I’ve been putting this off for a while now, but I figure it’s a good time as any to get this guide started. When I started getting into the hobby I had a pretty hard time finding good compact full size board as I wanted that mouse real-estate without compromising on the numpad or arrow clusters. As a hobbyist and a working professional this format is a fun blend for me. Here’s a compiled list of what I’ve found. I do own a couple of board listed (e.g. 3x Leopold FC980M) and most are modified extensively.
Type of compact full-size/1800:
-
96% or 96 - This a compact layout that often have 96-98 key there are no blockers between the arrow cluster, numpad and function rows
-
Traditional 1800 - These will have blockers between arrow cluster, numpad, and/or navigation cluster.
-
Function Row Less (FRL-1800) - Similar to a traditional, but the top row (aka function keys) is absent. These are sometimes called mini-1800.
-
Southpaw (SP) 1800 or FRL-1800 - A spin on the traditional 1800 with the numpad on the left hand side. There are multiple variation of this layout.
SP-1800 with left handed arrows
SP FRL-1800 with right handed arrows
-
Unique - Just interesting layout or non-traditional (southpaw)
96%
| Name | Specs | Cost (USD) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| IQUINIX F97 | wireless, hot-swap | $250 | Wireless 2.4Gz or Bluetooth 5.0, Costar stab |
| IQUINIX F96 | wireless, hot-swap | $200-250 | Bluetooth 4.0, Costar stab |
| Keychron K4 | entry-budget, wireless, per key RGB, hot-swap | $70-90 | Bluetooth 5.1 option, Mac toggle |
| Keychron Q5 | QMK, hot-swap, knob (different SKU) | TBD | Additional F13, F14, Mac toggle |
| KPRepublic XD96 | underglow RGB | $130-140 | Note: mini usb |
| Kono Kira | hot-swap, underglow RGB | $170-260 | |
| YMDK Melody96 | QMK, hotswap, underglow | $140-190 | CNC acryllic bottom. Plate option: aluminum or brass |
| YMDK NYM96 | QMK, hot-swap | $60-125 | Case option: wood or aluminum |
| Tofu96 | QMK, underglow RGB | $200 | |
| Vortex Tab 90 | pre-build, wireless | $140 | Bluetooth X.0 |
Traditional
| Name | Specs | Cost (USD) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akko MOD003 or MOD004 | hot-swap, per key RGB | $150-170 | Mount: gasket (MOD003), tray mount (MOD004) |
| Akko 3098 series | prebuild, hot-swap, wireless | $120-125 | prebuild to specific themes, keebtalk thread |
| Akko ACR98 | hot-swap, RGB | $110 | acryllic case with ASA keycaps |
| BM980 | entry budget, QMK, hot-swap, per key RGB | $60-75 | |
| DOIO Tank980 | QMK, hot-swap, PKRGB | $172 | Has F13 and OLED |
| CannonKeys Stacked1800 | entry budget, QMK, solderable hotswap | $90 | Hot-swapable with solderable sockets (purchase sperately), stack acryllic |
| CannonKeys Rekt1800 | QMK, solderable hotswap | $320-330 | Hot-swapable with solderable sockets (purchase sperately), anodize aluminum |
| CherryB Works - CB:1800/Zanbato | QMK | Secondary Market | GB MSRP $490 |
| Drop SHIFT | QMK, hot-swap, per key RGB, side glow | $250 | Need a DROP account |
| Epomaker TH96 | Hotswap, QMK wired/bluetooth | $150-180 | |
| Everglide 98 | Hotswap, Bluetooth | $300 | |
| FL Esport KK220 (FL980) | entry budget, wireless (SKU specific) hot-swap, per key RGB | $99-130 | Bluetooth 5.0, wireless 2.4Ghz |
| Hineybush HBCP | QMK, solderable underglow RGB | Secondary Market | keebtalk thread |
