Choose from 5, 10 or 15 degrees of tenting with the optional Lift Kit

A conventional flat keyboard puts strain on your hands and arms. Over time that strain adds up and can reduce your performance, or even knock you out of the game all together. With the optional Lift Kit, you can tent one or both key modules to provide a neutral wrist and forearm position for extended gaming sessions. This isn't some gimmick, it's just more comfortable. Note: Palm Supports are required to use the Lift Kit.

More comfort, control, and desktop real-estate...

The all-new SmartSet Engine lets you fully customize your Freestyle Edge using the four onboard programming keys. There is no need to install any clunky software or special drivers on your computer. You don't even need an internet connection and you don't need to log-in to any 3rd party websites, so if our servers go down you're not stranded. The Edge is 100% Plug-and-Play on all major operating systems. And thanks to 4MB of built-in storage, all of your custom settings move with the keyboard.

A good programmable keyboard acts like an extension of your hand. Place critical key actions in intuitive, easy-to-reach locations to cut down on unnecessary movement and speed up your play. Don't reach for the key, bring the key to you.

Programming Cluster powered by Cherry ML mechanical switches

Layout Key

Design and save up to 10 game-specific layouts, and load them with the touch of a button. Each layout has two fully programmable layers for double the customization. Access the embedded layer with the programmable Fn key. Hundreds of additional layouts can be saved to the 4MB v-drive. Layouts are saved as simple .txt files for easy sharing and multi-platform compatibility. You can even download and save popular typing (Dvorak, Colemak, Mac etc) or gaming layouts from KinesisGaming.com.

Macro Key

Record macros on-the-fly and bind them to any key combination or single key (like one of the 8 game keys in the Game Bank). Use the Global Macro Playback Speed shortcut to choose from one of 9 playback speeds (up to a blazing fast 150 actions-per-second) or temporarily disable macros altogether. Macros are saved to specific layouts so you can create custom libraries for different games and applications.

Remap Key

Remap any of the 95 full-size keys with the touch of a button. Don't like the default layout, then change it. Perfect for sending right-side key actions to one of the game keys for one-handed play. Each remap action is a one-way assignment (not a "swap") so you've got total control.

SmartSet Key

The SmartSet key provides one-touch control over LED backlighting, Game Mode, NKRO Mode, the Status Report, and much more. Don't like the layout you just created, use the onboard shortcut to reset all of the macros and remaps in the active layout, and start from scratch. You can even upgrade the firmware right from keyboard (screwdriver not required).

Worried about accidentally triggering an onboard shortcut? Don't be. Just enable Program Lock Mode to temporarily disable all 4 keys in the Programming Cluster.

Prefer a graphical interface for custom programming or just want to visualize your layout or tweak a macro you recorded? Use the SmartSet key to "open" the 4MB virtual storage drive on the Freestyle Edge, and then launch the SmartSet App. The App is only 1MB, so it lives on the keyboard and never gets installed on your computer. Design custom layouts, program & assign devastating macros, and even customize keyboard settings. The App also adds additional macro features not available via onboard programming like individual playback speeds, repeats, and even precise timing delays within a macro.

It's everything you need to program your keyboard, without the bloatware.

At Kinesis we've been using Cherry mechanical switches for more than 25 years because we love the performance and durability of these German-engineered switches. Some keyboard manufacturers are moving away from Cherry to "clone" switches to save money, but they aren't always passing those savings on to you, the customer. In gaming, every key stroke counts, which is why we insist on using only authentic Cherry switches.

The original, and still the best.

We know everyone has his or her favorite Cherry MX switch type (we actually helped Cherry develop the Browns 20 years ago). Down the road we hope to be able to offer the Edge in the full-array of Cherry switches, but for our first manufacturing run we had to make some tough choices. After polling serious gamers, we found that Red, Brown, and Blue switches would work for the largest number of folks. So we apologize in advance to all fans of other switches types out there.

If you're new to mechanical keyboards, we recommend the Browns.

We’re even using Cherry ML mechanical switches for the 4 keys in the Programming Cluster. When we say this keyboard is 100% Cherry-mechanical, we mean it.

We like RGB lighting as much as the next guy, but does it boost your performance? Our blue LEDs illuminate the keyboard for gaming in low-light conditions, without any gimmicks. Choose from 9 brightness levels or activate Breathe mode to deliver soothing pulses of light.

Many professional gamers told us that they find backlighting distracting. That’s why we designed Pitch Black mode. Disable all the indicator LEDs so your focus is where it belongs, on the game.

Unlike other gaming keyboards, our backlighting on/off switch is fully programmable. Move it out of the way so you don't accidentally hit it, or put it somewhere more convenient for easy access. The choice is yours.

Through-hole mounted LEDs illuminate every key

The Game Bank features 8 dedicated game keys conveniently located to the left of WASD. These game keys are programmed separately for each layout and layer, just like the rest of the keyboard. Assign your favorite macros or relocate any essential right-side keys during one-handed play, or just move the media keys to the top layer. Pretty handy, huh?

If there is another compact, TKL keyboard with Game Keys on the market, we've haven't seen it.

