$1,600 aluminum Icebreaker keyboard breaks the bank — sports metal chassis, keycaps with 800 micro-perforations, and VIA support

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An RTX 4090 or the Icebreaker?

Icebreaker Keyboard
(Image credit: Serene Industries)

Serene Industries has finally pulled the veil off its long-anticipated Icebreaker keyboard, featuring a 65% design with the main chassis and keycaps constructed entirely from Aluminium. The main body is CNC-machined using a solid block of 6061 Aluminium, shaped in a rather unconventional wedge design. Now available at their online store, the Icebreaker will set you back $1,600, but most of this cost is due to the intricate design process and aesthetics.

Custom mechanical keyboards nowadays, especially ones made of Aluminum, cost around $100-$200. They're generally pretty sturdy and sound impressive. What makes the Icebreaker stand out among other luxurious keyboards is its unorthodox design and Aluminum keycaps, which cost $415. Serene Industries explains that the keycaps had to undergo about 800 micro-perforations to allow for visible legends and RGB light functionality. Moreover, the minimalistic design embellishes the overall look, lending it a slight retro feel.

The keyboard is available in clear and black colors, though the latter costs significantly more at $2,100. The PCB comes in a few variations: hot-swap (wired), hall-effect (wired), wired (presumably non-hotswap), and wireless. The switch plate, which sits atop the PCB and ensures the switches are appropriately aligned, is offered in aluminum, polycarbonate, and FR4.

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Icebreaker Keyboard 1
(Image credit: Serene Industries)

The Icebreaker sports a dual dampening system to absorb unwanted noise and vibrations and a 4,000 mAh battery that should last a few months. In addition, it has proper VIA support, and you may also use the firm's own Serene Industries Configurator tool for customization. However, we weren't able to find any details about it.

Despite its 65% layout, the added wrist rest and EC11 rotatory knob increase its overall footprint landing it in full-sized keyboard territory, length-wise. While their website doesn't detail the exact switches used, it is reported that the Icebreaker employs full-height MX switches.

Being an extremely niche product, we doubt many will be interested in dishing out over one and a half grand for just a peripheral. While it practically does the same job as other custom mechanical Aluminium keyboards, the eccentric design philosophy can make it a worthwhile collectible for hobbyists.

See more Mechanical Keyboards News
Hassam Nasir
Hassam Nasir
Contributing Writer

Hassam Nasir is a die-hard hardware enthusiast with years of experience as a tech editor and writer, focusing on detailed CPU comparisons and general hardware news. When he’s not working, you’ll find him bending tubes for his ever-evolving custom water-loop gaming rig or benchmarking the latest CPUs and GPUs just for fun.

18 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Dr3ams
    $1,600...it still gets crumbs between the keys.
    Reply
  • rluker5
    Dr3ams said:
    $1,600...it still gets crumbs between the keys.
    If you have crumbs and dust in your glass walled PC cleanroom then this keyboard costs too much for you.
    Reply
  • Dementoss
    Even if we ignore the cost and, even if it looks and feels nice enough to justify that cost, what is the point of a 65% keyboard, that is as long as a full 105 key layout?
    Reply
  • nightbird321
    Once it discolors from the natural oils in on your fingers, can you still pop off the keys to clean?
    Reply
  • YSCCC
    nightbird321 said:
    Once it discolors from the natural oils in on your fingers, can you still pop off the keys to clean?
    For those who pay $1600 for a 65% keyboard... I suspect cleaning will be less preferred than ordering something new and fancy
    Reply
  • dwd999
    Oh great, another aluminum keyboard. If I ever move to a climate where I don't occasionally generate a static electricity charge then I'll think about getting a metal grounding keyboard that I can use to discharge my static charge every time I touch it.
    Reply
  • Notton
    nightbird321 said:
    Once it discolors from the natural oils in on your fingers, can you still pop off the keys to clean?
    That's the beauty of aluminum.
    It'll stain your fingers, but not get stained or wear down from finger oils.
    Reply
  • Sluggotg
    800 tiny holes per keycap. It will get dust and grime in the holes and there is No Realistic way the average end user will be able to clean out holes that tiny. The classic, "It should come with hookers and a bag of blow at that price", does apply.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Sluggotg said:
    800 tiny holes per keycap. It will get dust and grime in the holes and there is No Realistic way the average end user will be able to clean out holes that tiny.
    That was my first thought, but the pictures do give the impression the holes are filled with a white, translucent plastic. Of course, there's something which potentially could get discolored by finger oils, @Notton .

    The main thing I don't get is why there's so much space between the front edge and the keys. The article doesn't mention anything about an integrated trackpad, but that's the only reason I can see for putting the keys that far back.

    Even so, having the keys so far back seems like it would encourage bad posture. I've always heard you're supposed to keep your elbows at your sides, which would be almost impossible unless the front edge of this thing is poking you in the belly.
    Reply
  • halfcharlie
    bit_user said:
    The main thing I don't get is why there's so much space between the front edge and the keys. The article doesn't mention anything about an integrated trackpad, but that's the only reason I can see for putting the keys that far back.

    Even so, having the keys so far back seems like it would encourage bad posture. I've always heard you're supposed to keep your elbows at your sides, which would be almost impossible unless the front edge of this thing is poking you in the belly.
    You've missed the '65%' part. It's the size of a regular keyboard with a wrist rest, the keys themselves are just tiny almost half sized. One of many reasons I have no clue why this thing exists or who it's for, a very nice fully aluminium space age premium keyboard sure, but this just begs WHY.
    Reply