I thought TMR was only for controllers until I saw this CHERRY keyboard

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To be honest, I always believed TMR (tunneling magnetoresistance) technology was only used in high-end gaming controllers, like an upgrade from Hall-Effect joysticks. However, CES 2026 showed me that’s not the case – I was surprised to learn about the CHERRY XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless keyboard.

The name sounds a bit like an old electronic music group, but I’m genuinely interested in this keyboard that uses magnetic switches.

Everything you need to know about the CHERRY XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless

Magnetic switches are becoming increasingly popular in gaming keyboards. Many manufacturers are now using Hall Effect technology, which uses magnets to allow for customizable key sensitivity and fast response times. Unlike traditional switches, these magnetic switches don’t rely on physical contact, meaning they don’t wear out as quickly – the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 is a great example of this.

As a keyboard enthusiast, I’m really excited about CHERRY’s new board! They’re pushing things forward by using this new magnetic technology. Apparently, it’s called TMR, and it’s a big deal because it uses less power than traditional Hall Effect sensors, which is awesome for wireless keyboards. Plus, it’s supposed to be even *more* precise, so you can really feel the difference in every keystroke. I can’t wait to try it out!

I’m so excited! The CHERRY XTRFY MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless keyboard is coming out on January 29th! As a competitive gamer, this looks perfect – it’s a smaller, tenkeyless design, and it’s built really well with an aluminum frame and durable PBT keycaps. But the coolest part? It uses CHERRY’s brand new MK Crystal Magnetic switches with TMR sensors, which should make gameplay super responsive.

CHERRY boasts a remarkably precise 0.01 mm accuracy, though most users likely wouldn’t be able to detect such a small difference. It does, however, demonstrate just how advanced this technology has become.

A particularly noteworthy feature is the keyboard’s incredibly fast 8000 Hz wireless polling rate. Thanks to efficient technology, the MX 8.2 Pro can register inputs up to eight times every millisecond while remaining wireless – a feat that usually comes at the cost of battery life or a stable connection.

If they can pull that off without the battery dying in 20 minutes I will be impressed.

I was really impressed by how much you can customize this keyboard. It uses CHERRY’s MagCrate software, and it lets you adjust exactly how sensitive the keys are, and even assign different functions to a single key based on how hard or how long you press it. You can really get into the details and personalize everything to your exact preferences – it’s almost obsessive how much control you have!

The keyboard also lets you easily swap out switches while it’s still plugged in, and you can even combine magnetic and mechanical switches on most of the board. This gives you a lot of freedom if you’re not sure which type of switch you prefer or want to experiment.

To be honest, learning more about complex network configurations has made me appreciate how much simpler my current setup is! I’m glad I just stick to controlling things directly.

CHERRY announced they’re releasing a smaller version of their K5 keyboard this spring called the K5 Pro TMR. It’s a 65% compact keyboard that features their innovative magnetic switches. This new model will be faster than previous K5s, with a polling rate increased from 1000 Hz to 8000 Hz.

This keyboard isn’t cheap. The MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless will cost $249.99, and the price for the K5 Pro TMR will be announced before it’s released this spring.

It’s unclear whether this new TMR technology is a significant improvement or just an advanced feature that duplicates what Hall Effect technology already does well.

I definitely didn’t predict “TMR keyboards” would happen, and now I’m eager to see if they become popular. You can find more details and purchase options on CHERRY’s website when they launch.

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2026-01-07 17:55