RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK84 Wireless Bluetooth/2.4Ghz 75% RGB
RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK84 Wireless Bluetooth/2.4Ghz 75% RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Three Modes Connectable Keyboard with Hot-Swappable Tactile Brown Switch
Package List
- 2 x Magnetic Pad Foot
- 1 x 2 in 1 Keycap & Switch Puller
- 4 x Replacement RK Switch
- 1 x Type-C Cable
Detachable Pad Foot
The tested comfortable Ergonomic 8°angle might not meet every users’ need, so we give them another option to choose. Add a magnetic pad foot or not, is up to your definition of comfort.
Diverse RGB Backlit
21 onboard RGB backlit modes selectable for your different playing needs. 5 levels of brightness and flowing speed adjustable for any cases. Lights up and enjoy your own RGB vibe.
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keys Layout | 61 keys | 68 keys | 87 keys |
| Connection | Bluetooth (3 devices) | Bluetooth (3 devices) | 2.4Ghz Wireless |
| Backlight | Blue | Blue | RGB |
| Size | 289*103*39mm | 309*103*39mm | 360*135*39mm |
| Weight | 0.59 kg | 0.6 kg | 1.10 kg |
| Battery Capacity | 1450 mAh | 1450 mAh | 1850 mAh |
| Weight: | 1 kg |
| Dimensions: | 35.2 x 17.5 x 4.8 cm; 1 Kilograms |
| Brand: | RK ROYAL KLUDGE |
| Model: | 072998043 |
| Colour: | White |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Manufacture: | RK ROYAL KLUDGE |
| Dimensions: | 35.2 x 17.5 x 4.8 cm; 1 Kilograms |
+ Keyboard feels good and durable.
– There is no mention about how much time the keyboard wait before going to sleep when disconnected from device.
– Power off switch is below the keyboard which is not practical to use on a frequent basis. If we know the time it waits to go to sleep, we can confidently keep it on.
– Software download page is not using the model number present on the keyboard, instead something different based on keyboard type which is quite confusing.
– I tried to download the multiple softwares from the download page which I feel based on the keyboard type. But none of them detected the keyboard. Though the software is opening but it is not usable since it is not detecting the keyboard.
Ottima
Ottima tastiera, c’ da dire che il layout non italiano e i tasti con layout italiano sono difficili da trovare ad un buon prezzo come quello pagato per questa tastiera. Ho preso la configurazione con switch rossi e sembra che siano abbastanza sensibili anche se non premuti fino in fondo. Ottimo l’hub USB ed ottimo anche lo switch che consente di collegarla in vari modi. Fino ad ora non ho avuto nessun problema. Unico neo, quando i led sono accesi non viene segnalato il Bloc maiusc. Provata anche con il tablet e cellulare e non ho riscontrato nessun problema. Consigliata
Value for money
I absolutely love this keyboard. I currently have the Nuphy Air 75, which is also amazing but more expensive as well. The Royal Kludge is very good compared to the Nuphy Air 75. The build quality is good despite being mostly plastic.
The height is quite big but is still comfortable to use. The red switches are perfect and works as expected. Response time of the keyboard is good, it wakes up immediately after sleeping. Like 0.2 second delay, which is amazing. Rgb is great. Only thing I do not like is the position of the Home and End buttons. But they can be remapped, so not a deal breaker.
Sound grea
Sound is great and overall typing experience is good. Only thing I found disappointing was that the rgb is not that bright.
Review after 1 week:
Returning it because the RGB sucks. Almost can’t see it when sunlight is shining on the keyboard. I saw some video’s of the white version, and the RGB is much better on the white keyboard then the black.
Who would like this keyboard
-someone new to mechanical keyboards who may or may not want to mod it
-someone who likes mechanical keyboards but doesn’t need the fanciest, most expensive, or most trendy keyboard available
-someone who wants the flexibility to connect wirelessly, but won’t mind plugging in when latency matters
Who would not like this keyboard
-people who don’t like mechanical keyboards or who don’t think that mechanical keyboards feel better than the alternatives
-people who want to spend as little as possible on a keyboard and don’t care what the typing experience is like
-people who are willing to spend a lot of money on the best keyboard available
-people who want to build their own keyboard from scratch or want to heavily customize a stock keyboard with all the latest features (like gasket mounts or knobs)
-people who have to have what their friend or a particular YouTuber uses.
