Unicorn? 65/68 key/% | BLE/Bluetooth 4 | Hotswap/no solder switches | QMK

[Cods]

G’day - I’m after something that I think may exist, or if it doesn’t, it’s on the cusp of existing.
If you know of the unicorn of which I seek, I’d really appreciate a pointer to what it is and where I can get one! 

In short, I’m looking for the following for use in my open plan, multi-device office setting, and would like all of the following in one keyboard:

• Form factor = 65/68 key - Like the MagicForce 68, the Leopold FC660M - must have arrow keys, don’t care if it doesn’t have an F1-F12 row. Between a 60% and a TKL, but neither of those specifically.
• Bluetooth 4 / Bluetooth Low Energy BLE multi-device pairing - Modern, multi-device BT pair switching, like the Logitech K480 or K380 and predecessors. Most keyboards with this functionality have the ability to link to at least three devices - in my case I want one keyboard to swap between at least two paired devices - a PC laptop and an iPad Pro; and it’d be nice to also be able to connect to a third item (an iPhone), but not essential.
• Hotswappable switches - That term seems a bit wrong to me, but you know what I mean - switching switches with no soldering. Nope, I’m not hardcore and do not give a rat’s about learning to solder. Hey, I’m late to the buy-your-own-switches party, but now with some heavy Halos, Zealios, Hakos, Box Royals and some others on hand to deal with the not-so-keen-on-clicky open plan office, I really like the option to use my own switches. Hell, if the GK-68 can do hotswap for $142 and the Glorious Modular Keyboard for $85 (and it’s a great keyboard for the money), then it can be done!
• QMK Programmable (or similar) - Usually this isn’t a factor, although always nice to have - buuuuut now with a locked-down work Windows laptop, on-keyboard QMK-ish editability to swapping the functions of CTRL / WIN / ALT to act pretty much like CTRL / OPT / CMD is now front and centre.

I have or have on order the following related keyboards, which tick some of the boxes, but not one of them ticks ALL the boxes in one package:

• MagicForce 68 v2 Bluetooth 4.0 / USBC - this is probably the closest, but no hotswap switches (I got MX Whites in that drop) and I’m not sure about how the ‘reprogrammable’ part works. EDIT - this one is great, although it’s not reprogrammable at all (see my comment below). https://www.massdrop.com/buy/78045
• GK68 - sooooo close, hotswap, 68ish key, reprogrammable... no BT though. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/65062
• Whitefox Vanilla - nice, I like it and use it daily, but no BT, no hotswap switches. https://kono.store/products/whitefox-mechanical-keyboard
• Glorious Modular Keyboard - hotswap switches, very nice for the the price (my kid loves it), but no BT, it’s a TKL not 68ish, etc. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/62258
• Logitech K380-ish - My wife has one of these, and the BT pairing / switching is perfect. Shame it’s not mechanical, programmable or enjoyable to type on! https://www.logitech.com/en-roeu/product/multi-device-keyboard-k380?crid=1762

Are these worthwhile options?

• https://www.nizkeyboard.com/product/hot-selling-bluetooth-usb-ec-keyboard-75-84-87-108-pro-keys-non-rgb/ - is this a Topre clone with MX-compatibility? I have the Topre switched Leopold F660C, and... Topre are (for me) meh.
• Some other thread suggests a Rama M65-A which looks nice, but I can’t even tell from the lack of text if it has BT. https://rama.works/m65a
• This page suggests Vortex launched a Vorted Race 3 with BT (Vortex Hybrid?) but my Google-fu failing me https://www.techpowerup.com/245114/vortexgear-joins-in-with-more-wireless-mechanical-keyboards

I’ve looked at a few others, but they all seem to have no more than three out of the four things I want:

• https://www.massdrop.com/buy/if2-68-key-bluetooth-mechanical-keyboard - not quite.
• https://www.massdrop.com/buy/gk84-75-bluetooth-wooden-mechanical-keyboard - BT3?
• https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-alt-mechanical-keyboard - no BT.
• https://www.massdrop.com/buy/nym-84-aluminum-mechanical-keyboard - no BT, no hot swap.
• https://www.massdrop.com/buy/keycool-kc-sp68-bluetooth-mechanical-keyboard - I’d give this a red hot go, but missed the drop, and it looks like no reprogramming and no hot swap. Better off with the MagicForce 68 V2, I reckon.
• https://www.massdrop.com/buy/punchy-kb68-bluetooth-4-0-mechanical-keyboard-kit - this could have been a go-er but bleh, soldering, and I think at $300 it never got up?

