SIGNATURE SERIES87% TKL

THE87

THE87 is an 87-key tenkeyless (TKL) full-aluminum mechanical keyboard designed by Nodal Studio, a keyboard brand based in Seoul, Korea. It features a CNC-machined aluminum case with a tempered glass mirror bottom, gasket mount, hot-swap PCB, tri-mode connectivity (USB-C wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth), an 8,000mAh battery, and VIA keymap support, and weighs about 1.97kg. It comes in Milky White, Sky Blue, and Orange, priced at 139,000 KRW, and is on sale now at the official Naver Smart Store.

Key Features

Full-aluminum CNC case with tempered glass mirror bottom, approx. 1.97kg
Gasket mount, ball-catch case assembly
Hot-swap PCB, KTT Coconut linear switches included
Tri-mode (wired / 2.4GHz / Bluetooth x3), 8,000mAh, dongle storage
VIA support, firmware maintained by Nodal

Buy on Official Store

Something you use every day deserves to be designed from scratch

Nodal Studio has imported and sold keyboards from several brands for years. The customer questions and service records from that time are where THE87 started. It is the first keyboard where Nodal set every specification itself, from layout and case to mount structure and firmware, and built it together with a manufacturing partner. Instead of adding trendy features, we removed the things that get in the way of an object you touch every day.

87 keys, the layout you already know

Tenkeyless is a full-size layout with only the number pad removed. The function row, arrow keys, and editing cluster stay in their standard positions, so nothing has to be relearned coming from an office keyboard, and there is more room for the mouse. It is a standard ANSI layout, compatible with most TKL and full-size keycap sets on the market.

Full-aluminum CNC case, about 1.97kg

Both the top and bottom case are CNC-machined from solid aluminum. At about 1.97kg, the board does not shift while typing, and sound settles downward without the hollow ring of a plastic case. The surface is electrophoretic-coated and then powder-coated, and comes in three colors: Milky White, Sky Blue, and Orange. A tempered glass mirror panel on the bottom catches light softly on the desk. Top and bottom are joined with ball catches instead of screws, so the case opens without tools.

Gasket mount and hot-swap

The plate is not screwed to the case; it rests on gaskets. Each keystroke is absorbed once at the gasket before reaching your fingertips, and bottom-out sound becomes firm rather than sharp. The PCB uses hot-swap sockets, so switches can be pulled and replaced without soldering. The prebuilt version ships with KTT Coconut linear switches and dye-sublimated keycaps with Korean and English legends.

Tri-mode connectivity, 8,000mAh

THE87 supports USB-C wired, a 2.4GHz receiver, and Bluetooth with three-device multipairing. Wired and 2.4GHz run at a 1,000Hz polling rate, and Fn+D enables a low-latency mode. The battery is 8,000mAh. A 1.6m USB-C cable with a magnetic ferrite ring is included, and the 2.4GHz receiver stores in a compartment built into the case.

VIA support, with firmware maintained by Nodal

The firmware is QMK-based and supports VIA. Connect over USB, open usevia.app in a browser, and you can change keymaps, layers, macros, and lighting immediately. Settings are stored on the keyboard. Nodal Studio maintains the firmware source directly and ships its own update tool. Fn+M held for three seconds switches between Windows and macOS modes.

Lighting

Per-key RGB backlighting with 25 effects. Ambient light strips run along the lower sides of the case, and a status indicator sits on the front. Brightness has six levels and speed has five. Caps Lock and battery indicators still work with the backlight fully off.

THE87 Specifications

Model	THE87 (model code ND0038KW)
Layout	87-key tenkeyless (TKL), ANSI
Case	Full-aluminum CNC (top and bottom)
Finish	Electrophoretic coating + powder coating
Colors	Milky White, Sky Blue, Orange
Bottom	Tempered glass mirror bottom with LED lighting
Receiver storage	Built-in dongle compartment
Mount	Gasket mount, ball-catch case assembly
PCB	FR4 double-sided, hot-swap sockets
Switches	KTT Coconut linear (prebuilt)
Keycaps	Dye-sublimated, Korean/English legends
Connectivity	USB-C wired / 2.4GHz receiver / Bluetooth (3-device multipairing)
Polling rate	Wired and 2.4GHz 1,000Hz, Bluetooth 125Hz
Battery	8,000mAh lithium
Lighting	Per-key RGB (25 effects), side ambient light, front indicator
Software	VIA (QMK-based), Windows / macOS modes
Dimensions	356.8 × 136.8mm
Height	Front 19.9mm / rear 39.2mm (excluding feet)
Typing angle	Approx. 8°
Weight	Approx. 1,970g
Compatibility	Windows 7/10/11, macOS
Warranty	1-year warranty, serviced directly by Nodal Studio
Price	139,000 KRW
Release	September 2026

In the Box

Keyboard
1.6m USB-C cable (magnetic ring)
2.4GHz receiver
Keycap and switch puller
Dust cover
Carrying pouch
User manual

Colors

Milky White
Sky Blue
Orange

THE87 vs M87 Pro: what's the difference?

Both are 87-key tenkeyless tri-mode keyboards, but they serve different purposes. THE87 is Nodal's in-house full-aluminum signature board. M87 Pro is the entry-level model we recommend to people buying their first mechanical keyboard.

Item	THE87	M87 Pro
Position	In-house signature	Entry level (official import)
Case	Full-aluminum CNC	Plastic
Weight	Approx. 1,970g	Typical plastic TKL
Mount	Gasket, ball-catch assembly	Gasket, 5-layer dampening
Switches / Keycaps	KTT Coconut linear / dye-sub	KTT Coconut linear / double-shot PBT
Hot-swap	Yes	Yes
Connectivity	Wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth x3	Wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth
Polling rate	1,000Hz (wired, 2.4GHz)	Standard
Battery	8,000mAh	5,000mAh
Keymap software	VIA (QMK-based)	Vendor driver
Price	139,000 KRW	49,000 KRW

THE87 Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy THE87?

It is on sale at Nodal Studio's official Naver Smart Store, in three colors: Milky White, Sky Blue, and Orange.

How much does it cost?

The prebuilt version with switches and keycaps is 139,000 KRW. A barebone version without switches and keycaps is under consideration.

Can I change the switches?

Yes. The hot-swap sockets let you pull and replace switches without soldering. 3-pin and 5-pin MX-compatible switches work.

Does it work with Mac?

Yes. Hold Fn+M for three seconds to switch between Windows and macOS modes. Up to three Bluetooth devices can be paired and switched with Fn+Q/W/E.

How do I remap keys?

Connect over USB and open usevia.app in a web browser. No software install is needed to change keymaps, layers, and macros. Settings are saved on the keyboard and persist in wireless modes.

What is the battery capacity?

8,000mAh. Runtime varies widely with backlight brightness and connection mode. Fn+Space shows the remaining charge on the number-row backlight.

Can I use other keycap sets?

It is a standard ANSI tenkeyless layout: 6.25u spacebar, 2.75u right Shift, 1.25u bottom-row modifiers. Most TKL and full-size keycap sets fit.

How does warranty service work?

Nodal Studio provides a one-year warranty directly. Contact customer support by email or through the store where you purchased.

Buy on Official Store