Why
-doesn’t seem like most of the people who are really into building and customizing mechanical keyboards are inclined to mention Royal Kludge as an option. I’m not sure if it’s just somehow a lesser known brand in those circles (since they sell complete keyboards on Amazon rather than kits at electronics stores or specialty sites) or if there is a perception that it’s a subpar brand.
-wireless connectivity is fine, but not great. The connection using the 2.4ghz dongle in particular is very subpar. It’s not completely unusable, but it’s unreliable enough that I would never choose to use it when Bluetooth is available. There is a noticeable difference in latency between wired and wireless use.
-most of the replaceable components do seem pretty cheap. The keycaps still had little bits of plastic from where they were detached from the mold. The included switches are their own brand and they are good enough, but need lube and feel a bit loose. The stabilizers are also just ok, not horrible, but not great either. There is no foam, no gasket mount, which are features you see on more premium boards. The baseplate is pretty nice though, heavy and solid enough to give the keyboard some good weight and keep everything held nicely in place.
-75% seems to be one of the least popular layouts. I like that it is the smallest form factor that doesn’t give up any dedicated keys, including the F-key row, but it’s barely any smaller than a TKL layout, some of the keys are in unfamiliar locations (unlike a TKL) and it’s a bit harder to find aftermarket keycaps that fit it. If you want all the keys in a small form factor, you’re likely to prefer a TKL and if you are willing to give up some of the lesser used keys, you’ll probably prefer a 60% or a 65% layout. Also, there are no dedicated media or macro keys, not even a volume knob like many of the more recent designs seem to feature.
-RK software experience is quite bad. I don’t actually know how well the software itself works. I saw enough people saying it wasn’t good or even messed up their keyboards and the experience of finding and downloading the software seemed sketchy enough that I decided not to use it. Out of the box compatibility using whatever generic driver Windows 11 picked seems just fine though and there are enough RGB presets built into the board that I don’t mind not having the manufacturer’s programming utility installed. I suspect the poor software might be one of the reasons that keyboard enthusiasts generally seem to give RK a miss.
-It’s got a nice solid weight to it and doesn’t flex or move around when typing. It is a bit tall and doesn’t have integrated legs. Instead, there are separate feet that attach magnetically. I didn’t notice any wobbliness with them attached, but it seems like some might develop over time if I were to use them for an extended period of time. If you don’t like having a tall keyboard, you might want to get a wrist rest.
-the detachable shroud is a nice customization feature if you’re not sure which style you would prefer
-hotswap, especially with the ability to handle both 3 and 5 pin switches, is nice to have and definitely not a given at this price point
Overall, I have been happy with this keyboard. I suspect there are other keyboards in this price range that I would have liked just as well or better, but this one has not disappointed me. I have done several mods to it to improve on the stock experience, but if you’re not a person who wants to do that, I don’t think you’ll feel like it’s any worse than other keyboards you might have used in the past or can buy from other brands for about the same price and it certainly won’t hurt to have the flexibility if you need to replace some components or decide to mod it in the future.
Buenos estabilizadores
Lo utilizo para mecanografa con switches azules, a pesar de no tener los mejores del mercado se sienten muy bien, sonido correcto, no especialmente alto y buenos estabilizadores sin ser top de gama.
Ich habe die mechanische Bluetooth-Tastatur bereits ausfhrlich getestet und bin wirklich beeindruckt von der Leistung und dem Komfort, den sie bietet. Mit dem kabellosen Betrieb ist es wirklich praktisch, sie zu Hause oder unterwegs zu verwenden, und die Verbindung ist wirklich stabil und schnell. Die Tasten reagieren schnell auf jeden Tastendruck, was ideal fr Tipp-Arbeiten ist. Durch das mechanische Design der Tastatur ist es einfacher, genau zu wissen, wann eine Taste ausgelst wird, was ein groer Vorteil bei der Nutzung von Tastaturen im Allgemeinen ist.
Die Tastatur ist auch sehr vielseitig und funktioniert gut beim Spielen von Videospielen auf dem Sofa. Durch die einstellbare Hintergrundbeleuchtung der Tasten, ist es auch in dunklen Rumen einfach, die Tasten genau zu erkennen. Die Leistung der Batterie hlt auch lange, was ein weiterer groer Pluspunkt bei kabellosen Gerten ist.
