A few months back, Serene Industries made waves in the mechanical keyboard world with the Icebreaker – a striking, brutalist-inspired keyboard milled from a solid block of aluminum. Now, the company is back with a refined take on the concept: the Cleaver, a more minimalist yet equally bold keyboard designed to bring industrial design sensibilities into the modern workspace and your home.
Created by Denis Agarkov, the Cleaver continues Serene Industries’ tradition of monolithic design while pushing both form and function further. While the Icebreaker showcased an assertive and angular silhouette, the Cleaver dials back some of that raw visual weight. It sheds the prominent aluminum overhangs and edges, resulting in a cleaner, more office-friendly profile – yet it remains unmistakably brutalist, with sharp geometry and a cohesive color palette that evokes architectural concrete forms.
Despite its sleeker appearance, the Cleaver is a feat of precision engineering. The chassis is CNC-milled from a single block of aluminum, and the internal components are encased in a custom overmolded silicone core. This silicone isn’t just there for aesthetics – it plays multiple functional roles: it acts as a sound dampener, provides grip via integrated non-slip feet, and protects the internal electronics by completely enclosing them.
The silicone itself contributes to the keyboard’s unique acoustics and tactility. Hidden cavities beneath the non-slip feet help shape the typing sound while also creating a subtle suction effect that improves stability on your desk. These carefully considered details speak to Serene’s philosophy of obsessive design refinement.
One of the most defining features of the Cleaver is its use of Hall Effect sensors in combination with magnetic switches. Originally developed in the mid-20th century and once used in early IBM terminals, Hall Effect keyboards have seen a resurgence in premium mechanical designs for their durability and responsiveness.
Unlike traditional mechanical switches that rely on physical contact between metal parts, Hall Effect switches detect key presses magnetically. Each key has a small magnet, and when it’s pressed, the magnet’s movement alters the magnetic field, which is then detected by the Hall Effect sensor on the PCB. This contactless mechanism allows for smoother, more consistent actuation and drastically reduces wear over time.
Because of this non-contact design, Serene was able to take an unconventional step: submerging the electronics entirely in silicone. Not only does this improve sound and tactile feedback, it also provides dust and splash resistance while maintaining structural integrity.
The Cleaver also introduces a reimagined set of keycaps – each milled from aluminum and laser-perforated with pinpoint precision. Every character on the keyboard is rendered through a grid of tiny holes – 1,204 in total across the entire keyset – allowing RGB backlighting to shine through in a unique, diffused glow.
As expected from a modern enthusiast board, the Cleaver supports hot-swappable switches and interchangeable keycaps, giving users room to experiment with the typing experience and visual customization.
Two colorways are available at launch: a silver “clear” finish reminiscent of the original Icebreaker, and a matte black version that lends itself to more understated or minimal desk setups.
Connectivity is handled via a durable USB-C port located discreetly on the back – chosen for its ruggedness and its role in the overall sealed design. There’s no wireless functionality here, and that’s by design. Serene Industries has chosen to focus purely on reliability and uncompromising build quality.
At $850, Cleaver isn’t just a casual purchase. But in a world of high-end mechanical keyboards, it represents a statement piece where design, engineering, and performance meet.
Cleaver is available at serene.industries.
Photography courtesy of Serene Industries.
