(https://preview.redd.it/ugpf4o7gmmt91.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cd8adad4be387914907192cc5814085cadbe04af)
First Look at EVO70 R2
One year and over 600 EVO70s delivered later, customMK is back with EVO70 R2! If you want to go straight to the interest check form, here it is (https://forms.gle/4UxxytWBgSWmHF7s8).
While EVO70 R2 looks very similar to the original EVO70 on the outside, so much has been improved:
- Option for either ANSI or ISO layout (ISO shown above)
- Option for monochrome OLED or color LCD
- Option to choose low profile or high profile case
- Upgraded to far more powerful microcontroller (STM32F411)
- Added real-time clock, ambient temperature sensor, memory (16MB on-board flash and memory card slot), and speaker (simple, without DAC)
- Eliminated top-side case screws around the perimeter
- Lilac e-coating option for aluminum cases (others may be added based on IC feedback)
What hasn't changed from the original EVO70:
- 48 underglow RGB LEDs with acrylic diffuser
- White per-key backlighting (dimmable)
- Includes encoder and 20mm knob
- FR4 or Aluminum switch plate
- USB-C
- QMK/VIA compatible
- Hotswap, no soldering required
- Exceptional customer service
A few testimonials you'll find on the customMK Discord server (https://discord.gg/wyyw5WuEmQ):
- "Thanks so much David - absolutely, top notch, unbelievable customer service experience" -justforfunsies
- "Legendary customer service here." - Saccharine
- "just wanted to shout out that customer service was SUPER prompt via email" - maddoraptor
- "whatever gb you do next I’ll be apart of. Custommk feels more like it’s customersupportmk" - Lumi
- "Yeah this is my first group buy for a keyboard and it's setting a 'too goooooood' precedent for other gbs lol" - CallmeZexy
...and that was despite the first EVO70 group buy experiencing a one-month delay due to failure-to-deliver from the original aluminum manufacturer.
If you like seeing videos of the assembly process, COJOC put together this unboxing video] of EVO70 from the first group buy:
Pricing is still being finalized, but it looks like the pricing range during the GB is anticipated to be as low as $170 USD for FR4/acrylic low-profile kits, $190 USD for aluminum/acrylic low-profile kits, and $480 USD for aluminum high-profile kits. The GB is expected to launch later this month, with the official delivery date 6 months after the group buy ends, but as always, we will do our best to ship sooner if we can.
Vendor list:
US: customMK (https://shop.custommk.com/products/evo70)
SEA: LandingPad (https://landingpad.shop/)
Others: TBD
If you have a preferred vendor that you will want purchase EVO70 from, it always helps to let them know you are interested so we can work to include them in the GB and keep shipping costs affordable.
If you're curious about what the high profile case looks like, in about two weeks we expect to have prototypes in hand for photos, but in the meantime here are some (very) basic renders of it:
(https://preview.redd.it/qexqtfqhsmt91.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=a92ae20880191a92734a8eb43fcd5bcdd5d35e6f)
EVO70 R2 high profile case, blue
(https://preview.redd.it/8anuqc9lsmt91.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a77ac8c029da5cca467cf0a65d9185121b6a284)
EVO70 R2 high profile case, lilac
And a close-up photo of the 160x80 color LCD screen:
(https://preview.redd.it/u5kytvlssmt91.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1388645d088cbbf161400b4c13f5b6e882168616)
0.96" color LCD