The Keychron Orca Echo, which caused quite a stir in 2026.
And then, announced immediately after that project wrapped up, was the Yusha Kobo × Keychron “Valkey Orb.”
Both share the “common characteristics” listed below.
Features Common to Both Keyboards
- Split Left and Right
- column staggered tiles
- The 40% class (with numerical rows omitted)
- Place the trackball on the thumb side of your right hand
Just looking at the published images, some people might think they “look quite similar.”
In fact, the basic layout concepts are quite similar.
So, at Greenkeys, we used publicly available images of the prototypes as a reference to create simple recreations of both models in the Keyboard Layout Editor (KLE) and compared their structural differences.
Conclusion: While the underlying structures are quite similar, there are clear differences in their design philosophies.
In terms of appearance alone, the Orca Echo and the Valkey Orb share a very similar design.
Both feature a column-staggered layout, in which the middle-finger key column is positioned at the highest point, with the columns extending downward to the left and right from there.
In addition, a trackball for thumb operation is located on the lower inner side of the right hand.
Therefore, “Column Staggered + Right-Thumb Trackball”
This fundamental approach to input is shared by all of them.
On the other hand, a closer look reveals the following differences.
| Comparison Item | Orca echo | Valkey Orb |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | column staggered tiles | column staggered tiles |
| Key Count Class | 40% Class | 40% Class |
| Number Row | None | None |
| Number of columns | 6 rows on each side | 7 rows on each side |
| Stagger Amount | 0.25u | 0.125u |
| The two columns on the little finger side | No steps | There is a step |
| Sam Cluster | Continuous with the main unit | Detach from the main unit |
| trackball | 19mm | 25mm |
| switch | Low-profile compatible: (Cherry MX support coming soon) | Cherry MX-compatible only: (No low-profile models announced at this time) |
| Enclosure Philosophy | Compact and Portable | Aluminum, Freestanding |
Let’s take a closer look at these points and compare the differences.
1. The amount of misalignment varies
Even though they both use a column-staggered layout, the “vertical offset” differs between the two keyboards.
In “Orca Echo,” the line descends to the left and right from the middle finger as the apex, with each segment dropping by 0.25u relative to the adjacent column.
On the other hand, the decline in the Valkey Orb is quite gradual, amounting to approximately 0.125u at a rough estimate.
Due to their aspect ratios, the Orca Echo looks taller and the Valkey Orb looks wider.
Because the Valkey Orb has minimal deviation, it gives a neat and orderly appearance—more similar to an ortholinear pattern—when compared to a typical column staggered arrangement.
2. Processing the Two Rows on the Little Finger Side
Another distinctive feature is the design on the little finger side.
In the Orca Echo, the outer two columns are aligned vertically, whereas in the Valkey Orb, there is a distinct step even in the two columns on the little finger side.
As a result, the Valkey Orb appears to have a more uniform staggered column design, with the height varying continuously from the center to the outer edges.
This part seems like it would affect how natural the little finger feels when you actually touch it.
In particular, when pressing modifier keys with the little finger, the direction of the finger’s movement appears to differ slightly—it moves “slightly downward” rather than “straight sideways.”
3. The Valkey Orb has 7 columns on one side
Based on the publicly available images, the Valkey Orb appears to consist of seven columns on each side.
There is no number row, and it still follows a 40% layout, but it has more physical keys across the width than the Orca echo.
The area toward the center is particularly interesting.
While Orca Echo features a layout that utilizes the space toward the center for touch-based functions and assistive features, Valkey Orb is designed with an additional row of physical keys.
As for the “number of keys actually used on a regular basis” when typing in the home position, that will likely remain the same.
On the other hand, since the number of keys in the center section has increased compared to the Orca Echo, it seems possible to assign them as mouse clicks or shortcut keys.
4. The Sam clusters are quite different.
The thumb cluster makes a bigger difference than it looks.
On the Orca Echo, the thumb keys are positioned relatively close to the alpha keys, and functions—including the trackball and encoder—are densely concentrated around the center.
In contrast, on the Valkey Orb, the thumb cluster is clearly separated from the main key section and extends downward, forming a fan-shaped arrangement in which the multiple thumb keys are each angled at different angles.
If size is a consideration, the Orca Echo setup will result in a more compact design.
Therefore, when you consider this aspect—as well as the fact that it has an aluminum chassis—I believe it’s highly likely that the Valkey Orb was designed with a “desktop” setup in mind.
5.19 mm and 25 mm trackballs
The Orca Echo features a 19mm trackball.
The Valkey Orb is scheduled to feature a 25mm trackball.
According to the official announcement, the Valkey Orb trackball is designed to be operated by moving the right thumb away from its home position.
Although the design philosophy itself is quite similar to that of the Orca Echo, the 6mm difference in ball diameter could significantly affect the feel of the controls.
Generally speaking, while a larger trackball makes it easier to cover more distance with a single movement, it also increases the size of the case and the amount the thumb has to move.
6. How to Assemble the Product
Aside from the layout, the two characters are quite different from each other.
Orca Echo is a product designed with an emphasis on a low-profile design, portability, and the ability to integrate multiple input functions into a compact package.
Meanwhile, the Valkey Orb is expected to feature an aluminum body, a 25mm trackball, and Cherry MX-compatible hot-swappable switches.
Drawing on Yusha Kobo’s culture of custom-built keyboards, this design is tailored for switch replacement and desktop use.
In other words, while the Orca echo was designed to “pack multiple features into a compact, portable design,” the Valkey Orb stands out as a “desktop configuration that prioritizes perfection as a custom keyboard.”
When it comes to mounting the Valkey Orb, you may have options such as gasket mounting, top mounting, and O-ring mounting.
“Low Stagger + Trackball” is still available
What’s interesting is that both Orca Echo and Valkey Orb use a column-staggered layout.
In 2026, a series of split keyboards featuring trackballs and developed in collaboration with Keychron were released, but as of now, all of them are based on a column-staggered layout—a design closely associated with the DIY keyboard community.
On the other hand, there are still very few finished products that combine a split design with a trackball while retaining the low-staggered layout widely used in standard mechanical keyboards.
If split trackball keyboards become more widespread among the general public in the future, it will be interesting to see how the concept of “a new input experience while retaining the familiar layout” evolves.
Summary
That concludes my explanation of the two differences between Orca Echo and Valkey Orb, as seen from their appearances.
To the trained eye, the differences are quite noticeable, but that perspective is likely limited to those who are deeply immersed in the world of DIY and custom keyboards.
For Valkey Orb to achieve the same level of success as Orca Echo, it seems necessary to first clarify “what makes it different and how.”
At Greenkeys, we plan to check out the actual unit at the Keychron booth during TGS 2026 on September 18.
Please look forward to further reports.
- Originally published:
- Last updated:
- Source: See press release
- References/Citations:
- Conflicts of Interest: Product provided: None Monetized links in this article: None
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