Framework wants its Wireless TouchPad Keyboard to be a better keyboard for your living room

Most modern laptop computers have trackpads below the keyboard. But if you’re using a desktop computer (or a laptop positioned so you can use it like a desktop), then odds are that you use a mouse and keyboard.

That’s not the ideal setup for every situation though. When you’re sitting on your couch and interacting with a PC connected to a TV, for example, you might want a small wireless keyboard with a built-in touchpad. Unfortunately there aren’t very many of those available… and the most popular model isn’t actually all that good, it’s just popular because it’s cheap and available. So modular PC maker Framework decided to design its own. Meet the Framework Wireless TouchPad Keyboard.

Expected to hit the streets later this year, this keyboard has chiclet-style keys with a trackpad on the right side. That trackpad measures 68.8 x 85.6mm (2.71″ x 3.36″) and supports Windows Precision drivers. The touchpad is clickable, and there’s also support for multi-touch gestures when used with Windows or Linux.

You can use it as a wired or wireless keyboard – it supports Bluetooth and USB connections, and there’s a USB Type-A dongle that you can plug into a PC if Bluetooth is wonky for you. Framework says you can use the keyboard with up to four different wireless devices.

Framework didn’t exactly design a brand new keyboard from scratch – the wireless keyboard and touchpad are basically the same as the ones used for the Framework Laptop 12. They’re just arranged next to one another in a standalone device here. But there’s the same 1.5mm key travel and 19mm spacing between keys on both keyboards.

Under the hood there’s a Nordic nRF54L20 wireless system-on-a-chip and the keyboard runs open source ZMK firmware, allowing users to customize it. And since Framework is a company that makes repairable, customizable products, maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that the company is also planning to sell the control board for the keyboard as a standalone product for folks that want to design their own keyboards rather than purchasing a pre-assembled one.

Design files are already available in Framework’s GitHub repository, and more information about the firmware, battery, touchpad, and interface schematics should be added closer to launch.

As I discovered when looking for a Windows-friendly alternative to Apple’s Magic TrackPad, there aren’t a lot of good trackpads available for Windows that aren’t already attached to a laptop. So for folks that aren’t interested in spending $100 or more on a Ploopy Trackpad or HyperSpace Trackpad Pro (which may or may not ever ship), all-in-one keyboard and trackpad solutions could be a solution for desktop use as well as the living room. So it’s nice to see a new entry in this space is on the way.

Framework hasn’t said how much its upcoming wireless keyboard and trackpad will cost. But since there’s no need for large amounts of RAM or storage in a keyboard, hopefully the price won’t be affected by the RAM shortage that’s currently driving prices of other hardware way up.