E.M.O. reveals ultra-thin Altar II mechanical keyboard measuring just 4.75mm thick

Electronic Materials Office (EMO) has announced the Altar II, an ultra-slim mechanical keyboard measuring 4.75mm thick with 1.8mm of key travel. 

Built around a macOS-compatible 75% layout, the Altar II keyboard (via ITHome) features a unibody CNC-machined aluminium alloy chassis. On the right side, EMO has integrated a speaker alongside an M-Dial magnetic replaceable knob in the top-right corner. Typing's handled by proprietary ESPtype keycaps featuring varied heights across different zones, crafted using REGEN polymer made from at least 50% recycled plastic.

Inside, two layers of damping padding work alongside a Harmonic Synthesizer system that relies on resonant actuators to provide tactile feedback. Illumination comes from red LED backlighting that dynamically adjusts brightness based on ambient light. Battery life stretches up to 30 days of wireless use, while a two-minute quick charge supplies up to two days of power.

Reservation spots are currently open for $1 ahead of a Kickstarter campaign launching on November 10th. Early backers can secure pre-order pricing at $249, early-bird spots at $279, and standard crowdfunding tiers at $299 before retail pricing hits $349. EMO expects shipping to begin in early summer 2027.

KitGuru says: At just 4.75mm thick, the Altar II looks like an ambitious piece of hardware, though those interested will have to wait quite a bit, as it won't release until next year.

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