take the UHK to the next level, keeping all you loved and adding everything you yearned for. The result is the UHK 60 v2, and we're super excited to unveil it now. If you liked the v1, you will love the v2.
I'll list all the improvements we've made, so you'll know if it's time for you to upgrade or purchase your first UHK. Fasten your seatbelts for this long ride.
Hot-swap sockets
Hot-swap sockets have been becoming increasingly popular in recent years. It's no surprise because they enable switch swapping, which makes replacing faulty switches or installing alternative switches a breeze.
Speaking of replacing the switches of your UHK, we include a combined keycap and switch puller with every UHK 60 v2.
Regular, box, and silent switches
We can no longer offer the same switch types for the UHK 60 v2 that we provided for the UHK 60 v1 because they're not backlit-compatible. We also wanted to expand our switch range to offer a wider selection of quality product options. See the following switch matrix.
Let us first look at the vertical axis of the matrix. You're already familiar with regular MX switches, as their non-backlit version was available for the UHK 60 v1 and countless other keyboards. As for the box switches, they're my personal favorite. They feel more precise; they're better protected from dust and, in my opinion, offer a better typing experience. Last but not least, the silent switches make your UHK more bearable in noise-sensitive environments at the expense of some mushiness.
As for the matrix’s horizontal axis, I think clicky switches are the best typing choice, but your environment may not tolerate their noise. Gamers often prefer linear switches, and tactile switches are the best middle ground between typing and gaming.
The above switches are all made by Kailh. Currently, we offer every UHK switch option for the same price, but this will likely change eventually because some switches are considerably more expensive than others, especially the silent ones.
Double shot PBT keycaps
We have provided laser-etched ABS keycaps for the UHK 60 v1. Most were happy with them, but some pushed for PBT keycaps, and understandably so, as unlike ABS, the surface of PBT keycaps never gets shiny with use, and their legends never fade.
The parallel lines you can see on the above photo are the signature sign of double-shot keycaps. It's worth mentioning that these keycaps are best-in-class double shot PBT keycaps which offer unmatched shine-through performance, and the custom legends are easy to read even when they're not backlit.
The keycaps' side legends are here to stay, but they will be silk printed this time because laser-etching on PBT would have been very dark.
New keycap options
We've changed the keycap printing options for the UHK 60 v2. For the UHK 60 v1, you could choose Linux, Mac, Windows, Blank option, and ANSI vs. ISO was available as a separate option, resulting in 4 x 2 = 8 possibilities.
For the UHK 60 v2, you can select English US (ANSI), English UK (ISO), Blank ANSI, or Blank ISO. Being a backlit keyboard, we implemented the blank option by placing small translucent dots on every keycap. All these keycap options are made of double-shot PBT.
Functional per-key RGB backlighting
RGB backlighting needs no introduction, as you’ve probably seen countless backlit keyboards. The way the UHK uses RGB, however, is unique.
When I was thinking about adding RGB backlighting to the UHK, I had mixed feelings. I’ve seen loads of keyboards that tried to stand out by being flashy and utilizing all kinds of fancy colorful animations. In the true spirit of the UHK, it’s a professional tool, not a Christmas tree ornament, I thought, so I implemented what I call “functional backlighting.”
Based on the actual keymap and layer in use, every key has a function, and the keys light up according to the color of their function. See the following video.
As you can see, regular alphanumeric keys are white, modifiers are light blue, layer switcher keys are yellow, shortcuts are dark blue, mouse actions are green, macros are purple, keymap switch actions are red, and unused keys don’t light up. This color scheme is useful for learning what the keys of your UHK do, and Agent will allow you to configure the colors.
USB-C connector, adapter, and cables
USB-C needs no explanation as everything comes with it these days. What might not be so evident to some is that USB4 is on its way, and both ends of the USB cable will feature USB-C connectors. Naturally, we want the UHK 60 v2 to be as future-proof as possible while providing backward-compatibility.
As you can see, we offer a USB-C to USB-C cable with a USB-C to USB-A adapter, so you’re covered no matter what.
Unlike the USB cable of the UHK 60 v1, the new USB cable doesn’t have a ferrite choke at its end near the UHK, so it’s slimmer and also braided. For the sake of consistency, we’ve also braided the bridge cable.
We’ve made several improvements to USB connectivity besides simply switching to USB-C. The new USB connector is closer to the back side of the UHK, so it’s much easier to access it than the previous USB Mini-B connector, which sat deeper. And the redesigned cable recess mechanism should be more gentle with the cable and maximize its lifespan.