Insgesamt wrde ich diese Tastatur auf jeden Fall empfehlen, da sie eine perfekte Mischung aus Leistung, Komfort und Flexibilitt bietet. Wer auf der Suche einer neuen Tastatur ist, die kabellos bedient werden kann und manchmal Videospielen auf dem Sofa spielt, ist mit dieser Tastatur bestens bedient.
Muy buen teclado
Muy buena calidad del teclado, tiene solidez y es muy rgido y estable. Encantado con el tacto de los switches y las teclas, me ha gustado mucho la respuesta que tiene.
Y tambin muy completo de funciones como el indicador de batera en las teclas numricas, los 3 modos de conexin, los 2 puertos USB traseros, etc. Muy contento con la compra, muy recomendable.
Teclado de grande qualidade
Teclado do tipo 75%, em plstico de qualidade, com ps reclinveis, com um peso superior ao normal e com grande rigidez estrutural. As teclas e os seus interruptores so superiores aos teclados vulgares e do satisfao ouvir. O layout internacional, ou seja no tem (espanhol) ou (portugus) mas a minha habituao foi rpida.
Alm do mais este teclado possibilita fazer muitos mods o que o torna um artigo que pode ser para o pblico geral mas tambm para interessados em hardware personalizvel como por exemplo teclas com esquemas de cores diferentes ou interruptores mais ou menos silenciosos.
Este teclado tem ainda 3 modos de se ligar aos aparelhos que podem ser PC ou android e pode operar completamente sem fios em 2 desses modos. No meu caso o modo com fio normal acaba por ser o mais usado.
Tem iluminao RGB muito visvel como diversos modos, que pode tambm ser desligada.
No inicio estranhei por ser um formato mais pequeno mas a habituao foi rpida e atualmente consigo trabalhar melhor no RK84 do que nos teclados tradicionais.
I had a wonderful experience with the customer service. Iris was very helpful when I had problems with my keyboard and replaced with a new one
I had a wonderful experience with the customer service. Iris was very helpful when I had problems with my keyboard and replaced with a new one
I can't praise this keyboard enough. Do a YouTube search and watch a few videos on it. It's quality and such a great price! If I need another keyboard RK will be my first choice
I can’t praise this keyboard enough. Do a YouTube search and watch a few videos on it. It’s quality and such a great price! If I need another keyboard RK will be my first choice
Royal Kludge RK84 - Review
PROS:
– Bateria de 3750mAh, o que totalmente incrvel considerando a qualidade do teclado em si j. Existem vrias opes de escolha no que toca a teclados wireless/bluetooth mas pelo menos no que toca a durao de bateria, este bate recordes. Utilizando pouco RGB (maioritariamente noite apenas) conseguiu durar cerca de 3 semanas (21 dias), isto sem ter carregado anteriormente (veio com 80% bateria na caixa).
– Switches lubrificados de fbrica
– Hotswap
CONS:
– Software de configurao podia ser melhorzinho, mas… no deixa de ser funcional no estado em que est.
RECOMENDO!
Simply the best for any needs, lots of mod options. Love i
Simply the best for any needs, lots of mod options. Love i
Item only needed to move within state, arrived two days early. New in box as advertised, highly satisfied with product.
Item only needed to move within state, arrived two days early. New in box as advertised, highly satisfied with product.
When I got this keyboard was not expecting to much, but the keyboard came with extra switches, keycap puller. Although the price is more on the higher end especially for Royal Kludge brand, overall the keyboard was great and it came in different ways to connect the keyboard and its hot- swappable.
When I got this keyboard was not expecting to much, but the keyboard came with extra switches, keycap puller. Although the price is more on the higher end especially for Royal Kludge brand, overall the keyboard was great and it came in different ways to connect the keyboard and its hot- swappable.
Uno de los mejores teclados calidad/precio
Es un teclado mecnico de muy buena calidad. Las teclas son de abs pero tienen un tacto muy agradable. La iluminacin es muy personalizable y tiene una intensidad muy buena.
Uno de los puntos ms buenos que tiene es que es hotswap, es decir, que se le pueden cambiar los interruptores porque es una buena opcin si quieres probar varios tipos o customizarlo.