| HMKB 95 | QMK | Secondary Market | |
| KBDFans KBD19X | QMK, mini USB | €224/Secondary Market | |
| Leopold FC980M | pre-build, mini usb | $120 | Significant after market mod options (e.g. case, pcb, plate, bluetooth). keebtalk thread |
| LeopoldFC980C | pre-build, Topre (45g), mini usb | $260 | Significant after market mod options (e.g. case, pcb, plate, bluetooth) |
| NT980 | entry budget, hot-swap, per key RGB | $60-80 | Easily found on aliexpress |
| TheKeyCompany TKC1800 | QMK, Alps compatible | $130-150 | Parts: drop in PCB ($70), Plate ($50-55) for G80/81-1800 |
| TX-1800 | QMK | Secondary Market | |
| TX-CP | QMK | Secondary Market | |
| Velocifire kk98 | QMK, hot-swap, integrated plate | $208-219 | keebtalk thread |
| WindStudio WindX 98 | QMK, hot-swap, bluetooth optional | $320/$350 | |
| Zambumon SAR | QMK, hot-swap | TBD | WKL-layout, 4.75mm plate |
FRL-1800/Mini-1800
| Name | Specs | Cost (USD) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 980Mini | QMK, solder/hot-swap | $75-79 | 3x5 numpad |
| Akko ACR98 Mini | hot-swap | $110 | acryllic case with ASA keycaps, 3x5 numpad |
| Alchemist Keyboard Petrichor | QMK | Secondary Market | Based on WestFoxTrot Cypher PCB design |
| Alf AL1 | TMK | Secondary Market | WKL Blocker option |
| CannonKey Balance | QMK | Secondary Market | Designed by Upas |
| Block boy AC980 mini | QMK, hot-swap | $85 | Standard numpad |
| Burnosan Phidias | TBD | IC | Tadpole & pin mount; 1x3 nav cluster |
| DriftMechanics Clara | QMK | IC | FRL version of the Austin, 2u zero, 10u spacebar |
| DOIO Retro83 | QMK, hot-swap, PKRGB | $156 | |
| Duck Blackbird | QMK, RGB underglow | Secondary Market | FRL-1800 |
| Hineybush IBIS | TBD | IC | 1x2 nav cluster |
| Jaeyou Jiot | QMK, ISO compatible | IC | Ibis inspired |
| Qoda Studio Dharma | TBD | IC | |
| Troublemaker | TBD | IC | |
| Yiancar Barleycorn | QMK, DIY Kit, plateless | $115 | Through hole solder kit |
| Yicancar P3D Barleycorn SMD | QMK | $150 (case), $40 (SMD PCB) | Customizable stack acrylic case |
| WestFoxTrot Cypher FRL-1800 | QMK | Secondary Market | PCB design on GitHub |
| Wind Studio WindX | QMK, hot-swap/solder | $298 |
Southpaw 1800
| Name | Specs | Cost (USD) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeboard Aegis | QMK | Secondary Market | Southpaw numpad |
| Bisoromi [SPV1] (SPV1 Keyboard – CannonKeys) | QMK | GB $420 | WKL |
| BlindAssassin SP-111 | QMK | GB $460 | Split south-paw |
| Mystic Works Wvyern | QMK | Secondary Market | |
| Monokei x Thesiscamper - Hidari | QMK | Secondary Market | Southpaw FRL-1800 with southpaw arrow |
| Wind Studio WindX SP | QMK, hot-swap/solder | GB ETA $300 |
Unique
| Name | Specs | Cost (USD) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| DriftMechanics Austin | QMK | Secondary Market | Almost 100% |
| Duck Jetfire | QMK | Secondary Market | Almost 100% |
| Hymm Typebox | QMK, encoder support | IC | 10 left macro keys, 40 degree tilt F-row |
| Hex.6C | QMK | Secondary Market | Fullsize SP (not 1800) |
| KBDFans Odin | QMK, hotswap/solder | $320 | Almost 100% layout |
| RNDKBD x Pylon Boston | QMK, encoder support | $155 | Massive 120% layout, 3DP Kit |
| Zepsody 618 | QMK | IC | 10 left macro keys |
Let me know I’m missing anything. I’ll try my best to keep this updated.
I just remembered it was usb mini and maybe hotswap?