The world of “small keyboards,” which we often feature here at Greenkeys.
Greenkeys has released the “Gravity36,” a 30% split keyboard, and I, for one, am particularly fond of small keyboards.
Lately, with the release of the Keychron Orca Echo, it seems like the world of small keyboards is once again drawing attention.
While the Orca Echo falls under the “40% keyboard” category in this article, the “30% keyboard” discussed here has an even smaller number of keys.
A 30% keyboard is clearly less convenient than a standard keyboard.
There is no number row, and few modifier keys are visible. Many of the keys needed for input have been moved to layers or combos, so you’ll need to learn the operations on your own.
Even so, there are products so appealing that you’ll find yourself thinking, “I want to learn how to use this keyboard.”
I didn’t choose it because it was easy to use; I tried to master it because it was appealing.
As a result, before I knew it, it had become a tool that was easy for me to use.
The 30% keyboard is a device with that kind of mysterious charm.
The 30% keyboard may be a reminder that “convenience isn’t the only criterion for choosing a tool.”
KawamuraThe post by Takashi was what inspired me to write this article.
He is the designer behind such intriguing 30% keyboards as the “miniDivide,” “Palmslave,” and “Palmbrain.”
The Gravity series was designed by him.
The “30% keyboard” discussed in this article refers to
There are various layouts for 30% keyboards, and there is no standardized definition that clearly distinguishes them based solely on the number of keys.
Therefore, in this article, we will refer to any four-row keyboard on which no keys are positioned to the outside of the little finger when the index finger through the little finger are placed in the home position as a “30% keyboard.”
Please take a look at this diagram.
Broadly speaking, it is a layout in which the main key areas on the left and right sides each fit within a 5-column by 4-row grid.
The presence or absence of a thumb key, a center key positioned toward the index finger, a rotary encoder, and other such features is not included in this definition.
KawamuraThis refers to a five-column layout for each hand: when you place your fingers in the home position, there is no key column beyond the little finger.
Reasons for Wanting a Smaller Keyboard
This is just my personal experience, but once you start using a keyboard extensively, it’s not uncommon to find yourself thinking, “I want it to be smaller.”
In Japan, I feel that this trend is often driven by factors such as the desire to free up space on a limited desk for mouse use or to take a typing environment similar to one’s home setup with you when you’re out and about.
Reduce the number of unused keys and make the keyboard narrower. Place the mouse closer to you to free up more space on your desk.
There are practical reasons for miniaturization—not just aesthetic ones.
People who think that way will want to make the keyboard layout smaller, too.
From 100% to 96%. Then to 80%, 75%, 65%, and 60%.
Furthermore, once you start wanting to use a typing environment similar to the one at home even when you’re out and about, portability becomes important as well.
Even after moving to a 60% keyboard, some people still want to go smaller., I still want to make it smaller.
If you look for even smaller layouts, you’ll find yourself stepping into the world of custom keyboards, where there’s a wide variety of keyboards with 40% or fewer keys.
In this line of thinking, the 30% keyboard could be considered the final stage of downsizing.
KawamuraWhile there is a more niche 20% segment out there, I think the 30% range is probably where most people end up in their search for a small keyboard.
Moving from a 40% keyboard to a 30% keyboard means giving up the outer column on the little-finger side and moving its functions to layers, combos, taps, and holds.
For those who have already been using small keyboards, the 30% model represents the next step in the pursuit of even greater compactness.
Another Way to Get Started with the “30% Keyboard”
On the other hand, recent 30% keyboards are opening up a whole new avenue.
It’s not something you arrive at after gradually reducing the number of keys.
After seeing the incredibly appealing design, I thought, “I want to use this,” and as a result, the path where the first small keyboard becomes 30% .
“DRESSTHING, ” “moNa2,” and“conductor” —which have been gaining attention in recent years—can certainly be considered iconic examples of this trend.
DRESSTHING | A 30% Keyboard You’ll Want to Carry with Your iPad mini
DRESSTHING is a DIY keyboard with 35 keys and a rotary encoder designed to be used with the iPad mini.
You can choose from three styles—all-in-one, foldable, and modular—to assemble it.
In addition, by swapping out the switch plate, it can accommodate either standard-profile or low-profile switches.