I use this keyboard mainly for writing. I am OBSESSED with the clicking of the keys and the lighting effects. I haven’t used it to play games yet. This was the best money I’ve ever spent on a keyboard.
I use this keyboard mainly for writing. I am OBSESSED with the clicking of the keys and the lighting effects. I haven’t used it to play games yet. This was the best money I’ve ever spent on a keyboard.
Exelente teclado
Muy buen producto, les recomiendo descargar el software del teclado RK84 PRO 75% en la pagina de rk royal kludge si no les funciona los otros software.
The Final boss keyboard!
I’ve tried 5 different 75% boards. This keyboard has absolutely everything.
Magnetic kickers
Software for RGB/macro/shut off timing
Wireless
Beautiful sounding switches
Removable board plate
Minimal branding
Easy swap switches
2 usb ports and a type C at top of board
Truly a 10/10 keyboard if I ever need another board I’ll be re-buying this one.
I've had this for one month, and it works great.
I’ve had this for one month, and it works great.
Hasta ahora sin problema.!
Lo uso para jugar y para el trabajo hasta ahora todo funciona de maravilla.
Muy buen artículo, software obtenido por soporte tecnico
El teclado es impresionante, la calidad de fabricacin y terminacin, por el precio est genial. La nica pega es que el software disponible en la web oficial estaba obsoleto… nada que no se arreglara contactando con soporte tcnico, los cuales de forma muy rpida me proporcionaron el correcto.
El software tambin esta bastante bien, muy configurable.
When from skeptic to fan with a single button press
I wasn’t really sold on mechanical keyboards, I don’t care about clicking noises or clicking “feeling”, I’ve never had an rgb keyboard or really anything with a retail value over $20.
But I wanted a more compact keyboard for my desk and after a lot of research on membrane via mechanical and specifically good introductory/gateway budget mechanical keyboards- I landed on this one.
It took one (1) key press to fall in love.
First, it’s gorgeous. The lights are bright and reactive and there are so many programs to choose from.
Second, it feels amazing- I was shocked at how immediately I could tell this was better. It’s buttery soft and so sensitive to pressure, it’s made writing so much more enjoyable.
The only “downside” is having to relearn how to type more delicately, I’m actually obsessed.
Probably the most beautiful keyboard I’ve seen. The white is a bit sketchy for me because of how dirty it can get but the color and the white makes my boyfriend set up gorgeous. It’s the finishing piece to his set up & love it!! It’s loud and clicky which is what he loves, but man it does get annoying lol
Probably the most beautiful keyboard I’ve seen. The white is a bit sketchy for me because of how dirty it can get but the color and the white makes my boyfriend set up gorgeous. It’s the finishing piece to his set up & love it!! It’s loud and clicky which is what he loves, but man it does get annoying lol
he support for this keyboard was phenomenal was able to fix my problems and overall was satisfied, Thanks Idris for all your help🙏🏽 this is definitely a good starter keyboard
he support for this keyboard was phenomenal was able to fix my problems and overall was satisfied, Thanks Idris for all your help this is definitely a good starter keyboard
I am extremely happy with the product and am happy that I stumbled across the RK84. This is the best keyboard you can buy for the price. I do however have a few "clacky" keys that don't sound as nice as the others. These sounds mostly come from the keys with stabilisers such as the spacebar, though I can't hear it anyway with my headphones on. Luckily this keyboard is super easy to mod and I was planning to do so with some lubrication to make a nice thoccy sound all around.
I am extremely happy with the product and am happy that I stumbled across the RK84. This is the best keyboard you can buy for the price. I do however have a few “clacky” keys that don’t sound as nice as the others. These sounds mostly come from the keys with stabilisers such as the spacebar, though I can’t hear it anyway with my headphones on. Luckily this keyboard is super easy to mod and I was planning to do so with some lubrication to make a nice thoccy sound all around.
Gran teclado a buen precio
Teclado mecnico inalmbrico de tamao reducido que funciona perfecto sin latencia y una batera que dura un montn de horas. Es configurable mediante su aplicacin de pc y tambin se puede usar con cable. Lo recomiendo.
