Keyboard Builders' Digest / Review
KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite review
I reviewed KiiBOOM's Phantom 98 Lite, a cute wireless keyboard with 1800-ish layout and the silly froggy keycap design.
Published May 14, 2026
If this feels like a time-travel movie, that's because two similar boards by KiiBOOM have already been covered. The acrylic Phantom 98 (non-Lite) is the closer match in layout, while the 75% Phantom 81 Lite is the real relative of the 1800-ish Phantom 98 Lite when it comes to material, structure, and design.
TLDR; The gasket-mount wireless Phantom 98 Lite comes in a molded ABS housing (green version). Nice dye-sub keycap set, silent light linear switches, and QMK/VIA support. Hotswap PCB and MX compatible switches combined with programmability make this board highly customizable. Pleasant, silent, cushioned out-of-the-box typing experience. Price starting at$109$104 – with the KBDNEWS coupon code.
Specs (and ToC)
- Contents: pre-built board, manual, cable, tools, dust cover, spare switches and keycaps
- Layout: 96% / 1800-ish, 97 keys
- Keycaps: dye-sub PBT MOA profile
- Switches: KiiBOOM Mossy (37gf silent linear)
- Case: molded ABS (PC variants)
- Typing angle: about 6 degrees, two-stage feet
- Mounting: PCB gasket-mounted
- Plate: PC with flex cuts
- Stabilizers: plate mount
- PCB: hot-swappable, south-facing per-key RGB
- Sound: 5 layers
- Polling rate: 1000Hz (wired & 2.4GHz), 125Hz (Bluetooth)
- Software support: QMK/VIA
- Connectivity: tri-mode wireless, 8000mAh battery (2x4000mAh)
- Dimensions: 406x115x41 mm
- Weight: 1.2 kg
- Price: from $105 (5% coupon: KBDNEWS)
Disclaimer
I received this review unit for free which may introduce all kinds of biases – both negative and positive in my experience. Take everything I write with a grain of salt.
While the deskmat in the photos is the Bob Ross Mountain Ridge Lake one from Apos Audio, KiiBOOM offers a cute matching froggy deskmat for only $10 (when bought together with the Phantom 98 Lite). Check it out to max out the picnic-in-the-meadow vibe.
Variants
Three variants with not just different colorways but also unique theme, mood and even keycap set:
- Clear/frosted: with PC Cherry caps – the most universal offer.
- Green: the froggy one in the photos here, for silly folks like myself.
- Pink: translucent case, with the MAO-Meow, whatever – kitty keycaps.
I'm pretty sure that the Green one is ABS, and the other two variants are PC. The product page and manual is a bit ambiguous on this topic.
Unboxing & Contents
The KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite came in a very nice cardboard box as usual. Outer cover, magnetic opening, stuff arranged nicely and safely:
Contents:
- The pre-built keyboard itself with keycaps and switches mounted
- dust cover
- white braided cable
- basic combined tool to remove keycaps and switches
- wireless dongle (in a magnetic compartment)
- hefty manual
- small microfiber cloth (branded this time)
- 2x spare switches
- 6x extra keycaps
- sticker pack
Actually, a lot of stuff in the bundle.
First impressions, design language
I really love the theme, have specifically asked for this variant again after the very similar Phantom 81 Lite – that was instantly grabbed by my daughter after the review so I can't compare the two now. :D The keyboard is a nice massive one despite the ABS housing. Relatively heavy, sturdy, and the out-of-the-box sound and feel is surprisingly nice for a plastic board – at least if you are a fan of the dead-silent, soft sound and feel.
The MOA caps match the round edges of the case well. There's a decorative stripe above the arrow cluster, concealing the wireless dongle holder by the way, perfectly matching the theme.
Layout
With its 1800-ish design (ANSI), featuring 97 keys, the KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite features almost all the keys of a standard fullsize keyboard, while optimizing space by getting rid of about two columns of the navigation cluster – snapping together the main alpha area and the numpad. All essential functions remain in place and are easily accessible for users transitioning from a fullsize layout. That said, the larger than usual bevel of the case adds about 2 cm to the width, but its still about 5 cm narrower than a 100% board. (And about 7 cm wider compared to the 75% Phantom 81 Lite.)
