Akko states it was established by a group of enthusiasts on August 15, 2016, with the objective of diversifying the mechanical keyboard industry and repositioning keyboards as lifestyle-oriented gaming peripherals.2

2016: Foundation

Akko was established in China in 2016, initially focusing on the mechanical keyboard and gaming peripheral market. The company sought to combine conventional peripheral functionality with distinctive visual design. Rather than competing exclusively on gaming specifications, Akko’s early philosophy emphasized colours, themes, cultural references, and lifestyle design, describing this approach as making peripherals “more than just a tool.”3 Early product releases included themed mechanical keyboards, with company records noting a camouflage-themed model in 2016.

2017: Ducky partnership and esports

In 2017, Akko partnered with Ducky, a prominent Taiwanese mechanical keyboard manufacturer, to launch products including the Akko 3108 series. During this period, Akko also engaged in esports branding through a partnership with the Dota 2 team Newbee.4 This collaboration marked a significant step in establishing Akko beyond the niche keyboard enthusiast community.

2018: Anime and pop culture integration

Akko increasingly incorporated popular culture into its product line-up. In 2018, it released its first major anime-themed products based on Tokyo Ghoul.5 This strategy became central to the brand’s identity, leading to subsequent keyboards and keycap sets inspired by anime, video games, characters, and other cultural properties.

2019: Expanded collaborations

The company continued to expand its collaboration strategy in 2019, recording partnerships or products involving Bilibili, Waigua, and One Piece. The business partnership between Akko and Ducky concluded in May 2019.6 That same year, Akko introduced its World Tour series, beginning with Tokyo-themed products.

2020s: Custom keyboards and DIY ecosystem

Akko’s product strategy shifted increasingly towards the enthusiast mechanical keyboard market. Moving beyond complete keyboards, the company developed a broader ecosystem comprising:

• Complete mechanical keyboards
• Barebones and custom keyboard kits
• Mechanical switches
• Keycaps
• Cables and accessories
• Software and firmware
• Wireless keyboards
• Magnetic and Hall-effect keyboards

Akko currently describes its selection as including a wide range of layouts, from full-size models to compact 60% designs.7

Mechanical keyboards

Mechanical keyboards remain the core of Akko’s business. The company produces keyboards in numerous layouts, including:

• 100% / full-size
• 96% / 1800-style
• TKL / 80%
• 75%
• 65%
• 60%

The current catalogue includes families such as MOD, 5075, 5087, 5108, 3068, 3098, TAC, and ACR.8 The range spans both conventional mechanical keyboards and enthusiast-oriented custom boards.

MOD series

The MOD series represents Akko’s more enthusiast-oriented offerings, placing greater emphasis on construction, customization, mounting systems, and specialized features. Recent examples include the MOD007 V5 HE, described as an aluminium gaming keyboard featuring a high scan rate, LCD screen, tool-less ball-catch system, and PVD weight.9

Mechanical switches

Switches constitute another major component of Akko’s identity. The company sells its own switch line-up in categories including linear, tactile, clicky, and magnetic variants.10 Akko has independently developed switches as well as models created in cooperation with manufacturers such as TTC and Gateron.11 This component-level development distinguishes Akko from brands that function solely as keyboard assemblers.

A recent technological direction for Akko involves magnetic-switch keyboards. Unlike conventional mechanical switches that rely on physical contact and a fixed actuation point, Hall-effect keyboards use magnetic sensing to detect key movement. Akko promotes this technology for features such as adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, gaming-oriented input response, and fine-grained key adjustment. The company states its magnetic switches provide adjustable typing experiences down to 0.01 mm using Hall-effect sensing.12

Rapid Trigger

Akko supports Rapid Trigger on compatible keyboards. While conventional mechanical keyboards typically have defined actuation and reset behaviours, Rapid Trigger dynamically responds to key movement, allowing activation or deactivation with minimal additional travel. This feature is particularly relevant for competitive gaming where rapid directional changes are critical.

