Keychron launches Orca Echo split‑keyboard with trackball in Japan

Keychron introduced the Orca Echo, a split mechanical keyboard that integrates a thumb‑mounted trackball, horizontal wheel and a scroll pad, allowing all input actions to be performed without a separate mouse. The unit ships with two selectable switch types – the linear “Ninja” and tactile “Samurai” – and supports hot‑swap, PBT keycaps, and USB‑C Y‑cable wiring. Pricing starts at ¥24,255 with a promotional “early‑bird” sale running until 3 August 2026, and delivery is slated for late November 2026. The keyboard uses a custom layout close to US standards rather than JIS and runs ZMK firmware.

Other wireless and compact keyboards are also available in the Japanese market, including the Keychron B1 Pro ultrathin model, various folding Bluetooth keyboards from brands such as Elecom, Ewin and others, many offering multi‑device pairing, 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth 5.2 connections, and a mix of US and JIS layouts. These products target users seeking portable, low‑profile input solutions for PCs, tablets and smartphones.