Mechanical keyboards are usually known for being a fun hobby or a way to get a better typing feel. Some cost under $100, while others can stretch into the hundreds. But this new keyboard? It takes things to another level. The Seneca First Edition is a luxury mechanical keyboard that starts at $3,600 and can climb all the way up to $8,090, depending on the version you choose.
Ryan Norbauer is the man behind this ‘perfect mechanical keyboard’, which he has discussed with Adam Savage of MythBusters fame on his YouTube channel. The designer calls it “probably the world’s most insanely irrationally hyper-engineered keyboard”. One of Norbauer’s biggest challenges was designing a spacebar that isn’t clacky.
What is the Seneca First Edition?
What makes this keyboard so expensive? It comes down to the materials and finishes. The First Edition is offered in three special aluminum finishes, Oxide Gray, Travertine, and Heatshield, plus an even more exotic Veracity Titanium option. It’s also fitted with 682 custom parts and is built by hand. That helps explain the 6-9 months queue time if you want to obtain one of them.
Although this product is currently sold out for immediate shipment, you may reserve a spot in our build queue by placing a 10% deposit. Simply select any desired options and add the (nonrefundable) deposit above to your cart. After payment, we will reach out to discuss your specific build, and we’ll keep you updated as soon as a build date is available on our calendar, at which time the balance of payment will be due.
The current queue estimate is 6-9 months.
Source: Norbauer
The aluminum versions are coated in plasma ceramic, a process that uses high heat and pressure to create a durable ceramic layer on the surface. This makes the finish ultra-strong and perfectly smooth. Each color has its own personality, which you can learn more about below:
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- Travertine: A warm gray inspired by stone from Ancient Rome, smooth to the touch but with a natural stone-like pattern.
- Oxide Gray: A light retrofuturistic gray with a pink logo badge.
- Heatshield: A deep matte black paired with a white logo badge.
- Veracity Titanium: Raw titanium with a blasted surface, exotic and unique, but prone to fingerprints.
The keyboard ships with a custom set of R&D 1973 keycaps. These are made from double-shot PBT, which is harder to produce than standard ABS but offers better durability and sound. The retro-inspired design is shaped in the MTNU profile and manufactured by GMK in Germany, one of the most respected names in keycaps.
Two pink accent keys are included, but they can be swapped out for darker keys if you prefer a more classic look. By default, the Seneca keyboard sits flat. But if you want a typing angle, there’s an optional Seneca Walnut Riser, CNC-machined from rare Kiaat wood in South Africa. It adds either a 3° tilt or a -3° reverse tilt, depending on how you set it up.
The Seneca First Edition isn’t aimed at the average gamer or office worker. It’s a collector’s piece and a blend of exotic materials, engineering, and design. At a starting price of $3,600, it’s one of the most expensive keyboards in the world, and for those who choose the titanium option with extras, the price goes beyond $8,000. Even with such a high price tag, the keyboard is currently sold out of immediate shipment, but those who are interested can reserve a spot in the build queue by placing a 10% deposit.
