Jamesdonkey R2 V2 vs Niz X99
Choose the Jamesdonkey R2 V2 for wireless connectivity and hot-swap customization, or the lighter Niz X99 if its electro-capacitive switches are your priority.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Jamesdonkey R2 V2
Hot-swappable
Build quality in the bottom 45% of 96% boards under $200.
- Aluminum case with a gasket mount and FR4 plate.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity, plus a 4000mAh battery.
- Hot-swappable sockets and QMK support.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Niz X99
Build quality in the bottom 5% of 96% boards under $200.
- Lighter at 1249g and smaller at 25 x 135 x 380 mm than the R2 V2.
- 35g electro-capacitive switches, according to the vendor description.
- PBT keycaps and a USB-C connection.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
Choose the Jamesdonkey R2 V2 if wireless operation, hot-swappable switches and QMK support matter most. Pick the Niz X99 if you specifically want its 35g electro-capacitive switches and value a smaller, lighter board more than wireless connectivity or switch swapping.
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
Niz X99
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Hot-swappable
Yes
No
Switch changes without soldering
Case material
Aluminum
Plastic
Weight
1,950 g
1,249 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
QMK
Yes
No
The deep option when you want to remap every key
- Jamesdonkey R2 V2
- Niz X99
- Performance
- 6440
- Build quality
- 6538
- Productivity
- 6349
- Customizability
- 7540
- Portability
- 5242
- Layout size: 96%
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The R2 V2 leads for gaming, office use, programming, modding and content creation on the strength of its connectivity and customization features. The X99 is the travel pick because it is lighter and more compact, though it requires a wired connection. Buyers drawn to electro-capacitive switches may still prefer the X99 for everyday typing. Both use a 96% ANSI layout with PBT keycaps.
Pick the Jamesdonkey R2 V2
- The R2 V2 supports wired, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connections, while the X99 is wired only.
- The R2 V2 has N-key rollover, and its vendor description claims 1–2 ms response time.
Jamesdonkey R2 V2 vs Niz X99 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 19 specs differ
Jamesdonkey R2 V2
Niz X99
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Connection
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
QMK
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
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Jamesdonkey R2 V2 vs Niz X99: your questions
Yes. It supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as a wired connection, and has a 4000mAh battery. The Niz X99 is listed as wired only.
Yes, the R2 V2 lists hot-swappable sockets, and its vendor describes them as full-key hot-swap sockets. The X99 has soldered switches, so replacement requires soldering.
The vendor describes the X99 as an electro-capacitive keyboard with 35g capacitive switches. Its construction is described as a rubber dome with a slider, coil spring and printed circuit board.
The Niz X99 weighs 1249g, while the Jamesdonkey R2 V2 weighs 1950g. The X99 is also smaller by its listed dimensions.
Yes, QMK support is listed for the R2 V2. Its vendor describes a web-based driver with QMK programming functionality and key remapping.
The vendor describes the X99 as freely programmable and macro-compatible. The keyboard connects over USB-C and is listed as wired only.
The Jamesdonkey R2 V2 has south-facing RGB lighting, while the Niz X99 is listed without RGB. The R2 V2 vendor also describes an independent RGB chipset.
The R2 V2 has south-facing LEDs, and its compatibility note warns that shine-through legends stay dark. It also notes that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Yes, both the Jamesdonkey R2 V2 and Niz X99 are listed as 96% keyboards with an ANSI layout. Both also use PBT keycaps.
Yes, the X99 is listed with USB-C, and its vendor describes the connection as USB-C. Its connectivity is wired only.
The Jamesdonkey R2 V2 is listed with a gasket mount, and its vendor describes a gasket-mounted internal structure. The Niz X99 listing does not identify a gasket mount.
The R2 V2 lists Mac/Win support, and its vendor describes a mode switch for Mac and Windows operation. The X99's listed features do not specify operating-system support.
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