Unicomp New Model M
ClickyBuckling spring, still in production. Unicomp bought IBM's tooling and keeps building genuine Model Ms in Kentucky, and the 2020 retooling brought build quality back close to a 1980s IBM.
Sound & feel
When IBM (via Lexmark) exited the keyboard business, Unicomp acquired the actual Model M tooling and never stopped. The New Model M is not a clone. It is the same buckling-spring mechanism from the same production lineage, updated with USB and modern layouts.
Honest assessment: Unicomp ran IBM's original tooling until it was visibly worn, and the last of the pre-2020 boards did flex and sound a shade duller than a prime 1980s original. The 2020 New Model M is built on replacement tooling in a slightly smaller case, and build quality stepped up noticeably from there, close enough that reviewers compare it to a good 1391401. It is a new board rather than a survivor, but the fundamental experience, the synchronized buckle-click-actuation that defines the mechanism, is fully intact, with a warranty instead of a thrift-store gamble.
At around $190 for a complete board, it is the cheapest ticket to genuine buckling-spring typing, and the only new-production option short of boutique Model F reproductions.
Sound on this page is synthesized from the switch's published specs and community-documented character: an honest simulation, not a recording. We're progressively replacing simulations with our own studio recordings. How our sounds are made
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Frequently asked questions
What does the Unicomp New Model M sound like?
the Model M voice in a slightly smaller case. Use the player on this page to hear simulated press and release sounds derived from its real specifications.
Is the Unicomp New Model M good for gaming or typing?
Clicky switches like this are typing-first: the click is satisfying but loud for shared spaces and voice chat. For quiet environments, look at silent tactiles instead.
How heavy is the Unicomp New Model M?
65g actuation. Note that Unicomp officially rates actuation force. Brands differ, so check the basis when comparing switches.