The Uni v1
The first prototype was made in February 2021
As you can see, it was green and had a blue rectangle in the middle. It had a lot of exposed electronics as well. It used 3d printed keycaps and microUSB.
The Uni v2
First introduced to the world in April 2021.
It now has backplate compatibility, but it still has a Pro Micro (aka. blue rectangle in the middle), 3d printed keycaps, and microUSB.
We still sell the PCBs for this keyboard for people who want to make it themselves.
The Uni v3
Kickstarter for the v3 launches in October 2021. Our goal to mass produce the Uni was reached.
It no longer has a Pro Micro, but has all the chips and stuff embedded into the board itself. It also has injection molded OEM R3 keycaps that I prefer, personally. And it finally supports USB Type C.
The Uni v4
Launched in August 2022, we introduce the new and improved Uni v4.
We added a switch plate and changed up the chip and wiring inside the board. The result is a sturdier and more powerful keyboard. We are planning to add embedded steno capabilities (stenoing without needing to connect to Plover) to the Uni v4 in the near future.
What makes the Uni v4 so good?
Here is a list of improvements we made to the v4 compared to the previous versions:
- Added switch plate for sturdier build.
- New chip with more storage (aka. Embedded steno is possible in the future)
- Integrated circuit (aka. No blue rectangle)
- Injection molded keycaps (not 3d printed)
- Backplate with cool bird design.
- USB C compatible.
- Comes in a cool box.
Similarities
There are features that have been upgraded, but there are also features that have remained the same. These include:
- The Uni layout.
- The ability to swap springs.
- Default 35 gram switches.
- QMK firmware
2 comments
I got my uni v3 this summer and it’s worked so great for my learning experience! It’s comfortable and feels great to use. I appreciate this project for bringing more attention to stenography for the community!
I love my uni v3, learning Plover on it. Just want to recommend adding a camera mount screw on the back. I have been using a phone holder, but sometimes my pressing twists the holder off. Again, thanks for making stenography more accessible.