While loud, RGB-laden, plastic keyboards have taken over many desktop setups, Serene Industries has taken a much more welcomed approach to the category. Opting for a more brutalist , design-centric approach to your computer’s primary input device, the Icebreaker Keyboard is an exercise in creativity we’re excited to see more of.
Brands like Teenage Engineering have shown that tech doesn’t have to be purely utilitarian – it can also be well designed. Helmed by Denis Agarkov with the mantra of “heavyweight goods designed with marvel at heart,” Serene Industries looks at the traditional keyboard in an entirely new light.
Eschewing the standard plastic construction, the Icebreaker is fully CNC’d from a solid block of aluminum, a construction method we’re much more accustomed to seeing in the world of everyday carry. The brutalist wedge shape’s aluminum keycaps feature 800 micro-perforations to allow the LED backlight to shine through, and the full height switches ensure satisfying travel with each and every click stroke of the keyboard. There’s even a built-in wrist rest for optimal ergonomics.
The Icebreaker has been outfitted with a 4,000mAh battery that can run wirelessly for up to 3 months on a single charge via Bluetooth, and can also be hooked up via USB-C if you prefer a hard-wired connection.
The Icebreaker features 3 1/4-20” mounting points on the USB face as well as 4 separate mounting points at the base, which makes it perfect for any profession from media to defense allowing you to attach NATO (picatinny) rails as well as tripod mounts, monitor arms, and other accessories. There’s also a silicone dampener integrated into the bottom that helps refine sound while also doubling as a non-slip base.
The PCB features a 65% layout (sorry, that means no number keypad here) with an EC11 Rotary Encoder, Hotswap Switch Sockets, and per-switch RGB, all of which can be fully customized to your liking using either Via Configurator or the brand’s own configuration software with ease.
Dimensions: 450x44x24 mm
Construction: Fully CNC’d Aluminum
Connectivity: Wireless (Bluetooth) & Wired (USB-C)
Battery: 4,000 mAh battery
Battery Life: 3 Months
Control Suite: Via Configurator
Colors: 2x (Clear or Black)
Available in either clear aluminum or black anodized, the Icebreaker is currently available for pre-order until January 28th, and retails for $1,600.
Taking a futuristic approach to tech design, Serene Industries has CNC’d a fully backlit, wedge-shaped, wireless keyboard from a solid block of aluminum.
