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CharaChorder and Forge related articles and notes

Tangent's Unofficial Spec Comparison Note of CharaChorder Devices, Master Forge and Svalboard

Posted on Edited on In , Symbols count in article: 6.6k Reading time ≈ 6 mins.

Comparison Table

Notice:

  1. You could learn more differences between CC2 and CC1 from the CC2 Product Page.
  2. It seems to me that other unmentioned specs of CC devices would be similar to those of CC1, and they would be marked with an * in the comparison table.
  3. You could further confirm the specs on their Discord server if you have any questions.
  4. ??? are the specs which I am not sure about or cannot find information about. If you know of any helpful resources, please message me on Discord (Tangent Chang, @andy23512).
  5. This comparison note has a web application version.
Master Forge (M4G)CharaChorder Two (CC2)CharaChorder One (CC1)CharaChorder Lite (CCL)CharaChorder X (CCX)Svalboard (Sval)Market Leading Keyboard
Computational------M4G------------CC2------------CC1------------CCL------------CCX------------Sval--------------------
ModalitiesProgrammable Keys & Key CombinationsProgrammable Keys & Key CombinationsProgrammable Keys & Key CombinationsProgrammable Keys & Key CombinationsProgrammable Keys & Key CombinationsProgrammable Keys & Key CombinationsIndividually Programmable Keys Only
Possible Inputs> 13,000,000,000> 13,000,000,000> 13,000,000,000> 17,000,000,000> 17,000,000,000[1]???< 200
Memory1,000,000 Actions60,000 Actions16,000 Actions65,000 Actions[2]65,000 Actions[3]???Uses Host CPU Resources
Memory TypeEmbeddedEmbeddedEmbeddedEmbeddedEmbeddedEmbeddedUses Host CPU Resources
DriverDriverless OSDriverless OSDriverless OSDriverless OSDriverless OS???Requires Custom Driver from Host CPU
ConfigurationWeb Based FOSS/Libre offlineWeb Based FOSS/Libre offlineWeb Based FOSS/Libre offlineWeb Based FOSS/Libre offlineWeb Based FOSS/Libre offlineWeb Based FOSS/Libre offlineRequires Proprietary Software
Microprocessor240 MHz Dual Core240 MHz Dual Core48 MHz??????133 MHz Dual Core150 MHz Single Core
Input StyleFluid Chorded / Character EntryFluid Chorded / Character EntryFluid Chorded / Character EntryFluid Chorded / Character EntryFluid Chorded / Character EntryCharacter Entry and Combos[4]Character Entry Only
APIOpen Serial API SpecificationOpen Serial API SpecificationOpen Serial API SpecificationOpen Serial API SpecificationOpen Serial API Specification???None
Electrical------M4G------------CC2------------CC1------------CCL------------CCX------------Sval--------------------
Routing StyleAntiMatrix with Dedicated ChannelsAntiMatrix with Dedicated Channels*AntiMatrix with Dedicated ChannelsAntiMatrix with Dedicated Channels*N/A[5]???Traditional Key Matrix
Anti-GhostingNKRO+NKRO+*NKRO+NKRO+*N/A[5:1]NKRONKRO
HID Keyboard SchemaExtended 12 Key SchemaExtended 12 Key Schema*Extended 12 Key SchemaExtended 12 Key Schema*Extended 12 Key Schema*???6 Key Schema
USB-Hub Ports3XXXX???0-1
Mechanical------M4G------------CC2------------CC1------------CCL------------CCX------------Sval--------------------
Size (L*W*H)228*115*38 (mm)295*111*29 (mm)[6]296*110*38 (mm)295*105*33 (mm)[7]59*23.25*16.15 (mm)[8]190*130*90 (mm)[9]450*158*38 (mm)
Weight (Full Device, both hands)346-500 g303 g[10]308 g468 g[11]???550 g[12]989 g
Switch Style3-D Snap Action3-D Tactile3-D Tactile1-D Mechanical[13]N/A[5:2]3-D Magneto-optical1-D Mechanical / Optical / Halls
Actuation Force (4-direction / press-down for 3-D switch)55-57 gf / N/A [14]42 gf / 240 gf70 gf / 240 gf35 gf[13:1]N/A[5:3]20 gf / 20 gf40-80 gf
Hardware InterfacePicatinny RailingFemale ¼”-20 ThreadN/AN/AN/AFemale M5 and ¼”-20 ThreadN/A
Switch Durability (cycles each direction)20,000,000[15]1,000,000[16]200,000[17]???N/A[5:4]??????
Number of 3D Switches16[18]1818N/AN/A10 (Key Clusters)N/A
Number of Keys on each 3D Switch4[19]55N/AN/A5N/A
SwitchOmron Electronics D2LS-21(20M)Alps Alpine SKRHADE010Alps Alpine SKRHABE010Gateron Clear/WhiteN/A??????
Material------M4G------------CC2------------CC1------------CCL------------CCX------------Sval--------------------
Shell5052 Aluminium Alloy[20]Injection Molded ABS Plastic[21]Injection Molded ABS Plastic[22]ABS Plastic[23]Injection Molded Plastic[24]ABS Plastic???
Baseplate3D-printed Plastic[25]3D-printed Plastic[21:1]Injection Molded ABS Plastic[22:1]ABS Plastic[26]N/AN/A???
Other------M4G------------CC2------------CC1------------CCL------------CCX------------Sval--------------------
Pointing Device[27]Trackball / None[28]Cursor Movement KeyCursor Movement KeyNoneNoneTrackball / Touchpad / Trackpoint / None???
Quietness Ranking3rd1st2nd????????????

