KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Keychron Q12Southpaw vs Screen
Choose the Keychron Q12 for its left-handed numpad layout and gasket-mounted feel, or the KBDFans Athena 1800 for its customizable LCD screen and top mount acoustics.
Which one should you get?
Get the
KBDFans Athena 1800
Southpaw
- Includes a customizable LCD screen that supports custom GIFs and system indicators.
- Offers extensive material customization with four plate options and three cover plate options.
- Comes as a comprehensive kit with foam, force break tape, and a silicone gasket set.
- Extremely heavy, especially with the stainless steel cover plate (approximately 3kg).
- Uses a top mount design, which typically provides a firmer feel than gasket mount.
- The vendor notes that the 'RAW' case finish may have visible cosmetic imperfections.
Get the
Keychron Q12
Screen
- Unique southpaw (left-side) numpad layout improves ergonomics and mouse space.
- Features a double gasket mount design for a softer, more cushioned typing feel.
- Includes a programmable aluminum knob and supports both QMK and VIA.
- Lacks any screen or visual display for system information or customization.
- Only available with a steel plate, offering less acoustic variety than the Athena.
- The southpaw layout requires an adjustment period for users accustomed to standard layouts.
Select the Keychron Q12 if your priority is a unique, ergonomic layout that maximizes desk space for your mouse and you value a gasket-mounted typing feel with a programmable knob. Opt for the KBDFans Athena 1800 if you are a modding enthusiast who wants extensive material choices, values the inclusion of a customizable LCD screen, and prefers the acoustics of a top mount design. Both represent high-quality, customizable endpoints in the 96% keyboard category.
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 Q12
Layout size
100%
96%
Ergonomics
Standard
Southpaw
Mount style
Top Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Knob
No
Yes
Display
LCD
None
- KBDFans Athena 1800
- Keychron Q12
- Performance
- 6873
- Build quality
- 7990
- Productivity
- 6898
- Customizability
- 8299
- Portability
- 4446
- Connection: Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum
- Sound dampening
- Layout standard: ANSI, ISO
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron Q12 wins for office, programming, and content creation due to its innovative southpaw layout, programmable knob, and system-switching features. The KBDFans Athena 1800 is the stronger choice for modders, offering more material choices and included modding accessories. For gaming and travel, the keyboards are evenly matched, with neither being portable and both offering solid wired performance.
It's a tie
- Both are wired-only, eliminating wireless latency concerns.
- The Keychron Q12 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, while the Athena's polling rate is not specified.
- The Athena 1800's top mount may offer a firmer typing feel preferred by some gamers.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
KBDFans Athena 1800
7 owner reviews
“This is one built keyboard. Heavy duty and beautiful. Not a scratch on her and worth every penny. I put the Onyx set on her cuz Ima cat person. Love the lil gif window too. 10/10!”
Keychron Q12
12 owner reviews
“I really want my numpad to be on the left, so the inter-position between my mouse, keyboard, and Numpad are more ergonomic and balanced. However, if the product has a wireless option, I will for sure buy this version!”
KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Keychron Q12 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
16 of 26 specs differ
KBDFans Athena 1800
Keychron Q12
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
VIAL
Mac & Windows
Released
Compare prices
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KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Keychron Q12: your questions
The Keychron Q12 is specifically designed with a southpaw layout, placing the numpad on the left side. This can be more intuitive and ergonomic for left-handed users who operate the numpad with their left hand. The KBDFans Athena 1800 uses a standard right-side numpad layout.
Only the KBDFans Athena 1800 has this capability. It includes an LCD screen that, according to the vendor, supports custom 128x128 pixel GIFs and can function as a Caps Lock/Scroll Lock indicator. The Keychron Q12 does not have a screen.
No. Both the KBDFans Athena 1800 and the Keychron Q12 are wired-only keyboards. They connect via a USB-C cable and do not have batteries or wireless functionality.
Both are highly programmable. The Keychron Q12 supports both QMK and VIA. The KBDFans Athena 1800 supports VIAL, which is a graphical fork of VIA. Both methods allow for extensive key remapping and macro creation without coding.
The mounting style is a key differentiator. The Keychron Q12 uses a double gasket mount, which the manufacturer states provides a softer, more cushioned feel. The KBDFans Athena 1800 uses a top mount with a PCB silicone gasket, which typically offers a more direct and firmer feedback.
The Keychron Q12's fully assembled version includes double-shot PBT OSA profile keycaps. The KBDFans Athena 1800 is sold primarily as a DIY kit or barebones unit, so keycaps and switches are not included unless purchased separately as part of a pre-built bundle.
The KBDFans Athena 1800 offers more hardware customization options. Its kit includes multiple plate material choices (Alu, FR4, PC, Carbon Fiber) and cover plate options (Stainless Steel, Brass, Carbon Fiber). It also comes with a foam kit and force break tape pre-included.
Yes. According to Keychron, the aluminum rotary encoder on the Q12 can be programmed through VIA software to control volume, zoom, brightness, brush size, or any other key or macro command.
Both are very substantial. The Keychron Q12 weighs approximately 2491 grams. The KBDFans Athena 1800 weighs approximately 2.5kg with a carbon fiber cover plate or 3kg with a stainless steel cover plate, making it the heavier of the two.
Yes, both are compatible. The Keychron Q12 explicitly includes a system toggle switch and an extra set of keycaps for both operating systems. The KBDFans Athena 1800's compatibility is implied through its standard USB HID functionality.
The Keychron Q12 uses screw-in PCB stabilizers. The KBDFans Athena 1800's listing does not specify the stabilizer type, but it is a common moddable component on hot-swap boards.
Both feature RGB lighting. A notable difference is that the Keychron Q12 uses south-facing RGB LEDs, which prevent interference with Cherry-profile keycaps and may provide better underglow from the typist's angle. The Athena 1800's RGB orientation is not specified.
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