Deadline Doys Pad vs Knife Lab Dolphins75Macro Pad vs 75% Kit
Choose the Deadline Doys Pad for portable macro functions or the Knife Lab Dolphins75 for a premium, stationary typing experience.
![[In Stock] Dolphins75 75% Mechanical Keyboard](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0549/0262/0278/products/7ce4f9b819d9d19cecd21e99770e30b1.jpg?v=1702526832&width=3840&quality=75)
Which one should you get?
Get the
Deadline Doys Pad
Macro Pad
- Dual-mode connectivity with wired USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0.
- Includes two programmable knobs and eight hot-swappable keys for extensive macro control.
- Highly portable with a 300g weight and compact 23 x 87 x 95 mm footprint.
- Lacks a traditional keyboard layout, requiring a separate board for typing.
- Small 600mAh battery may require frequent charging with heavy wireless use.
- No information on polling rate for gaming latency.
Get the
Knife Lab Dolphins75
75% Kit
- Premium gasket mount design for a potentially more consistent and softer typing feel.
- Substantial 2400g full CNC aluminum build with a 7-degree typing angle.
- Includes multiple modding components like a PC plate, Poron bottom foam, IXPE switch pad, and gasket foam.
- Wired-only connectivity limits placement and adds cable clutter.
- Sold as a DIY kit, requiring the user to source and install switches and keycaps.
- Very heavy and large (327 x 150 mm), making it unsuitable for travel.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If you want a versatile, portable tool to enhance your workflow with knobs and macros, the Deadline Doys Pad is a compelling and more affordable accessory. If you are building a high-end, stationary custom keyboard as your main driver, the Knife Lab Dolphins75 kit offers a premium foundation with excellent modding potential. They serve fundamentally different roles on a desk.
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.
Deadline Doys Pad
Knife Lab Dolphins75
Layout size
Macropad
75%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Wired
Knob
Yes
No
Weight
300 g
2,400 g
QMK
Yes
No
- Deadline Doys Pad
- Knife Lab Dolphins75
- Performance
- 6968
- Build quality
- 7673
- Productivity
- 6662
- Customizability
- 8768
- Portability
- 8561
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The Knife Lab Dolphins75 is the clear choice for primary use cases like gaming and programming due to its full layout and wired performance. The Deadline Doys Pad excels as a secondary device for office productivity, content creation, and travel, thanks to its wireless operation and programmable knobs. For modding enthusiasts, both offer a strong foundation, though the Dolphins75 provides more structural customization options.
Pick the Knife Lab Dolphins75
- The Dolphins75 has a specified 1000Hz polling rate for wired responsiveness.
- Its gasket mount and included foam layers may provide a more consistent typing feel.
- The 75% layout includes arrow keys and function row useful for many games.
Deadline Doys Pad vs Knife Lab Dolphins75 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 20 specs differ
Deadline Doys Pad
Knife Lab Dolphins75
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Released
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Deadline Doys Pad vs Knife Lab Dolphins75: your questions
No, the Doys Pad is a macro pad with only 8 keys and 2 knobs. It is designed as a supplementary device for shortcuts, media control, and macros, and must be paired with a primary keyboard for typing.
No. According to the vendor page, the Dolphins75 is sold as a DIY kit. It includes the case, PCB, plate, and foam, but you must purchase switches and keycaps separately to complete the build.
The Deadline Doys Pad supports both wired USB-C and wireless Bluetooth 5.0 connections. The Knife Lab Dolphins75 is a wired-only keyboard.
A gasket mount is a design where the plate holding the switches is suspended on soft gaskets within the case to reduce harsh vibrations and sound. The Knife Lab Dolphins75 features a gasket mount, using Poron gasket-foam pieces for this purpose.
Yes, both keyboards support VIA, a graphical firmware configuration tool. This allows you to remap every key, create layers, and program macros on both the Doys Pad and the Dolphins75.
The Deadline Doys Pad is particularly suited for video editing. Its two programmable knobs can be set to scrub timelines or adjust parameters, and the eight macro keys can be mapped to common editing shortcuts, all without taking up much desk space.
The Knife Lab Dolphins75 is very heavy, with a listed weight of 2400 grams (2.4 kg). This is due to its full CNC aluminum case and included weight, contributing to a solid, premium feel but making it non-portable.
The manufacturer lists the package contents as the Doys Pad keyboard, one decorative block in a different color, two different color knobs, a Type-C cable, and a user manual.
Yes. Both keyboards feature hot-swappable sockets. The Doys Pad supports most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches. The Dolphins75 includes a hot-swap PCB, allowing you to change switches without soldering.
The Knife Lab Dolphins75 has a typing angle of 7 degrees, which is a common and comfortable incline for reducing wrist strain during extended use.
Yes, the Deadline Doys Pad features RGB backlighting. The vendor description mentions it has options for 'Horizontal Light' or 'Dot Matrix Light' styles.
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