The classic 1800 layout usually retains the offset arrow cluster, squeezed between the alphas and numpad, making space for the right arrow key by shrinking the numpad's zero key to 1U size. A good example of this classic 1800 layout is the acrylic Phantom 98 (non-Lite), reviewed earlier. This specific layout of the Lite version is a bit different. It features a vanity stripe between the two zones, about 1U wide, so the numpad zero remains a 2U key.
The arrow cluster is not entirely offset, but not the cramped one either: it has the small gap on the left (only two mods on the right side of the spacebar) – so you don't get lost when changing between the home row and arrows. In addition, this arrangement makes the whole layout more even, orderly – grid-like.
1800 means you have numpad, function keys and full number row, pretty much everything except for the classic navigation cluster – however, four of its keys appear above the numpad.
I wouldn't worry about the "missing" keys as this is a programmable keyboard, and the functionality is there.
Keycaps
The familiar MOA profile set I've already seen on the 75% variant – now I know what designer Cosydiaries had in mind for the numpad.
Dye-sublimated PBT, meaning not the most coveted doubleshot, but pretty nice and thick. Many of the caps are five-side printed. I love the funny colors and theme of this specific variant with all the frogs, flowers, butterflies, etc. (The translucent pink variant comes with the kitty MAO profile caps, and the clear one with transparent Cherry caps.)
With regards to keycap compatibility, the 1800 layout should be widely supported if you opt for a premium keycap set. Maybe watch out for the right Shift, which is the size of a Caps Lock key (1.75U).
Switches
The board comes either with KiiBOOM's 40gF linear Mochi switches (tested earlier on the Phantom 81 Lite) or the 37gF silent Mossy one. I opted for this latter. If it means anything, my coworkers were blown away by the feel, but they are muggles.
Anyway, a nice light, smoothish, silent switch with some considerable wobble in both directions and a typing feel silent-skeptics would probably call mushy – it's on par with some community-favorite silent liners I could find around my desk though (TTC and Akko models).
- Actuation force: 37 gf
- Bottom force: 43 gf
- Pre-travel: 2 mm
- Total travel: 3.5 mm
- Top housing: PC? translucent
- Bottom housing: PA?
- Stem material: POM?
Feel free to use the most recent best-selling mechanical switches, or your personal favorites. The PCB features hotswap sockets, so you're not restricted to the factory setup as you can easily swap switches without soldering.
Build quality, structure, case
Solid build quality. The whole thing has a decent mass despite being plastic. I mean, 1.2kg is quite authoritative, almost exactly the weight of the full aluminum 60% IQUNIX EV63 HE reviewed recently.
The mounting relies on gaskets, and the case – at least my green one – looks shiny. The other two variants are translucent, both PC I guess.
Typing angle: about 6 degrees by default, plus two stages thanks to the adjustable feet.
Disassembly
I still don't have any idea how to disassemble this kind of boards safely, without damaging the case. It definitely wasn't designed with easy disassembly in mind: the top and bottom parts seem to be snapped together without any screws.
I really hate this approach from the reviewer's point of view, but we are speaking about a pre-built keyboard, so customers won't bother with disassembly anyway.
Structure & Mounting
Gasket mounting according to the specs and an exploded image you can find on the product page. The PC plate features protruding parts with silicone gaskets sitting on the perimeter of the bottom case. This design allows for some extra flexibility and cushioning, which usually results in a softer typing experience. That said, the silent switches already provide enough softness.
Plate
PC plate. Some relatively short horizontal flex cuts enhance the board's flexibility, resulting in a softer touch and altered acoustic properties.
Stabilizers
Plate-mount stabilizers. Not sure about screw-in stab support of the PCB, but you won't disassemble this board anyway.
I don't have any complains, the relatively homogeneous sound and feel provided by the stabs is pretty satisfying and a bit surprising as well. I encountered much worse stabs in expensive boars that cost twice the price of the Phantom 89 Lite.
PCB
This is a prebuilt keyboard so most of you won't need to get to the PCB – and I didn't want to ruin the case either. The PCB is sandwiched between thick layers of foam. It features hotswap sockets and south-facing LEDs. Maybe some flex cuts too, but that's only my guess based on the overall feel and flexibility.
Bottom weight & Feet
No fancy weight, no extra weight whatsoever, just the clean and simple plastic bottom case this time. And a silvery sticker.
