KeyBoy40 (KB40) Keyboard Kit Group Buy

Niu Niu

NiuNiu is one of those wonderfully niche keyboard studios that makes the small-layout scene feel really alive and responsive to enthusiasts. Rather than chasing the safest mainstream formats, they have built a reputation around compact, characterful boards with unusual layouts, playful proportions, and love for the weirder corners of the hobby. Their work is especially popular with 40% keyboard enthusiasts, where clever layout design matters in limited space. 

The KB40

Hot off the heels of the successful HX40 Group Buy, the KB-40, also known as the KeyBoy 40, is a compact 40% HHKB-style keyboard designed by Niu Niu and manufactured by Kezewa.

(Between us, let's just call this what it is... a tribute to a handheld gaming device on which I played an extraordinary amount of Pokemon Red and Yellow as a nerdy child. It even has the on/off button! This might be the first 40% that actually gets me to use a 40%.. )

As I was saying, despite its tiny footprint, the KB-40 offers an impressive range of layout support, including staggered and ortholinear configurations, multiple spacebar options, split spacebar support, 7U layouts, and even 1U ortho builds.

Oh and it sounds amazing... Listen to the sound tests in the video on this page.

One of the most interesting parts of the KB-40 is its flexibility across both MX and EC builds. This has been done well before with the HX-40 receiving widespread praise for the stock EC options. So with the right PCB option, you can build it as a conventional MX keyboard or explore electro-capacitive typing using the same core platform.

This is a fantastic little board packed full of nostalgia, and a surprising amount of technical depth, which is exactly the kind of project that makes compact keyboards so much fun.

Group Buy Period: 1st June – 15th June 2026

KB-40 Keyboard Features

• Designed by Niu Niu
• Manufactured by Kezewa
• Layout: 40% HHKB
• Mounting styles: O-ring and PCB gasket
• Case material: Aluminium
• PCB options: Wired MX, dual-mode MX & EC, tri-mode MX & EC
• Plate materials: FR4 for wired, aluminium for wireless
• Plate layout options:
  • Staggered 7U
  • Staggered 2.25U + 2.75U
  • Ortho 7U
  • Ortho 1U
  • Ortho 3U
• Dimensions: 239.6 × 93.5 × 30.3mm
• Front height: 17.6mm
• Typing angle: 8°
• Weight: approximately 1.0kg assembled
• Colours:
  • Light Pink
  • Pale Gold
  • Night Black
  • Light Silver
  • Original
  • Sage Green
  • Random Cerakote

Includes

• 1 × Aluminium top and bottom case
• 1 × Weight
• 1 × PCB and daughterboard
• Battery included with wireless PCB options
• 1 × Plate
  • FR4 for wired builds
  • Aluminium for wireless builds
• 1 × Set of tadpole gaskets and rubber feet
• 1 × O-ring

Please note the Mystery Cerakote option is unknown to everyone until receipt of the goods and so orders containing the mystery colour cannot be returned or refunded for any other reason than true defects from the factory. Not liking the colour isn't a valid return reason.

For simplicity I have replaced the terminology staggered with standard on the product listing here. The images mention staggered but these terms are interchangeable. Staggered just refers to non-ortho layout.

If you want to see more images please ask for them. There are many so we have selected the most impactful for the product page here. 

Q&A (during GB extra answers will be added here):

1. Single mode PCB can only use MX switches
2. Dual or triple mode PCB can both support MX and EC switches
3. PCB and Plate will match based on the choices under "PCB" and "Plate" below. If you want other layouts you need to ensure the compatibility is there when buying from the add-ons or check with us for compatibility before ordering.
4. Extra PCBs will include DBs 
5. Weight material is Aluminium and the colour is fixed
6. All units are anodized except Original, Sage Green and Cerakoted all of which are coated