Collectible keyboards usually split in one of two directions: the design gets all the attention, or the hardware does. MelGeek’s new EVANGELION Asuka keyboard tries to land in the narrow space where both sides matter.
⌨️ MelGeek x EVANGELION Centauri 60 Asuka Edition
Price: $359 USD
Where to Buy: MelGeek
The MelGeek x EVANGELION Centauri 60 Asuka Edition is an officially licensed EVANGELION keyboard built around Asuka Langley and EVA-02. It’s listed at $359 USD, uses a 60 percent layout, and MelGeek says the run is limited with no planned restock.
The Asuka Edition Is Built Around EVA-02, Not Generic Anime Red
The obvious hook is the color. MelGeek uses dominant red, structural black, and warning yellow across the board, pulling the palette from EVA-02 and Asuka’s plug suit. RGB lighting is there too, but the core look doesn’t depend on rainbow effects to explain itself.
The themed details are more specific than a keycap swap. MelGeek lists a laser-etched EVA-02 insignia on the CNC aluminum chassis flank, an Asuka identity plate set into the frame, a rose gold CNC aluminum knob, and a graphic motif inspired by EVA-02’s Progressive Knife.
Turn the board over and the collector angle gets louder. MelGeek says Asuka’s line, “I Can Save the Human Race All by Myself,” is engraved on metal beneath the keyboard. That’s a deep-cut choice for a keyboard, but it fits the character better than a safer logo-only collaboration would.
Under the Artwork, This Is a Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard
MelGeek is not positioning the Centauri 60 Asuka Edition as a display piece only. The keyboard uses Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2mm to 4mm, 0.01mm Rapid Trigger precision, and an 8000Hz polling rate.
Those numbers put the keyboard firmly in gaming keyboard territory. Hall Effect boards measure key movement magnetically instead of relying on traditional metal contact points, which allows adjustable actuation and rapid reset behavior. MelGeek says the settings are handled through its Hive web configurator and saved to onboard memory, so the board does not need software running in the background after setup.
The company also lists a 6-MCU distributed architecture, 30 percent higher magnetic flux density, and 80 percent signal noise reduction. Those are MelGeek’s engineering claims, so they should be treated as brand-stated performance positioning until tested.
The 60 Percent Layout Keeps the Desk Aggressive and Compact
The Centauri 60 Asuka Edition uses a 60 percent layout, which means it skips the function row and numpad to save space. That makes sense for a gaming-first board because it leaves more room for mouse movement, but it also means everyday shortcuts live behind function-layer combinations.
MelGeek says the board preserves a dedicated arrow cluster, which helps soften the usual 60 percent tradeoff. If you like compact keyboards but hate losing arrows, that detail matters more than the theme.
This is still not the layout for everyone. If you live in spreadsheets, use function keys all day, or want a full-size desktop setup, the Asuka Edition is more collectible weapon than office appliance. If your desk already leans gaming, anime, and clean minimal footprint, the 60 percent format fits the brief.
The Aluminum Build Is Doing Real Weight Work
MelGeek lists the chassis of the EVANGELION Asuka keyboard as a 1.32kg CNC aluminum unibody made from 6063-T6 aluminum. That’s heavy for a compact keyboard, and it should help the board feel planted instead of toy-like.
The company also lists a leaf-spring gasket mount, Poron foam, PET film, and five-layer acoustic dampening. MelGeek describes the sound as sharp and authoritative, though the final typing feel and sound should be treated as unverified until someone tests the board in person.
The important part is that the Asuka Edition does not read like a plastic shell with licensed graphics. The material stack suggests MelGeek wants this to feel like a premium keyboard first and a collaboration second. That’s the right order for a $359 collector board.
What Comes in the Box
MelGeek says the Centauri 60 Asuka Edition ships pre-installed with the collaboration keycap set. The box also includes exclusive packaging, an exclusive envelope, a USB cable, a switch puller, seven extra keycaps, and a nano-tech keyboard case.
The limited packaging matters here because this is not just a keyboard purchase. EVANGELION collectors often care about presentation, and MelGeek is clearly treating the unboxing as part of the product.
The keyboard is also listed with a 2-year manufacturer warranty. MelGeek says it works with Mac, Windows, and Linux, and that the Hive web driver runs in a modern browser without installation.
How It Compares to the Rei Edition
MelGeek’s own FAQ draws a clear line between the Asuka and Rei versions. The Asuka model is the Centauri 60, while the Rei edition is the Centauri 80.
That means the Rei edition adds a full function row, arrow keys, and an exclusive 325 PPI OLED touchscreen, according to MelGeek. It also uses a cool silver knob instead of the Asuka model’s rose gold knob, with a lower and deeper sound profile.
That split makes the Asuka Edition feel like the louder, tighter, more gaming-focused option. The Rei Edition sounds more feature-rich and restrained. The Asuka model is the one for someone who wants the board to make a statement before the first keypress.
The Bottom Line
The MelGeek x EVANGELION Centauri 60 Asuka Edition is a $359 Hall Effect gaming keyboard with a limited production run, official Khara authorization, and enough EVA-02 detailing to feel like a real collaboration instead of a colorway. The risk is obvious: you need to want both the 60 percent layout and the Asuka theme, because neither one is subtle.
⌨️ MelGeek x EVANGELION Centauri 60 Asuka Edition
Price: $359 USD
Where to Buy: MelGeek
For EVANGELION fans who already like compact magnetic gaming keyboards, this looks like the cleaner buy than piecing together a themed keycap set and hoping the base board feels worthy of it. For everyone else, the price makes it a collector object first and a practical keyboard second.
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(as of August 5, 2026 09:38 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
