Presales for the “Keychron C3 Pro Trackball 8K,” a mechanical keyboard with a built-in trackball, began at 7 p.m. on October 28, 2026, at Gizmart on CoSTORY.
The Super Early Bird price is ¥11,594 (tax included; shipping not included).
However, just before the project went live, corrections were also announced regarding the keycap profile and available layouts.
If you’re considering a purchase, it’s worth checking the corrected information as well.
Keychron C3 Pro Trackball 8K project page
A 14 mm trackball sits at the center of the spacebar
The C3 Pro Trackball 8K has a 14 mm-diameter trackball at the center of the spacebar area, with separate space keys on either side.
Its standout feature is that users can switch to thumb-based cursor control while retaining an 80% tenkeyless layout with function and arrow keys.
Clicking and scrolling use a “mouse layer” that changes the functions of regular keys. The keyboard also supports an “auto mouse layer” that switches automatically when the trackball is used.
It connects exclusively via USB Type-C and does not support Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless.
Super Early Bird price: ¥11,594; presale runs through December 17
| Plan | Price (tax included) | Sales period |
|---|---|---|
| Super Early Bird · 15% off | ¥11,594 | October 28, 7 p.m.–November 20, 12 p.m. |
| Early Bird · 8% off | ¥12,549 | November 20, 12:01 p.m.–December 17, 11:59 p.m. |
| Regular reference price | ¥13,640 | — |
All dates are in 2026, and shipping costs extra.
It comes in three colors: White Green, Black Green, and All Black.
The seller is KOPEK JAPAN CORPORATION.
Keycap profile corrected to OSA; no US layout available
CoSTORY announced on October 28 that some of the keycap specifications had been described incorrectly.
| Item | Correction / announcement |
|---|---|
| Profile | Corrected from Cherry to OSA |
| Backlight description | Removed the claim that the keycaps are optimized for RGB backlighting |
| Available layouts | Clarified that this project does not offer a US-layout model |
The profile is a specification that affects the shape of the keycaps.
Whether a US layout is available also affects which model you can buy. If you were considering it based on the earlier information, be sure to check this correction.
The removal of the keycap-related description does not mean that the keyboard itself has lost its RGB backlighting.
Keycap material confirmed as shine-through ABS
Another detail worth confirming is the keycap material.
Since it has been confirmed that this product is offered only in a Japanese layout, the keycaps are shine-through ABS.
Summary
That covers the launch of the crowdfunding campaign for the Japanese-layout Keychron C3 Pro Trackball 8K.
As of October 31, the date this article was written, 225 people had backed the project.
The campaign has only just begun, but it will be interesting to see how it progresses.
A layout with a trackball built into the center of the spacebar is an intriguing option for changing up the typing experience compared with a conventional tenkeyless keyboard.
On the other hand, compared with Orca echo, many may find the growth in backers underwhelming.
Greenkeys believes that the “new typing experience” was behind Orca echo’s huge success.
KawamuraPersonally, I think a familiar row-staggered layout is easier to adopt as an everyday tool.
However, people who bought Orca echo may have been looking less for a replacement for their current keyboard and more for a gadget that lets them enjoy a new typing experience.
Seen that way, the two trackball keyboards seem to appeal to buyers for different reasons.
Keychron C3 Pro Trackball 8K may also serve as a measure of how much adding a trackball to a familiar layout can drive purchase interest.
Check the sales plans and latest specifications
Official Update: Sales Launch and Specification Corrections
- First published:
- Last updated:
- Reporting method: CoSTORY
- References and sources:
- Conflict of interest: No product provided; no monetized links in this article
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