- Very clean sound thanks to its gasket mount structure and internal damping.
- Clear chassis with one of the most striking RGB displays we've tested.
- Format 96% with numeric keypad, although it requires some adaptation.
- 8.000 mAh battery, triple connectivity, hot-swap and VIA compatibility.
The mechanical keyboard market has changed dramatically in recent years. Not so long ago, if you wanted a keyboard with a gasket mount design, multiple internal damping layers, hot-swap switches, quality keycaps, good wireless connectivity, and VIA compatibility, you typically had to look at much more expensive models or venture into the world of custom keyboards.
Today the situation is quite different. More and more brands are trying to bring that experience to a wider audience, and the KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite offers a premium feel without breaking the bank, thanks to its excellent features. We're talking about a wireless mechanical keyboard with a 96% layout , 97 keys, Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz and USB-C connectivity, an 8.000 mAh battery, gasket mount design, south-facing RGB backlighting, hot-swappable switches, dye-sub PBT keycaps, and VIA compatibility.
But reading the specs is one thing, and using it as your main keyboard for almost a month is quite another. And that's where the Phantom 98 Lite truly surprised me. Not because it has a revolutionary feature, but because the whole package is much better tuned than I expected from a keyboard that costs around $108,99 . But let's leave the specs aside; let me tell you about my experience with this keyboard.
A first impression much more premium than expected
The first surprise came even before connecting it to the computer. The KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite comes in a rather nicely designed box , with a magnetic opening system that already conveys a more premium feel than usual in this price range.
Inside, we find the keyboard itself, a USB-C cable, a keycap puller, a switch puller, documentation, and the 2,4 GHz wireless receiver . So far, so good. The interesting part comes with small details we don't always see: a rigid, transparent protector to cover the keyboard when not in use, a small cleaning cloth customized with Boo Boo , KiiBOOM's mascot, and stickers of the same character that add a cute touch to the set.
It might seem like a minor detail, but anyone who uses mechanical keyboards daily knows how easily dust accumulates between the keys. Having an included cover helps a lot in keeping it clean, especially if you always leave it on your desk. They're small details, but they add up. And from the very first moment, they give the impression that KiiBOOM hasn't just crammed good specs into a pretty case , but has tried to take care of the entire experience.
A transparent, heavy design with RGB lighting that shines brightly.
The unit I tested was the Clear version , although visually it might resemble a white finish due to the semi-transparent chassis. It's a very recognizable design within KiiBOOM, with that rounded, translucent casing that has almost become a hallmark of the brand.
The weight is surprising right out of the box. The Phantom 98 Lite weighs around 1,2 kg , a considerable figure for a keyboard of this size. It's not a keyboard designed for constant movement, but that very weight gives it a solid feel on the desk. Furthermore, the casing barely flexes , the whole thing feels compact, and the build quality is much better than I expected from a keyboard costing just over a hundred euros. But if there's one thing that really stands out, it's the backlighting.
The keyboard features south-facing RGB lighting , meaning the LEDs are directed towards the underside of each switch. This isn't new in modern mechanical keyboards, but here the transparent chassis completely transforms the effect . The casing acts almost like a diffuser, ensuring the light is not only visible under each key but also spreads across a large portion of the keyboard.
This is probably the most spectacular RGB keyboard I've tried recently . Not because the LEDs are necessarily more powerful than the competition's, but because the chassis design makes everything shine much brighter. However, there is a small caveat. The spacebar is slightly less illuminated than the rest of the keyboard because it uses a single light source, as do some other, much smaller keys. It's not a major issue, but when you activate intense RGB effects, you'll notice that this area is a bit dimmer.
I also really liked the feel of the keycaps. KiiBOOM uses PBT dye-sub keycaps , a combination that generally withstands wear better than cheaper ABS keycaps . After almost a month of use, they still have the same smooth, even feel as the first day, without that shine that appears with use on lower-quality keys.
Writing with him for hours is a real treat
If I had to pick just one aspect of the Phantom 98 Lite, it would be the fantastic typing experience it offers. After testing quite a few mechanical keyboards over the past few months, there's something I usually notice relatively quickly: when a keyboard comes well-tuned from the factory. And this is one of those cases.
The unit I received features pre-lubricated linear switches with a transparent housing and the KiiBOOM logo visible on top. They are smooth, light, and very comfortable for typing for extended periods. Furthermore, the keystrokes require minimal force, the travel feels clean, and the sound is probably one of the best I've experienced recently on a production keyboard.
The gasket mount structure and the five-layer internal damping system play a significant role here . KiiBOOM uses Latex Sandwich Foam, IXPE Switch Pad, PET Sound Dampening Film, Bottom Foam, and Bottom Silicone. While it's difficult to isolate the exact contribution of each layer individually, the combined effect is clearly noticeable in the sound and typing feel.
I haven't noticed any metallic clicking or strange gaps ; on the contrary, the keyboard has a very consistent sound across virtually its entire surface. The space bar, Enter, Shift, and Backspace keys are very well stabilized. There are no annoying rattles or strange deviations when pressing at the edges.
I've been using it for writing articles, answering emails, and working long hours these past few weeks, and it's been fantastic. It's a physically heavy keyboard, yes, but it feels incredibly light to type on . The keys are soft, responsive, and comfortable, requiring minimal force with each keystroke.
The 96% format retains almost everything, but it requires getting used to.
The KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite uses a 96% format with 97 keys , meaning it retains the numeric keypad, arrow keys, and virtually all the important functions of a full keyboard, while minimizing the spacing between blocks.
On paper, it's a very attractive idea. You get almost everything a full keyboard offers, but it takes up less space on your desk . For small desks or setups where you want to free up some room for the mouse, it makes a lot of sense. However, this format also has its drawbacks.
I say this because during the first few days I had to get used to the new position of some keys I use a lot at work. Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down aren't exactly where my muscle memory expected them to be. It's not a big deal, but it does require looking at the keyboard more than once until you get used to it. This is actually a problem with the 96% layout itself because if you're used to a traditional full-size keyboard, you're going to have to adapt.
There's another absence I've noticed: we don't have a right Control key . Functionally, it's not a big deal, because the left Control key does exactly the same thing and is still in its usual position. But if you use a lot of keyboard shortcuts and are used to using both sides of the keyboard, it might break some habits for the first few days.
Furthermore, there's another important point for Spanish and Latin American users: the keyboard uses the ANSI layout , so it doesn't have a physical Ñ key . This doesn't mean you can't type the Ñ, as you can set your system language to Spanish and continue using it with the corresponding layout, but the key legend won't be present, and some symbols won't match what's printed on the keycaps.
Even so, I think KiiBOOM has done a pretty good job with the layout . The numeric keypad is very close to the main unit and is only separated by a magnetic metal piece that also serves as a cover for storing the 2.4 GHz USB receiver . It's one of those practical details that seem minor until you realize that it makes it much harder to lose the dongle.
Good wireless performance, although it's not in the Hall Effect league.
Although I've primarily used the Phantom 98 Lite for work, I've also tested it for gaming. The experience has been very good with games , especially shooters, using the 2.4 GHz wireless connection . The keyboard can also connect via USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0 , offering considerable flexibility if you want to switch between your main computer, laptop, tablet, or other devices.
According to the technical specifications, the keyboard achieves a polling rate of 1000 Hz both wired and via 2.4 GHz wireless, while Bluetooth only reaches 125 Hz. It also boasts a latency of 3 ms wired, 5 ms 2.4 GHz, and 15 ms Bluetooth. In practice, this translates to virtually lag-free gameplay without any unexpected behavior . For normal gaming use, even quite demanding tasks, it performs perfectly.
Furthermore, it features NKRO , allowing it to register multiple simultaneous keystrokes without errors , which is important for both gaming and fast typing. However, this isn't a Hall Effect keyboard . The switches it uses, as I mentioned earlier, are very smooth and fast, but they don't allow for features like Rapid Trigger . This means that, in competitive gaming, it doesn't offer the same level of customization as more advanced magnetic models.
I don't think it's a problem for the target audience for this keyboard. But if you're looking for peak competitive performance, you'll notice the difference . On the other hand, if you want a comfortable, well-built, and responsive wireless mechanical keyboard for gaming, it's more than adequate.
VIA, battery, and a pretty complete wireless experience
Another important feature of the Phantom 98 Lite is its VIA compatibility . Instead of forcing us to use proprietary software, KiiBOOM allows us to configure the keyboard using one of the most well-known tools in the world of custom mechanical keyboards. And that has clear advantages.
With VIA, you can remap keys, create macros, modify layers, customize RGB lighting , and check the functionality of each key in real time— it's a very comprehensive tool. In fact, it can be a little intimidating at first. It doesn't have the aesthetics or guided approach of many traditional gaming applications. It's designed for users who want control, not necessarily for those looking for an extremely simple experience. If you've never used VIA, it might take you a few minutes to understand where each option is located.
As for battery life, the Phantom 98 Lite has an 8.000 mAh unit , a fairly generous figure for a wireless mechanical keyboard. With the RGB lighting off or at moderate levels, it can typically last several weeks of daily use without much trouble . However, with the RGB lighting at maximum, the battery life obviously drops considerably. This is especially true for this keyboard, where the lighting is one of its main attractions and the transparent chassis makes you want to keep it on. Even so, we're talking about several days of intensive use before needing to plug it in.
My recommendation for the KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite
After almost a month of use, the KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite strikes me as one of those keyboards that impresses more with its feel than with any specific feature. It lacks Hall Effect , its 96% layout requires getting used to the new position of some keys (it's worth noting that it doesn't have a right Control key), and because it uses an ANSI layout, it omits the physical Ñ key . These are its main drawbacks.
But everything else is at a very high level for its price . The construction is solid, the PBT dye-sub keycaps maintain a very good feel after weeks of use, and the gasket mount construction achieves a truly clean sound , without metallic ping or annoying resonances.
What I liked most was precisely that: how well-tuned it is right out of the box. It's a comfortable keyboard for typing wirelessly for hours on end , very pleasant to the touch, and with excellent stabilizers. Furthermore, the clear finish makes the RGB south-facing really stand out , probably more so than on any other keyboard I've tested recently. Considering it costs around $108,99 , I think it's well worth the price.
So, if you want a wireless mechanical keyboard with a very generous battery life, a compact design but with a numeric keypad, good sound, and hot-swap keys, the Phantom 98 Lite seems like a highly recommended option . It might not be perfect, but it's one of the most well-rounded keyboards I've tried lately in this price range. And that, in a market increasingly saturated with similar models, is saying something.