For the last decade, the mechanical keyboard hobby has been moving in a single direction. Thicker cases, heavier plates, more foam, and more mass. Slim boards were the compromise you made for a clean desk, mushy scissor switches and all. London-based Electronic Materials Office looked at that trade-off and decided to throw its new Altar II into the ring.
Thinner Than Three Stacked Quarters
The Altar II measures 4.75mm thick. That’s thinner than three quarters stacked on your desk, and it undercuts the tallest point of Apple’s decidedly non-mechanical Magic Keyboard.
And yet every key is a genuine mechanical switch. EMO pulled it off by flipping the switch’s tension spring on its side, squeezing 1.8mm of tactile travel out of a chassis with none to spare.
The whole thing is CNC’d from a single block of aluminum, with a silicone damping membrane and oversize footpad suspending the typing platform to keep acoustics civilized. EMO calls it the world’s thinnest production mechanical keyboard.
The Knob Comes Off
The M-Dial (that little orange capped knob in the corner), is a clickable rotary dial for volume and media control. It easily detaches magnetically whenever you want to slide the board into a bag.
Real-time haptics simulate the detents as it spins. Better still, EMO is publishing the 3D files so you can print whatever knob shape your heart desires.
Very Clearly Made for Mac
The follow-up to EMO’s sold-out, Red Dot-winning Altar I is unapologetically a Mac product. Command and Option sit where they should, and the native Sanctuary app handles remapping, haptic tuning, and app-specific shortcuts.
There’s also a haptic engine that hums when you hold a modifier key, a tiny speaker for wake chimes, and a red-only backlight designed to spare your night vision. Battery life is rated at an impressive 30 days, and two minutes of USB-C charging will buy you two full days of use.
Spec Sheet
Model: Altar II
Dimensions: 299 x 116.5 x 4.75mm
Construction: CNC-machined aluminum monobody
Keycaps: REGEN polymer (50% recycled content)
Switches: Dual steel arm scissor mechanical, 40gf, 1.8mm travel
Layout: 75% with full function row and arrow keys
Connectivity: 2x Bluetooth 5.0 LE, USB-C
Battery Life: Up to 30 days
Fast Charging: 2 days of use from a 2-minute charge
Backlight: NiteLite red LED with ambient light sensor
OS Support: macOS 12+, Windows 10+ (Sanctuary app requires macOS 26)
Colors: Black
Pricing & Availability
The Altar II hits Kickstarter on November 10, 2026, with delivery expected in early summer 2027. A refundable $1 reservation locks in the best price of $249, while early birds pay $279, campaign backers pay $299, and everyone who waits for retail pays $349. Head over to Electronic Materials Office’s website to reserve yours.
Recap
Electronic Materials Office Altar II Keyboard
Electronic Materials Office crammed fully mechanical switches, month-long battery life, and a detachable magnetic media dial into a 4.75mm aluminum keyboard that’s headed to Kickstarter this November.
