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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 30, 2026

KBDFans Athena 75 vs Pulsar Xboard QS

Get the Pulsar Xboard QS for knob.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

KBDFans Athena 75

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

Rules this board out

  • No numpad.

Get the

Pulsar Xboard QS

Knob

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.
  • No numpad.

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 75

Pulsar Xboard QS

  • Layout size

    75%

    80%

  • Ergonomics

    Split Backspace

    Standard

  • Mount style

    Top Mount

    Plate Mount

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

  • Display

    LCD

    None

    A case display rather than a typing feature

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • KBDFans Athena 75
  • Pulsar Xboard QS
Performance
70
74
Build quality
84
71
Productivity
75
86
Customizability
88
88
Portability
63
60

What they share

  • Connection: Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Case material: Aluminum
  • VIA
See every spec side by side

Full specs

KBDFans Athena 75 vs Pulsar Xboard QS specs

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

13 of 22 specs differ

KBDFans Athena 75

Pulsar Xboard QS

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Top Mount
Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

75%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Split Backspace
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

LCD
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

USB passthrough

No
Yes

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate
Plastic

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

2,300 g
—

Typing angle

9°
—

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

VIAL

Yes
No

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2024

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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