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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 21, 2026

KBDFans Athena vs Jamesdonkey R4

Get the Jamesdonkey R4 for knob.

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.

KBDFans Athena

Jamesdonkey R4

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

  • Mount style

    Top Mount

    Gasket Mount

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

  • Display

    LCD

    None

  • Weight

    2,200 g

    1,900 g

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • KBDFans Athena
  • Jamesdonkey R4
Performance
70
55
Build quality
84
67
Productivity
75
63
Customizability
88
79
Portability
63
77

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Case material: Aluminum
See every spec side by side

From real owners

What owners say

Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.

KBDFans Athena

5.0

4 owner reviews

Praise
“Well-packaged board with plenty of accessories and customization options. Incredibly detailed and beautiful design.”
Kyle C.Verified buyer· via Divinikey

Jamesdonkey R4

No owner reviews collected yet.

Full specs

KBDFans Athena vs Jamesdonkey R4 specs

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

13 of 23 specs differ

KBDFans Athena

Jamesdonkey R4

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Top Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

75%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

LCD
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Battery

Wired only
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
No

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate
—

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

2,200 g
1,900 g

Dimensions

—
45 x 150 x 329 mm

Typing angle

9°
—

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

Yes
No

VIAL

Yes
No

Extras

Released

2026
2024

Where to buy

Compare prices

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

  • DivinikeyUS

    In stock
    $159Visit
  • AmazonGlobal

    Check price
    ~$159Visit
  • MechkeysCN

    In stock
    $166Visit
  • AmazonGlobal

    Check price
    ~$166Visit

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.

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