Meet the Freewrite Wordrunner, a mechanical keyboard designed with writers in mind

In a nutshell:

In a nutshell: Despite increasing competition from AI, there are still plenty of folks that earn a living writing content for the web. Astrohaus sees you, and has designed its latest keyboard specifically for such users.

The Freewrite Wordrunner is a mechanical keyboard meant for writers. It sports a tenkeyless design with a set of custom function keys catering to common writing tasks, and utilizes backlit keys with Kailh switches. At the top left of the board is a bright red media control knob that doubles as a joystick / button. Engadget spent some time with the Wordrunner at CES and said the knob moves in all four directions, can be turned like a dial, and pressed like a button.

The board also features a pair of mechanical counters across the top. The timer, positioned just to the right of the media controller, can be used to measure writing sprints or to otherwise manage productivity, while the Wordometer functions like the odometer in your car – except instead of miles, it tallies your word count.

They’re neat additions that serve as fun talking points although if we’re being honest, existing software does a fine job of accomplishing these same tasks.

Keys labeled Zap, Pow, and Bam on the far right of the board can be customized to perform any task you wish, like launching your favorite word processor.

Other noteworthy features are said to include an extended wrist rest and a polished aluminum chassis with a bit of heft to it. The Wordrunner relies on Bluetooth wireless, and can be paired with up to three devices simultaneously. A fourth device can be attached via USB-C, we’re told.

The Freewrite Wordrunner set to launch on Kickstarter in February 2025. Pricing is unknown at this time, but Astrohaus is accepting priority reservations for just a buck. This will give supports access to the best possible pricing when the Kickstarter goes live. Should everything go according to plan, Astrohaus will ship the first batch of boards to backers by the end of 2025.