CHERRY XTRFY launches first TMR magnetic-switch keyboards with 8K wireless polling

CHERRY XTRFY announced a pair of magnetic-switch keyboards built on tunnel magneto-resistance (TMR) sensing, pushing magnetic sensing as an alternative to Hall-effect designs and promising wireless operation at competitive polling rates. The lineup centers on two models: the MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless tenkeyless and the compact K5 Pro TMR 65% coming in spring.

The MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless is a tenkeyless board with an aluminum top frame, PBT keycaps, and CHERRY MK Crystal Magnetic switches using TMR sensing. CHERRY cites 0.01 mm precision for the sensing and advertises an 8,000 Hz polling rate in wireless mode. The MX 8.2 also supports dual hot-swap, allowing many positions to accept either magnetic or mechanical switches, which opens new modding workflows and lets users mix switch types without committing to a single switch ecosystem. CHERRY lists the MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless for launch on January 29, 2026, with an MSRP around USD 249.99.

The K5 Pro TMR builds the same sensing approach into the K5 platform as a compact 65% form factor. It ships with CHERRY MK Crystal Magnetic switches and TMR sensing, and CHERRY plans a corded-first release in spring 2026 with pricing to be announced. The smaller layout targets users who want a tighter desk footprint while experimenting with magnetic switch characteristics and travel-based assignments.

Software and customization are handled through CHERRY’s MagCrate utility, which offers per-key configuration, adjustable actuation points, and multi-action assignment tied to key travel or press depth. That software focus is central to the pitch: TMR’s claimed lower power draw and higher precision are positioned as enablers for aggressive wireless polling and finer actuation tuning than many traditional magnetic or mechanical setups.

This launch arrives amid a larger CES 2026 wave of magnetic keyboard introductions, where vendors are emphasizing magnetic sensing trade-offs between Hall-effect and TMR approaches. For the community, the headline features matter in practical ways: dual hot-swap means swap-friendly builds and easier experimentation, TMR claims could extend battery life for wireless setups while enabling high polling rates, and MagCrate’s travel-based actions create new macro and layer possibilities without hardware mods.

If you’re planning to test or mod one, check hot-swap compatibility for the specific switch pins you use and plan for firmware and keymap tweaks once MagCrate rolls out updates. Expect hands-on reviews and community builds after the MX 8.2 Pro TMR Wireless lands January 29, and keep an eye on the K5 Pro TMR this spring for a compact option to explore magnetic-mechanical hybrid setups.