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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 14, 2026

KBDFans Athena75 vs Novelkeys NK65

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

KBDFans Athena75

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

Rules this board out

  • No numpad.
$159 at KBDfans

Get the

Novelkeys NK65

Build quality in the top 35% of 65% boards under $200.

Rules this board out

  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
  • 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
$150 at zFrontier

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 Athena75

Novelkeys NK65

  • Layout size

    75%

    65%

  • Ergonomics

    Split Backspace

    Standard

  • Case material

    Aluminum

    Polycarbonate

  • Display

    LCD

    None

    A case display rather than a typing feature

  • Layout standard

    ANSI, ISO

    ANSI

    ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • KBDFans Athena75
  • Novelkeys NK65
Performance
70
61
Build quality
84
72
Productivity
75
73
Customizability
88
75
Portability
63
70

What they share

  • Connection: Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Mount style: Top Mount
  • VIA
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Full specs

KBDFans Athena75 vs Novelkeys NK65 specs

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

10 of 21 specs differ

KBDFans Athena75

Novelkeys NK65

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Top Mount
Top Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
65%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO
ANSI

Ergonomics

Split Backspace
Standard

Display

LCD
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
—

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Polycarbonate

Plate material

Aluminum, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate
Aluminum

Keycaps

—
ABS

Weight

2,300 g
—

Dimensions

39 x 314 x 139 mm
—

Typing angle

9°
8°

Backlight

RGB
RGB

Firmware & software

VIA

Yes
Yes

VIAL

Yes
No

Extras

Released

2026
2023

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.

KBDFans Athena753 stores
Novelkeys NK652 stores

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

KBDFans Athena75

Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.

Novelkeys NK65

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

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