KBDFans Cat vs RF 8X60% or 80% DIY Layout?
Choose the Cat for a compact 60% kit, or the RF 8X for an 80% layout with a screen and documented custom-build options.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
KBDFans Cat
- Compact 60% layout.
- ANSI layout standard.
- DIY kit/barebones format for a custom build.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- Compact layout only. No function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
Get the
KBDFans RF 8X
USB-C
Build quality in the top 45% of 80% boards at any price.
- 80% layout with a screen and LED.
- 1000 Hz polling rate listed in the product specifications.
- Top-mount construction with aluminum and polycarbonate case materials and a steel plate.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- No numpad.
Pick the KBDFans Cat if your main requirement is a compact 60% ANSI DIY kit. Choose the RF 8X if you prefer an 80% layout and want its screen, USB-C connection, or documented PCB and plate options. Check the RF 8X’s compatibility details carefully when selecting internals, since its vendor listing specifies particular PCB and Realforce R1 compatibility.
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 Cat
KBDFans RF 8X
Layout size
60%
80%
Display
None
LED
A case display rather than a typing feature
USB-C
No
Yes
- KBDFans Cat
- KBDFans RF 8X
- Performance
- 4345
- Build quality
- 5461
- Productivity
- 4146
- Customizability
- 4954
- Portability
- 6353
What will you mostly use it for?
The RF 8X has the edge for buyers who value its listed polling rate, screen, or documented custom-build options. Its 80% layout also makes it the more practical pick for those who want a larger format than the Cat’s 60% design. The Cat’s main advantage is its compact layout, which favors buyers prioritizing a smaller keyboard. Both kits require soldering to swap switches.
Pick the KBDFans RF 8X
- The RF 8X lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, while no polling rate is listed for the Cat.
- The Cat uses a compact 60% layout, while the RF 8X is an 80% layout.
KBDFans Cat vs RF 8X specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
3 of 12 specs differ
KBDFans Cat
KBDFans RF 8X
Mount style
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Typing angle
Backlight
Released
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KBDFans Cat vs RF 8X: your questions
The Cat is a 60% ANSI kit, while the RF 8X is an 80% kit. The RF 8X also lists a screen with LED and a 1000 Hz polling rate.
The KBDFans Cat has a 60% layout, compared with the RF 8X’s 80% layout. That makes the Cat the more compact layout choice in this comparison.
Both products list soldered switches. Swapping switches on either kit requires soldering.
No. Its compatibility notes describe the 60% layout as having no function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
No. The RF 8X compatibility notes specify that it has no numpad.
Yes. Its specifications list a screen with LED, while the Cat is listed without a screen.
The RF 8X specifications list aluminum and polycarbonate for the case and steel for the plate. Its vendor description also identifies an aluminum top.
The vendor lists top and bottom housing, a USB-C unified daughterboard PCB, custom JST cables, screws, rubber feet, and a protective carrying case. Keycaps, stabilizers, and switches are explicitly excluded.
The vendor describes optional stainless steel plates and a Via-supported custom PCB. It also lists compatibility with Realforce R1 86/87/88/89u internals and Cipulot’s RF_R1_8-9Xu PCB.
Yes. The Cat is listed as a DIY kit/barebones product, and its vendor page describes it as a 60% keyboard kit.
The RF 8X lists a 1000 Hz polling rate. No polling rate is listed for the Cat, so the two cannot be compared on that specification.
Yes. The RF 8X vendor listing includes a protective carrying case. No carrying case is listed for the Cat.
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