When Drop shut down its store in March, the Preonic stopped being something you could buy new. That has changed. The Preonic is coming back as a Rev 4, through Apos.
Where things stand
It is not on sale yet but they do have a product page with a waitlist signup. There's no price, no colorways, no switch or keycap options, and no ship date yet. Read more for our take and the specs.
Put your email in if you want to hear about it and monitor our site for more updates! Otherwise, we are really excited for this to come out.
Join the Preonic Rev 4 Waitlist at Apos
Where we saw it first
This came onto our radar through r/olkb.
Why the Preonic
The Planck is the standard ortho layout: twelve columns, four rows. The Preonic is that same grid with a number row added on top.
That extra row is the whole reason to pick one. If you type numbers all day, which covers most coders, you get a dedicated row instead of holding a layer every time you need a digit. The footprint stays close to the Planck's, so you're not really giving up desk space for it, you're just getting a bit more utility out of the same slab. Ours has been in use for years for exactly that reason.
Ortho keyboards still take work to learn. The number row doesn't change that part.
How we got here
The last version most people bought was the Rev 3, sold through Drop. When Drop wound down its ecommerce operation on March 31st, the Planck and Preonic lost their retail channel. No restocks, and a lot of links pointing at product pages that stopped resolving. For a few months the answer to "where do I buy a Preonic" was "find a used one." We covered the alternatives at the time in our 2026 ortholinear buying guide.
What's new in the Rev 4
Apos and OLKB rebuilt the PCB from scratch. From the spec sheet:
- Complete 4-layer PCB redesign with hot-swap sockets
- Bottom row options for 2×2u, 1×2u, or a full grid
- Per-key RGB backlighting plus integrated RGB underglow, using smaller and more efficient LEDs
- Up to ten encoder positions, with better support for double-detent encoders
- RP2040 microcontroller, with SWD breakout pads exposed
- Enhanced ESD protection
- Universal USB daughterboard support and external RGB solder points
- Anodized CNC aluminum case included
- QMK
Ten encoder positions is a lot for a board this size. Most people will solder in one or two, but the PCB will take them for volume, scrolling, layer switching, and macros if you want more.
The SWD breakout pads are there for firmware development and debugging. If you've been meaning to get past VIA and write actual QMK, our configuration guide is a place to start.
USB daughterboard support matters for repairs. A broken USB port has ended a lot of custom boards, and a daughterboard can be swapped without retiring the whole PCB.
One thing to catch on the listing: Apos's spec table calls the layout "Ortholinear 40%." It's a 5×12, which the rest of the page describes correctly. Only matters if you're comparing spec tables across boards.
Who Apos is
Fair question if you've only ever bought keyboards from keyboard stores. Apos is an Oakland, California company that describes itself as "a company of enthusiasts on a mission to bridge the gap between designers, the community, and the world's best brands." They're an authorized retailer for audiophile equipment, desk accessories, and high-end enthusiast products.
What they put behind a purchase:
- Free shipping
- Lowest Price Guarantee
- Apos One-Year Transferable Warranty
- 45-day return policy
The warranty transfers with the keyboard rather than staying with whoever bought it, which is useful in a hobby where boards get resold constantly.
Apos 𝒙
The Preonic Rev 4 is running through Apos 𝒙, their community design platform. Designers pitch ideas, community members sign up to audition prototypes, and Apos supplies the resources to get a design produced. The waitlist is part of that process.
The Preonic suits the program. Jack Humbert built it, QMK grew up around it, and a good share of its life has been people modifying it.
Who should wait for it
If you specifically want a Preonic, get on the list. There's no equivalent board. The KPrepublic DNA59 and MechDIY 59 approximate the footprint, but the DNA59 doesn't run QMK and neither one is the same keyboard.
If you want a 40% and you want it now, don't wait. The Chosfox x Masro Geonix Rev.2 ships today with wireless and an aluminum case for $112, and it's our top pick for people who came looking for a Planck.
Budget is the hard part, because Apos hasn't posted a price. The "What's included" section reads, in full, "Preonic Rev 4 keyboard kit," with no mention of switches or keycaps. That's normal for an interest check, since none of it is locked in this early. What we'd like to see is the kit shipping with keycaps and a cheaper barebones version for people who already have a set they want to use. Until Apos publishes the details, assume switches and caps are on top of whatever the kit ends up costing. The low-profile Chosfox sets won't work here since this is full-height MX, so start with the MX-compatible ortho sets on our keycaps page and check that whatever you pick covers a 1u bottom row.
Other Apos boards
Most of their keyboard catalog is standard-layout gear we don't cover. Two exceptions:
- Apos x Community 40% Micro: another Apos 𝒙 project, twin encoder knobs, QMK/VIA. Also an interest check with a waitlist and no price posted.
- ErgoDox 76 "Hot Dox" V2: Alpaca Keyboards' hot-swap ErgoDox, $169.99 down from $189.99, and the one board here you can actually order. It's a pre-order with a two month lead time, estimated to ship September 2026. Switch and keycap options are on the listing. A column-staggered split if that's the direction you're headed. See our split ortho guide.
Browse What's In Stock at Apos
What happens next
Interest checks stall and timelines slip, so none of this is settled until it launches. We'll update this post when there's a ship date.
Join the Waitlist at Apos More About Apos OLKB Planck & Preonic
