SMKX 2026 Review: Highs and Lows of the Keyboard Expo

I attended the SMKX 2026 event again this year, following last year’s SMKX 2025. For keyboard enthusiasts, this is like a festival we wait for all year. It’s hard to believe a year has already passed since my last visit, and I arrived with a mix of excitement and apprehension—wondering which new gear would threaten my wallet this time. While I keep up with various keyboards, these events are fascinating not just for checking technical specs, but for witnessing the collision of user passion and manufacturer stubbornness. After roaming the floor for over two hours, here are my thoughts.

The Highs

• Increased International Presence: Last year, several overseas brands were lumped together in a single booth, but this year they had a much more active presence.
• Elevated Collaboration: Collaborations have moved beyond just slapping a logo on; many products now involve artists from the design phase.
• Mainstream Artisan Keycaps: The scale grew significantly compared to last year, solidifying the culture of treating keycaps as works of art.
• Accessibility to Niche Layouts: There were plenty of opportunities to actually type on unique boards, such as ortholinear and 40% layouts.

The Lows

• Notable Absences: Geonworks and SwagKeys, the two pillars of the domestic custom keyboard scene, were missing.
• Lack of Community Presence: The absence of KeyPfam (the largest local keyboard community) was a missed opportunity to connect experienced users with newcomers.
• Underwhelming Giveaways: The Instagram follow-to-win events were less diverse than last year.
• Raffle Fatigue: Changes to the raffle system led to impossibly long, dizzying lines—I eventually gave up and left without participating.

Impressive Gear Spotted on the Floor

As I made my way through the booths, a few products really grabbed my attention.

First was the limited edition Odyssey Kraken TKL, a collaboration between NEWONE and Sandon Art. The brass weight on the back sparkled beautifully under the lights; the combination of the metallic heft and intricate machining made it feel like a sculpture rather than just an input tool.

The artisan keycap booths were definitely more abundant. I was particularly drawn to metallic keycaps embedded with jewels—they looked incredibly luxurious under the spotlights.

I also visited the Linsoul booth, but it was tucked away next to Epomaker, making it difficult to request a listening session. A bit of a shame, but I look forward to better placement next time.

One unexpected highlight for me was Dareu. While I usually think of them as a mass-market brand, their latest products perfectly hit the needs of custom enthusiasts.

The Ultra75 is packed with desirable features, including an 8K magnetic switch, a tilting top-mount structure, and magnetic pogo pins.

The GT87 uses carbon fiber. It shares a design language with the Dry Studio Black Diamond 75 RT, but the material feel on both the body and keycaps was remarkably unique and satisfying.

I was also drawn to the Dove ortholinear keyboard. After recently picking up a 40% board, I’ve been eyeing the ortholinear layout. Typing on it revealed that while it takes time to adjust, the neat, orderly aesthetic is highly rewarding.

It was great to hear about the successor to the Holy60 from KBDFans. This new version abandons the one-piece construction for a detachable bottom backplate. The recessed design is quite visually appealing.

The 80Retros GB Numpad was a dangerous find. Modeled after a game console, its retro charm almost led me to an impulse purchase despite not actually needing a numpad.

On the flip side, one item was crossed off my bucket list: the Kinesis keyboard. I’ve always admired the Kinesis Advantage 2, but trying the Ego Elan model made me realize that ergonomics don’t always translate to immediate comfort. The gap between expectation and reality is quite large with these designs.

At the SingaKBD booth, I was captivated by the “Gundam-haku” model. It’s based on the Strike Gundam rather than the classic original, which was an interesting creative choice.

Leaving the venue, I barely managed to resist buying a Keypiece Room Seldea artisan keycap, though it was a struggle!

The world of custom keyboards only gets deeper the more you explore it. While there were some disappointing aspects compared to last year, these diverse attempts are what make the market flourish. It’s a privilege to spend time focusing on the textures, acoustics, and designs that bring us so much joy. SMKX 2026 wasn’t perfect, but I look forward to a more polished festival next year.