The foldable model, in particular, isn’t just designed to have a smaller keyboard—it’s designed with the whole experience in mind, including “carrying it around with an iPad mini.”
My desire to use it in this form takes precedence over the fact that it doesn’t have a number row.
DRESSTHING presents the 30% keyboard not as a product defined by missing functions, but as an object people want to own and use.
In addition to the recent release of a kit that enables wireless connectivity between the left and right units, it appears they are also preparing a 3D-printed case version.
DRESSTHING Official Store Page
moNa2 | An All-in-One Device with 17 mm Pitch, Wireless Connectivity, and a Trackball
moNa2 is a 42-key fully wireless split keyboard developed by sayu and shakupan .
It features a low-profile design, a 17mm key pitch, a 25mm trackball on the right side, a rotary encoder, and a magnet on the back.
Although the total number of keys is 42, including the center key near the microcontroller, there is no row of keys on the outer side of the little finger when viewed from the home position.
IIn this article, we define the 30% keyboard as consisting of the main key area, excluding the thumb keys and the central keys on the index finger side.
Another noteworthy feature is that it uses a 17-mm pitch, which is narrower than the standard 19.05 mm.
Not only does it reduce the number of keys, but by narrowing the spacing between each key, it creates an even smaller input environment.
KawamuraCompared to standard pitch, the use of narrow pitch has contributed significantly to miniaturization.
If we include the central area, a simple calculation shows that we can reduce the size to 12.3 mm wide by 8.2 mm tall.
In August 2026, we also prototyped 17mm-pitch injection-molded keycaps for products such as the moNa2.
conductor｜An input device designed around the very act of using it
The conductor is a 40-key, fully wireless split keyboard featuring an ortholinear layout with a thumb trackball.
It features a 17mm-pitch grid layout, allowing you to operate it with your hands spread out to the left and right.
For conductor users, the original 17mm-pitch PBT keycaps, called “notra,” were also developed.
If you use a key pitch that is narrower than usual, it becomes difficult to use standard keycaps as-is.
The fact that they’ve addressed this limitation by creating custom keycaps is a testament to the sheer amount of passion they’ve poured into this product.
The product is currently classified as a “prototype,” and we are eagerly awaiting the release of the production version, which will be manufactured in a factory.
Differences in “Switching Costs” Depending on the Entry Point
As a result, the recent emergence of “attractive 30% keyboards that make you want to use them” has led to the emergence of new paths beyond the traditional “entry route to small keyboards,” which involved gradually downsizing.
If, like me, you switch from a 40% keyboard to a 30% keyboard, you’ll lose the row on the little finger side.
If you’ve assigned keys such as Shift, Ctrl, Tab, or Enter to those keys, you’ll need to review the custom keymap you’ve created.
In some cases, changing an operation you’ve already gotten used to can be more of a burden than the reduction in the number of keys itself.
This is what is known as “switching costs.”
The main difference between the 30% and 40% keyboards discussed in this article is whether there is a row of keys on the outer side of the little finger.
On the other hand, for those who were drawn to the design and chose 30% from the start, there is no need to “readjust” when switching from 40% to 30%.
Of course, there is a learning curve involved in switching from a standard keyboard to a 30% layout.
In terms of having to memorize the positions of numbers and symbols, use layers, and create a keymap that suits you, there is indeed a switching cost involved.
However, I don’t feel like I’ve “lost the key that used to be on the little-finger side.”
You can start building your own control scheme based on the keys that are visible from the start.
It’s not as if there’s no inconvenience at all.
It may be possible to design a control scheme for the 30% keyboard without worrying about differences from previous layouts.
KawamuraI’ve finally been able to put this into words in this column, but I feel it makes more sense to think of the 30% keyboard as a completely separate input device rather than gradually scaling it down.
Don’t Choose It Because It’s Easy to Use; Make It Easy to Use Because You Want To
When people choose a product, ease of use is often a priority. We tend to value products that feel intuitive, let us do what we want with a single button press, or follow layouts we already know.
Small keyboards, which require users to understand layers and customize their keymaps, are not necessarily easy to use straight out of the box.
Even so, the desire to use a particular keyboard can be a powerful motivator.
