This small mechanical keyboard resembles a love letter to the Game Boy Advance.

      A mechanical keyboard featuring gaming handheld-style shoulder buttons is a rare sight.

      Proto[Typist]

      For many individuals who grew up in the early 2000s, the Game Boy Advance was a constant companion. The Keyboy Advance aims to evoke that nostalgia in a contemporary setup, taking inspiration from the wide, landscape-like silhouette of Nintendo's 2001 handheld to create a compact mechanical keyboard kit. Although it is not an official Nintendo product, the visual nods are quite apparent.

      What elements of the Game Boy Advance are reflected in the design?

      The Keyboy Advance adopts the overall shape of the Game Boy Advance and reimagines it with a 50% HHKB layout. The keyboard maintains a compact footprint while still incorporating a number row. The profile of the sides features a color-separated section reminiscent of the GBA's side palm rest, while the underside has been designed to form a curved shape similar to the handheld.

      Proto[Typist]

      There are additional visual references scattered throughout the design. The keyboard includes a power indicator LED, an asymmetric light strip, a lower-right speaker-like module, and an engraved line that appears to evoke the old battery cover. It also features functional shoulder buttons that utilize micro-switches to replicate the feel of handheld console triggers. Both buttons can be customized via Vial, offering a practical use to the retro-themed design.

      It remains a custom enthusiast keyboard kit

      Even as a custom keyboard kit, the Keyboy Advance is fairly serious. The specifications mention a 7-degree typing angle, a 19mm front height, and a top-mount construction with O-rings. Buyers can choose from different building options according to their intended use. The kit comes in both solder and wired hotswap variants, as well as dual-mode and tri-mode hotswap options for those seeking more flexible wireless capabilities.

      Proto[Typist]

      Special attention is given to the spacebar as well. Smaller custom keyboards often face issues with noisy or uneven spacebars, so this kit incorporates foam and internal support elements to minimize unwanted noise and vibrations during typing. It also allows for multiple spacebar configurations, including a single 6U spacebar, dual 3U spacebars, and a split 2.25u plus 1u plus 2.75u arrangement.

      The Keyboy Advance group buy is priced at £210.83 and will be available until July 22, 2026, with shipping anticipated in Q4 2026. More details about the keyboard can be found at Prototypist.net.

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