Akko promotes Snap Keys as a gaming-oriented feature implementing SOCD (Simultaneous Opposite Cardinal Directions). When opposing directional inputs are detected, the system prioritises the most recent input.13 This functionality is primarily aimed at competitive FPS gaming where extremely fast movement inputs can be decisive.

Akko is well known among keyboard enthusiasts for its keycap sets. The current catalogue contains a variety of profiles, materials, manufacturing techniques, and themes. Available profiles include Cherry, OEM, ASA, SA, ASA Low, OSA, JDA, MDA, MAO, MOA, and MOG.14 Materials used include PBT, ABS, polycarbonate, and titanium alloy, while manufacturing methods encompass dye-sublimation, double-shot moulding, UV printing, and titanium anodising.15 This variety supports users who modify or build their own keyboards.

A distinguishing characteristic of Akko is its emphasis on design and themed products. While many gaming peripheral companies focus on black RGB hardware and aggressive aesthetics, Akko has built a reputation around colourful, retro, minimalist, cute, anime-inspired, and culturally themed designs. The company explicitly describes its philosophy as incorporating pop-cultural imagery, colour trends, interests, attitudes, and cultural elements into peripherals.16

This approach has led to products associated with properties and themes such as One Piece, Tokyo Ghoul, Doraemon, Cinnamoroll, Taiko no Tatsujin, EVA-01 / Evangelion, the World Tour series, and various original animal, food, nature, and retro themes. The current keycap catalogue continues to include both original designs and licensed collaborations.17

Although keyboards remain central to its identity, Akko has expanded into other peripheral categories.

Mice

Akko produces both gaming and office-oriented mice. Recent products include the Dash, described as an approximately 40-gram ultra-light gaming mouse, and the Nest, a 49-gram lightweight mouse featuring a PAW3950 sensor and 8K Hz polling rate.18

Headsets

The company has entered the gaming headset market with models such as the GH300, described as a quad-mode gaming headset with virtual 7.1 surround sound and low-latency wireless functionality.19

Accessories

Akko’s catalogue also includes mousepads, wrist rests, cables, switch testers, DIY keyboard components, and other desk accessories.20

Modern Akko keyboards can be configured through different software systems depending on the model. The company provides Windows software, Mac software, web-based drivers, firmware, configuration files, and QMK/VIA files for compatible keyboards.21 VIA/QMK compatibility offers significantly greater customization than standard plug-and-play gaming keyboards. However, not every Akko keyboard supports QMK/VIA; compatibility varies by model, requiring users to consult specific product documentation.

Akko operates an integrated supply chain and a 6,000-square-metre factory in Dongguan, China. The company states this structure helps maintain control over quality and production from design through delivery.22 This vertical integration supports coordination across industrial design, keyboard manufacturing, PCB and electronics, switches, keycaps, firmware and software, packaging, and distribution.

Akko occupies a distinct position within the mechanical keyboard industry, situated between mass-market gaming peripherals and the enthusiast custom-keyboard community.

Akko’s strategy involves bringing characteristics of enthusiast keyboards—such as hot-swappable switches, gasket-style mounting, multiple layouts, custom keycaps, selective VIA/QMK support, and specialized switches—to a broader consumer market.

Several factors have contributed to Akko’s popularity among keyboard enthusiasts:

1. Strong visual identity: Themed products have helped establish a recognizable brand identity distinct from conventional gaming keyboards.
2. Layout variety: Offerings range from 60% compact boards to full-size keyboards, accommodating different desk spaces and workflows.23
3. Switch ecosystem: A wide range of mechanical and magnetic switches is available without proprietary lock-in.
4. Customization: Many models support hot-swappable switches, programmable keys, RGB customization, and QMK/VIA on compatible units.
5. Enthusiast-oriented construction: Higher-end models incorporate features such as aluminium cases, gasket mounting, specialized plates, and customizable firmware.
6. Pop-culture collaborations: Licensed collaborations appeal to buyers seeking keyboards reflecting specific anime, games, characters, or aesthetics.

