Small keyboards, like the Epomaker TH40 we reviewed previously , might seem more like a novelty than anything else, but they do a good job of offering the same satisfying mechanical keyboard experience in half the space, making them, if nothing else, a worthwhile alternative to low-profile travel keyboards. CannonKeys's latest release, the Minimi40 , takes the idea of stuffing as much as possible into the smallest possible keyboard and runs with it. The Minimi40, as the name suggests, is a 40% mechanical keyboard that is available in both a conventional staggered layout or an ortholinear layout, with both wired and wireless options, and a host of fun colors available. The Minimi40's design is inspired by a lunchbox, of all things, but the lid that sits atop the keys serves as much a functional purpose as it does a visual one. For starters, it serves as a way to protect the keyboard's switches and keycaps when it's being carried around in a backpack, but it is also designed to pull double duty as a wrist rest or stationary tray once you've set up shop to get some work done.

The Minimi40 is made from injection-molded ABS and PBT plastic, and it is available as an ortholinear or conventional staggered kit from CannonKeys , with the ortholinear, with the wireless version of the keyboard coming in at $125, while the wired version comes in at $110. Note that this does not include switches, stabilizers, or keycaps, so those will need to be purchased separately. The Minimi40 is also a group buy, with the shipping date estimated for Q2 2026. There are a handful of layout options, including a 6 u spacebar and a two-split space bar that utilizes 2.25 u and 2.75 u space bars, with the bigger key optionally on the left or right side. The wireless PCB uses ZMK firmware, which has been shown by other CannonKeys keyboards to provide excellent efficiency and battery life—especially with the Minimi40's 1,000 mAh battery—and solid customization options via ZMK studio. Meanwhile, the wired version of the Minimi40 uses QMK firmware, the powerful open-source firmware that can be configured in the QMK Configurator web app.