The HHKB Professional Hybrid Type-S keyboard is on sale for $219, a significant discount from its usual near-$300 price. This flagship model features a compact 60% layout, Bluetooth connectivity, and silent Topre switches, which offer a unique tactile typing experience. It is well-built, runs on AA batteries for up to three months, and includes customization options via DIP switches and software.
The article notes the keyboard's layout is tailored for programmers in Unix/Linux environments, though it is fully customizable. While the design is niche and the Topre switches may not appeal to everyone, the current sale price makes it a more appealing option for those seeking a unique and high-quality keyboard.
Main topics: Product sale announcement, keyboard features and specifications, target audience and value assessment.
Grab an excellent 60% keyboard with Bluetooth & silent Topre switches for 25% off — HHKB Professional Hybrid Type-S is down to just $219 right now
The modern HHKB flagship.
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Keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, and if you've been part of the hobby long enough, you've heard about HHKB. The Happy Hacking lineup are legends in the community, featuring Topre switches and compact layouts. Even if you're not a professional or enthusiast, there's a lot of value to be had in these, and the flagship model, HHKB Professional Hybrid Type-S, is on sale for just $219 right now.
All-time low price
This well-built keyboard feels great to type on and can run for up to 3 months on a single set of batteries. The silent Topre switches ensure you don't disturb your coworkers or your plants if you WFH. It's got DIP switches for customization on the fly, and a unique layout.
The Professional Hybrid Type-S gets its name from two distinct features: 'Hybrid' because it has Bluetooth, and 'Type-S' because it has silent Topre switches. Both of these are upgrades that combine to form the modern flagship in the HHKB lineup — one that usually sells for close to $300. Of course, many keyboards feature wireless connectivity these days, so it's actually the switches that are special.
Topre switches feature a rubber dome with a capacitive sensor at the bottom of the housing, and there's a spring in between. When you press a key, the spring compresses, giving you a more conventional travel, like an MX or Kailh-style switch, but it's still a rubber dome, so it feels soft. Bottoming out rewards you with the tactility of hitting the sensor and activating the switch. It's a satisfying and consistent loop.
Other than that, the layout is 60%, but it's a bit changed to accommodate programmers working in Unix/Linux environments. The Control key is swapped for Command, and the Backspace key says Delete instead. But, of course, all of it can be customized via software, and you can make your own keymaps that are stored on-device.
There are intuitive DIP (dual in-line) switches at the rear of the board that let you adjust settings like these on the fly, too. The build quality is excellent despite being plastic, and the white colorway looks very clean. There are two stages of adjustment possible with the built-in feet, and there's no rechargeable cell inside — it takes 2x AA batteries, which should be good for up to 3 months!
In our review of this keyboard, we called it very niche and expensive, and while that's still true, the discount certainly makes it look a lot more appealing. It unfortunately doesn't come with a USB cable in the box (since it's heavily advertising Bluetooth so much), and the Topre switches might not be for everyone if you're used to modern factory-lubed switches. But if you're after something unique, classy, and robust, the HHKB Professional Hybrid Type-S at just $219 is a fantastic deal.
If you're looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, Best Motherboard, or CPU Deals pages.
Hassam Nasir is a die-hard hardware enthusiast with years of experience as a tech editor and writer, focusing on detailed CPU comparisons and general hardware news. When he’s not working, you’ll find him bending tubes for his ever-evolving custom water-loop gaming rig or benchmarking the latest CPUs and GPUs just for fun.
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