A weighted weekly score across community chatter, retail availability, and editorial mentions. Row names link to their deep dive when one has been published. Updated May 8, 2026.
2026 · week19of 52
This week at a glance
biggest riser
Gateron Oil King
+42%
biggest faller
Cherry MX2A revisions
-22%
breakout
HMX Cloud
+36%
sleeper
Prototypist
+14%
Switches
Switch movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
Gateron Oil KingMode Sonnet 2026 builds and r/mk sound tests put Oil Kings in the typing-test rotation; vendor stock turning over weekly at NK and CK.
+42%Mode Sonnet 2026 builds and r/mk sound tests put Oil Kings in the typing-test rotation; vendor stock turning over weekly at NK and CK.
02
HMX CloudHMX restocked late January and Cloud kept moving through April on KeebFinder's best-seller charts; the POK-stem profile is filtering into more $100-150 pre-builts.
+36%HMX restocked late January and Cloud kept moving through April on KeebFinder's best-seller charts; the POK-stem profile is filtering into more $100-150 pre-builts.
03
Cherry MX2A revisionsEnthusiast threads still rate MX2A as 'fine, not exciting'; with HMX and Gateron eating the mid-tier linear slot, the MX2A discourse has gone quiet.
-22%Enthusiast threads still rate MX2A as 'fine, not exciting'; with HMX and Gateron eating the mid-tier linear slot, the MX2A discourse has gone quiet.
Keycaps
Keycap movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
GMK CYL Prussian AlertTop GeekHack IC by view count (>121k) heading into the May 15 GB; Bauhaus-leaning red-on-cream palette is doing what Olivetti did in 2024.
+38%Top GeekHack IC by view count (>121k) heading into the May 15 GB; Bauhaus-leaning red-on-cream palette is doing what Olivetti did in 2024.
02
DCS OlivettiMarch 27-April 13 GB closed strong; DCS coming back into rotation alongside Cherry signals a small rebellion against the Cherry-only orthodoxy.
+18%March 27-April 13 GB closed strong; DCS coming back into rotation alongside Cherry signals a small rebellion against the Cherry-only orthodoxy.
03
MT3 profileDrop's MT3 catalog ticking along on Susuwatari and Black-on-White restocks; no breakout sets, but the profile holds its niche on retro builds.
flatDrop's MT3 catalog ticking along on Susuwatari and Black-on-White restocks; no breakout sets, but the profile holds its niche on retro builds.
Layouts
Layout movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
Split / ergo (Voyager, Glove80)ZSA Voyager and Glove80 continue showing up in r/mk transition posts and developer blogs; the ergo-curious cohort is now big enough to be its own demographic.
+32%ZSA Voyager and Glove80 continue showing up in r/mk transition posts and developer blogs; the ergo-curious cohort is now big enough to be its own demographic.
02
75% layoutSonnet 2026, QK75, and Rainy 75 sustaining 75% as the default custom-board pitch; the format is absorbing former 65% buyers who want an F-row back.
+28%Sonnet 2026, QK75, and Rainy 75 sustaining 75% as the default custom-board pitch; the format is absorbing former 65% buyers who want an F-row back.
03
Alice layoutGeekHack Alice ICs that posted in 2025 are stalled at sub-50 reply counts; community attention is migrating toward split and 75% formats instead.
-18%GeekHack Alice ICs that posted in 2025 are stalled at sub-50 reply counts; community attention is migrating toward split and 75% formats instead.
Vendors
Vendor movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
Mode DesignsSonnet 2026 refresh shipped on configurator on March 4 and Encore caught the same wave; coverage by Alex Otos and Tom's Hardware kept the storefront ranking through April.
+24%Sonnet 2026 refresh shipped on configurator on March 4 and Encore caught the same wave; coverage by Alex Otos and Tom's Hardware kept the storefront ranking through April.
02
CannonKeysGMK CYL lineup (Vintage Keys, Monochrome Dolch shipping wave) keeps the storefront active; Bakeneko/Satisfaction restocks landing on schedule through April.
+18%GMK CYL lineup (Vintage Keys, Monochrome Dolch shipping wave) keeps the storefront active; Bakeneko/Satisfaction restocks landing on schedule through April.
03
PrototypistEU-side fulfillment for GMK Dolch R5X and other CYL runs gave them a March-April surge as US buyers routed around Oblotzky waitlists.
+14%EU-side fulfillment for GMK Dolch R5X and other CYL runs gave them a March-April surge as US buyers routed around Oblotzky waitlists.
Brands
Brand movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
KeychronQ Ultra ZMK series with 660h battery announced at CES is now reaching reviewers; Q1 HE 8K Marble in April pushed Keychron deeper into the prebuilt-premium tier.
+30%Q Ultra ZMK series with 660h battery announced at CES is now reaching reviewers; Q1 HE 8K Marble in April pushed Keychron deeper into the prebuilt-premium tier.
02
Wuque StudioMorandi switches and the Mammoth75 are still the steady-sellers; no new headline release this 8-week window, but storefront restock cadence held.
flatMorandi switches and the Mammoth75 are still the steady-sellers; no new headline release this 8-week window, but storefront restock cadence held.
03
Cherry (GMK manufacturer)MX2A buzz has cooled and the top esports keyboards moved to Hall-effect/optical (Wooting, Razer V3 Pro); Cherry's relevance now lives mostly through GMK doubleshot runs.
-14%MX2A buzz has cooled and the top esports keyboards moved to Hall-effect/optical (Wooting, Razer V3 Pro); Cherry's relevance now lives mostly through GMK doubleshot runs.