Head to head · Prices checked Nov 10, 2026

Jamesdonkey R2 V2 vs LUMINKEY Nova Kine

Get the Jamesdonkey R2 V2 for the 4,000 mAh battery and qmk. Get the LUMINKEY Nova Kine for via.

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Battery

from$179at Mechkeys

VIA

from$129at MK

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Jamesdonkey R2 V2

Battery

Build quality in the bottom 45% of 96% boards under $200.

Rules this board out

South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.

$179 at Mechkeys

Get the

LUMINKEY Nova Kine

VIA

Build quality in the top 45% of Numpad boards under $150.

Rules this board out

Numpad only. This is not a full keyboard.

$129 at MK

What actually differs

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.

Jamesdonkey R2 V2

LUMINKEY Nova Kine

Layout size
96%
Numpad
Battery
4,000 mAh
3,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Top Mount
QMK
Yes
No
The deep option when you want to remap every key
VIA
No
Yes
GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score

Jamesdonkey R2 V2
LUMINKEY Nova Kine

Performance: 64
46
Build quality: 65
70
Productivity: 63
53
Customizability: 76
56
Portability: 52
86

What they share

Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Hot-swappable
Case material: Aluminum
Keycaps: PBT

See every spec side by side

Full specs

Jamesdonkey R2 V2 vs LUMINKEY Nova Kine specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

10 of 20 specs differ

Spec

Jamesdonkey R2 V2

LUMINKEY Nova Kine

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount

Top Mount

Layout

Layout size

96%

Numpad

Layout standard

ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard

Display

None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Battery

4,000 mAhBetter

3,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum

Plate material

FR4

—

Keycaps

PBT

Weight

1,950 g

—

Dimensions

31 x 151 x 414 mm

—

Backlight

RGB, south-facing

None

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes

VIA

Yes

N-key rollover

Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes

Extras

Released

2024

2026

Where to buy

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.

Jamesdonkey R2 V22 stores