The “Keychron Valkey Orb,” a keyboard jointly developed by Yusha Kobo and Keychron, was announced on September 16, 2026.
At Greenkeys, we got to see the prototype in person at the Keychron booth at the TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026, held the day after the announcement, and spoke with Mr. Mizuguchi, the representative of Copec Japan, about the target audience for the Valkey Orb and how it differs from the Orca Echo.
The Valkey Orb is a model featuring a split-case design, a 25mm trackball, an aluminum body, and Cherry MX-compatible hot-swappable switches.
At the time of the announcement, it looked, at first glance, like a “split + trackball” keyboard similar to the Orca echo.
However, after hearing about it this time, it became clear that the two are targeting quite different user demographics.
The Valkey Orb is Keychron’s second “split-column staggered layout keyboard with trackball.”
So, who exactly is this product intended for?
The Valkey Orb is not “for beginners”
Valkey Orb is designed with Yusha Kobo’s existing user base firmly in mind.
Since many Yushakobo users are accustomed to customizing their keyboards and swapping out switches and keycaps, the Valkey Orb is reportedly designed with users who are already somewhat familiar with keyboards in mind, rather than simply being a product aimed at beginners to split keyboards.
I consider this an important point to keep in mind when comparing it to Orca Echo.
Through crowdfunding, Orca Echo reached a very diverse user base, including many people who were purchasing a split keyboard for the first time.
On the other hand, Valkey Orb appears to be leaning toward a more hobbyist-oriented direction, drawing on the relationships Yushakobo has cultivated over the years with users of DIY and custom keyboards.
Let’s take a look at what it entails.
Gasket Mount × Standard Profile × Aluminum Housing Configuration
It was first revealed at the TGS 2026 venue that the Valkey Orb features a gasket-mounted design.
It is still in the prototype stage at this point, and the display model is reportedly “in a state where the gasket is not yet functioning properly.”
When I actually pressed down on it, I couldn’t feel it give way.
It is expected that this situation will gradually improve.
I believe the reason the key switches are intentionally designated as “Normal Profile” is to allow users to choose from the wide variety of existing Cherry MX-standard key switches and enjoy them on their own.
For the keycaps, I deliberately chose the “Cherry profile” instead of the “OSA profile” or “KSA profile,” which are commonly used by default in recent Keychron models.
This is another aspect where you can sense the “attention to detail” that is characteristic of Yusha Kobo.
After all, when it comes to “mechanical keyboards,” the Cherry profile is extremely popular.
Perhaps that’s why they decided to go with the Cherry profile—because it’s a “familiar profile.”
Also, unlike the Orca echo, this model features an aluminum body.
I wasn’t able to measure the exact weight, but it felt quite substantial, and it’s certainly not light enough to be designed for portability.
Furthermore, since using an aluminum housing requires “machining” each unit individually, the cost may be higher than that of injection-molded plastic cases, although this may vary depending on production volume and other factors.
In addition, the original aluminum block is expected to be of a considerable size, and the assembly consists of two pieces—one on each side.
In other words, the mere fact that it features a machined aluminum chassis suggests that its retail price will reflect specifications that are “not entry-level.”
KawamuraWith a machined aluminum part of this size, I’m guessing the retail price will be around 40,000 yen.
Is the key switch plate made of aluminum?
Although I wasn’t able to verify this fully, Greenkeys reports that the switch plate used in the Valkey Orb prototype is likely made of aluminum.
We’ll have to wait for Yushakobo to release the official specs on this.
Switches and connection terminals are located on the back
The keycaps may not have been decided yet.
As for the keycaps, it seems certain that they will follow the Cherry profile, but no further details are available at this time.
I’m looking forward to seeing whether they’ll come unmarked by default or if at least the alpha keys will be marked.
I’d like the thumb rest on the thumb cluster to be a convex key.
The ball is positioned in the center of the cabinet.
As for the trackball’s position, it is located on the inside of the casing; the ball is supported at four points, and—like the Orca Echo—the material appears to be ceramic.
The fine-tuning mechanism is located at the bottom, and it appears that the reading is performed by a single sensor.
Regarding the trackball’s position—specifically the fact that, like the Orca Echo, it’s positioned slightly toward the center—I asked Mr. Mizuguchi if Keychron had any particular preference in this regard, and he replied, “We don’t have any such preference.”
