Head to head · Prices checked Nov 10, 2026

KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Keychron

Get the KBDFans Athena 1800 for sound dampening. Get the Keychron for knob.

KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Sound dampening

KBDFans Athena 1800

4.7 (7)4.7 · 7 reviews

from$136at KBDfans

Compare 4 stores

Knob

Keychron

No reviews

from$19at Input Gear

Compare 2 stores

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

KBDFans Athena 1800

Sound dampening

Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $150.

Rules this board out

Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.

$136 at KBDfans

Get the

Keychron

Knob

$19 at Input Gear

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.

KBDFans Athena 1800

Keychron

Ergonomics
Split Backspace
Standard
Knob
No
Yes
Display
LED, LCD
None
A case display rather than a typing feature
Sound dampening
Yes
No
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-UK
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

KeebFinder scores

How we score

KBDFans Athena 1800
Keychron

Performance: 68
47
Build quality: 78
67
Productivity: 69
47
Customizability: 82
69
Portability: 43
42

What they share

Hot-swappable
Case material: Aluminum

See every spec side by side

Full specs

KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Keychron specs

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

9 of 19 specs differ

Spec

KBDFans Athena 1800

Keychron

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes

Mount style

Top Mount

—

Sound dampening

Yes

Layout

Layout size

100%

—

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-UK

Ergonomics

Split Backspace

Standard

Knob

Yes

Display

LED, LCD

None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired

—

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz

—

USB-C

Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum, Brass, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate, Steel

—

Keycaps

PBT

—

Weight

3,000 g

—

Typing angle

9°

—

Backlight

RGB

White

Firmware & software

VIAL

Yes

Extras

Released

2025

2026

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

KBDFans Athena 1800

KBDfans
ISO
Out of stockShips to you
MonacoKeys
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron

Input Gear
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR
Out of stockShips to you

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.

KBDFans Athena 18004 stores