(Group Buy) Agar Micro 40% Alice Keyboard Kit

The Agar Micro is a compact 40% Alice keyboard from KBDfans: ergonomic, small, and built around a unibody-style case. The standout is a recurring rabbit motif: an accent piece between the spacebars shaped like a rabbit's nose, an illustration engraved on the underside, and curved front edges that double as a thumb rest. There are three PCBs (MX hot-swap, MX solder, dual-mode wireless), plates in four materials, and two weight bars. Case in either aluminum or polycarbonate.

The Agar Micro is a compact 40% keyboard in an Alice layout and the smallest member of KBDfans' Agar series. It takes the concept of the Agar Mini and fits it into an even smaller, ergonomic 12U Alice layout. The case looks like it's made from a single block – the transitions flow rather than being sharply pieced together.

If you're new to small or ergonomic layouts: an Alice layout splits the board into two halves angled inward, so your hands sit at a more natural angle. Easier on the wrists. "40%" means the number row and some extra keys are dropped; you reach those through a second layer activated with a function key. It sounds unusual at first but flows well after a short adjustment, and it keeps your desk clear. A good introduction to 40% boards: 40s.wiki.

To fit a split Alice PCB into a seamless case while keeping the Agar Mini's tray-mount structure, there's a subtle "split" on the top case between the two spacebars. The exterior stays clean while the interior gains the room needed for the split PCB. The typing angle is 7°. The raised rear profile creates more space at the bottom so the flexible daughterboard can unfold more freely and there's room for a larger battery.

The accent piece filling the gap between the two spacebars happened to take the shape of a rabbit's nose; and that became the running design theme. It carries from the small icon on the front to the rubber-hose-style illustration engraved on the base. The ergonomics play along too: because thumbs could bump into the front edge while typing, it was reshaped with two curved bevels. That gives a more comfortable thumb rest and happens to look like a pair of rabbit ears.

The Agar Micro uses a PCB gasket mount. The included 50A silicone gaskets sit in precise alignment slots; once the PCB is seated, it locks in firmly and delivers consistent, controlled typing feedback. The PCB outline was reworked versus the Agar Mini, which makes assembly more intuitive.

There are three PCBs to choose from, all 1.6 mm thick, with a magnetic pin header and an included daughterboard. None of them have RGB underglow – just an LED indicator:

• MX hot-swap (wired): tool-free switch changes, VIA support
• MX solder: for soldered builds, VIA support
• Dual-mode hot-swap (wireless): usable wirelessly, ZMK support

The plate comes in four materials – polycarbonate, FR4, aluminum and carbon fiber – each shaping typing feel and sound differently (from softer/duller to firmer/clearer). For the weight bar you get two options: one in stainless steel with a PVD mirror finish (deep, reflective, smooth surface) or one in anodized aluminum with engravings and the "MICRO" logo including the rabbit-nose motif.

The Agar Micro is a good entry point if you want to try an ergonomic Alice layout without jumping straight to a large board – compact, light, and with a bit of character thanks to the rabbit theme. If you like tinkering, three PCB options (including wireless), four plate materials and two weight bars give you plenty of room to tune feel and looks. The small 40% layout takes a few days to get used to, but it keeps your desk tidy.