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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 11, 2026

KBDFans Athena vs Royal Kludge X104

Get the KBDFans Athena for via. Get the Royal Kludge X104 for knob.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

KBDFans Athena

VIA

Build quality in the top 15% of 75% boards under $200.

Rules this board out

  • No numpad.

Get the

Royal Kludge X104

Knob

Build quality in the bottom 40% of 100% boards under $100.

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

Royal Kludge X104

  • Layout size

    75%

    100%

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

  • Display

    LCD

    None

    A case display rather than a typing feature

  • Weight

    2,200 g

    1,350 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • VIA

    Yes

    No

    GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • KBDFans Athena
  • Royal Kludge X104
Performance
70
79
Build quality
84
52
Productivity
75
84
Customizability
88
67
Portability
63
45

What they share

  • Connection: Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Full specs

KBDFans Athena vs Royal Kludge X104 specs

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

8 of 23 specs differ

KBDFans Athena

Royal Kludge X104

Typing & switches

Switch options

—
Linear

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Top Mount
—

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
100%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

LCD
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
—

Plate material

Aluminum, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate
—

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

2,200 g
1,350 g

Dimensions

—
43 x 422 x 137 mm

Typing angle

9°
—

Backlight

RGB
RGB

Firmware & software

VIA

Yes
No

VIAL

Yes
No

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2026

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.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

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