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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 14, 2026

Neo Neo65 vs PBTfans Athena 75Wireless or LCD

Get the Neo Neo65 for wireless use and its listed 4000 Hz polling, or the PBTfans Athena 75 for a 75% layout, LCD screen, and PBT keycaps.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Neo Neo65

Build quality in the top 5% of 65% boards under $200.

If you want

  • Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connections, alongside wired USB-C.
  • Listed polling rates of 4000 Hz and 1000 Hz.
  • QMK support and a DIY kit/barebones listing.

Rules this board out

  • 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.

Get the

PBTfans Athena 75

Build quality in the top 20% of 75% boards under $200.

If you want

  • A 75% layout with a function row.
  • An LCD screen.
  • PBT keycaps and a listed clicky switch type.

Rules this board out

  • No numpad.

Bottom line

Choose the Neo Neo65 for Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless use, its listed 4000 Hz polling rate, and QMK support. Choose the PBTfans Athena 75 for the larger 75% layout, LCD screen, and included PBT keycaps. The Athena is wired-only, while the Neo's 65% layout omits a function row and numpad.

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.

Neo Neo65

PBTfans Athena 75

  • Layout size

    65%

    75%

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Ergonomics

    Standard

    Split Backspace

  • Case material

    Aluminum, Brass, Copper

    Aluminum

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount

    Top Mount

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Neo Neo65
  • PBTfans Athena 75
Performance
84
70
Build quality
94
81
Productivity
82
76
Customizability
92
82
Portability
86
63

What they share

  • Hot-swappable
  • VIA
  • Sound dampening
  • Layout standard: ANSI, ISO
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Neo Neo65 is the clearer fit for gaming and travel when its listed polling rates, wireless connections, and lower listed weight matter. The Athena 75 has an edge for office work, programming, and content creation if you want its larger layout or LCD. Modding is a close call: the Neo offers QMK and a DIY-kit listing, while the Athena adds VIAL and vendor-described mount options. Both are hot-swappable and support VIA.

For gaming

Pick the Neo Neo65

  • The Neo Neo65 lists 4000 Hz and 1000 Hz polling rates.
  • Its Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connections allow wireless use as alternatives to USB-C.

Full specs

Neo Neo65 vs PBTfans Athena 75 specs

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

14 of 25 specs differ

Neo Neo65

PBTfans Athena 75

Typing & switches

Switch options

—
Clicky

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Top Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

65%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO
ANSI, ISO

Ergonomics

Standard
Split Backspace

Display

None
LCD

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

4,000 Hz
—

Battery

4,400 mAh
Wired only

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum, Brass, Copper
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum, CarbonFiber, Polycarbonate
Aluminum, CarbonFiber, FR4, Polycarbonate, Steel

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

400 g
2,200 g

Dimensions

40 x 320 x 120 mm
—

Typing angle

8°
9°

Backlight

RGB
RGB

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
No

VIA

Yes
Yes

VIAL

No
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
No

Extras

Released

2024
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.

Neo Neo653 stores

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

Neo Neo65

Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.

PBTfans Athena 75

Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.

FAQ

Neo Neo65 vs PBTfans Athena 75: your questions

Yes. Its listed connectivity includes Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, as well as wired USB-C. The Athena 75 is listed as wired-only.

No wireless connection is listed for the Athena 75, which is specified as wired-only. The Neo Neo65 offers Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz as wireless options.

The Neo Neo65 lists polling rates of 4000 Hz and 1000 Hz. No polling rate is listed for the Athena 75.

Yes. The Athena 75 is listed with an LCD screen, and the vendor description includes an LCD screen among its components. The Neo Neo65 is listed without a screen.

The Athena 75's 75% layout includes a function row. The Neo Neo65 is a 65% layout, and its compatibility information specifies that it has no function row.

Neither keyboard has a numpad. The Neo Neo65's 65% layout and the Athena 75's layout are both listed with a no-numpad limitation.

The Neo Neo65 is listed at 400g, while the Athena 75 is listed at 2200g. The Neo's lower listed weight may suit buyers prioritizing a lighter board.

Both are listed as hot-swappable. The Neo vendor description specifies a hot-swap PCB, and the Athena vendor description lists a hot-swap PCB option.

The Neo Neo65 lists QMK support. The Athena 75 lists VIAL support, and its vendor description also names VIA and VIAL among supported options.

The Athena 75 metadata lists PBT keycaps, and the vendor description names a PBTfans Fairy R2 base kit among the included items. The Neo Neo65 vendor description describes its product as a barebones DIY kit without keycaps.

Yes. The Neo Neo65 lists both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, in addition to wired USB-C. The Athena 75 is listed as wired-only.

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