Hot-swappable feet
UHK 60 v1 feet were fixed by screws, and the legs had to be inserted into feet bases after screwing. This solution was reliable and worked well, but the feet’ installation and removal were quite time-consuming and demanding. This mechanism also discouraged experimentation with different setups, such as tenting versus negative-tilting.
The redesigned feet mounting mechanism makes all the difference as the legs are pre-assembled into the bases. You only have to gently insert the feet into the newly created recesses of the back of the UHK, then turn them clockwise. You can simply remove the feet by turning them counterclockwise.
Removable palm rest
The palm rest had to be screwed to the UHK just like the feet. Screwing it was less of an inconvenience than screwing the feet, but it’s still useful to easily remove the palm rest for transportation, so now it’s possible.
You only have to screw a pair of plastic bolts per keyboard half into the existing bronze inserts of the UHK once. Then you can simply pull the palm rest apart from the UHK to unmount it and mount it in the opposite direction. If you want to use your UHK flat, the plastic bolts are not in the way.
Hot-swappable, backlit key cluster module
Although this is not a module update, it wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that the key cluster has also been upgraded to hot-swap sockets, per-key RGB backlighting, and double shot PBT keycaps. This free upgrade includes every key cluster pre-order ever made.
Regarding switch options, the switches of existing key cluster orders remain unchanged, but new key clusters are only available with the new switch types mentioned above going forward. Feel free to purchase alternative switches from any shop and replace them.
Production progress and ETA
The design and procurement of the UHK 60 v2 have been underway for years, and it’s very close to completion. We have already had the product FCC and CE certified, had the first batch of PCBs manufactured, ordered almost all parts, and the firmware is working with Agent.
The main thing that’s missing is the modification of the mold of the UHK case. The modifications will be barely visible from the outside except for the USB-C connector and the recess for the USB cable, but they still take some time. Our mold making contractor is busy with the module molds and expects to have the UHK 60 v2 mold ready by about the end of January 2021.
Another contractor is working on PBT keycap and keycap legend tooling, which are nearing completion and should be done well before case mold modifications.
UHK 60 v1 parts availability and compatibility
We’re committed to supporting UHK 60 v1 owners for as long as possible, so let me elaborate on parts availability and compatibility.
The v1 palm rest is discontinued, and you can only purchase the v2 palm rest going forward. We’ve only changed the palm rest’s base plate, which is only compatible with the new hot-swappable v2 feet. So if you’re a UHK 60 v1 owner looking for a palm rest, purchase the v2 palm rest and v2 feet. This way, your UHK 60 v1 uses v1 feet, and your v2 palm rest uses v2 feet. Similarly, if you already have a v1 palm rest, you can use it with the UHK 60 v2, in which case the v1 palm rest uses v1 feet, and the UHK 60 v2 uses v2 feet.
We have an extensive inventory of v1 feet and black v1 cases that will likely last for years to come. These items are incompatible with their v2 counterparts, and you can purchase them in the “UHK 60 v1 parts” section of our webshop.
The UHK 60 v1 keycap set is discontinued. Still, you can purchase the new UHK 60 v2 PBT keycap set for your UHK 60 v1 or wait a few weeks until we announce the availability of the UHK 60 v1 backlight upgrade kit in a dedicated newsletter.
UHK 60 v2 timing rationale
Some of you who are waiting for your pre-ordered modules may be frustrated that we started to develop the UHK 60 v2 before delivering the modules. This timing is because we wanted to take our technology stack to the next level as soon as possible. As a direct result, we were able to upgrade the key cluster module, which benefits everybody.
Alternatively, we’d have to release the key cluster module as originally envisioned without all these improvements, then release another version with the upgrades. We knew we’d implement these upgrades anyway, so we’ve taken a bigger leap forward.
Rest assured, the funds required to release the modules have already been allocated for them, so we’re not using the funds of module pre-orders to develop the UHK 60 v2.
Thank you for your patience as we move forward with production. We’re confident the chosen path results in a more capable product line.
Closing words
If you’re still here, then you’re one of the brave few, and we appreciate your interest. This update was probably the longest I’ve ever written, but there was a lot of ground to cover, and I wanted to leave no stone unturned.
