GDK Lab KV1 vs Neo Neo65 Core Plus
Choose the KV1 for its larger 5000mAh battery and QMK support, or the Neo65 Core Plus for its brass and copper options and alternative mount styles.
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![[In Stock] KV1-65% Mechanical Keyboard Barebone Kit](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0549/0262/0278/files/0c967a9a60f878a5561c9d7ab9992b7.png?v=1730187990&width=3840&quality=75)
from$169at Velocifire
from$95at ktechs
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
GDK Lab KV1
Battery
Build quality in the top 25% of 65% boards under $200.
- 5000mAh battery, larger than the Neo65 Core Plus's listed 2200mAh battery.
- Vendor description specifies QMK and VIA support, with QMK/VIA support over a wired connection.
- 6063 CNC aluminum case with a 220-mesh finish, according to the vendor.
Get the
Neo Neo65 Core Plus
Sound dampening
Build quality in the top 5% of 65% boards under $100.
- Aluminum, brass, and copper case material options are listed.
- Metadata lists gasket and plate mounting, while the vendor describes PCB gasket and gummy o-ring assembly options.
- Vendor listing includes PE sheet, PCB foam, poron case foam, and 30 duro o-rings.
Pick the GDK Lab KV1 if a larger battery and vendor-listed QMK support are your priorities. Choose the Neo Neo65 Core Plus if you want a lighter board with brass or copper options and more mounting approaches. Both offer a 65% layout, hot-swap, VIA support, and wired or wireless connectivity.
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.
GDK Lab KV1
Neo Neo65 Core Plus
Battery
5,000 mAh
2,200 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Aluminum
Aluminum, Brass, Copper
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Weight
1,760 g
1,335 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Sound dampening
No
Yes
- GDK Lab KV1
- Neo Neo65 Core Plus
- Performance
- 5855
- Build quality
- 7789
- Productivity
- 5663
- Customizability
- 7555
- Portability
- 8684
- Layout size: 65%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- VIA
- Layout standard: ANSI, ISO
What will you mostly use it for?
For gaming and content creation, their shared layout, connectivity, hot-swap support, and polling rate leave little to separate them on the listed features. The KV1 has the edge for programming because its vendor description adds QMK support alongside VIA. The Neo65 Core Plus is lighter for carrying and includes a carrying case. Its mounting options and listed build components also give modders more variety to work with.
It's a tie
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and support wired and 2.4 GHz connectivity.
- Both have hot-swappable switches and N-Key Rollover.
GDK Lab KV1 vs Neo Neo65 Core Plus specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 21 specs differ
GDK Lab KV1
Neo Neo65 Core Plus
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
GDK Lab KV1
Velocifire
ISO
In stockShips to you
Neo Neo65 Core Plus
Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
GDK Lab KV1 vs Neo Neo65 Core Plus: your questions
The KV1 lists a 5000mAh battery and its vendor description specifies QMK and VIA support. The Neo65 Core Plus lists aluminum, brass, and copper case material options, as well as gasket and plate mounting.
The GDK Lab KV1 lists a 5000mAh battery. The Neo Neo65 Core Plus lists a 2200mAh battery.
Yes, both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. The KV1 vendor description also mentions Bluetooth device switching.
The Neo Neo65 Core Plus is listed at 1335g, while the GDK Lab KV1 is listed at 1760g. The Neo65 Core Plus is therefore the lighter option by listed weight.
Yes, the KV1 vendor description lists QMK and VIA support. It specifies that QMK and VIA support applies over a wired connection.
Yes, the Neo65 Core Plus is listed with VIA support. The vendor description says it is programmable with VIA.
Both keyboards list hot-swappable support. The Neo65 Core Plus vendor listing specifies a tri-mode hot-swap PCB.
The Neo65 Core Plus lists gasket and plate mounting, and its vendor description also describes a gummy o-ring assembly option. The KV1 is listed with a gasket mount.
The KV1 vendor listing explicitly says switches and keycaps are not included. The Neo65 Core Plus vendor description also identifies it as a barebones kit without switches or keycaps.
Both list ANSI and ISO layouts. The KV1 vendor description also specifies support for 7u and 6.25u spacebars.
The Neo Neo65 Core Plus is lighter at 1335g, compared with the KV1's 1760g. Its vendor listing also includes a keyboard carrying case.
Both products list no RGB. The KV1 vendor description specifically says its PCB has no per-key RGB lighting.
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