Prominent Akko product families include:

• 3068: Compact 65% keyboards, historically among the brand’s most recognizable lines.
• 3098: Compact full-size/96% style keyboards retaining a numpad with a reduced footprint.
• 5075: 75% keyboards balancing compactness with dedicated function and navigation keys.
• 5087: TKL keyboards.
• 5108: Full-size keyboards.
• MOD series: Enthusiast-oriented custom keyboard platforms.
• ACR series: Acrylic-focused custom keyboard designs.
• TAC series: Gaming-focused keyboards, including magnetic/Hall-effect models.

These families have appeared in multiple generations, so specifications may differ considerably between versions. Support pages list models with conventional mechanical, QMK/VIA, and magnetic/Hall-effect implementations.24

Akko’s development can be broadly summarized as follows:

• 2016: Mechanical keyboard startup focused on lifestyle-oriented peripherals.
• 2017–2019: Expansion through Ducky, esports, anime, gaming, and pop-culture collaborations.
• 2020–2022: Increased emphasis on custom mechanical keyboards, switches, keycaps, wireless keyboards, and enthusiast features.
• 2023–2025: Expansion into sophisticated custom keyboards, DIY products, and gaming technologies.
• 2026: Broader peripheral ecosystem including magnetic/Hall-effect keyboards, Rapid Trigger, gaming mice, headsets, and ultra-slim keyboards. Official history lists products such as Air 01, MOD007 V5 HE, Dash, Nest, and GH300 among recent developments.25

As of 2026, Akko has developed into a broader gaming and computer peripheral brand, although mechanical keyboards remain central to its identity. Its current portfolio comprises five major pillars:

• Keyboards: Mechanical, wireless, custom, low-profile, and Hall-effect keyboards
• DIY: Keyboard kits and components
• Switches: Mechanical and magnetic switches
• Keycaps: Wide range of profiles, materials, and themes
• Gaming peripherals: Mice, headsets, and related accessories

Akko states that its products are sold in more than 60 countries, supported by its manufacturing and supply-chain infrastructure.26

Akko is a Chinese keyboard and gaming peripheral company that combines enthusiast mechanical keyboard technology with lifestyle and pop-culture design. Its appeal derives from customization, aesthetics, accessible pricing, product variety, and gaming technology. While brands such as Logitech, Razer, and Corsair represent the mainstream gaming peripheral market, Akko operates closer to the intersection of gaming peripherals, custom mechanical keyboards, and collectible lifestyle design. This positioning treats the keyboard not merely as computer hardware but also as an element of desk setup, design, and personal expression.27

1. Our Story | Akko Official Global Site
2. About Akko
3. About us
4. Download | Akko Official Global Site
5. Keycaps for Mechanical Keyboards | Akko Official Global Site
6. Akko | Designer for Mechanical Keyboards
7. Keycaps for Mechanical Keyboards | Akko Official Global Site
8. From Idea to Shelf: How a Gaming Mouse Gets Designed and Built (Akko Framer as a Case Study)
9. Guide to Buying Official Anime Keyboards and Mice from Akko
10. The Akko x Luo Xiaohei Collaboration is Here | Akko Official Global Site
11. Why We Created the Air 01 — A Mac-First Philosophy
12. Differences between 5075S kit and 5075S VIA. | Akko Official Global Site
13. World Tour Tokyo R2 3068B Plus | Akko Official Global Site
14. Difference between Mechanical Switches and Membrane Switches | Akko Official Global Site
15. Keycaps for Mechanical Keyboards | Akko Official Global Site
16. Category: Keycap | Akko Official Global Site
17. Product Filter: 键帽Keycaps | Akko Official Global Site
18. FAQ | Akko Official Global Site
19. Akko Magnetic Switches Knowledge-Base | Akko Official Global Site
20. Partner | Akko Official Global Site
21. Akko | Designer for Mechanical Keyboards
22. Category: Keyboard Differences | Akko Official Global Site
23. Partner with Akko | Akko Official Global Site
24. Akko艾酷官方网站 | 彩糖猫猫键盘
25. 브랜드 스토리 – Akko Korea
26. 다운로드 – Akko Korea
27. Our history