On September 16, 2026, Yusha Kobo Co., Ltd. announced that it is developing the “Keychron Valkey Orb,” a split keyboard with a trackball, in collaboration with Keychron.
The Valkey Orb is a model featuring a 25mm-diameter trackball on a split-keyboard design.
Features are expected to include an aluminum body, Cherry MX-compatible hot-swappable switches, and compatibility with Keychron Launcher. A crowdfunding campaign is scheduled to launch on Gizmart sometime in 2026.
Keychron Valkey Orb Sales Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Keychron Valkey Orb |
| Development | Yusha Kobo × Keychron |
| Sales Methods | Plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Gizmart |
| Start Date | Scheduled for 2026 |
| Price | undecided |
| Color | Black / White |
| Connection | Wireless / Wired |
| trackball | 25mm |
| switch | Cherry MX-Compatible Hot-Swap |
| keymap change | Supports Keychron Launcher |
The Keychron Valkey Orb is scheduled to launch a crowdfunding campaign in 2026 on “GIZMART,” the online store operated by MediaGene Co., Ltd.
At this time, details such as the crowdfunding launch date, sales price, and support plans have not been announced.
According to the official announcement, they will provide another update as soon as the event date is finalized.
Gizmart is a community-based e-commerce platform that launches products in conjunction with media content from Gizmodo Japan.
As for Keychron products, the “Nape Pro” and “Orca echo” have previously been sold through crowdfunding on Gizmart, and the Valkey Orb is also scheduled to be launched on the same platform.
Jointly developed by Yusha Kobo and Keychron
The Valkey Orb is a jointly developed product that combines the experience and culture cultivated by Yusha Kobo, a specialty shop for custom keyboards, with Keychron’s mass production and product development capabilities.
According to the official announcement, the product is described as one that aims to combine aesthetic appeal—making it a piece of furniture you’ll want to display on your desk—with a comfortable typing experience that supports user productivity.
Features a 25mm trackball on the right side
A key feature of the Valkey Orb is the 25mm-diameter trackball located on the right-hand side near the thumb.
The official instructions state that it should be positioned so that “the right thumb can operate it by moving it away from the home position.”
It is designed to allow users to control the cursor without having to move their hands far from the typing position.
On the other hand, as with the previous model, the Orca Echo, players who position their thumb inward in the home position will likely continue to have concerns about interference with the ball.
Planned to feature an aluminum body and MX-compatible hot-swap functionality
The housing features an aluminum body.
In addition to providing a sense of heft that ensures stability during trackball operation, the design is also intended to make a statement on your desk.
The switch sockets are designed to be Cherry MX-compatible and hot-swappable, allowing users to replace them with their preferred switches on their own.
In addition, support for Keychron Launcher is planned, and it is expected that users will be able to customize key mappings and macros.
While the Orca Echo was built around low-profile switches, the Valkey Orb is expected to feature Cherry MX-compatible switches.
For this reason, it is expected that the key feel and chassis design will be differentiated to be more in line with a standard profile.
Given that it has an aluminum chassis, the mounting structure is also likely to be a key differentiator.
Prototypes to be on display at TGS 2026, TKX 2026, and TenKey
The prototype currently under development is scheduled to be exhibited at the following events.
| Events | Schedule | Exhibition Venue |
|---|---|---|
| TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 | September 17–21 | Keychron Booth |
| TOKYO KEYBOARD EXPO 2026 | September 23 | Keychron / Yusha Kobo Booth |
| The Best Keyboard in the World: A Fun Gathering, Vol. 12 | October 3 | Keychron / Yusha Kobo Booth |
Greenkeys also plans to showcase the actual units at TGS 2026 and TKX 2026.
It’s also worth noting the timing of the announcement, which came immediately after the conclusion of Orca Echo.
The timing of this announcement is also interesting.
The “Orca echo,” jointly developed by Keychron and Gizmart, concluded its crowdfunding campaign on September 14, 2026, ultimately raising over 700 million yen and attracting more than 26,000 backers.
Just two days later, on September 16, this Valkey Orb was announced.
Since plans for Valkey Orb—including a prototype exhibition and a crowdfunding campaign scheduled for later this year—have already been finalized , it’s only natural to assume that this project wasn’t hastily conceived after the Orca echo project ended, but rather that development had been proceeding in parallel for some time.
Furthermore, it’s possible that the announcement was timed to coincide with the continued interest in split keyboards and trackball-integrated keyboards, which has been fueled by Orca Echo.
On the other hand, since at first glance they appear to be the same “40% style split-column staggered layout keyboard with a trackball,” it seems we’ll need to separately identify the key differentiators.
Greenkeys OfficeI plan to organize this information in Greenkeys at a later date.
Summary | Anticipation is building for how it will be presented
That concludes our coverage of the “Valkey Orb,” which is being jointly developed by Keychron and Yusha Kobo.
Both the Valkey Orb and the Orca Echo have very similar layouts, featuring a “40% size,” “left-right split,” “staggered columns,” and a “trackball near the right thumb.”
For that reason, rather than being a product with an input philosophy completely different from that of the Orca echo, the Valkey Orb appears to be a model that implements a similar philosophy with a different product configuration.
The main difference is that while the Orca Echo features a 19mm trackball, a low-profile design, and a focus on portability, the Valkey Orb features a 25mm trackball, an aluminum body, and MX-compatible switches, making it more suited for desktop use and customization.
On the other hand, a closer look at the layouts themselves reveals differences between the two in terms of column stagger, thumb cluster structure, and the number of physical keys.
At Greenkeys, we plan to start by checking out the hardware details at TGS 2026 and will continue to follow the news as it develops.
All eyes are on future developments to see if this will become the next hit product following Orca Echo.
- Originally published:
- Last updated:
- Method of coverage: See official manufacturer release and official SNS postings
- References/Citations:
- Conflicts of Interest: Product provided: None Monetized links in this article: None
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