Head to head · Prices checked Oct 28, 2026

8BitDo Retro87 vs Pulsar Xboard QS

Get the Pulsar Xboard QS for qmk and via.

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from$109at Mechkeys

QMK

from$290at MK

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

8BitDo Retro87

Build quality in the bottom 40% of 80% boards under $150.

$109 at Mechkeys

Get the

Pulsar Xboard QS

QMK

Build quality in the top 25% of 80% boards under $300.

Rules this board out

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

$290 at MK

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.

8BitDo Retro87

Pulsar Xboard QS

Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
Aluminum, Plastic
Aluminum
Mount style
Top Mount
Plate Mount
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
VIA
No
Yes
GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score

8BitDo Retro87
Pulsar Xboard QS

Performance: 63
74
Build quality: 53
72
Productivity: 73
87
Customizability: 68
88
Portability: 77
60

What they share

Layout size: 80%
Hot-swappable
Knob

See every spec side by side

Full specs

8BitDo Retro87 vs Pulsar Xboard QS specs

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

10 of 24 specs differ

Spec

8BitDo Retro87

Pulsar Xboard QS

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky

—

Hot-swappable

Yes

Mount style

Top Mount

Plate Mount

Layout

Layout size

80%

Layout standard

ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard

Knob

Yes

Display

None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz

—

Battery

4,000 mAh

Wired only

USB passthrough

Yes

USB-C

Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum, Plastic

Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum

Plastic

Keycaps

ABS

PBT

Weight

1,100 g

—

Dimensions

46 x 169 x 376 mm

—

Backlight

RGB

RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes

VIA

Yes

N-key rollover

Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes

Extras

Released

2024

Where to buy

Compare prices

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

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

8BitDo Retro873 stores