Sound dampening & feel
Latex sandwich foam, IXPE switch pad, PET sound dampening film, bottom foam, and finally bottom silicone. Together with its gasket-mounted structure and the silent switches, the Phantom 98 Lite ensures a soft and cozy typing feel while delivering an absolutely muted non-sound. I really have to hit hard to hear anything.
RGB lights
This keyboard is equipped with south-facing RGB backlighting, which combined with the light diffuser and translucent milky top housing of the switches, plus the PC plate, creates vibrant and adjustable lighting that boosts its visual allure.
Plenty of colors and patterns, I have lost count somewhere above 40.
If you fancy even more light, opt for the translucent clear or pink case variants.
Connectivity
The Phantom 98 Lite is a tri-mode wireless keyboard (Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless, and USB Type-C wired connections) with 8000 mAh battery (2x4000mAh) – in contrast to the single 4000mAh battery of the Phantom 81 Lite. There's a mode selector button on the back of the case, but I can't see any dedicated on/off switch to disconnect the batteries.
General warning: If you use your wireless keyboard permanently connected, please read this article about built-in keyboard batteries and how to avoid fire – for details, tips, and horror stories.
Basically, keeping the board plugged in constantly leads to accelerated degradation of the lithium battery. You have to follow proper battery care practices, so you should remove or disconnect the battery if you don't need wireless functionality.
Check the battery for swelling regularly, even when disconnected or removed – however, the Phantom 98 Lite makes this pretty hard.
Dongle compartment
The lid of the hidden compartment is metal. You have to push the very top 1-2 cm, quite hardly, to remove the lid.
The dongle inside is kept magnetically in place.
Software
Programmability, and especially having QMK/VIA support, is always nice. Maybe it's not crucial for some of you, but the majority of humanity – typing in multiple languages or rocking custom keymaps – appreciates it. That said, KiiBOOM is on the list of vendors violating the QMK licence – keep this in mind when purchasing this keyboard.
Anyway, if the factory settings don't meet your needs, you have the option to customize your keymap – after uploading the necessary JSON file.
SpaceFN has been tested and works as expected. This single layer can be a real game-changer, putting arrows, navigation and numbers under your fingertips.
Portability
The Phantom 98 Lite is a great board for your desk, but if mobility is your main concern, I would choose something much smaller and lighter. Sure, its wireless features make it portable in theory, being slightly more compact than a fullsize keyboard may help too, however, there are plenty of much smaller boards out there, better suited for on the go.
Comparison
The 1800 layout is relatively rare. I tested the KiiBOOM Phantom 98 (non-Lite model) which is a whole different board compared to the Lite one. It's acrylic, features a rotary knob, it's designed more with lighting in mind.
Other boards with similar 1800-ish form factor are the Kemove K98 1980 and the MelGeek Modern97. Both come in plastic housing, the K98 is a simpler one, but the Modern97 is pretty fancy in many aspects – I'd say a premium plastic board if that makes sense. Check out the related reviews if you like this layout.
Conclusion
The Phantom 98 Lite is a nice offer from KiiBOOM if you look for something in this relatively rare form factor. If you fancy the silly design (or any other variant) and don't need an even heftier aluminum case, the molded ABS matches the funny froggy theme perfectly. A 96%/1800 wireless keyboard with gaskets, flex cuts, and nice silent out-of-the-box typing experience. The hot-swappable switches, MX compatible keycaps, and QMK/VIA support make this board highly customizable. That said, if you don't need the numpad and prefer something more compact, check out the 75% Phantom 81 Lite with the same vibe.
Pros
- cute and consistent theme with the green color and frogs
- nice build quality
- highly customizable (hotswap, MX, VIA)
Cons
- no easy way of disassembly
- no easy way to disconnect or check battery health
Price & Availability
The KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite is available for $108 $105 – use the KBDNEWS coupon code to claim your 5% discount!
- KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite product page
- The KiiBOOM x Cosydiaries Rainy Froggy Day keycap set is available separately as well
- Bob Ross Mountain Ridge Lake deskmat from Apos Audio.
- Related review: Phantom 98 (non-Lite version)
- Related review: Phantom 81 Lite
Published on Thu 14th May 2026. Featured in KBD #211.
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