EMO launches the world's thinnest mechanical keyboard at 4.75mm thick

Electronic Materials Office (EMO), a keyboard maker based in London, has launched the Altar II, a keyboard measuring 4.75mm thick that uses mechanical switches rather than the scissor or membrane switches commonly used in thin keyboards.

EMO achieved the mechanical switches by mounting each switch's tension spring on its side instead of upright, which allowed the company to fit 1.8mm of tactile key travel into a case with limited internal space. The switches are described as dual steel arm scissor mechanical switches rated at 40gf of actuation force.

The keyboard body is CNC-machined from a single block of aluminum. EMO added a silicone damping layer and an oversized footpad beneath the typing surface to manage the sound of the keystrokes. The company describes the Altar II as the world's thinnest production mechanical keyboard.

A rotary dial called the M-Dial sits in one corner of the keyboard and handles volume and media controls. It attaches magnetically and can be removed for transport. The dial uses haptic feedback to simulate click detents as it turns. EMO is publishing 3D-printable files for the dial's cap, allowing owners to print replacement designs.

The Altar II is a follow-up to EMO's Altar I, which sold out and received a Red Dot design award. Like its predecessor, the Altar II is designed primarily for macOS, with Command and Option keys in their standard Mac positions and a companion app called Sanctuary that handles key remapping, haptic feedback settings, and per-app shortcuts. The Sanctuary app requires macOS 26, while the keyboard itself supports macOS 12 and later, as well as Windows 10 and later.

Other features include a haptic engine that provides feedback when holding a modifier key, a small speaker for wake chimes, and a backlight that uses only red LEDs, which EMO says is intended to reduce the impact on night vision. The keyboard connects over two Bluetooth 5.0 LE channels or a USB-C cable.

The Altar II measures 299 x 116.5 x 4.75mm and uses a 75% layout with a full function row and arrow keys. Its keycaps are made from REGEN polymer containing 50% recycled content. EMO rates battery life at up to 30 days, with a two-minute USB-C charge providing roughly two days of use. The keyboard is available in black.

Pricing and availability

The Altar II is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter on November 10, 2026, with deliveries expected in early summer 2027. A refundable $1 reservation secures a price of $249. Early orders placed after the campaign opens are priced at $279, standard campaign backers pay $299, and retail pricing after the campaign is set at $349.