Palm Supports- Every Freestyle Edge comes with palm supports. They easily snap on/off depending on your preference. They can even be paired with our optional cushioned palm pads for maximum comfort.

100% Anti-Ghosting- Because every key switch has its own diode, you'll never get any "phantom" presses like with some cheaper keyboards.

Multimedia Controls- Control your music using F1-F6 in the embedded layer. Not convenient enough, just remap those key actions even closer. Maybe in the Game Bank?

NKRO Mode- 6-key rollover is good enough for most folks. But if you're building the ultimate split gaming keyboard, its gotta have NKRO! Simply use the onboard shortcut to toggle the keyboard into NKRO-over-USB mode. We made NKRO a separate mode to ensure you wouldn't have any issues accessing your BIOS.

1MS Response Time- The Freestyle Edge reports keystrokes 1000 times per second (aka "1000hz polling"), just like other top gaming keyboards.

4MB Onboard Memory- Each Freestyle Edge has a whopping 4MB of onboard memory to store custom layouts, macros, keyboard settings and the SmartSet App. Just don't use it to smuggle any top secret documents...

Game Mode- Temporarily disables all Windows key actions and combinations so you don't accidentally exit out of your game. Trust us, you want this.

Braided Cables- Premium braided cables feel great and are extra sturdy. When you're constantly repositioning the keyboard you need a linking cable that can stand up to a little abuse.

Each layout can be custom programmed to suit your specific gaming and typing style. Create custom game-specific or user-specific layouts that you can quickly load and unload as needed.

Each layout has 2 separate programmable layers. The Embedded "Fn" layer has the 6 standard media actions and "Insert", but otherwise its the same as the top layer and ready to be customized. Perfect for Dvorak/Colemak typing, a numeric 10-key, a left-sided arrow cluster, or whatever else you can dream up.

The embedded layer is like a second layout that you can access on-the-fly

The embedded Fn layer is easily accessed with the Fn key in the lower left corner of the Game Bank. By default the Fn key "toggles" access to the Fn layer on and off, but you can reprogram that key to temporarily "shift" the Fn layer for quick "press-and-hold" access to embedded actions. Not only that, the Fn key can be placed anywhere on the keyboard giving you even more flexibility and control.

Don't need two layers? Just remap over the Fn key and turn the Edge into a basic, single-layer keyboard.

Backlit keyboards look amazing in the dark, but many models have low-contrast key legends that are difficult to read when the backlighting is turned off. To address that issue we're using a special, 3-step paint-and-laser process on our ABS keycaps. It's the same process used on premium laptop keyboards but most gaming keyboard manufacturers cheap out. This 3-step process ensures great light transmission when the LEDs are on, and an incredibly bright legend when the LEDs are off. Truly the best of both worlds.

Here's how it works: 1) each keycap gets a base-layer of translucent white paint, then 2) a top-coat of black paint is applied, then 3) the keycaps are laser engraved to remove just the black layer of paint to create the bright white key legend (not gray plastic). This process costs a little bit more and takes a surprising amount of know-how, but it's totally worth it.

Left: Traditional 2-step gray legend. Right: Special 3-step bright white legending process used on the Freestyle Edge

We know lots of folks like to customize their keycap sets. Because of its split design, the Edge layout is unique, but other than the two 3.5x space bars, all of the other keycaps are standard sizes. The bottom row uses the same keycap sizes as standard 6.5x spacebar keyboards (like most Corsair and Logitech keyboards). The only two special keys are the 1.75x Ctrl and Shift keys on the right side, but you can substitute a Caps Lock key cap with a custom legend.

Building a custom keycap set for your Freestyle Edge is easier than it looks

We're planning to use a single "row style" of keycaps (the standard "home row" sometimes called Row 2 or Row C) to create a sleeker keyboard that allows your fingers to navigate across the keys more quickly. Using an "off-the-rack" keycap set would be cheaper and easier, but we think this will really improve the look and performance of the Edge.

Now don't those look inviting

Plus, a single row style makes it super easy to move any of the 1x1 keys around on the board to suit your custom layouts.

Plug-and-Play, fully programmable (no software or special drivers to install)

O/S: Windows, Mac, Linux & Chrome

Plate-mounted, Cherry MX mechanical switches

Single-color blue LED backlighting (12 modes)

6′ braided USB cable

32-bit Atmel microcontroller

4MB onboard memory

2 year limited warranty

Weight: ~2.5 lbs

Lift Kit and Palm Pads sold separately

SmartSet App is Windows only

Sleek, compact, versatile, and portable...

Participating in this project will help us get the Edge off the ground faster and ramp up our other R&D activities (like on a new Kinesis Gaming mouse).

And more importantly, you'll get early access to the Edge before its available in stores, and HUGE ONE-TIME ONLY DISCOUNTS that won't be available after launch.

And since we're an established, US-based company, you can pledge with confidence knowing that we can deliver a premium product on-time and for less money.

Note: International customers are responsible for all applicable duties, taxes and brokerage fees. Here is a useful calculator (Keyboard code is 8471602000):

https://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/

Surprise, the manufacturing process is already underway! These are our best guesses at the timing for the major milestones. We will provide ongoing updates to all of our backers along with a behind-the-scenes perspective into manufacturing this unique keyboard.