KBDFans Athena 75 vs Zuoya GMK81Wired or Wireless?
Choose the Athena 75 for an aluminum, wired build with more plate and PCB choices, or the GMK81 for wireless connectivity and lower weight.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Which one should you get?
Get the
KBDFans Athena 75
Build quality in the top 15% of 75% boards under $200.
- Aluminum case, with KBDfans specifying CNC-machined 6063 aluminum alloy.
- Choice of aluminum, FR4, polycarbonate, or carbon fiber plate.
- Hot-swap and solder PCB options, plus VIA and VIAL support.
Get the
Zuoya GMK81
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz connectivity, with a listed 3000mAh battery.
- Listed weight of 870g and dimensions of 50 x 365 x 185 mm.
- Polycarbonate plate with case, plate, and IXPE foams listed by the vendor.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the KBDFans Athena 75 if you want an aluminum case and more flexibility over plate material, mounting, and build style, and do not need wireless connectivity. Choose the Zuoya GMK81 if a lighter board and Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz use matter more. Check keycap compatibility with its south-facing LEDs if you plan to use sculpted or shine-through keycaps.
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
Zuoya GMK81
Connection
Wired
Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Ergonomics
Split Backspace
Standard
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Aluminum
Mount style
Top Mount
Gasket Mount
Display
LCD
Yes
A case display rather than a typing feature
- KBDFans Athena 75
- Zuoya GMK81
- Performance
- 7067
- Build quality
- 8487
- Productivity
- 7591
- Customizability
- 8887
- Portability
- 6380
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The GMK81 is the more practical pick for moving between locations or using the keyboard wirelessly, while the Athena 75 suits a stationary setup built around heavier aluminum construction. Office use favors the GMK81 for its connection options and stated Mac and Windows support. Modding favors the Athena 75 for its wider plate selection and alternative mounting and build configurations. Gaming and programming are close calls based on the listed features, rather than a clear performance difference.
It's a tie
- Both are 75% ANSI keyboards with hot-swappable PCBs and RGB.
- The Athena 75 is wired only, while the GMK81 supports wired and wireless connections, but no latency or polling details are listed to establish a performance edge.
KBDFans Athena 75 vs Zuoya GMK81 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 21 specs differ
KBDFans Athena 75
Zuoya GMK81
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Connection
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
VIA
VIAL
Mac & Windows
Released
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.
- Check on Amazon
Amazon
Check price
KBDFans Athena 75 vs Zuoya GMK81: your questions
No. Its listed connectivity is wired only, with a USB-C interface specified by KBDfans. For Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz use, consider the Zuoya GMK81 instead.
Yes. The GMK81 listing specifies Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity, as well as a 3000mAh battery. It is the wireless option between these two keyboards.
The GMK81 is listed at 870g, while the Athena 75 is listed at 2300g. That makes the GMK81 the lighter choice according to their listed weights.
Yes, both list hot-swappable PCBs. KBDfans also lists solder PCB options for the Athena 75, while the GMK81 vendor description specifies a hot-swap PCB.
The Athena 75 lists aluminum, FR4, polycarbonate, and carbon fiber plate options. The GMK81 lists a polycarbonate plate.
Yes, VIA support is listed for both the Athena 75 and GMK81. KBDfans also lists VIAL and AVA support for the Athena 75.
The GMK81 vendor listing specifies Windows and Mac support. The Athena 75 listing does not provide the same operating-system compatibility detail.
The GMK81's south-facing LEDs can leave shine-through legends dark, and some sculpted keycaps may clip the LED. Consider those limits when selecting keycaps for its per-key RGB.
Yes, the Athena 75 lists an LCD screen, and KBDfans describes it as a POGO-pins LCD screen. The vendor also lists a front-right button.
Yes, the GMK81 vendor description identifies its screen as configurable. The listing does not specify the screen's dimensions or software behavior.
The Athena 75 gives builders a choice of aluminum, FR4, polycarbonate, or carbon fiber plates, and its vendor describes top-mount and PCB silicone gasket configurations. The GMK81 lists a polycarbonate plate and gasket mounting.
KBDfans lists a PCB, plate, foam kit, LCD screen, carrying case, keyboard cover, and USB cable among the included items. The vendor also lists a screwdriver and stabilizers, with the stabilizer type depending on the selected version.
Not sold on either?
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.