8BitDo has expanded its nostalgia-fuelled Retro lineup with the Retro 18 mechanical numpad in a striking Xbox Edition. Dressed in the iconic partially transparent green plastic that defined the early 2000s, this peripheral is designed to complement the Retro 87 Xbox mechanical keyboard.

The Retro 18 (via ITHome) is far from a travel-sized accessory, measuring 170 x 104 x 45.5 mm. Its substantial footprint is necessitated by its dual-purpose design, which makes it both a standard PC numeric keypad and a standalone calculator. A nine-digit seven-segment LED display sits at the top, allowing for quick math without ever needing to interact with your PC. Like its keyboard counterpart, it offers tri-mode connectivity via Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz wireless with a dongle, and USB-C. For the Xbox Edition, 8BitDo has opted for hot-swappable Kailh Jellyfish X linear switches.

While the Retro 18 is an aesthetic marvel, its software implementation remains somewhat limited. The 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 application currently only supports firmware updates. This means that despite having mechanical switches and hot-swap capabilities, users cannot natively remap the keys to function as a macro pad or a specialised gaming controller.

On the hardware side, the 1000mAh battery offers up to 160 hours of use on a single 4-hour charge. The device also features a dedicated shortcut button to launch the Windows calculator app instantly. At €44.99, it is a dedicated piece of kit for those who opted for a tenkeyless keyboard but realised they needed a dedicated numeric keypad for work or calculations.

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KitGuru says: Given the substantial desk space this requires, do you think the standalone calculator functionality is genuinely useful, or is it mostly a gimmick?

Keychron has broadened its V Ultra-series lineup with the release of the V10 Ultra and the V0 Ultra. The Keychron V10 Ultra adopts an ergonomic 75% Alice layout that reduces wrist strain by angling the hands inward. Accompanying it is the V0 Ultra, a standalone wireless mechanical numpad.

Both devices are constructed from durable ABS plastic and mark a significant technological shift for Keychron by adopting the open-source ZMK firmware. This move away from the traditional QMK allows for much greater wireless efficiency and is the primary driver behind the series' impressive battery life claims.

Under the hood, the keyboard and numpad are equipped with Keychron's new Silk POM switches. Available in Red linear, Brown tactile, and Banana tactile options, these use a self-lubricating material for a smoother, richer typing sound. Moreover, like the remaining V Ultra family, these two boards also have an 8,000 Hz polling rate. To complement this, the V10 Ultra packs a 4,000 mAh battery capable of up to 660 hours of use with lighting disabled, while the V0 Ultra's 1,800 mAh cell offers roughly 360 hours of wireless uptime.

Both units feature south-facing per-key RGB lighting and hot-swappable PCBs compatible with any Cherry MX-style switches. Typing comfort is further refined by Poron gasket mounts and internal acoustic foams, which help damp vibrations. For connectivity, users can toggle between Bluetooth 5.3 for multi-device pairing, a 2.4 GHz wireless dongle for low-latency gaming, or a standard USB-C wired connection. The aesthetic is finished with double-shot PBT keycaps in the OSA profile. The V10 Ultra is now available for $124.99, and the V0 Ultra at $69.99.

KitGuru says: While the 8K polling might be overkill for most typists, the real star here is the switch to ZMK firmware. If you have been looking for an ergonomic Alice board that doesn't require a charging cable every three days, the V10 Ultra seems like one of the most balanced options out there.