Fantastic All Around Keyboard
Amazing RGB control, clicky keys, connects via USB-C, Bluetooth, OR the USB receiver included, rechargeable, hefty so it doesn’t slide, 2 additional USB 2.o slots on it, and all the multimedia controls I use daily. Plus, swappable switches and keys!
I’m still getting used to using it since I’m not sued tot he smaller form-factor and I’m accidentally pressing the wrong key all the time, but I’m quickly getting used to it.
Insane Value
Best combination of features at this price range, in a brand I’ve actually seen elsewhere. Hot swappable with bluetooth for well under $100? Are you kidding me?
I’ve only used it for a few days so far, and I’m pretty impressed with the quality for the price. This thing feels like a more expensive product, with quiet action (could be smoother, may consider lubing), a solid plate & case, and a clean UX. My only complaint is that even after charging it overnight it still only gives three blinks when plugged in (the manual says it’ll blink 5 times on a full charge). Could be that I’m missing something, or just a small defect in the firmware. Either way, as long as the battery lasts I’m happy with my purchase. 10/10, highly recommend.
Qualidade boa, vasta opção de cores e personalizações
Eu gostei de absolutamente tudo exceo do preo. Confesso que tive me habituar ao toque das teclas por ser muito sensvel ao toque, mas estou muito satisfeito com a construo e dar opo de cores do RGB o som de clique bastante agradvel incluindo a tecla de espao! Uso para jogar, programar e navegar na web claro e estou a gostar bastante! Recomendo bastante.
This is my first mechanical keyboard which is indeed a huge upgrade over the conventional ones with regards to the typing experience. I've been using it for a couple of weeks and the only drawback I might say is that you need a wrist pad for this keyboard because it is elevated and it's not very convenient for long uses. Customer service was needed for a request and it was quick, helpful and friendly!
This is my first mechanical keyboard which is indeed a huge upgrade over the conventional ones with regards to the typing experience. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks and the only drawback I might say is that you need a wrist pad for this keyboard because it is elevated and it’s not very convenient for long uses. Customer service was needed for a request and it was quick, helpful and friendly!
Un 75% molto buono
Questa la mia seconda tastiera meccanica, la prima era una a switch blue che avevo comprato quando ne sapevo poco di tastiere e ne avevo comprato una alla cieca, questa l’ho comprata dopo tante ricerche fatte.
Devo dire che non per niente male, ho comprato gli switch marroni perch mi piace la sensazione del click dopo aver cliccato un pulsante (senti proprio di averlo cliccato a differenza dei switch rossi).
L’applicazione che si pu scaricare dal loro sito per non il massimo, puoi modificare il binding dei tasti, inserire delle macro, modificare il layout dei colori sulla tastiera ma il fatto che sul mio schermo 1366×768 si vede male, viene tagliato il 20% dell’applicazione e non la posso utilizzare.
I keycaps poi si muovono un pochino perch secondo me c’ uno spazio tra la gamba dello switch e l’entrata del keycap.
Dopo una settimana che la utilizzo poi si sente gi che gli switch si sono consumati un po’, non so come spiegarlo ma si sente di pi il suono *crick*.
Infine, ricordo che il layout della tastiera inglese, quindi non ci sono scritti i caratteri degli accenti proprio per questo, ma se cliccate il pulsante quando utilizzate il layout italiano nel computer vi esce la lettera accentata.
Quindi, una buona tastiera, soprattutto per il prezzo e il layout del 75%, se avete tempo e denaro per moddarlo per diventa perfetta.
I have the RK61 and RK84. At this price you can't be wrong because the platform and hot swap sockets are trouble free and i think the key-switches are TK which are super consistent feeling (my standard is Akko pink v.1). So keep it stock or customize it with swithces (don't forget the SPRINGS) and keycaprs, it gives you every option, and you might actually like stock.
I have the RK61 and RK84. At this price you can’t be wrong because the platform and hot swap sockets are trouble free and i think the key-switches are TK which are super consistent feeling (my standard is Akko pink v.1). So keep it stock or customize it with swithces (don’t forget the SPRINGS) and keycaprs, it gives you every option, and you might actually like stock.
