Dareu A98 Pro vs Qwertykeys QK101Compact or ISO Full-Size
Choose the Dareu A98 Pro for its compact 98% layout and included linear switches, or the Qwertykeys QK101 for its full-size ANSI/ISO layout, VIA support, and gasket or top-mount build.
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5.0 (2)5.0 · 2 reviews
from$169at Mechkeys
5.0 (2)5.0 · 2 reviews
from$188at Divinikey
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Dareu A98 Pro
Build quality in the top 30% of 98% boards under $200.
- Compact 98% layout with a numpad and smaller listed dimensions than a standard full-size board.
- Pre-built with linear switches and PBT keycaps.
- TFT display with five pre-loaded animations, as described by the vendor.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Get the
Qwertykeys QK101
Battery
Build quality in the top 5% of 100% boards under $200.
- Supports ANSI and ISO physical layouts, including ISO variants.
- Dual-mount construction can be assembled in gasket or top-mount configurations.
- VIA web configurator, four plate options, and two PCB options provide additional customization choices.
Get the Dareu A98 Pro if you want a ready-to-use keyboard with included linear switches and keycaps, plus a compact 98% layout. Choose the Qwertykeys QK101 if ISO support, VIA programming, and a full-size layout with gasket or top-mount assembly matter more, and you are prepared to supply switches and keycaps for its barebones kit.
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.
Dareu A98 Pro
Qwertykeys QK101
Layout size
98%
100%
Battery
4,000 mAh
8,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Aluminum, Plastic
Aluminum, Copper
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Top Mount
Display
TFT
TFT, OLED
A case display rather than a typing feature
- Dareu A98 Pro
- Qwertykeys QK101
- Performance
- 4978
- Build quality
- 6991
- Productivity
- 8782
- Customizability
- 7485
- Portability
- 5663
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The QK101 is the more flexible choice for gaming features, office layouts, programming, modding, and screen customization, based on its listed polling rate, ISO support, VIA configurator, and configurable hardware. The A98 Pro has the travel advantage in the listed weight and width, while still retaining a numpad. It is also the more straightforward option for buyers who want a pre-built board with switches and keycaps included. The QK101’s DIY format is better suited to buyers who want to select those components themselves.
Pick the Qwertykeys QK101
- The QK101 lists a 4000 Hz polling rate.
- Its full-size build offers gasket or top-mount assembly options.
- The A98 Pro comes pre-built with linear switches, while the QK101 kit requires separate switches and keycaps.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Dareu A98 Pro
2 owner reviews
“EDIT: UPDATED TO 5 STARS BECAUSE I WAS MAKING A MISTAKE. For some reason, I cannot read properly and did not realize the switch on the far left of the KB is how you manually switch which input you're using to connect the KB. I switched it from wired to dongle…”
Qwertykeys QK101
2 owner reviews
Dareu A98 Pro vs Qwertykeys QK101 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 23 specs differ
Dareu A98 Pro
Qwertykeys QK101
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
VIA
Mac & Windows
Released
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Dareu A98 Pro
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Qwertykeys QK101
Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.
Dareu A98 Pro vs Qwertykeys QK101: your questions
The QK101 lists a 4000 Hz polling rate, which gives it a gaming-specific spec advantage. The A98 Pro instead arrives pre-built with linear switches, so it is ready to use without sourcing switches separately.
Yes. The QK101 supports both ANSI and ISO physical layouts, according to its product details.
The A98 Pro is listed as pre-built, with linear switches and PBT keycaps. The vendor describes its keycaps as double-shot and dye-sublimation PBT.
No. The QK101 is described as a barebones DIY kit without switches or keycaps, and assembly is required.
Yes. Qwertykeys describes the QK101 as programmable through its custom VIA web configurator.
The A98 Pro has a compact 98% layout with a numpad and without the gaps of a full-size board. The QK101 is a 100% full-size keyboard and supports ANSI and ISO physical layouts.
The Dareu A98 Pro is listed at 1200 g, while the QK101 is listed at 2000 g. The A98 Pro is also narrower, at 388 mm compared with the QK101’s 440 mm.
Both list Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, as well as wired USB-C connection. The A98 Pro vendor description also names Bluetooth 5.1, while the QK101 description does not specify a Bluetooth version.
The QK101 has a customizable screen with built-in themes and support for custom background and foreground GIFs that sync with typing speed, according to its vendor description. The listing also identifies a TFT and OLED screen.
The vendor says the A98 Pro’s 1.4-inch TFT display can switch among five animations pre-loaded on the keyboard. The description does not specify custom GIF uploads for this screen.
The QK101 offers four plate options, two PCB options, and gasket or top-mount assembly. Its kit description also lists case foam, PCB foam, PE sheet, and other build components.
No. The A98 Pro is not offered in ISO-DE, UK, or other ISO variants, so buyers needing an ISO physical layout should consider the QK101, which supports ANSI and ISO.
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