Plus Orboru Review: A Light, Comfortable Mechanical Pencil for Everyday Writing

Introduction

Plus has followed up its well-regarded Aim Vision series with a new mechanical pencil: the Orboru, released on March 19, 2026 at 1,320 yen tax included. It is positioned as a general writing pencil rather than a drafting tool, and early impressions suggest a slim, very light pencil built for long study sessions. Since some units were sold ahead of the general release, a number of buyers have already had time with it. This review covers the packaging, design, build details, and real writing experience.

First Impressions and Design

The packaging is unusually charming: a paper sleeve with a window that lets you see the pencil from the front, and the whole sleeve is shaped like a pen case. There is no manual or warranty card inside, which keeps the unboxing simple.

The Orboru comes in three colors: Forest Green, Sand Grey, and Night Black. The barrel carries a printed feature description, Comfortable Grip with Mechanism, with an accent color highlighting the Mechanism wording as a design point. The manufacturer name and product name are embossed on the side, and small details like this give the pencil a considered, finished look without hurting practicality.

Grip, Weight and Balance

The rubber grip is wider than the slim barrel, which makes a real difference for comfort. On a barrel this thin, the extra diameter keeps the pencil from feeling cramped in the hand, and the surface holds securely without slipping.

The pencil is light with a low center of gravity, which suits extended writing sessions well. The metal chuck sits inside a resin body, and the lead pipe is a retractable guide type with a short length of about 2.9mm, keeping the tip compact so your hand stays close to the page and the written characters remain visible.

The Mechanism Question

The Orboru is described by the manufacturer as having a knock-free automatic lead advance mechanism. In practice, this appears to be a pipe-slide style structure: the manufacturer’s supplementary note explains that the pipe slides in response to writing pressure so you can keep writing while the lead is protected. Because the wording caused confusion, the company has acknowledged the potentially misleading expression and stated it is considering a revision, so the labeling may change in the future.

The short version: treat this as a well-made pipe-slide pencil rather than expecting a self-advancing lead system. If the mechanism wording was the main reason you were interested, check for updated product information before buying.

Clip, Knock and Eraser

The clip looks ordinary at first but hides a nice touch: viewed from the side it has a hexagon-inspired shape, so when you set the pencil down it stops at various angles, which is genuinely handy for photos or just keeping it from rolling.

It is also very short, designed to stay out of the way of your hand while writing. Stiffness is about average, and because of the length it barely interferes at all. The knock feels deep and on the firm side, giving a solid switch-like click, and the barrel has an opening to prevent air pressure from pushing lead out when clipped to a pocket. An eraser is included under the cap, but there is no cleaner pin.

Writing Performance

In use, the Orboru is light and pleasant to write with, gliding smoothly across the page. That combination of low weight, low balance point, and a comfortable grip makes it a strong fit for students or anyone who writes for long stretches.

Just keep expectations calibrated: this is a general writing pencil, not a drafting instrument, so it does not offer the precision of a dedicated drafting pencil.

Buying Advice

At 1,320 yen tax included, the price sits within a reasonable range for what you get. The design is stylish yet practical, the balance is excellent, and the grip reduces fatigue over long sessions. If you want a light, comfortable everyday pencil for study or note taking, the Orboru is easy to recommend. If you were drawn in specifically by the automatic lead advance wording, wait to see how the manufacturer revises that description before deciding.

Conclusion

The Plus Orboru is an affordable, well-balanced mechanical pencil that gets the fundamentals right: light weight, a comfortable and stable grip, and design details that respect practicality. Setting aside the mechanism wording controversy, it is a pencil worth buying, particularly for students and heavy note takers who want something slim, light, and fatigue-free.