I travel for work and work from home a lot. this keyboard is great it fits in my go bag easily. the keys are great the texture is a little weird but you can replace the keycaps with no problem plus the switches are combinable with 3 and 5 pins so if you just wanted to get into trying different switches and getting into customer keyboard this one is great I hate using laptop keyboards having this fit right in the same bag is great. plus it does not take up any more room on my desk for the keyboard. overall I'm happy with the keyboard.
I travel for work and work from home a lot. this keyboard is great it fits in my go bag easily. the keys are great the texture is a little weird but you can replace the keycaps with no problem plus the switches are combinable with 3 and 5 pins so if you just wanted to get into trying different switches and getting into customer keyboard this one is great I hate using laptop keyboards having this fit right in the same bag is great. plus it does not take up any more room on my desk for the keyboard. overall I’m happy with the keyboard.
Keyboard is fantastic, Bluetooth, wired, and USB work great. Brown switches are tactile and satisfying without being loud. One thing that I don't like, if your charge gets low all the wireless modes stop working. Even when plugged in it doesn't work so make sure to keep it charged. That being said, the charge is pretty great, maybe ~4-5 days on full charge.
Keyboard is fantastic, Bluetooth, wired, and USB work great. Brown switches are tactile and satisfying without being loud. One thing that I don’t like, if your charge gets low all the wireless modes stop working. Even when plugged in it doesn’t work so make sure to keep it charged. That being said, the charge is pretty great, maybe ~4-5 days on full charge.
This a great keyboard for a great price. I keep the rgb backlight at the 3rd dimmest position, which is a good brightness that is quite visible in direct overhead indoor lighting which you can see in the picture. At this setting, the battery lasts incredibly long, like well over a week, to the point where I can’t remember the last time I had to plug it in.
I replaced the keys with doubleshot pbt pudding keycaps. You can find them on Amazon under “YMDK ANSI ISO PBT Doubleshot Shine Through Pudding Keycaps Suitable for MX Mechanical Keyboard Corsair Razer DK SF KBD75 68 Keychron (White Pudding Full Set)”. I wanted to make sure I mentioned this because it’s a bit hard finding a set of keycaps that fit this, a few keys like the R Shift key are an unusual size that a lot of typical key sets don’t have. They look and feel great. It took a little getting used to, but I love this 80% form factor. I have a laptop sleeve that this can fit into and I take it with me to the office when I can because I much prefer this keyboard to what my office provides.
The only problem I’ve really experienced is that every so often, I’ll push a key like “enter” and it will keep pushing enter until I push another key like Esc. I don’t think this is a problem with the physical key as it does not feel “stuck”, maybe it’s a bluetooth issue as I haven’t experienced it with a wired connection. Maybe I need to clean it more often, idk. It’s a little annoying but not a big deal and it happens rarely. I know this would probably be a dealbreaker for gaming but you should use a wired connection if that’s what you’re doing.
The brown switches are great for typing, I’m a controller gamer so I can’t say if it’s good for gaming. I also tried the red switches but they were a bit too sensitive for my taste. Overall, fantastic keyboard if you’re looking to try out a mechanical keyboard.
i just replaced my wired Coolmaster keyboard wit this one. having one less cable on the desk is always a welcoming thing. the keystroke is a tad bit too soft to my taste comparing to my old Coolmaster keyboard, the typing feels a hair less confident and i am still taking time to adjust (I can't conclude it's because it's wireless or the key design). but the build quality, set up, easy to use are all 5stars.
i just replaced my wired Coolmaster keyboard wit this one. having one less cable on the desk is always a welcoming thing. the keystroke is a tad bit too soft to my taste comparing to my old Coolmaster keyboard, the typing feels a hair less confident and i am still taking time to adjust (I can’t conclude it’s because it’s wireless or the key design). but the build quality, set up, easy to use are all 5stars.
Great customer service
Very good keyboard. A lot of features at a great price. Unfortunately, I experienced a manufacturing issue, but the Customer Service team at Royal Kludge were amazing and resolved my issue very fast, exceeding my expectations.
