Drop ALT Mechanical Keyboard - Refurb

The newest member in our family of keyboards is here! We’ve tested the samples and couldn’t be happier. Enter the ALT. The Massdrop ALT mechanical keyboard is just like the CTRL, but with 67 keys instead of 87. Constructed with a solid aluminum frame and Kaihua hot-swappable switch sockets, the ALT allows you to change switches whenever you want without soldering. It’s fully programmable via QMK firmware, has more than 16 million colors of backlighting to choose from, and comes with custom dye-subbed PBT keycaps that won’t fade. Experience the ALT for yourself and take your desktop setup to new heights.

The PCB is arguably the most integral part of any mechanical keyboard, and we have our work cut out for us with this one. Since this keyboard is far smaller than the CTRL, we have to build the PCB from the ground up. Rest assured we’re working hard to deliver a keyboard with all of the user-friendly features you loved on the CTRL. Most notably among them is the hot-swappable PCB, which will allow you to change your switches on the fly without ever picking up a soldering iron. What’s more, the keyboard will be fully programmable using the same easy-to-use QMK firmware as before. Powered by the latest USB-C connections, this board will be armed with RGB backlighting, just like the CTRL. It’ll be wildly programmable, so you can choose whether you want a single color, a two-tone effect, or a rippling wave.

Part of the beauty of mechanical keyboards is their variety. Even within the 65% category, there are tons of options, so choosing just one isn’t exactly a walk in the park. To make things easier, we’re looking back at our previous listings, and one layout in particular is rising steadily to our number-one spot. Created by avid community member (and our longtime friend) Matt3o, the layout we’ve selected has a distinct gap between the arrow cluster and the rest of the keys. This makes the arrows much easier to find without looking down—great for touch typing. And though compact, this layout still has a full set of numerals and four function keys on the right side.