Regarding the design, it was explained that Keychron incorporated requests from Yūja Kōbō, and it appears that the trackball’s position in this model was likely decided during discussions between the two parties.
The tilt angle is approximately 7 degrees.
I took some quick measurements.
The height at the front is approximately 20 mm, and the height at the back is approximately 35 mm.
Judging by the height of the front edge, it’s safe to say that a palm rest is necessary for typing.
Based on the image, the tilt angle appears to be about 7 degrees.
How does the Valkey Orb actually perform?
Although this is just my personal opinion, I find Valkey Orb’s controls to be “highly flexible.”
I believe the reason lies in the “gradual column staggered layout” and the “separated thumb clusters.”
First, let’s take a look at the keyboard layout.
As shown here, this is a column-staggered layout in which the columns shift downward vertically in 0.125u increments starting from the middle finger, resulting in a gentler gradient than the Orca echo, which shifts downward by 0.25u.
Perhaps because of this key layout, I don’t feel any significant discomfort even when I shift my home position.
Please see below.
From an ergonomic standpoint, I suppose the 40% layout is probably the best choice, but the 30% layout feels almost just as natural.
I think the fact that it has a gentle column stagger plays a major role here.
I also found it notable that, unlike the Orca Echo, the thumb cluster is separated, which helps prevent interference between the trackball position and the thumb’s resting position.
KawamuraDuring the Orca Echo discussion, opinions were divided on the trackball’s placement, with the main point of contention being “the possibility of the thumb coming into contact with the trackball when placed in the home position.”
With this Valkey Orb, that concern seems unlikely.
However, since ball placement is such a highly subjective matter, I feel that no matter where it’s placed, there’s a good chance it will draw some criticism.
Planned Crowdfunding Campaigns for the Rest of the Year
Valkey Orb plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Gizmart sometime in 2026.
According to Mr. Mizuguchi, several keyboard-related events are scheduled for TGS 2026 and beyond, and Yushakobo may release more detailed information about them at those events.
As of the time of this report, the retail price has not yet been officially announced.
There is growing interest in the price range based on its specifications—which include an aluminum chassis, a 25mm trackball, and wireless connectivity—but we’ll have to wait for the official announcement.
Summary | Can It Become a “Next Entry Point” Different from Orca Echo?
That concludes our coverage of the Keychron Valkey Orb, which we saw at TGS 2026.
According to Mr. Mizuguchi, while the start of development was “close to that of Orca Echo,” he noted that the two are completely separate projects.
KawamuraIt’s possible that the exchange of ideas between the two projects may have helped prevent product overlap to some extent, but since the proposals came from different people, I personally think it was just a coincidence that the projects’ directions happened to be similar.
Visually, it uses the same column-staggered layout, so it looks quite similar to Orca Echo.
However, after seeing the actual device and hearing what Mr. Mizuguchi had to say, I was able to get a much clearer picture of the direction both sides are heading in.
If the Orca Echo is a product that brought a new typing experience to a relatively broad range of users, then the Valkey Orb can be described as a product that takes it a step further, leaning more toward DIY and custom keyboards.
Aluminum chassis, Cherry MX-compatible, consideration of Cherry profiles, gasket mounting.
These aren’t just technical specifications; they are also elements that demonstrate that this product is intended for existing Yusha Kobo users.
On the other hand, it is true that its layout is similar to that of Orca Echo.
Therefore, for Valkey Orb to establish its own unique position,
“Why choose Valkey Orb instead of Orca Echo?”
It seems that how we communicate this going forward will be important.
At Greenkeys, we have already compared the layouts of both products on KLE.
There are also differences in the actual key layout, column stagger amount, and thumb cluster structure, so it is not simply another version of Orca Echo.
As the specifications are further finalized and users have more opportunities to try out the actual device, we hope that the unique appeal of the Valkey Orb will become even clearer.
- Originally published:
- Last updated:
- Method of coverage: See official manufacturer release and official SNS postings
- Date of Interview: September 18, 2026
- Interview Location: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026, Keychron Booth
- With the cooperation of Kopek Japan
- Research Method: Hands-on evaluation of the prototype and an interview with Mr. Mizuguchi, CEO of Copec Japan
- Conflicts of Interest: Product provided: None Monetized links in this article: None
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