Chosfox, the niche mechanical keyboard maker responsible for the Geonix48 ortholinear keyboard series, has officially announced the Init40 as its latest take on the 40% layout. Instead of the ortholinear layout of the Geonix boards, the Init40 features a much more familiar row stagger that should make it much easier to get used to for first-time users of tiny keyboards.
In the announcement post, Chosfox revealed that the Init40 is meant to be a keyboard that answers the question “How small can a keyboard become without giving up what makes it enjoyable to use?” As such, it’s likely that the Init40’s diminutive form factor won’t be for everyone, but it is designed for niche keyboard enthusiasts who don’t mind customizing their layout and getting used to a smaller keyboard.
The Init40 features a CNC-machined aluminium case with an anodized finish, a retro touch in the straight edges, slightly rounded case corners, and the vertical vent-style cutouts on the left edge. It also has a built-in loop for a strap, like the Wooting 60HE series. The keycap profile appears to be identical to the LAK profile used on prior Geonix boards, and the underlying switches are Kailh’s Choc V2, which are known to be some of the best low-profile mechanical switches around.
The Init40 will also have a split-space layout, which makes it significantly easier to use such a small layout, and it will likely feature Chosfox’s standard combination of QMK firmware with VIAL for layout configuration.
Pricing and availability of the Init40 are still unknown, but Chosfox prices the nearly identical Geonix keyboards at around $120. If the Geonix line-up is anything to go by, the Init40 will be around the same price, and it will have both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity.