LUMINKEY 98 vs KeebFront Vanguard65Wireless or 65%
Choose the LUMINKEY 98 for a numpad and wireless modes, or the Vanguard65 for a smaller wired layout with knob support.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Which one should you get?
Get the
LUMINKEY 98
Build quality in the top 50% of 98% boards at any price.
- 98% ANSI layout with a numpad and reversible southpaw orientation.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity.
- Aluminum case, polycarbonate plate, and PBT keycaps.
- 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.
Get the
KeebFront Vanguard65
Build quality in the top 50% of 65% boards under $300.
- 65% layout with ANSI and ISO variants listed.
- Gasket mount, aluminum and polycarbonate case materials, and hot-swappable design.
- Knob support, with a vendor description also identifying a slider.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Choose the LUMINKEY 98 if you rely on a numpad or want Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz alongside wired use. Pick the KeebFront Vanguard65 if a 65% footprint, gasket mount, and knob support matter more than a numpad or wireless connectivity.
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.
LUMINKEY 98
KeebFront Vanguard65
Layout size
98%
65%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Ergonomics
Southpaw
Standard
Case material
Aluminum
Aluminum, Polycarbonate
Mount style
Top Mount
Gasket Mount
- LUMINKEY 98
- KeebFront Vanguard65
- Performance
- 5551
- Build quality
- 6367
- Productivity
- 6557
- Customizability
- 6063
- Portability
- 4871
- Hot-swappable
What will you mostly use it for?
The LUMINKEY 98 is the more fitting option when a numpad or wireless connectivity matters, which favors office use and gives it an edge for gaming based on its listed linear switches and connection options. The Vanguard65 is the smaller choice for travel, though its weight is not listed. Programming is a matter of preference: the LUMINKEY 98 offers a numpad, while the Vanguard65 keeps arrow keys in a 65% layout. For customization and creative controls, the Vanguard65's knob and slider set it apart.
Pick the LUMINKEY 98
- The LUMINKEY 98 uses linear switches, a switch type listed in its specifications.
- Its tri-mode connectivity includes wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz options, while the Vanguard65 is wired only.
LUMINKEY 98 vs KeebFront Vanguard65 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 19 specs differ
LUMINKEY 98
KeebFront Vanguard65
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
LUMINKEY 98
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
KeebFront Vanguard65
Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.
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.
- Check on Amazon
Amazon
Check price
- Check on Amazon
Amazon
Check price
LUMINKEY 98 vs KeebFront Vanguard65: your questions
Yes. Its listed connectivity includes Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, as well as wired use. The vendor describes the PCB as tri-mode.
No wireless connection is listed for the Vanguard65. Its specifications identify it as wired only, with USB-C listed by the vendor.
Yes, the LUMINKEY 98 is a 98% layout with a numpad. Its layout is described as compact full-size, without the gaps of a full-size board.
No. The Vanguard65's 65% layout omits both the numpad and function row, while the vendor description notes that it retains arrow keys.
The Vanguard65 is listed with ANSI and ISO layout options, depending on version. The LUMINKEY 98 is ANSI only, with no ISO-DE, UK, or other ISO variants offered.
Both are listed as hot-swappable. The Vanguard65 vendor says its switches can be changed without soldering, and the LUMINKEY vendor describes its PCB as tri-mode hotswap.
The LUMINKEY 98 uses a top mount with a polycarbonate plate. The Vanguard65 uses a gasket mount, which its vendor describes as providing a more flexible typing feel.
Yes, knob support is listed for the Vanguard65. Its vendor description also identifies a slider for media controls, macros, or creative workflows.
The Vanguard65's 65% layout is smaller than the LUMINKEY 98's 98% layout. The LUMINKEY 98 weighs 2600g, and a weight is not listed for the Vanguard65.
The LUMINKEY 98 has an aluminum case, a polycarbonate plate, and PBT keycaps. Its vendor listing also includes a foam kit.
The Vanguard65 is listed with aluminum and polycarbonate case materials. Its vendor describes case variants that pair different tops with a polycarbonate bottom.
The LUMINKEY 98 vendor listing specifies Sylva linear switches and dye-sub PBT keycaps, and lists both a set of switches and a set of keycaps among the included items. The Vanguard65 is described as a kit, and its listed specifications do not identify included switches or keycaps.
Not sold on either?
![[Pre Order] PromoType Key Boy Advance 50 KBA50 Keyboard Kit](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1674/0405/files/Front_cover.png?v=1782797951&width=3840&quality=75)
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.