The UHK 60 v2 is the culmination of all our experiences, and it’s been a huge effort to make it happen. It packs quite a punch, and it’s the best value we’ve ever provided, especially while we don’t raise its price. If you’ve been on the fence, it’s time to pull the trigger.
We’ll be keeping you updated about the UHK 60 v2 in our monthly updates, and I’ll publish an update about the modules in about a week.
To be sure I understood correctly, the statement here means there is a path to upgrade a v1 keyboard to a v2 keyboard, maybe by purchasing this upgrade kit?
"The UHK 60 v1 keycap set is discontinued. Still, you can purchase the new UHK 60 v2 PBT keycap set for your UHK 60 v1 or wait a few weeks until we announce the availability of the UHK 60 v1 backlight upgrade kit in a dedicated newsletter."
I have bought my v1 recently and I am pretty unhappy that the v2 has been coming and I bought a v1.
It'll be possible to make the UHK 60 v1 backlit via the backlight upgrade kit. The backlight will be single-color, white to be specific, but on the bright side (pun clearly intended), the side legends of the UHK 60 v1 keycaps will be backlit, too, unlike the keycaps of the UHK 60 v2.
I'm sorry to hear you're unhappy about this news. We plan to support the UHK 60 v1 forever, and it's worth mentioning that recently, we've delivered the UHK 60 v1 very quickly, usually within a week. UHK 60 v2 pre-orders, on the other hand, are expected to wait for three months.
Having a V2 does scratch on the USP of having a "live long" keyboard. I will get pissed and buy the new one, like with apple products.
The UHK 60 v1 is discontinued, not deprecated. We'll keep providing firmware updates forever. We'll be providing spare parts for years. We'll publish 3D printable files if some spare parts get out of stock. We also provide component-level repair after the warranty expires for very reasonable prices. In the above respects, we're everything that Apple is not. It's also worth mentioning that we'll only release upgraded products if we believe we can provide significant benefits to our customers.
I have been waiting since getting my original UHK60 V1 for a notification that you have finally finished designing & producing your modules. I had spoken with László Monda in October of last year about getting your Trackball module. Is it now available?
Hi Judy! I remember you, and we've been making solid progress with the modules in the meantime per our monthly updates, but the modules haven't been released yet. You can read our monthly updates on our blog, and the next one will be published in about a week as promised. You're also welcome to subscribe to the monthly UHK newsletter. We'll be keeping you updated.
Bluetooth connection?
It's planned but probably years down the road.
Aaaahh ok. Thank you.
Is the Bluetooth version still in the pipeline?
It's on our roadmap. Please subscribe to the monthly UHK newsletter, and we'll let you know when it happens.
Hello,
I have just bought your keyboard just a couple of weeks ago and now you have a new version? That was a lot of money for me as I am a student. I bought everything the modules, palm rest etc, I almost bought another keyboard as I find the rgb lighting and being able to customize keycaps extremely important. However the modules you were developing changed my mind, Had I known that there would be a new version I would have waited!!
Hi, and I'm sorry to hear you're unhappy about this announcement. Please note that every accessory you purchased is compatible with both the UHK 60 v1 and UHK 60 v2, and it'll be possible to make your UHK 60 v1 backlit with the upcoming backlight upgrade kit. We can't afford to pre-announce upcoming products anymore because some of our competitors are eager to copy our core design, sometimes quite blatantly.
I have blank (all-black) keycaps in v1.
1. How can I receive preordered cluster modules with the same v1 keycaps? I don’t want no ugly translucent holes/dots on keycaps from your new “design” even if it’s pbt — I want all of my keyboard be uniformly black.
2. Could you consider making entire set of pbt blank keycaps for v1 _without_ any translucent holes in the keycaps? I need it to be professional, not rgb screaming puberty polca-dot.
P.S. I’m sorry but this is really just a disgrace of a design (though I understand for you to target gamers = money). Also, gosh, how hard is it to place labels in the exact center of the keycap? Why misalign to the top?
Thanks for your feedback, and I'm sorry you don't like the dots on the blank keycaps. We don't currently plan to offer additional keycap options, but we may look into them based on the feedback we receive. We may not be able to make everyone happy, though, due to our suppliers' minimum order quantities.
Please note that it's possible to disable backlighting via Agent, and then the dots shouldn't be distracting.
The reason why the UHK keycap labels, as well as the keycap labels of almost every other mechanical keyboard, are not center-aligned is that the LEDs of key switches are not center-aligned. There are very few proprietary switch exceptions, and even if we could use those switches, they wouldn't make sense for us because they come in limited options, and they'd make backlighting incompatible with mainstream hot-swappable switches.
