Slate Zero: A Review Debrief

We recently sent a Slate Zero unit to Alexotos for review. You can watch the full video here:

Seeing someone carefully dissect your hardware is always illuminating. He raised several fair points and highlighted a few areas that deserve direct answers. We believe feedback should be met with clarity, not spin. So here is the engineering reality behind the design choices, along with the oversights on our end.

1. The Missing Reset Switch

We’ll start with the obvious one. This was a simple mistake on our part. We forgot to manually solder the reset switch onto the solderable PCB before sending out the review unit. All production units will have this properly installed as intended.

2. The Unknown Black Plate

There was some speculation about one of the plate options that appeared to be plastic. To clarify, it is a black-core FR4 plate, the same material used for the PCB.

3. North American Vendors

Alex also mentioned the absence of a North American vendor for the upcoming group buy. We did reach out to several vendors in the region, but so far we have not received a response. We are still actively trying to secure a partner for North America.

*Update: Since Alex recorded this review, we are thrilled to announce that Keybay Tech has officially joined as our North American vendor.

4. Gasket Options

A few different gasket options were shown in the video. To set expectations clearly, the final Slate Zero kit will include one set of 50A silicone gaskets only. The other variations were sent purely for Alexotos to experiment with.

5. PCB flatness and keycap gap

When we received the PCB, that was actually one of the first things we noticed could become an issue with our mounting style. We did our best to flatten it using heat and weights, but clearly it was not enough. We’ve already informed the factory, and this will be corrected for production.

As for the keycap-to-case overlap, there are a number of ways to solve it, but a true zero-degree keyboard makes that balance more delicate. We could have lowered the PCB assembly for more overlap, but that would have resulted in a thinner case. Raising the front height would also have increased overlap, but at the expense of typing comfort. We chose what we believe is the most balanced proportion, preserving the minimalist form while keeping the typing experience natural.

6. The Optional Riser

An over-engineered riser would have compromised the fundamental identity of Slate Zero as a flat keyboard. The riser exists simply as an option for those who want to enjoy Slate Zero with a typing angle, without changing the core character of the board.

7. Logo Placement

The Atelier Magnus logo on the front was a deliberate choice. Kelvin Ong, Creative Director of Atelier Magnus, preferred this placement as a continuation of a design language established across earlier Atelier Magnus products, including the slate75.

We appreciate Alexotos taking the time to thoroughly review the board and for giving us the opportunity to clarify these details for the community.

KT