OnePlus has already released the first renderings of its brand new keyboard to the world, and now it appears that the first image of the keyboard itself has been leaked, and it certainly seems to fit the OnePlus aesthetic.

This leaked image from 91Mobiles (opens in new tab) suggests that the keyboard will have a decidedly retro feel, with chunky keys and a color scheme reminiscent of the dial-up Internet era. But it also seems to have a modern visual flair, with a yellow Enter key and a giant red button inside a beige keycap.

This color differs from the renderings and videos on OnePlus' own website (opens in new tab), which quietly launched in December and had a transparent color for the volume slider. But similarly, it may suggest a range of keyboard color options at launch.

The creators of the best Android phones are new to the keyboard game, but have teamed up with keyboard specialist Keychron, which OnePlus has confirmed will be announced (but not launched) along with the OnePlus 11 on February 7.

In fact, the entire development schedule for the keyboard can be found on the OnePlus website. Still in a "rigorous testing phase," the product concept was developed in November 2022 and co-created with users in December. The official launch is scheduled for February, but mass production will not begin until March or April.

The mechanical keyboard has already received backing from over 7,000 investors and could one day be a contender for best keyboard due to the features highlighted by OnePlus.

There's nothing worse than a noisy typist in the office, but OnePlus aims to provide a "satisfying sound" with its dual-gasket design; OnePlus says the keyboard is suitable for both work and gaming, with "precisely tuned, yet softer controls OnePlus touts that the keyboard is suitable for both work and gaming and should remain consistent with repeated use with "precisely tuned, yet softer operation.

Compatibility with Mac, Windows, and Linux is a welcome addition to the package and convenient for those who move between machines. Meanwhile, some standard keyboard features, such as customizable RGB lighting and remappable keys, are also planned.

What excites us is the hot-swapping capability of the switches and the integration of QMK (Quantum Mechanical Keyboard) firmware, which will allow users to create open source software with their own keyboard features. This means that keyboard owners will have access to a community of users who will provide functionality and accessibility tweaks.

Its design may be aesthetically pleasing with a lightweight aluminum body, but given that we rely on keyboards every day, functionality must always be paramount with any keyboard. If it works, the OnePlus keyboard could solidify itself as a computing accessory that can be used in any situation.