MCHOSE UT98

Mechanical keyboards are prized for their feel, but their sound carries in open offices, shared rooms and late-night workspaces. The UT98, presented as a Kickstarter project, is MCHOSE's attempt to address that trade-off. It follows the earlier GX87, a previous collaboration with Unbox Therapy that Lewis Hilsenteger describes as having become his favorite keyboard. According to the campaign, the team spent months working toward one goal: keep the comfort, tactility and customization, and reduce only the sound.

Custom-tuned switches

The maker says off-the-shelf switches did not meet its requirements, so it developed its own. Silicone gel dampers and factory-lubricated rails are said to hold keystroke noise to 35dB or below, while retaining a tactile feel. The switches use a 5-pin design for stability, a PA66 and POM composite, a POK stem, and a box structure that the maker credits with improved dust and water resistance. Actuation distance is 1.3mm, springs are gold-plated, and an independent PC diffuser spreads the lighting.

Build, connectivity and layout

Beneath the keys sits a gasket-mount structure reinforced, according to MCHOSE, with five layers of damping material, intended to reduce hollow sound and soften the keystroke. The board connects via 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth or cable, and the maker highlights an enlarged 2U0 key among several smaller usability tweaks. The cool-gray design was developed with Unbox Therapy and includes a distinctive ESC key and an aluminum knob.

• Tri-mode connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth and wired
• Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with one-touch OS layout switching and included Mac keycaps such as Command
• Customization through MCHOSE HUB and Web HUB, including remapping, macros, lighting, key press depth and response settings, stored in onboard memory
• SoftLight RGB with 16 million colors, diffused light and dozens of effects
• 7-degree typing angle, low front height and two-stage feet
• 10,000mAh battery with power-saving mode and USB-C charging

Lighting, ergonomics and battery

MCHOSE calls its lighting SoftLight RGB, designed to diffuse light softly and reduce glare, paired with keycaps whose legends do not let light through. The maker's "golden angle" design sets a 7-degree tilt to keep wrists in a natural position. The 10,000mAh battery, the maker says, lasts several weeks per charge in normal use.