You place frequently used keys where they are easier to reach. You revise the keymap repeatedly. You learn the layers and gradually turn unfamiliar movements into muscle memory.
Over time, a keyboard that initially felt inconvenient can become a tool that feels natural to use.
People who choose moNa2 or conductor may not do so because the keyboards are easy to use from day one. Their design, concept, and the experience they promise can outweigh the switching cost. That appeal is what encourages users to learn the layers, experiment with keymaps, and adapt the keyboard to their own workflow.
Ease of use is not always a fixed property of a product. The user adapts to the tool, while the tool adapts to the user through flexible keymapping. Somewhere between the two, a personal sense of usability is created.
It’s not just “things that seem likely to sell” that create new demand.
Part of the appeal of the 30% keyboard lies not only in meeting existing needs, but also in creating a desire that hadn’t been recognized before.
In many product development efforts, the focus is on addressing existing problems and meeting existing needs.
This is a natural part of business operations and is essential for creating products that are easy for many people to use.
On the other hand, products like DRESSTHING, moNa2, and conductor evoke a desire that’s hard to explain based on spec sheets alone.
People who hadn’t been looking for a 30% keyboard before might, upon seeing the product, think for the first time, “I want to carry this around with my iPad mini,” “I want a setup that even includes a trackball,” or “I want to be someone who can master this beautiful tool.”
While products that are likely to sell well meet existing demand, products with strong appeal have the potential to create new demand.
Specs alone aren’t the only reason to choose a product.
One of the key values a product offers is the ability to make people want to use it even if it means putting up with some inconvenience.
Unique products also build expectations for the brand as a whole.
I think this applies to product development for brands as well.
For any for-profit company, creating products that sell is naturally the path it should strive to follow.
On the other hand, “distinctive products” like the 30% keyboard also shape expectations for the brand as a whole.
Even products that are difficult to evaluate based on sales figures alone play a role in bringing new users into the market and increasing interest in the brand as a whole.
When compared based solely on specifications, the 30% keyboard is at a disadvantage.
The fact that switching costs are high remains unchanged.
Even so, I believe what draws people in is not only the product’s attractive design but also the fact that it offers an input experience they’ve never had before.
The experience of entering text, symbols, and shortcuts without significantly shifting from the home position offers a different approach to “keyboard input”—something we’ve always taken for granted.
Interest in 30% Keyboards
That concludes this column on 30% keyboards.
There are tools in our daily lives that we continue to use even though there are alternatives that are faster, more accurate, and require less effort.
Even though I have a smartphone and a computer, I still write with a pen on paper.
Even though I have e-books, I still read paper books.
I wear a mechanical watch even though I can check the exact time right away.
Even though I have a fully automatic coffee maker, I still grind the beans and pour the water myself.
There is value there that cannot be measured by efficiency alone.
The effort involved and the very act of using them are the reasons why we choose these tools.
Perhaps the 30% keyboard is something similar.
It isn’t convenient for everyone right from the start.
However, if you have the desire to use it, you’ll customize the keymap to suit your own style of use and gradually grow more comfortable with the tool.
As a result, a keyboard that seemed inconvenient based solely on its specs gradually becomes a tool that’s easy to use and one I find hard to do without.
People do not choose tools based on specifications alone.
30% keyboards remind us of something obvious but easy to forget: a tool does not have to be convenient for everyone from the start in order to become deeply useful to someone.
Small keyboards are worth exploring, too.
We’re looking for feedback on the 30% keyboard!
Now that you’ve read this far, what do you think of the 30% keyboard?
Comments like “I’m interested” or “I’d like to try it” are also important signals for those who create the product.
Please let us know which of the following best describes how you feel right now.
We will use the survey results as a reference for future article production on Greenkeys and when communicating the potential demand for 30% keyboards to manufacturers and creators.
You do not need to enter your name or email address.
We look forward to your response.
- Originally published:
- Last updated:
- Research Method: Based on publicly available information from the creators, official sales pages, and official social media posts
- References/Sources : takashicompany’s post / DRESSTHING / moNa2 / conductor / 1U Nekokeyya
- Conflict of Interest: As of the time of writing, there are no conflicts of interest—such as financial compensation or product provision—regarding the products featured in this article.
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