Great keyboard when connected by USB
I first bought this keyboard for a PC setup I was working on and I liked it so much I bought one for my office workspace as well. I first started having issues with the keyboard connected via 2.4G that it would start not recognizing the key strokes, then it started repeating the letters after having clicked only once. This also happened in games, where I’d press “W” once and it would just keep on going. I tried everything, including buying a USB extender to place the receiver as close to the keyboard as possible but that didn’t help. Then I tried pairing the keyboard using Bluetooth and the problem persisted. I went as far as to try to factory reset and reinstall firmware but that wasn’t possible as self-solutions are not widely offered for keyboards. Although 2.4G and Bluetooth give me trouble, the USB-C connector works flawlessly, which is what I’m using right now to type this review. The keyboard feels super sturdy, well built, and great to type with.
I’m giving the keyboard 4 stars because the one I have at home doesn’t seem to give me as much issues when connected via 2.4G or BT as the one I bought for my office, although I don’t use that one as much as I mainly game with a controller.
eally good however recommend switching switches inside
switches inside was a bit too loud,switch to brown and it is pretty great keyboard now
The best keyboard I have ever had!
Perfect keyboard! Very sturdy, very effective in terms of connection and very satisfying to type on!
Perfectio
After spending a whole weekend of researching mechanical keyboards, switches, key caps, features, and just about everything out there, I settled on this one. After about a week of using it, I can say this is one of the best keyboards on the market.
The value is wild. After looking at numerous keyboards that are 2x-3x more expensive than this one and with half the features, I just had to give this one a try. Unboxing it, this product just feels very compact and premium. The key caps and switches feel and sound pretty nice. I think it could use some modding and/or changes to switches/key caps to get the exact sound and feel I want, but out-of-the-box, it is great. The backlighting on the default key caps look very pretty, and I like the option of removing the frame.
The numerous options for connecting is probably my favorite feature of this keyboard. Whether you go wired, Bluetooth, or 2.4Ghz dongle, it just works seamlessly. My favorite has been the 3 available saved profiles for Bluetooth. Working from home most days of the week, I love that I can pair it to both my home desktop and my work laptop, and with a simple hotkey, immediately switch between those two workstations. It must makes for such a nice solution without needing KVM or anything extra.
Beautiful keyboard that I will be using for a long time
This keyboard is basically the greatest purchase I have ever made when it comes to electronics and that’s quite something because I am notoriously very stingy with my money.
I am only now getting into becoming a keyboard enthusiast/ hobbyist but from the tremendous amount of research that I did before actually buying this keyboard, it seems like this one is the smartest buy possible (especially the hot swappable version) I was pretty excited to take it apart and mod it but to my tremendous shock it feels soo good out of the box that I feel like it would really be a waste to take it apart so quickly.
I had some contact with customer service to get a link to the software for this keyboard because it seemed like the link was broken at the time but they were very quick to respond and very helpful which is a huge plus.
Anyway this is a 10/10 no matter how I look at it.
The customer service is grea
I got this keyboard last December but just around a week ago I found that a few of the keys weren’t working or lighting up. I sent a pretty detailed video to customer service showing the issue and they sent me a new one without me having to send the old one. So A+ there.
About the keyboard itself, the switches and keycaps it comes with are not that amazing, but considering most people are just using this keyboard as a base and adding their own higher quality ones, it doesn’t really matter as it’s still really good for the price.
Also note that when I got the replacement, I noticed one nice difference between the new and old one. It seems the newer models have foam preinstalled both between the plate and PCB and also in the empty space in the case, which is incredibly useful as you won’t have to DIY a solution yourself, saving lots of time.
This is the best bang for your buck keyboard
I’m writing this review with the keyboard a few hours after dropping a whole glass of water on it. I managed to take it apart, dry it out and clean any oxidation off the back of the board and immediately use it. Now, I’m not saying this will work for everyone but I’m incredibly happy it did for me. I’m mostly mentioning this to highlight how easily taken apart it is and highly modular it is.
For games, it’s really good but I would suggest that if you’re into shooters or any other games that require super low latency, just connect it with the cable. Don’t rely on the bluetooth. I’ve noticed that when I’m “Jiggle peeking” which basically means I’m alternating between the ‘a’ and ‘d’ keys very quickly it seems to lag on a certain output for a bit.
When it comes to the RGB, it’s good. Not amazing like the expensive brands out there, but it has the basic necessities and the colors that every other KB has.
buen teclado para customiza
buen teclado de entrada si empiezas en mundillo de teclados mecanicos, los swiches que tare son decepcionantes (switches tactiles de muy baja calidad) pero ya consideraba cambiarlos desde un inicio, de ahi en mas el teclado es muy bueno
Great choice for your 1st mechanical keyboard.
