Chilkey ND104 mechanical keyboard heads to Kickstarter on October 15 with unique storage compartment and display

Beijing-based Chilkey has officially announced that its ND104 full-size mechanical keyboard will launch on Kickstarter on October 15 at 10 AM EST, which will be the start of its first major crowdfunding campaign. The ND104, which was first teased earlier in September, has a premium aluminum build with quiet switches, a unique built-in calculator display, and multiple customization options.

The Kickstarter will feature two main editions - the ND104 Lite and the ND104 Ultra. Both essentially share the same layout and internal config but differ in finish and included color options. The ND104 Lite will come in Lumen Yellow, Sky Blue, Lunar White, Soft Pink, and Gunmetal Gray, while the ND104 Ultra will come exclusively in Shadow Black.

For international users, Chilkey has confirmed that an ISO layout will be available, though only in the Gunmetal Gray version at launch. All six colors will be offered in ANSI layout for U.S. buyers.

The keyboard will be available with 1.2 mm and 1.6 mm PCB thickness options, and Chilkey plans to sell both versions separately as add-ons. The same applies to aluminum and polycarbonate (PC) plates, each offered in ANSI and ISO variants.

Kickstarter pricing and tiers

For early supporters, Chilkey will have several limited-run pricing tiers for both models.

The ND104 Lite starts at $169, with the first 200 backers eligible to pick between two free gifts - either an $89 keycap set or 105+ extra switches. The same price applies to another 500 units without add-ons, followed by higher tiers at $179 and $189, each limited to 1,000 units.

The ND104 Ultra also follows a similar structure, starting at $189 for the first 200 units with the same free gift options. Subsequent batches will be priced at $189, $199, and $209, each capped at 500 or 1,000 units depending on tier.

Both editions will go live through their official Kickstarter link when the campaign opens on October 15.

As a refresher, the ND104 is built around a full aluminum chassis, with tri-mode connectivity (USB-C, Bluetooth 5.4, and 2.4GHz wireless), and includes a built-in calculator key and display above the numpad. It also uses WS Breeze and Silent Linear switches (see below) for quieter operation and includes multiple internal dampening layers for noise reduction. The keyboard also has some modular design elements, including the LCD, keys, and knob, which can be removed/replaced as per the user's layout preference. 

Ultimately, the Kickstarter campaign will determine the final production run and early backer shipping timeline. Links for both ND104 Lite and ND104 Ultra will become active when the campaign launches on October 15 at 10 AM EST.

Buy the Keychron V6 Max full-size mechanical keyboard on Amazon.