Full Specifications
| Layout | 75% |
| Vendor | Mode Designs |
| Mount Style | Curved Gasket Mount |
| PCB | Hotswap, QMK/VIA |
| Connectivity | Wired (USB-C) |
| Hotswap | Yes (5-pin) |
| RGB | Minimal / no RGB depending on config |
| Firmware | QMK/VIA |
| Stock Status | Group Buy |
| Price | $175 |
| Last Verified | Jul 18, 2026 |
Editorial Review
The Tempo is Mode's take on a curved-case 75%, using a distinctive gasket mount system with multiple PCB configuration options — a more ambitious engineering approach than the brand's more conventional flat-case boards like the SixtyFive or Envoy.
The curved design isn't purely aesthetic — it affects ergonomics slightly by angling the outer key columns, and Mode's flex-cut PCB configuration option is aimed at builders chasing an even softer typing feel than the standard gasket mount alone provides.
This GB round closed in February 2026 with shipping estimated for Q4 2026 — a fairly typical 8-10 month IC-to-delivery window for a boutique brand's more complex case designs. Buyers who missed this round should watch for a potential future run given Mode's history of occasionally repeating popular designs.
The Tempo is the most engineering-ambitious board Mode currently has in the tracker — its curved case and flex-cut PCB option go beyond the flat-case gasket tuning used on the SixtyFive and Envoy, aimed at builders specifically chasing a softer typing feel than standard gasket mount alone provides, not just a case-quality upgrade.
That ambition comes with real ergonomic side effects (the curve angles the outer key columns) that are worth researching via community reviews before buying, since it's a genuinely different typing experience from Mode's other 75% and 65% boards — this isn't simply the Tempo being 'more premium' than the SixtyFive, it's a different design philosophy.
Bottom line: this GB round has already closed with Q4 2026 shipping estimated — buyers interested in the design should watch for a possible future run rather than expecting current availability, and should go in understanding the curved case is a deliberate feel choice, not a strict upgrade over Mode's flat-case boards.
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Build Quality & Value for Money
The curved case and flex-cut PCB option combine to make the Tempo one of the more engineering-forward designs Mode has shipped, but that complexity is also reflected in the price relative to the brand's flatter-case boards — the Envoy, for comparison, costs $185 for a much simpler 60% gasket design, meaning the Tempo's $175 for a curved 75% with a configurable flex option is a comparatively strong value within Mode's own lineup, even before weighing it against CannonKeys' pricier Satisfaction75.
Because the ergonomic angling from the curve is baked into the case rather than achieved through a separate tenting accessory, the effect is subtler than a dedicated split or tented keyboard — buyers expecting a dramatic ergonomic difference from a flat 75% should calibrate expectations accordingly. The flex-cut PCB configuration, when selected, stacks on top of the curved gasket mount's inherent give, which community feedback generally describes as noticeably softer than Mode's standard flat-case boards; buyers who haven't tried a flex-cut PCB before should treat it as a genuinely different feel worth researching rather than assuming it's simply a softer gasket mount.
Wired USB-C connectivity and QMK/VIA firmware are standard, matching the rest of Mode's lineup, so remapping works identically to the SixtyFive, Envoy, or Eighty. Given its curved case and now-closed GB status, the Tempo is primarily useful right now as a reference point for buyers evaluating Mode's more experimental case designs before deciding whether to wait for a possible future round or choose a currently-purchasable 75% instead.
The 5-pin hotswap PCB allows switch changes without soldering, which is particularly useful on the Tempo given the flex-cut PCB configuration option — buyers can test how a given switch interacts with the added case flex and adjust their switch choice accordingly once the board ships.
KeebTracker verifies group buy status manually rather than via an automated feed, cross-referencing Mode's own communication and community threads. Because this round has already closed, buyers wanting exact production or shipping updates should follow Mode's own channels directly rather than relying solely on this page.