Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

HMX GB40 vs KEEBD Contra

Get the HMX GB40 for hot-swappable and sound dampening. Get the KEEBD Contra for screw-in stabilizers.

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Hot-swappable

from$130at MK

Screw-in stabilizers

from$25at KEEBD

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

HMX GB40

Hot-swappable

Build quality in the top 50% of 40% boards under $150.

Rules this board out

South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

$130 at MK

Get the

KEEBD Contra

Screw-in stabilizers

Build quality in the bottom 5% of 40% boards under $150.

Rules this board out

Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.

$25 at KEEBD

What actually differs

The differences that matter

Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.

HMX GB40

KEEBD Contra

Hot-swappable
Yes
No
Switch changes without soldering
Case material
Aluminum
Acrylic, Plastic
Sound dampening
Yes
No
Screw-in stabilizers
No
Yes
Easier to tune than the plate-mount stabs you get prebuilt
Backlight
RGB, south-facing
None
RGB for looks and low light rather than speed

KeebFinder scores

How we score

HMX GB40
KEEBD Contra

Performance: 58
55
Build quality: 69
41
Productivity: 57
48
Customizability: 57
53
Portability: 85
60

What they share

Layout size: 40%

See every spec side by side

Full specs

HMX GB40 vs KEEBD Contra specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

7 of 17 specs differ

Spec

HMX GB40

KEEBD Contra

Typing & switches

Switch options

—

Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount

—

Sound dampening

Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes

Layout

Layout size

40%

Layout standard

ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard

Display

None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, Wired

—

USB-C

Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum

Acrylic, Plastic

Plate material

—

FR4

Keycaps

ABS, PBT

—

Typing angle

6°

—

Backlight

RGB, south-facing

None

Extras

Released

2025

2021

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

HMX GB402 stores