I'd also like to note that we're not targeting gamers. According to this update, the UHK backlighting is exceptionally functional compared to the implementation of other backlit keyboards, each of which display fancy animations.
I'll add my vote for "please, add an option without backlight and completely blank keycaps". I guess, I should have ordered uhk v1 earlier :-)
I'll probably have a really well looked after V1 ISO UHK for sale in the near future…
Thanks for taking the time to reply to the points raised, László.
I'm afraid I share Andrey's dislike for your recent design decisions. I was planning on buying a UHKv1 but I will not be buying a v2.
When I work, I never look at my keyboard so I certainly don't need it to have distracting lights. I'm not a fan of the translucent holes either.
You say your target market is professionals and not gamers. Some of those posting on this page disagree with me but a keyboard with disco lights is not my idea of professional.
Thanks for voicing your opinion, Rick! It's worth mentioning that it'll be a no brainer to set every key action type to the same color or black color in Agent, resulting in no backlighting. We may also end up providing completely blank keycaps.
Can the back light brightness be configured? Most of them are way too bright in dark rooms
Sure thing! The "LED brightness" menu of Agent is the way to go.
Dude. The backlight is 100% programmable. Just keep it disabled. And dots are an additional keyset, not the default one. Get the regular legends and disable RGB and you're golden.
No to mention you should be able to program it to blink e.g. when you get an e-mail or an incoming-call. So yeah there are possibilities for office professionals as well. I'm not an RGB fan either but it's not enforced, you can do whatever you want with it – including disabling it and I'll have fun with it and Python for sure.
We have yet to expose individual LED states via a USB command and provide a tidy API via which you folks can go crazy and implement all kinds of use cases like the ones mentioned. We totally plan to do this, and I'm particularly excited about it.
Amazing Idea!
Plus one for this!
I have bought several mechanical keyboards in the past 6 months. UHK, Moonlander, Atreus, Preonic.
UHK 60 v1 is my favorite one for coding and overall a top contender for general use. It is also the most sturdily built of the bunch. It is really built like a tank.
I am quite happy with it and look forward to the v1 backlit kit (and the modules that I pre-ordered).
I use Moonlander as my personal keyboard, so I can switch hand position between work and non-work. They are attached to multiple computers.
I bought Atreus and Preonic on a whim, for travel and because I found that I really like ortholinear.
I think it's great that UHK 60 v2 adds individual, programmable key backlit. It is one of the features of the Moonlander that I like the most.
UHK and Moonlander have the best software support, although in the end all of the four are quite easy to reconfigure.
Let me suggest a feature for UHK. Given that it is the only one that has a client-side agent program. Why don't you add a programmable hotkey to show the current keymap on the screen. The agent (or a slimmed down program) could sit on the notification area and when I forget where is that key, I can look for it fast.
Thanks for elaborating on your use cases and your suggestion! We plan to implement the suggested feature.
Will you also offer a non-wooden palm rest to make a keyboard more low-profile?
A non-wooden palm rest is planned, but we don't plan to change its design, so the profile won't be lower.
By "low-profile" I meant "less sticking out by being wooden". I like the shape of it, I just don't like the fact that it's wooden.
Thanks for clarifying! Then you'll love the new palm rest.
I'm so sad now!!!
Got v1 last month and now a better version is out!! Going to cry now!!!
What material is the v2 case made of? Is it still ABS?
Yes, the UHK 60 v2 case is made of ABS as well.
I Have UHK V1, and i've preordered key-cluster and trackball module as well. I really dont like current key cluster key-caps, is there an option to receive it as it was on old version photos?
With such unexpect announcement, Im thinking about cancelling the preorder as all, and re-think getting v2, however im perfectly happy with V1, and all what i was missing was white backlight. Now v2 looks a bit… cheap? Like some carnival stand or chinesse made product. Sorry for harsh words, but i dont think this is good direction, and its bit antagonising for current UHK userbase.
Please send us an email, and we'll figure out a solution.
I remember years ago you said that wireless and a matrix layout features would be implemented after the main keyboard would be developed. You have already answered about wireless (Bluetooth), and what about your plans on a matrix layout? :)
We still very much plan to release a UHK with a more ergonomic layout, but I can't tell more. :)
Great news!
Are there plans for a keyboard with more keys?
