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 11, 2026.
2026 · week20of 52
This week at a glance
biggest riser
GMK CYL Prussian Alert
+46%
biggest faller
Cherry MX2A revisions
-23%
breakout
Split / ergo (Voyager, Glove80)
+34%
sleeper
Cherry (GMK manufacturer)
-15%
Switches
Switch movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
Gateron Oil KingOil Kings remain in vendor rotation at NK and CK with steady stock turnover; no restock announcement or new sound-test viral moment surfaced in the May 11–17 window.
flatOil Kings remain in vendor rotation at NK and CK with steady stock turnover; no restock announcement or new sound-test viral moment surfaced in the May 11–17 window.
02
HMX CloudHMX's next-generation lubrication system is in final validation per an April 2026 R&D update, with new components not expected until Q3–Q4 2026; no new W20 community event moved the needle.
flatHMX's next-generation lubrication system is in final validation per an April 2026 R&D update, with new components not expected until Q3–Q4 2026; no new W20 community event moved the needle.
03
Cherry MX2A revisionsEnthusiast coverage continues to frame MX2A as a solid introductory option that will not displace HMX or Gateron in the mid-tier; coverage arguing for mechanical switches over Hall-effect still does not pick MX2A as the exemplar.
-23%Enthusiast coverage continues to frame MX2A as a solid introductory option that will not displace HMX or Gateron in the mid-tier; coverage arguing for mechanical switches over Hall-effect still does not pick MX2A as the exemplar.
Keycaps
Keycap movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
GMK CYL Prussian AlertGroup buy opened May 15 on KBDfans with a global vendor network spanning EU, UK, US, Canada, Korea, Japan, Australia, and MENA; IC thread logged over 121,000 reads before the window opened.
+46%Group buy opened May 15 on KBDfans with a global vendor network spanning EU, UK, US, Canada, Korea, Japan, Australia, and MENA; IC thread logged over 121,000 reads before the window opened.
02
DCS OlivettiGB closed April 13 and is in production with a Q3 2026 delivery estimate; momentum cooling naturally in the post-close window with no new community events to sustain it.
flatGB closed April 13 and is in production with a Q3 2026 delivery estimate; momentum cooling naturally in the post-close window with no new community events to sustain it.
03
MT3 profileDrop's MT3 catalog holds its retro-build niche with no new set launch or major restock announced for this window; the profile ticks along on Susuwatari and Black-on-White steady sales.
flatDrop's MT3 catalog holds its retro-build niche with no new set launch or major restock announced for this window; the profile ticks along on Susuwatari and Black-on-White steady sales.
Layouts
Layout movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
Split / ergo (Voyager, Glove80)Multiple 'best ergonomic keyboards 2026' roundups published this week continue to cite ZSA Voyager and Glove80 as the top two picks for programmers; the category is generating consistent evergreen search traffic as a distinct buying cohort.
+34%Multiple 'best ergonomic keyboards 2026' roundups published this week continue to cite ZSA Voyager and Glove80 as the top two picks for programmers; the category is generating consistent evergreen search traffic as a distinct buying cohort.
02
75% layoutKeebFinder's active group-buy filter shows multiple 75% keyboards in live windows this week including Zonex 75 at Prototypist; Mode Sonnet and Encore fulfillments sustain builder interest in the format.
+30%KeebFinder's active group-buy filter shows multiple 75% keyboards in live windows this week including Zonex 75 at Prototypist; Mode Sonnet and Encore fulfillments sustain builder interest in the format.
03
Alice layoutNo new Alice ICs appeared on GeekHack during the May 11 window; community attention continues to migrate toward split and 75% formats as those categories sustain active group-buy pipelines.
-19%No new Alice ICs appeared on GeekHack during the May 11 window; community attention continues to migrate toward split and 75% formats as those categories sustain active group-buy pipelines.
Vendors
Vendor movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
Mode DesignsEncore 2026 pre-orders (open since April 16, shipping July) generate coverage alongside a teaser for the Prologue — a 98% full-size with a new Crown gasket mount system slated for summer 2026.
+26%Encore 2026 pre-orders (open since April 16, shipping July) generate coverage alongside a teaser for the Prologue — a 98% full-size with a new Crown gasket mount system slated for summer 2026.
02
CannonKeysMultiple GMK CYL group buys (King of the Seas, Gonzales, Greg R2) remain live through the storefront; no new headline launch this week but transaction cadence is steady.
flatMultiple GMK CYL group buys (King of the Seas, Gonzales, Greg R2) remain live through the storefront; no new headline launch this week but transaction cadence is steady.
03
PrototypistPrototypist carried 19 live group buys this week including Slate Zero and SWG Classic Blue (both closing May 18) and DCS Grass Valley — one of their densest active-window weeks of the year.
+16%Prototypist carried 19 live group buys this week including Slate Zero and SWG Classic Blue (both closing May 18) and DCS Grass Valley — one of their densest active-window weeks of the year.
Brands
Brand movers
RankNameScore8-wkEditor's note
01
KeychronQ6 Ultra 8K and V5 Ultra 8K review cycle remains active at Tom's Hardware and AppleInsider into May; the ZMK wireless story draws 'first mass-produced ZMK keyboard' framing with no competitors matching the 660-hour battery claim.
+32%Q6 Ultra 8K and V5 Ultra 8K review cycle remains active at Tom's Hardware and AppleInsider into May; the ZMK wireless story draws 'first mass-produced ZMK keyboard' framing with no competitors matching the 660-hour battery claim.
02
Wuque StudioMorandi switch steady-seller status holds but no new product announcement or IC surfaced during the May 11–17 window; storefront restock cadence continues without a headline event.
flatMorandi switch steady-seller status holds but no new product announcement or IC surfaced during the May 11–17 window; storefront restock cadence continues without a headline event.
03
Cherry (GMK manufacturer)A GeekHack IC for the YuRui HE switch posted May 10 signals new HE entrants beyond Cherry's orbit; Cherry's enthusiast footprint narrows to GMK manufacturing as MX2A stays categorized as an entry-level option.
-15%A GeekHack IC for the YuRui HE switch posted May 10 signals new HE entrants beyond Cherry's orbit; Cherry's enthusiast footprint narrows to GMK manufacturing as MX2A stays categorized as an entry-level option.