Disclaimer

KiiBOOM sent me the Phantom 98 Lite mechanical gaming keyboard to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Moonshadow V2 mechanical keyboard and the Cypher 29 gaming keypad. I’ll also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you click on it before you buy anything.

Table of Contents

What’s in the Box?

  • Phantom 98 Lite
  • Dust Cover
  • Stickers
  • Branded Cleaning Cloth
  • 2 x Extra Switches
  • USB-C to USB-A Braded Cable
  • Wireless Dongle
  • 6 x Keycaps
  • User Manual

Unboxing

Features

If you’re looking for an adorable frog themed mechanical keyboad that not only looks good, but is also packed with utility, check out the KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite.

Aesthetic

Kiiboom once again proves why it is the best looking brand when it comes to high end feeling affordable mechanical keyboards. The newest color of the Phantom 98Lite, the adorable frog themed green, is sure to make a splash against any backdrop. This addorably themed keyboard features 97 swappable keys. The Moa profile keycaps not only enhance the keyboard’s cuteness, but provide the user with a comfortable typing experience. These dye-sub PBT keycaps have been manufactured to stay looking great, even through your sweatiest team fights. As a nifty little feature, the wireless dongle is securely stored under a cute magnetic frog themed plate that ties the whole look together rather nicely. Now, this wouldn’t be a gaming keyboard without a little RGB. The beautiful south facing rgb, that you can of course switch off if you don’t want to enjoy the light show.

Comfort

The Phantom 98 Lite comes out of the box with the ideal typing angle for most users, but the adjustable kickstands are ready for those like me who prefer a steeper angle. The layered gasket design is designed with enough sound dampening to keep your neighbors from beating down the door during your midnight raids. The keyboard is currently available with the Mossy Silent switches, with Mochi switches planned for late April for those who prefer a little typing ASMR. The switches are soft the reduce typing fatigue, and the Moa keycaps are contoured to make typing feel extra delightful.

Performance

This gaming keyboard promises low latency connections for both its wireless and bluetooth connections. The Phantom 98 lite can switch between 5 different connections quickly and easily. Gamers can enjoy a healthy gaming session with the impressive 8000 mAh battery. When the battery eventually runs out, gamers can enjoy the snappy wired connection with the included braided cable. Best of all, the keyboard offers official support for both Mac and Windows devices, and even includes extra keycaps for those who don’t want the windows keys. Most importantly, the Phantom 98 lite is VIA compatible for additional utility. Users can easily remap, rebind, and program useful macros to improve their workflow.

Sound Test

Review

If you are looking for keyboards that fit a cute cozy aesthetic but are also backed by their quality, then you are looking at KiiBOOM. I have yet to be disappointed by one of their products, and the Phantom 98 lite is no exception. This keyboard is not only the cutest thing to hit my table, but it is one of the most comfortable. If you are looking for something affordable and like the frog aesthetic, get yourself the Phantom 98 lite.

Aesthetic

This keyboard is adorable. I love the cute frog theme and the color. The keyboard has all of the keys I need for my workflow without feeling too big. I don’t really use Mac devices, but I appreciate that I have the option to swap out the windows keys if I’m feeling froggy. Most importantly, the high quality of the keyboard makes it very good option for those trying to upgrade their aesthetic.

Quality

Out of the box, this keyboard feels like it is more expensive than it is. The keyboard comes in fun, clean packaging that makes it feel like a premium product. The gasket does have a little flex to it, but nothing that is noticeable when typing. It is cleanly machined like the keycaps and switches. The keycaps are all printed very cleanly with a clear and legible font. Sometimes, these cutesy themes use fonts that are hard on my dyslexia, but not today. The printed images are all cute, and none of it feels like it will fade or smudge in the near future. Eventually, you will have to replace the keycaps, but luckily everything is easily swappable. At this price point, you aren’t really doing better.

Performance

The keyboard worked great. I did not notice any ghosting or malfunctions in my two weeks of testing. The connections were fast and responsive, and I was able to do my GW2 grind comfortably and without issue. Battery is excellent and I was able to get about 8 hours of continuous use out of the box, and about the same after the first charge. I did add a few shortcuts I needed for work through VIA. The process is easy and it gives the Phantom 98 lite it’s versatility.

Comfort

Comfort is where I have my first issue with the keyboard. It isn’t the most uncomfortable keyboard I’ve used, but I wouldn’t get this keyboard if you need better ergonomics. I have a repetitive stress injury that flares if the ergonomics are not right, and unfortunately, the Phantom 98 lite triggers it. This is a problem that is unique to me and other people with similar hand issues, normal people won’t notice the pain. The keyboard is comfortable enough to get a good amount of work done, but I am left with some soreness. If you aren’t suffering from a similar injury, the keycaps feel really good to the touch, the switches are light, and typing angle is excellent.

Conclusion

The KiiBOOM Phantom 98 Lite is an excellent keyboard for those who want a cute frog themed keyboard that works well and is high quality. My only complaint is that I don’t have access to dial for volume controls, but the keyboard has built in shortcuts to mitigate its absence. If you don’t need special ergonomics and like the design, you are getting a high quality cute keyboard that you will absolutely fall in love with.

You can pick up the KiiBoom Phantom 98 lite on the official KiiBOOM store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.