CTRL V2 Barebones Mechanical Keyboard

What does it take to take a bestselling board to the next level? A long list of community-inspired updates, with build quality that’s better than ever before. That’s the baseline set for the CTRL V2—and now, we’re giving you your very own baseline to work from. Meet the CTRL V2 Barebones: the long-awaited, Drop-created successor to the tenkeyless throne—with just the essentials. Taking input from over five years of reviews, we made several key changes to this second-generation standout—including an upgraded PCBA with 5-pin switch support, a new STM32 chipset with better QMK performance, a range of RGB LED improvements, and an updated configurator for on-the-fly keymapping. On this barebones offering, you’ll also find an array of PORON foam and IXPE foam for a refined typing sound and feel, new to V2. Of course, we also kept the things our community loved—like the CNC-machined aluminum case, magnetic feet for an adjustable typing angle and dual USB-C ports. It’s the streamlined, highly anticipated sequel—with all the greatest hits. It’s the CTRL V2 Barebones.

Like the original CTRL, the CTRL V2 Barebones is first and foremost an RGB keyboard. That’s why, like its predecessor, it features north-facing switch sockets: to shine the most light from its LEDs through its onboard switches and keycaps. But with the CTRL V2 Barebones’ RGB LEDs, there’s so much more to love. For starters, we’ve incorporated all QMK LED modes into V2’s PCBA—a major upgrade from the limited number of options available on the first-generation CTRL. With the addition of these modes, you can now adjust the hue and saturation of mono color and animation presets right on the keyboard, allowing for more flexibility without the need to flash new firmware and settings. Also now included is built-in EEPROM, which eliminates the need for EEPROM emulation. This means that CTRL V2 Barebones will keep its current lighting setting, even if it’s disconnected and reconnected to a separate device. Even better: this functionality happens out of the box—no extra setup required.

Alongside the lighting, nearly all of the electronics in the CTRL V2 Barebones have undergone their own enthusiast evolutions. Take the new PCBA, which features reworked traces for a neater aesthetic, plus support for 5-pin switches to accommodate a much wider range of typing hardware. There’s also the new STM32 chipset—a major upgrade from the original CTRL’s Microchip chipset, allowing for quicker implementation of new QMK features and updates. (VIA support is also included, with Vial support coming soon.) Finally, unveiled for the first time on the CTRL V2 Barebones is our revamped Keyboard Configurator, which now allows for on-the-fly keymapping without the need for separate flashing or other setup steps. (This latest version of our Keyboard Configurator is similar to the VIA configurator, but it offers additional security checks in order to ensure higher protection against malicious actors.) It’s the finishing touch to an attentive electronics refresh—all to optimize personalization and performance, from hardware to software.

Following community input, we placed special types of foam in select areas of the CTRL V2 Barebones to refine its sound and soften its feel. This includes: PORON top case foam between the top case and the PCBA for a more plush and muted impact, IXPE switch foam between the top case foam the PCBA to act as a force break and modify switch sound, PORON socket foam directly under the PCBA to envelop the sockets and other key components, and PORON bottom case foam to eliminate any lingering hollowness. Add your favorite switches, stabilizers, and keycaps to build the perfect typing experience atop your new foam foundation.

Our original CTRL Keyboard is a community mainstay for more than a few good reasons. The sturdy and substantial CNC-machined aluminum case. The detachable magnetic feet that can be reverse-mounted for negative tilt. The ultra-convenient dual USB-C ports and hot-swappable switch sockets. It’s nearly an entire spec sheet’s worth of exceptional features—and it’s all on the CTRL V2 Barebones, too. After all, what’s a great sequel without a few great callbacks?