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Keyboards

Model F Labs Model F

6owners with an opinion
20%of verdicts positive
0/1positive/negative since 2024
0happy after 3+ years

Praised for value and build quality; criticized for support and ergonomics.

What people wrote

Doesn’t like it
Some people have mentioned quality control issues with this keyboard vendor, particularly with the Model F. I have the Model F and it is a bit finicky admittedly. I support the vendor based on their hard work to bring back these classic keyboard mechanisms, but if you want one that "just works" the Model M from Unisys is probably a better bet. As far as the beam spring goes, this is the second revision of these switches. These switches are a complete modern re-imagination of the original beam spring switches and support Cherry-style key caps. Unlike the Model F, the switches are self-contained and setup just involved putting key-caps on. The keyboard worked flawlessly and immediately. This is an enthusiast trying to bring back classic keyboard switches that have been out of production for decades, so I am willing to grant him some slack in general, but I'm extremely happy with my board. It's a very different typing experience, but I love it. I understand many people aren't willing to risk $400 on a keyboard, but I also want to let people know about my great experience with it.
Likes it
I can also confirm it's not a scam. I ordered in August 2016 and it was delivered in January 2021. That sounds like an awful long time, but I ordered around the beginning when I knew it wasn't a finished product yet. It was a lot of research and experimentation with production. The key caps took quite a while to get right. Things should be a lot speedier now, though. Anyway, I'm very happy with it. I type morning to night so I think the cost was worth it for me. Like investing in a chair you find particularly comfortable. Or a standing desk. It makes the Model M look and feel like an embarrassment.
Doesn’t like it
I was suckered in by the deceptive copy on this site. When I found out about this project, over a year ago, in Feb 2021, the green text on the right said something similar: 2/28/21 please have your orders in by then! Project Status (February 2021): Now Shipping! (orders still accepted) This made me think there was some deadline, and that orders were closing (ie. a group buy, like many other niche mechanical keyboard products). I ordered mine on 02-27-2021. The author has assured me for over a year that I have not been scammed and my keyboard will arrive eventually. However they refuse to give any sort of information about how many are being shipped per month, or where I am in the queue. The blog posts that seem to arrive every other month only discuss how many orders have been accepted, not how many have been fulfilled. I don't think it's a scam but it's a very poorly run business. If my keyboard ever arrives, no matter how it is, I will not do business with whatever mysterious individual is running the project.
Likes it
As someone who also ordered a keyboard from them, I can say that it isn’t a scam, just crazy slow to arrive. I did eventually get my Model F, and it’s a solid keyboard. To give a bit of the benefit of the doubt: Iirc some of their news posts have talked about how shipping has been slower due to supply chain issues like keyboards sitting in cargo containers without a way to get them.
Neutral
Keep in mind this thing is made basically entirely out of metal (it’s extremely heavy for a keyboard) and uses a different mechanism for keys than current mechanical keyboards. Look up what a “buckling spring” keyboard is. Like I said in another comment I managed to get one of these (after a VERY long time from ordering) and it’s definitely not the same as mechanical keyboards you’d buy elsewhere. Satisfying to type on, but super loud (which I like), and a little bit of a weird layout which I think is because of replicating the original Model M/F. If you’re happy with your keyboard there’s no reason to buy this one.
Doesn’t like it
I concur with @ghostpepper. Buyer beware! I too purchased a keyboard over a year ago. I got suckered into the home page message indicating that orders have to be in by a certain date. Lo and behold, the dates are updated with the same message, indicating its BS. I never thought the wait would be this long. Thankfully the owner, whoever this guy is, is receptive and quick to reply. He always assures that I have not been scammed and that my order will be delivered. But as to when is ambiguous. For all I know, it may take another year or two to finally receive my VERY expensive keyboard. Or maybe never — who knows. I advise anyone here to refrain from handing over their money to this mysterious individual unless you are ok with having your money taken and order status staying in limbo for years.
Doesn’t like itDoesn’t say they own it
Note that Ellipse/modelfkeyboards is notorious in the keyboard community for poor quality control and support. The keyboards often come misaligned or damaged in shipping, and it's up to you to fix them. I'm not sure about their beam spring keyboards, but their Model F keyboards come without keycaps installed, meaning that the keys haven't even been tested to actuate properly before the keyboard is shipped. If you have the money and free time, you can usually turn what you receive into a working product with enough tweaking. You just have to keep in mind that you'll be paying over $400 for a keyboard that may arrive broken, and if it does you will have as close to no warranty as what's legally possible. If you dig around on forums and in comments you can find a bunch of examples of this, but here's a decent summary: https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Model_F_Labs