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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 1, 2026

Yunzii C98 Cake Meow vs C98 MAO

Choose the C98 MAO for its DIY-kit focus and sound dampening, or the Cake Meow if you want a pre-built keyboard.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Yunzii C98 Cake Meow

Build quality in the bottom 35% of 98% boards under $150.

If you want

  • Listed as pre-built, so it is the clearer choice for buyers seeking a ready-made keyboard.
  • 98% ANSI layout with a dedicated numeric keypad, as described by Yunzii.
  • Tri-mode connectivity through Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Get the

Yunzii C98 MAO

Sound dampening

Build quality in the top 40% of 98% boards under $150.

If you want

  • DIY kit/barebones listing offers a setup-focused alternative to the Cake Meow's pre-built configuration.
  • Sound dampening is included in its listed extra features.
  • Tri-mode connectivity through Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Bottom line

Pick the C98 MAO if the DIY-kit designation and sound dampening suit your plans. Choose the C98 Cake Meow if you prefer a pre-built option. Their shared layout, connectivity, battery capacity, and hot-swap support make those setup differences the clearest deciding factors.

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.

Yunzii C98 Cake Meow

Yunzii C98 MAO

  • Sound dampening

    No

    Yes

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Yunzii C98 Cake Meow
  • Yunzii C98 MAO
Performance
75
75
Build quality
59
65
Productivity
66
76
Customizability
61
75
Portability
66
66

What they share

  • Layout size: 98%
  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Battery: 10,000 mAh
  • Switch options: Linear
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The MAO is the more relevant pick for buyers who want a DIY-kit approach or value its listed sound dampening. The Cake Meow makes sense if you want a pre-built keyboard instead. Gaming, travel, and content creation are close calls because the two share the main listed layout and connectivity features. Neither product has a clear advantage for those categories based on the listed specifications.

For gaming

It's a tie

  • Both list linear switches, N-Key Rollover, and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity.
  • Both have south-facing RGB and a 10000mAh battery.

Full specs

Yunzii C98 Cake Meow vs C98 MAO specs

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

1 of 20 specs differ

Yunzii C98 Cake Meow

Yunzii C98 MAO

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear
Linear

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

98%
98%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Battery

10,000 mAh
10,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Plastic
—

Plate material

Polycarbonate
—

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Weight

1,331.5 g
1,331.5 g

Dimensions

44 x 406 x 168 mm
44 x 406 x 168 mm

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2026

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

FAQ

Yunzii C98 Cake Meow vs C98 MAO: your questions

The Cake Meow is listed as pre-built, while the C98 MAO is listed as a DIY kit/barebones. The MAO also lists sound dampening as an extra feature.

Yes, both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. Their wired connection is listed as USB-C.

Both list a 10000mAh battery. The listings do not establish a difference in battery capacity between them.

The C98 MAO is the more directly modding-oriented choice because its extra features identify it as a DIY kit/barebones. Both keyboards are hot-swappable, and Yunzii describes support for 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches.

Yes, hot-swappable support is listed for both. Yunzii says the keyboards support 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches.

Both are listed as 98% keyboards, and Yunzii describes each as having a dedicated numeric keypad. This makes either a fit for buyers who want a compact layout with a number pad.

Both list linear switches, N-Key Rollover, and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. These shared features do not establish a clear gaming advantage for either model.

Sound dampening appears in the C98 MAO's extra features. The Cake Meow listing does not identify sound dampening as an extra feature.

Both have south-facing LEDs, and the compatibility rule warns that shine-through legends stay dark. It also notes that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Mac/Win support is listed for both keyboards. Yunzii also describes online customization for Windows and Mac in each product description.

The C98 Cake Meow is listed as pre-built, making it the clearer option for buyers who do not want the DIY-kit approach. The C98 MAO is identified as a DIY kit/barebones in its extra features.

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