References

CharaChorder and Forge

Svalboard

  1. CharaChorder Lite has over 17 billion possible input according to the product page of it, so I think that CCX probably has a similar amount when using with a normal 60% keyboard. ↩︎

  2. According to this outdated wiki, 65k chords up to 247 actions (eg characters) in length can be stored in the memory ↩︎

  3. 65,000 chords according to the CCX Kickstarter page ↩︎

  4. It is possible to use the combo feature of qmk to achieve the chording entry, but it seems that not many users do it. ↩︎

  5. It depends on the spec of the connected keyboard so it doesn’t seem to be the spec of CCX itself. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. According to CC2 Dimension and Weight in official CharaChorder document, 11 ⅝” x 4 ⅜” x 1 ⅛”. ↩︎

  7. According to CC Lite Dimensions and Weight, 11 ⅝” (length) x 4 ⅛” (width) x 1 5/16” (height). ↩︎

  8. Shell size of CCX from the CharaChorder official documentation is used. ↩︎

  9. According to this message in Svalboard Discord server. ↩︎

  10. According to CC2 Dimension and Weight in official CharaChorder document, 10.7 oz without USB-C. ↩︎

  11. According to CC Lite Dimensions and Weight in official CharaChorder document, 1 lb 0.5 oz. ↩︎

  12. According to this message in Svalboard Discord server, 275 g per side. ↩︎

  13. According to the Switches section in the official CCL documentation ↩︎ ↩︎

  14. 55 gF is from the comparison table in the specs reveal video. 57 gF is from the measurement result in that video. Therefore I listed it as a range (55-57 gF) in table. Besides, regarding the press-down actuation force, since M4G doesn’t have 3D press keys, I would define it as N/A here. ↩︎

  15. 20M ops according to the switch detail page. ↩︎

  16. According to the CC2 product page, CC2 switches are built tougher, and are engineered to last 5X longer than switches from the 1st generation. ↩︎

  17. 200,000 cycles for each direction according to this Discord message. ↩︎

  18. M4G has two thumb switches fewer than CC1 and CC2. Multiple types of mouse control bolt-ons are planned to be offered on the Forge ecosystem instead of the digital mouse switches on CC1 and CC2. On M4G, the third thumb switch keys have moved to where the digital mouse control keys are. ↩︎

  19. Unlike CC1 and CC2, M4G doesn’t have 3D press keys. When you do a 3D press on M4G, you hit all four keys on that switch. ↩︎

  20. The shell (called exoskeleton) is made of 5052 aluminium alloy according to this video. ↩︎

  21. According to the official CC2 documentation. ↩︎ ↩︎

  22. According to the official CC1 documentation ↩︎ ↩︎

  23. According to the official CCL documentation ↩︎

  24. According to the official CCX documentation ↩︎

  25. The baseplate (called endoskeleton) is made by 3D printing according to this video. ↩︎

  26. According to the official CCL documentation ↩︎

  27. The default pointing devices on each device are listed. You can remap the cursor movement keys on CC devices, Master Forge, and Svalboard. ↩︎

  28. Some tiers of Master Forge bundle don’t include the Trackball Bolt-on. ↩︎