BRUTAL V2

Bold. Bespoke. Brutal.

A premium custom keyboard experience available in-stock. Updated by ai03. Build yours today.

BRUTAL V2

Bold. Bespoke. Brutal.

Reimagined and updated by ai03. From the internals to the exterior, the Brutalist V2 series pairs a fresh aesthetic with boutique keyboard performance and customization. 

Brutal, Evolved.

Introduced in 2019, our Brutalist V1 series keyboards changed the custom keyboard landscape. 
At a time when delayed pre-orders and lengthy group buys were common, the Brutal V1 arrived in-stock and ready to build, offering a practical and accessible premium custom keyboard experience.

Fully redesigned by ai03, the Brutal V2 carries the Brutalist legacy to new heights with a new profile and cutting edge performance.


In-stock now and ready to be dialed into perfection by you.

The Brutalist soul lives on.  

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Brutalist to the Core

Thoughtful engineering and inspired design. Beautiful inside and out.

Sharp angles, sleek looks

The outer case features a uniform bezel, creating a distinct taper and striking profile.
A two-tone anodized finish completes the look.

Natural beauty

The custom cast zinc internal weights feature a raw textured finish, a rugged compliment to the anodized aluminum case.

Sharp angles, sleek looks

The outer case features a uniform bezel, creating a distinct taper and striking profile.
A two-tone anodized finish completes the look.

Natural beauty 

The custom cast zinc internal weights feature a raw textured finish, a rugged compliment to the anodized aluminum case.

The Design Philosophy

The goal was to a compact keyboard filled with features, presented in brutalist form. 

The top case is a blocky bezel, enveloping the base like a brutalist overhang.A tidy footprint with ledges that allow easy keyboard adjustments.

Moving to the back, the two-tone silver case bottom protrudes across the rear, joining the top case with heft. Internal weights add mass and pleasing acoustics.

With a screwless design that puts the spotlight on all surfaces, all edges were carefully chamfered and softened, rounding out the visuals.

The Design Philosophy

The goal was to a compact keyboard filled with features, presented in brutalist form. 

The top case is a blocky bezel, enveloping the base like a brutalist overhang.A tidy footprint with ledges that allow easy keyboard adjustments.
The bottom case half angles at the rear to lift the keyboard structure boldly against gravity.

Moving to the back, the two-tone silver case bottom protrudes across the rear, joining the top case with heft. Internal weights add mass and pleasing acoustics.

With a screwless design that puts the spotlight on all surfaces, all edges were carefully chamfered and softened, rounding out the visuals.

A seamless experience

Smooth exterior lines to compliment your environment.

A rich experience with performance you can feel.

Work and battlestation friendly.

A seamless experience

Smooth exterior lines to compliment your environment.

A rich experience with performance you can feel.

Work and battlestation friendly.

Precision performance in an elegant package

Out of sight

ai03's internal screw design hides the case hardware, resulting in sleek uninterrupted surfaces.

High performance internals have been thoughtfully engineered into a slim profile, with a front ledge just 17 millimeters tall.

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Performance you can feel

At the heart of the Brutal V2 series is its unique single-sided gasket mount.

Blending the best of gasket and top mount designs, Brutal V2 cushions typing impacts with its carefully tested and selected gaskets while transmitting the acoustic vibrations to the case top half.

The vibrations are carefully amplified as they disperse through the case and weights, highlighting your tuning skill in its fullest potential.

Performance you can feel

At the heart of the Brutal V2 series is its unique single-sided gasket mount.

Blending the best of gasket and top mount designs, Brutal V2 cushions typing impacts with its carefully tested and selected gaskets while transmitting the acoustic vibrations to the case top half.

The vibrations are carefully amplified as they disperse through the case and weights, highlighting your tuning skill in its fullest potential.

The Personal Touch

Yours, and Yours Only

Dial it in just for you. With a variety of plate materials, PCBs, and foams to choose from, Brutal V2 can be customized to your exact preferences in sound and feel.

Explore different builds. If your preferences change, Brutal V2 adapts alongside - the internal module can be replaced and rebuilt to re-tailor the board to any new styles and switches.

A One-Stop Solution

Skip the wait. Brutal V2 is in-stock at CannonKeys without the lengthy keyboard waiting times, ready whenever you are.

Grab the full bundle. No more stressful searches to scrape together the parts - at CannonKeys, everything from the keyboard itself to the keysets, switches, and even the screwdrivers for assembly are available ready-to-ship.

For Today and Tomorrow

A fully repairable and customizable keyboard, with replacement and extra parts available for purchase.

Proven protection. With its modular USB unified daughterboard, Brutal V2 is designed to be robust and maintainable for years to come.

Press Any Key

Inside each Brutal V2 is a custom-designed PCB, running QMK Firmware and fully remappable with VIA Configurator.

Tailor every key's functionality to your preferences with a few clicks.

Press Any Key

The custom PCBs inside each Brutal V2 run QMK Firmware and are fully remappable with VIA Configurator.

Tailor every key's functionality to your preferences with a few clicks.

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A Premium Keyboard For All

Getting the best performance out of your keyboard shouldn't involve guesswork or difficult assembly.

Backed by a thorough build guide and assembly helpers such as automatic plate alignment built into the internals, Brutal V2 is engineered to deliver its full potential with every build - regardless of prior keyboard experience or skill level.

A Brutal V2 For You

Offered in two form factors. In-stock and ready to build.

65%

A compact form factor that packs everyday functionality and the full Brutal V2 performance into a space-saving package.

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1800

Workstation form factor with a numpad that can power through documents, spreadsheets, and conversations alike with ease.

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Specifications

  • Mounting style: Single sided gasket mount
  • Case features: Internal screws, internal weight
  • Case material: High-grade aluminum, CNC
  • Case finish/color: Anodized case, two-tone color with silver bottom
  • Weight material: Zinc, cast
  • Low front profile: 17mm (0.67in) front height
  • Unbuilt weight: 1.74kg (1800), 1.05kg (65%)
  • Typing angle: 6.5°
  • USB connectivity: Type-C, via replaceable unified daughterboard
  • PCB: Available in hotswap and solder, designed in-house
  • Plate: Standard aluminum plate, additional materials available
  • Gaskets & Foam: Custom spec gaskets, plate, & case foam included. Additional materials available

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Meet the Designer

Ever since their first project in 2017, ai03 has <sth>

From the most boutique of limited edition designs to the most mundane of open-source contributions, ai03 strives to redefine what keyboards can be - for the endless pursuit of the best input.

Portfolio