Lonnnnnng story short - there’s a really obvious one (or seven) keyboards with all four attributes that I’ve missed by being inattentive, right? I originally posted this on Massdrop, but that's as good a place as GH to get advice on this!
Help much appreciated

Postscript: oh, I have one of these https://www.massdrop.com/buy/handheld-scientific-bt-500-bluetooth-adapter as well, with mixed results. Ideally it’d turn any keyboard into a Bluetooth keyboard. In practice it’s... hit and miss. Mostly miss. Not recommended at all.

[Sup]

Tada68 Pro is the closest thing your gonna get. It doesn't have multi pairing with BT and hotswapping. But you can desolder the switches and make it hot swappable by using holtite. Other then that i think you are out of luck buddy.

[Cods]

Thanks - I checked the TADA and you’re right, it’s not for me.
So far the MagicForce 68 BT looks like it hits the two most important of the four - multi pairing BT and 65/68 key, with some programmability. Say, 2.5 out of 4.
 Cheers!

[Cods]

Quick update - my Magicforce 68 v2 Bluetooth from Massdrop turned up a few days ago, and it’s excellent!

So, it’s not quite the Unicorn, unfortunately, but it’ll get me through until the Unicorn appears (the MF68BT has no reprogramming capability, no hotswap switches).

If you’re looking for something Unicornesque, buy one of these in the meantime.

Of the four items on my list:
- The form factor is correct.
- The Bluetooth 4 switching between three paired devices is fast and reliable.
- I bought mine with Cherry MX Whites so (whilst not hot-swappable for Heavenly Ocelots or Box Mondegrens) my tactile-switchiness factor is still pretty good.
- The lack of reprogramming capability is a tad vexing, as the CTRL / WIN / ALT keys change function depending on what device you connect to. Not a deal breaker by any means.

The last point is interesting to me, as it makes me think about the ideal behaviour of a programmable BT keyboard that could switch between up to four (BT1-3 + USB) devices of wildly different types. I need to properly map what the keys do on Windows, iOS, and macOS and ponder a bit more on it.

[fedest]

Hi! I'm currently in your same position. Looking for a 68-key with BLE.

How did the magicforce v2 result for you? Have you tried any other model?

[Cods]

Hi! I'm currently in your same position. Looking for a 68-key with BLE.

How did the magicforce v2 result for you? Have you tried any other model?

Hey @fedest, sorry, missed the notification of your reply.
The MagicForce BT was pretty good... until it died a week after it arrived. Got a refund from MassDrop but still, disappointing.

I've backed a Kickstarter, this one - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/woo-dy/woo-dy-a-67-keys-mechanical-keyboard-that-is-breathing - for the Woo-dy.
It might be the Unicorn, so long as it delivers on the promises: BT + USB-C, programmable, hot swap switches, 87ish key.

[grisaitis]

I've backed a Kickstarter, this one - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/woo-dy/woo-dy-a-67-keys-mechanical-keyboard-that-is-breathing - for the Woo-dy.
It might be the Unicorn, so long as it delivers on the promises: BT + USB-C, programmable, hot swap switches, 87ish key.

Did you get that keyboard (the Woo-dy)? Looks fantastic. No idea what the battery capacity is, though.

[Cods]

The Woody keyboard looks 89% like it’s a scam, 11% just super weird.
No idea if I’ll actually get a keyboard - I’m assuming I won’t, but the 11% weird makes me wonder if I might luck in.

Not one to learn very much from experience I... backed another Kickstarter keyboard! This one looks less dodgy, the company has previously delivered a TKL and a 100%, so, perhaps I’ll actually get it. Keychron K6 - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/keytron/keychron-k6-a-compact-65-wireless-mechanical-keyboard

Massdrop delivered another Magicforce 68 Bluetooth with Cherry White switches. This one hasn’t died (yay) and I may be able to get work to allow me to install a windows key-re-mapper. It’s a nice keyboard!

But the Unicorn, it is as yet uncaptured...

[sumbody]

With a growing collection of mechanical keyboards coming my way (COVID and delayed GBs...), I was hoping to use them with my Tablet via bluetooth when I'm in the mood to work away from my battlestation/office.

I was looking at the Handheldsci BT-500 + Powerbank combo to convert all these QMK/VIA enabled custom boards into a bluetooth keyboard, was quite hopeful and close to placing an order until I saw your remarks of more miss than hit.

May I know how was your experience with this device? Is it the dropped connections, input lag, or not even detectable devices that was the turn off?

Cheers and stay safe.

[/zer0]

Hi um brand new and this is my first post...

Have you seen Keychron K6? Starts shipping this month. Should check off your boxes (not sure of qmk) but 68ish keys, hotswap, BT. They are also planning TKL version.

https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k6-wireless-mechanical-keyboard

[Cods]

I have a Keychron K6, and it’s excellent.