On September 16, 2026, Yusha Kobo announced the “Keychron Valkey Orb,” a split keyboard it is co-developing with Keychron.
It features a split-design layout with a 25mm trackball operated by the right thumb, and is planned to include an aluminum body, Cherry MX-compatible hot-swappable switches, and wireless connectivity.
A crowdfunding campaign is scheduled to take place on Gizmart sometime in 2026.
We have already covered the product specifications and exhibition plans in a preliminary report.
Following this announcement, there was a huge reaction on social media.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the reactions on social media over the approximately 15-hour period from the announcement until the early morning of the 17th.
このコンテンツの調査について
This article provides a qualitative summary of the reactions that were publicly available from the Valkey Orb announcement on September 16, 2026, through 4:25 a.m. (JST) on the following day, September 17.
We are using X’s generative AI, “Grok,” for this survey.
This includes public quotes on Yusha Kobo’s official X account, public posts containing product names, comparative discussions with Orca echo, public replies to media posts, news coverage on PR TIMES, Greenkeys, ITmedia PC USER, Hermitage Akihabara, and other outlets, as well as related Hatena Bookmarks.
Furthermore, this survey does not cover all posts on X.
Please note that we may not be able to provide specific sources or references, as doing so could result in the post itself being deleted. We appreciate your understanding.
Trends in Social Media Reactions
After the announcement of Valkey Orb, the post on Yusha Kobo’s official X account garnered the most attention.
As of the early morning of September 17, 2026, the post had received approximately 190,000 views and about 115 reposts.
While reactions to quotes from official posts were relatively close to “expectations,” the standalone posts revealed a more nuanced discussion.
Reactions to the Official Citation
- I want it
- I’d like to try out the actual device.
- I’m curious about this as a gateway to split keyboards
- The aluminum casing is appealing
- I want to check this at TGS and TKX
Reactions from individual sources and media citations
- Who is Orca Echo intended for?
- Could it be that Orca Echo has already captured this near-term demand?
- How much will it cost?
- Why did you choose this array?
- How do you view Yusha Kobo’s decision to develop ready-made products?
Positive Reactions
As expected, reactions indicating a desire to purchase the Valkey Orb itself stood out.
In addition to a split keyboard, trackball, wireless connectivity, and hot-swap capability, it features an “aluminum chassis.”
Since the design—a solid black finish with no markings—differs from the typical Orca Echo aesthetic, it seemed that many people were interested in it.
Even though the price hasn’t been announced yet, we’ve already seen reactions from people considering purchasing it as a backup device, as well as those thinking of it as their first split keyboard.
There have also been negative reactions and questions
On the other hand, it is also true that there were some slightly negative reactions and voices expressing doubts.
1. Isn’t there a risk that the character overlaps with Orca Echo?
As expected, compared to Orca Echo, there were many comments saying that “the characters overlap.”
Both models share the following similarities.
Similarities Between Valkey Orb and Orca Echo
- Split Left and Right
- A compact layout that omits the number row
- Column-Staggered Layout
- Trackball near the right thumb
As a result, some people commented that “the characters are too similar” and “since they’ve already raised 700 million yen, haven’t they already tapped out the demand for Column Staggered?”
On the other hand, the nature of the product is somewhat different.
- Orca echo | 19mm trackball. A product designed with a focus on a slim, low-profile design and portability.
- Valkey Orb | A 25mm trackball with an aluminum body and planned to feature Cherry MX-compatible switches, designed primarily for desktop use
KawamuraEven though they both use a column staggered layout, the vertical offset is different, isn’t it?
On social media, people have commented, “Since the features are quite different, doesn’t this mean the customer base is different from Orca Echo’s?”
Some people were heard summarizing it this way.
In particular, for users who prioritize a low profile and portability, the Valkey Orb is not a direct alternative; conversely, for users who prefer standard-height switches and a heavy aluminum chassis, the Valkey Orb may be more appealing.
On the other hand, while experts may be able to spot the “differences,” from a general perspective, they may appear to be nothing more than “the same layout in different colors.”
Will the Orca echo and Valkey Orb expand into different customer segments like “sister models,” or will they be accepted as “a second Orca echo,” or will they fail to gain a foothold in a market where demand has already been met?
