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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 12, 2026

KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Leobog Hi98c Pro

Choose the Athena 1800 for hot-swap, ISO options and a wired feature set, or the Hi98c Pro if its 8000mAh battery is your priority.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

KBDFans Athena 1800

Hot-swappable

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

If you want

  • Hot-swappable switches and VIAL support.
  • ANSI and ISO layout options.
  • Aluminum case with aluminum, FR4, polycarbonate, carbon fiber, brass and steel plate options.

Get the

Leobog Hi98c Pro

Build quality in the bottom 15% of 98% boards under $150.

If you want

  • 8000mAh battery.
  • Compact full-size layout with a numpad.
  • DIY kit/barebones format.

Rules this board out

  • Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
  • Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.

Bottom line

Choose the KBDFans Athena 1800 if hot-swap, ISO support, VIAL and a choice of plate materials matter to your setup. Consider the Leobog Hi98c Pro if you specifically want its 8000mAh battery and compact full-size layout, and are comfortable with soldered switches and ANSI-only availability.

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

Leobog Hi98c Pro

  • Layout size

    100%

    98%

  • Hot-swappable

    Yes

    No

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Ergonomics

    Split Backspace

    Standard

  • Display

    LED, LCD

    None

    A case display rather than a typing feature

  • Sound dampening

    Yes

    No

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • KBDFans Athena 1800
  • Leobog Hi98c Pro
Performance
68
43
Build quality
78
47
Productivity
68
42
Customizability
82
45
Portability
43
47
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Athena 1800 takes most categories through its hot-swap feature, layout choices and additional listed features. The Hi98c Pro has a travel-oriented advantage on paper with its battery, but its connectivity type and weight are not specified, so portability is harder to assess. For buyers who want to modify switches or choose an ISO layout, the Athena is the clearer fit. The Hi98c Pro is more appealing if its compact full-size format and battery are the deciding factors.

For gaming

Pick the KBDFans Athena 1800

  • The Athena 1800 lists wired connectivity and hot-swappable switches.
  • It also includes RGB, while the Hi98c Pro is listed without RGB.

Full specs

KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Leobog Hi98c Pro specs

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

10 of 19 specs differ

KBDFans Athena 1800

Leobog Hi98c Pro

Typing & switches

Hot-swappable

Yes
No

Mount style

Top Mount
—

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

100%
98%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO
ANSI

Ergonomics

Split Backspace
Standard

Display

LED, LCD
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
—

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
—

Battery

Wired only
8,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
No

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
—

Plate material

Aluminum, Brass, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate, Steel
—

Keycaps

PBT
—

Weight

3,000 g
—

Typing angle

9°
—

Backlight

RGB
None

Firmware & software

VIAL

Yes
No

Extras

Released

2025
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.

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

KBDFans Athena 1800

Leobog Hi98c Pro

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

FAQ

KBDFans Athena 1800 vs Leobog Hi98c Pro: your questions

Yes, hot-swappable is a listed feature of the Athena 1800. The Hi98c Pro has soldered switches, so changing them requires soldering.

No, the Hi98c Pro is listed as ANSI only. The Athena 1800 lists both ANSI and ISO layouts.

The Hi98c Pro is listed with an 8000mAh battery. The Athena 1800 is listed as wired only.

Yes, RGB is listed for the Athena 1800. The Hi98c Pro is listed without RGB.

No, the Hi98c Pro is listed without a screen. The Athena 1800 includes an LCD.

The Athena 1800 has hot-swap support and VIAL support, along with several listed plate material options. The Hi98c Pro's switches are soldered, so switch changes require soldering.

The Athena 1800 lists aluminum, FR4, polycarbonate, carbon fiber, brass and steel plate options. No plate material is listed for the Hi98c Pro.

The Hi98c Pro is described as a compact full-size layout with a numpad. The Athena 1800 is listed as a 100% layout.

The Athena 1800 is listed as wired only, with USB-C included among its features. The Hi98c Pro has an 8000mAh battery, but its connectivity type is not specified here.

The Athena 1800 is listed with PBT keycaps. A keycap material is not listed for the Hi98c Pro.

VIAL support is listed for the KBDFans Athena 1800. No VIAL support is listed for the Leobog Hi98c Pro.

No, its compatibility rules state that the switches are soldered and changing them means soldering. The Athena 1800 is listed as hot-swappable.

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