Keebmon Ryzen AI 9 HX 370: Backlash continues as backer comments raise red flags
Keebmon’s Kickstarter campaign for its folding “keyboard PC” closed in January after raising over HK$5 million from hundreds of backers. The device is marketed as a compact workstation built around AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, combining a mechanical keyboard base with a 13-inch ultrawide touchscreen.
The early-bird price shown in campaign materials is US$679 for the Keebmon HX 370 AI configuration. A comparison graphic circulated during the campaign contrasts it with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X at US$999, positioning Keebmon as the higher-spec option at a lower price point.
However, in backer-only comments shared from the campaign, discussion has increasingly centered on proof-of-hardware and post-campaign logistics rather than raw specifications.
One backer wrote:
“There is no specific evidence that it's a standalone PC.”
The same commenter added:
“You have literally provided nothing of substance for the campaign…”
and later claimed:
“No verifiable evidence has been provided that the demo unit is real or the eGPU add-ons are in production…”
Another backer stated:
“We have requested videos for weeks now where you show us not just a staged video of working but a full hands-on video… You haven't provided such a thing.”
The core request repeated in multiple comments is for clearer demonstrations showing the device operating independently, without ambiguity around connections or external hardware.
$679 pricing under the microscope
At US$679, Keebmon is positioned aggressively for a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 system with:
- 13-inch touchscreen display - brand, resolution, etc unknown
- DDR5 RAM up to 64 GB
- Up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage
- OCuLink support
- Two USB-C (40 Gbps) ports
- Two USB-A (10 Gbps) ports
- HDMI output
- UHS-II SD card support
- Wi-Fi 7
By comparison, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X shown in the same comparison material lists:
- AMD Z1 Extreme processor
- 7-inch display
- 24 GB RAM
- 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
- No OCuLink
- One USB-C port
- No HDMI
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Price: US$999
While the pricing comparison has been used as a selling point, some backers argue that the aggressive positioning increases the need for clear hardware verification.
eGPU add-ons raise feasibility questions
Separate from the base $679 configuration, optional eGPU add-ons have become another flashpoint in the comments.
One backer mentioned that:
"My biggest red flag - single fan RTX5060ti and 5070 gpu's in the egpus…vThis does seem very cheap, including shipping, customs, tax, etc."
The same commenter also claimed:
“And for the egpu - 2 videos and multiple marketing images of a device that was from a failed Kickstarter with no evidence whatsoever of it being in production.”
Other backers disagreed with that assessment in the same discussion, but pricing realism and production readiness for the add-ons remain part of the debate.
Refund and pledge-manager friction
Tension also arises around refund expectations once payments are moved into PledgeBox, the third-party pledge manager used after the Kickstarter campaign.
One backer alleged:
“Pledgebox refunds were set at 70% AFTER they took pledges for the add-on items - this is unethical behavior. I do still find the 70% refund clause being added several days after pledgebox pledges had already been made, both unethical and likely illegal in some jurisdictions...”
Beyond refund policy concerns, several backers reported operational issues:
“I tried to add screen protectors on Pledgebox, but there's no option to add them.”
“I completed my Pledgebox, then got another email asking to complete my Pledgebox. Why did I get two?”
“I pledged in late… and logged in to Pledgebox to complete the survey, but it says ‘not invited’…”
Kickstarter states in its support documentation that creators—not Kickstarter—are responsible for fulfilling rewards and handling refunds.
Configuration confusion adds to uncertainty
Even outside the more adversarial posts, some comments reflect confusion around configuration details.
“I think I've made a mistake,” wrote one backer regarding RAM selection. Another stated: “I'm confused,” before asking: “Now I see that it's NOT user installable then what exactly did I order…” and concluding: “There seems to be a fair amount of confusion regarding ordering memory…”
These issues relate to whether RAM is included by default, how add-ons stack, and what must be selected in the pledge manager.
What happens next
At US$679, Keebmon is positioned as a compact Ryzen AI workstation priced significantly below many handheld gaming PCs. The campaign’s technical promise remains intact on paper. The central issue emerging from backer comments is not performance... it is clarity.
Requests for stronger standalone proof, clearer eGPU sourcing, and more transparent refund and pledge-manager communication now define the conversation around the project. Whether those concerns are resolved will likely determine how the campaign’s next phase is received by backers.
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