Did you increase the size of the hole for the USB cable? Does it plug into the edge of the keyboard now?
Yes, we plan to release additional UHK models with more keys. The USB cable recess of the UHK 60 v2 doesn't plug into the edge of the keyboard; It's similar to the v1 but slightly increased and springy.
Can you provide a picture?
I don't understand what springy could mean in this context.
The UHK I received had an opening for the cable but it was too small and it cut the coating off the wire. I manually increased the size of the opening.
See the following image:
By "springy", I meant that the parts near the hole are more elastic.
I love this! I've been holding on buying it until the backlighting was added! I do have a question, I know in the demo you have set colors and sections depending on your use, will we be able to change any key to any color on any given layer? Say if I do wan't a Christmas ornament, can I make it look like one? And if I want different colors for each row, can I do that?
Second question which is just something that might come years down the road, are you planning on making a version of the UHK (V5 maybe) that is ortholinear?
Keep up the amazing work and I'll be placing my order soon!
I love it too! I already have an UHK 60 v1 and really like it.
But I'd still be really willing to buy an ortholinear UHK with RGB, Bluetooth too. Maybe with some kind of dot matrix display instead of the segment display… One can dream ;)
I wish there was an option for an English US (ISO) keyboard layout because I like the extra key. Apart from this the new UHK 60 v2 looks really great!
I agree. An extra key to program and do any number of things with would be amazing. I'd personally feel like that keycap should be blank though, so that adds to the complexity of the orders.
The one item I use quite a bit that is not present in this keyboard is the numeric keypad. I know you can purchase numeric keypads separately, it would be nice to have one with the same key switches. Are there any plans to make a matching numeric keypad too?
We will possibly create a UHK numpad, but it's quite low on our priority list. If it ever happens, we'll announce it on the UHK newsletter, so please subscribe.
I am already subscribed. Thank you for the quick answer.
Also hoping there will be an option to receive blank ABS keycaps for the key cluster module, similar to the blank V1 keycaps, for the those who preordered. A couple of reasons why I think it would be appropriate to provide this option to customers who pre-ordered:
1. Without wanting to perform a backlighting upgrade and/or buying new V2 keycaps, people will end up having a mismatch of keycaps, which not only is distracting visually (especially when you have the blank V1 keycaps) but feels inconsistent and is distracting during typical due to having keycaps of a different material (ABS and PBT).
2. Given there is no option to change the switches selected via preorder, the only way to benefit from the backlighting in the key cluster would be to purchase at least 3 completely different backlight compatible switches from a separate vendor, as from what I can tell, the backlight design is completely different in the key cluster than in the V1 PCB (you wouldn't be able to add an led through the slots of the standard Kailh/Cherry switches).
I understand the sentiment of wanting to provide an upgrade to everyone, and I do appreciate giving everyone a hotswappable pcb for the key cluster; however, in order for people to not have to shell out additional money in the UHK store, elsewhere, or both to have a consistent experience using their original V1 UHK + key cluster, it really feels like everyone who preordered should at least have the ability to choose their keycaps (as you can't really get these from a 3 party vendor), if not also the switches (old options or new options).
Ideally, all key cluster preorders (at least prior to the V2 release) would include both 3 blank ABS keycaps in addition to 3 of the new PBT keycaps. This not only would be a gesture to support those with a V1, but also an assurance no one is left behind if/when they choose to upgrade to a V2 or beyond.
Thank you for your consideration. I love my UHK (and looking forward very much to the modules).
Thank you for elaborating in detail, Nathan! This does seem like a reoccurring theme, and we're totally on the same page. I've been thinking about the exact solution you advised, chances are we'll make it happen, and we'll announce it in our next update.
I am already subscribed. Thank you for the quick answer.
Is there any limitation with the switches we can use as long as they are MX-like? I'm interested in using something like Panda or Zilent switches. For that matter, is there any hope or dream of buying everything without the switches themselves?
There is no limitation regarding MX-like switch compatibility. As for why we don't provide UHKs without switches, please see https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/knowledgebase?q=without
Sorry but this keyboard is not for professionals – it is definitely for hipsters or Instagram "models". Don't write words like hackers or professionals.
We have numerous customers from companies like SpaceX, Google, and Facebook, who might disagree with you.
You tell me that among employees of SpaceX/Google/FB there are no hipsters or Instagram models? And you are sure that after they have bought the keyboard they use it every day?