We cannot determine that at this stage.
KawamuraI think it’s crucial to highlight how it differs from Orca Echo.
2. It looks like it might be expensive
Since the Valkey Orb uses an aluminum casing, there were some concerns about its price.
Given its features—a 25mm trackball, wireless connectivity, and an aluminum body—some people speculated that it might be more expensive than the Orca Echo.
While it’s probably true that multiple factors contributed to Orca Echo’s success, I certainly feel that one of those factors was its “affordable price.”
While it was previously “priced high for a keyboard but affordable enough to try out as a fun gadget,” there are concerns that the adoption of an aluminum casing will drive up the price and potentially narrow the range of people who can afford it.
3. Discussion on Physical Arrangement
Judging from the published images, the Valkey Orb features a column-staggered design with the middle finger side raised and the sides sloping gently downward from there.
While it shares a very similar underlying concept with Orca Echo, the vertical offset is smaller than that of Orca Echo, and the key layout appears to be closer to an ortholinear layout than a column-staggered one.
In addition, regarding the ball’s position—which follows the Orca Echo’s design—some people questioned why it wasn’t positioned like a trackball, a layout commonly adopted in DIY builds.
4. How Yusha Kobo Became the “Maker of Finished Products”
This was the first thing I noticed as well.
The fact that our collaboration partner this time is “Yusha Kobo” may hold great significance.
In other words, there were instances on social media where people mentioned that Yusha Kobo had collaborated with Keychron to develop the finished product.
Yusha Kobo has long supported Japan’s DIY keyboard culture as a “specialty store for DIY keyboards. “
While we have dealt with finished products in the past, with the Valkey Orb, we are now on the planning side, working alongside Keychron to develop the product.
The “split keyboard + trackball” configuration—which, until a few years ago, was only found in the DIY keyboard community—is now being mass-produced as finished products by major manufacturers.
At the center of it all is Yusha Kobo itself, a specialty store for custom-built keyboards.
This can also be seen as a trend toward bringing the DIY keyboard culture to a wider market.
On the other hand, it may be a natural reaction for some people to wonder how the role of stores—which have traditionally been seen as “supporting the creators”—will change now that they are taking on a role in product planning themselves.
Regarding the part about “a custom keyboard shop collaborating with a major company to produce a finished product,” it seems many people are curious about Yusha Kobo’s motives as well.
In addition, we observed that some people viewed this as the “commercialization of the DIY keyboard culture” and chose to distance themselves from it.
5. The Perfect Timing of the Announcement
On social media, there were also many posts mentioning the timing of the announcement.
There were many comments saying, “At a time like this…,” but I get the sense that the underlying sentiment is something like what follows.
- I hope they don’t release a new model right when I buy the Orca Echo (I want one, but I can’t afford it right now).
- Even though I went to the trouble of buying the Orca echo, I wish they wouldn’t release a model I like even more (Regrets about buying the Orca echo)
- A great opportunity to raise your profile through exhibitions at TGS, TKX, and TenKey
- You can see the commercial intent to capitalize on the momentum of Orca Echo and carry it over to the next product.
Summary
That concludes our summary of social media reactions immediately following the announcement of Valkey Orb.
Compared to when the Orca echo was announced, it was striking to see that the discussion this time has expanded beyond simple purchase intent to include how it differs from the Orca echo, pricing, the keyboard layout, and even Yusha Kobo’s market positioning.
Personally, just by looking at the specs—which feature an aluminum chassis and Cherry MX-compatible key switches—I got the impression that Yusha Kobo had released a product designed for “enjoying the keyboard hobby,” taking a different approach from the Orca echo, which was “tuned with a focus on keystroke sound.”
On the other hand, while its true intent will likely become clear over time, I also feel that getting the general public to understand how it “differs” from Orca echo may be one of the key factors in creating a “hit” that rivals Orca echo.
Starting with TGS 2026 and beyond, how will these discussions change as the actual feel of the controls is shared?
I’d like to continue following this.
- Originally published:
- Last updated:
- Method of coverage: See SNS postings
- Sources: Posts on X and other platforms (not listed to protect anonymity)
- Conflicts of Interest: Product provided: None Monetized links in this article: None
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