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Quick answer
The uni Jetstream Edge is a retractable oil-based ballpoint from Mitsubishi Pencil with a 0.28 mm ball, which the maker called the smallest of any oil-based ballpoint when it launched on December 20, 2019. It has a hexagonal body, metal grip and wire clip, takes SXR-203-28 refills, and lists at ¥1,100 (about US$7) in Japan.
On this page11 sections
The Jetstream Edge at JetPens' 14.2 cm, drawn at 1 mm = 5 px.
Product facts
Product
uni Jetstream Edge 0.28 mm ballpoint (SXN-1003-28), black body
Plastic hexagonal body, metal front grip with fine grooves, wire clip (Mitsubishi Pencil)
Released
December 2019
Price range
$$$5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
Black0.28 mm
Special editions
Ink
black
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Notes on these facts
Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: The Amazon US listing for the Jetstream Edge (B082ZXNTRL) states Country of Origin: Japan. Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page doesn't state the country of manufacture. Source. Price: example listing.
Colors: names per Mitsubishi Pencil Japan, checked October 24, 2026. Body colors as Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese Jetstream Edge page lists them (names romanized from its katakana); orange is marked limited quantity. All write in black ink. Tints were sampled from Mitsubishi Pencil's product photos; White Red and Black Red show their red accent as the second tint. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Mitsubishi Pencil launched the Jetstream Edge (SXN-1003-28) on December 20, 2019, calling its 0.28 mm ball the world's smallest for an oil-based ballpoint.
JetPens lists it at 14.2 cm (5.6 in) long, 10.8 mm at the widest and 14 g.
It lists at ¥1,100 (about US$7) including tax in Japan; the SXR-203-28 refill is ¥220 (about US$1.40).
A 0.38 mm version with a slimmer point tip followed on February 25, 2021.
It had 2,311 ratings on its Amazon US listing on October 22, 2026, and sells in our $$ band of $5 to $20.
What is the uni Jetstream Edge?
It is Mitsubishi Pencil’s ultra-fine Jetstream: a retractable oil-based ballpoint with a 0.28 mm ball. When it launched in Japan on December 20, 2019, the maker called it the first oil-based ballpoint with a ball that small, and the smallest in the world.
The name means sharp, or the limit, and Mitsubishi Pencil, an independent Tokyo company founded in 1887, describes the pen as its attempt to push oil-based ink to the edge. It is sold under the uni brand in Japan; in the US, uni’s own store listed it as the uniball JETSTREAM Edge in 0.28 and 0.38 mm on October 26, 2026, and importers such as JetPens and Amazon sellers carry it too.
uni Jetstream Edge specs
Spec
Jetstream Edge 0.28
Model
SXN-1003-28
Ball
0.28 mm, black ink
Ink
Jetstream low-viscosity oil-based ink
Length
14.2 cm (5.6 in) retracted (JetPens)
Diameter
10.8 mm max, 10.7 mm at the grip (JetPens)
Weight
14 g with ink (JetPens)
Refill
SXR-203-28: black, red or blue, ¥220 (about US$1.40)
Japanese list price
¥1,100 (about US$7) including tax
Launch
December 20, 2019 (Japan)
All values without a named source come from Mitsubishi Pencil’s Japanese product page and launch release. The black body’s JAN code is 4902778258774.
Why is a 0.28 mm oil-based ballpoint unusual?
Oil-based ink is thicker than gel or water-based ink, so very small balls are hard to make durable and smooth. Mitsubishi Pencil says small oil-based tips tend to wear and feel hard, problems it had to solve before it could sell a 0.28 mm Jetstream.
The payoff is a line that the maker says is finer than its own gel pens with the same ball size, with the Jetstream ink’s quick drying and dark color. That makes it a good fit for left-handers and for paper where gel ink smears.
The Edge's 0.28 mm ball beside the Jetstream sizes most people use.
How is the Jetstream Edge body designed?
Every part is built around fine writing: a metal front grip with fine grooves, a low center of gravity and a thin wire clip. Mitsubishi Pencil says it moved the weight toward the tip to keep small writing stable.
The hexagonal body narrows toward the rear, which the maker says shows that forward balance, and the wire clip echoes the thin line. The design won a 2020 Good Design Award, according to Mitsubishi Pencil.
What about the Jetstream Edge 0.38?
A 0.38 mm version followed on February 25, 2021, for people who want an easier, more consistent fine line. It uses a slim “point tip” refill, the SXR-203-38, which Mitsubishi Pencil says keeps the paper visible around the tip.
It came in four new body colors: black red, Prussian blue, berry pink and mint green, at the same ¥1,100 (about US$7). JetPens notes that the 0.28 mm writes less consistently than a 0.38 mm Jetstream, so the 0.38 is the safer first buy.
How does the Edge compare with other Jetstreams?
It is the finest and best-balanced single Jetstream, at about three times the price of a basic one.
Figures for the other pens come from their guides. For a fine gel line instead, compare the Pentel Slicci.
Who should buy the Jetstream Edge?
People who write very small and want ballpoint reliability: planner users, engineers annotating drawings and left-handers. The quick-drying ink and fine line suit dense notes on thin paper.
If you press hard or write fast, start with the 0.38 mm; the 0.28 mm rewards a light hand.
Where is the Jetstream Edge made?
In Japan, according to the Amazon US listing, which gives Japan as the country of origin. Mitsubishi Pencil, based in Tokyo, doesn’t state the country of manufacture on its product page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Jetstream Edge a gel pen?
No. It uses Jetstream low-viscosity oil-based ink, so it is a ballpoint. Mitsubishi Pencil says it draws a finer line than its own gel pens with the same ball size.
What refill does the Jetstream Edge take?
The SXR-203-28 for the 0.28 mm pen, in black, red or blue, and the SXR-203-38 for the 0.38 mm version. Mitsubishi Pencil lists both at ¥220 (about US$1.40).
Does the Jetstream Edge fit the Jetstream Edge 3 multi pen?
The Edge 3 is a separate three-color body. Check Mitsubishi Pencil's compatibility list for the SXR-203 refill before you mix bodies.
Is the 0.28 mm Jetstream scratchy?
Any 0.28 mm ball has more feedback than a 0.5 mm one. JetPens calls it the best fine-tip black ballpoint but says it is less consistent than the 0.38 mm Jetstream.
What colors does the Jetstream Edge come in?
The 0.28 mm launched in black, champagne gold, navy and white red, plus a limited orange. The 0.38 mm came in black red, Prussian blue, berry pink and mint green.
Did the Jetstream Edge win a design award?
Yes. Mitsubishi Pencil announced that the Jetstream Edge won a 2020 Good Design Award, together with the uni-ball one.
Is the Jetstream Edge made in Japan?
Yes, according to its Amazon US listing, which gives Japan as the country of origin. Mitsubishi Pencil doesn't state it on its product page.