Had initial problems with Mac functionality, but once I got that sorted out this keyboard has been a dream. Compact form factor, and the sturdy build have been highlights.
It does seem to be an all plastic build, but it does not feel cheap. Sounds good, though I plan to add new keycaps and do a foam mod to dappen just a bit more. The RGB is good and has a lot of presets, though I do wish it were a bit brighter.
If you are using this with Mac Mini, make sure to attach 2.4 connector directly to your Mac Mini, not through a dongle or anything like that. This may lead to problems for those running off of Mac laptops because the 2.4 is USB type A and I believe you may experience the same problems with the dongle connection (though I am not 100% sure)
If you are looking for a keyboard to be your first mechanical, or a base for modding for the first time, I highly suggest this one.
RK84 is good for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard.
****update****
Il’ve been though 2 of these in the last 6 months, and I do not recommend this keyboard if you want hot-swappable. Every time I changed out the switches, the keyboard broke. A diagonal row of keys stopped working. The customer service was good, and I replaced the keyboard, but the next time I replaced the switches, the keyboard broke in a different spot. Just to make sure there wasn’t something wrong with the keys (or me!) I bought a different brand and switched the switches. No problem.
Everything else worked great. Well, except for the 2.4 wireless. (see original review)
****update****
I can verify that the 2.4 wireless is pretty weak, but the Bluetooth and Wired modes work fine. All the keys work, it’s hot swappable (verified) and the plastic skirt pops off if you want to paint it or just leave it off for a switch and key look.
I like the size, and it’s not very rattly. RK84 is good for an inexpensive 75% mechanical keyboard.
Great value for what you get, a bit clack but it will do.
I have had the keen for about a week and it is amazing to type on, like, night and day from the keyboard integrated into my laptop. The switches are a bit light and while this is understandable if i’m not mistaken they are 40g and switches like mx reds are 45. It makes it quick for gaming but i have mostly been using it for typing and will have to switch out the switches in the coming months, but it is great for what you get. The keycaps have a nice feel to them, even for ABS, although the doubleshot part is only at the top and this makes them sound just as clacky as regular abs keycaps due to thinness.
Mine actually came with pre-lubed stabilizers, with a good tubing job, however they might need to be clipped and band-aid modded for better sound. The spacebar is really loud, again, due to thinness and unloved switches.
There was also foam between the plate and the PCB, as well as some foam under the pcb, however there is more open space near the back as it is thicker there so there is air between the foam, pcb, and the battery/daughterboard and so they keys tend so sound clackier as you move towards the function row, not helped by the taller keycaps. It would be wise to put more in the back should you purchase it.
Overall, it gives a great typing experience and sounds really, really good if you like clacky keyboards. Definitely would recommend.
Almost perfect…
TL:DHTR – Defect: number 8 and 9 keys don’t work
Probably my first and last review on Amazon as I don’t really care to write reviews.
I am kind of hesitant on buying electronics online. The hassle of contacting sellers/vendors and the shipping of merchandise back and forth that’s already been paid for. I’m always afraid something expensive is going to get lost in transport.
Anyway, I saw some reviewers mentioning that they were having issues with one or more of their keys not working. I took a gamble anyway since I’ve been wanting a decent keyboard for awhile to use with my PS5 to chat on the rare occasions that a game supports text chat for the shy people who refuse to use a headset.
BTW, yes this is compatible with PS5 through Bluetooth, if you’re looking for one.
Long story short, my number 8 and 9 keys don’t work.
Other than that, the keyboard looks amazing. I’ve contacted the seller/vendor and hopeful they will contact me and resolve this. So wish me luck, else I’d have to go through Amazon for a replacement, might have been the simpler solution.
UPDATE:
RK reached out to me, got myself a replacement. I’d have to say, I’ve never been so impressed with customer service. They quickly responded and sent me a replacement in no time. I would definitely recommend this company/vendor to do business with.
Amazing
It’s a beautiful keyboard. But it has a big fault. The keys repeat and sometimes don’t register meaning when you press a button it doesn’t react. And it also gets stuck so the keys end up like thisssssssss with repeated letters. There’s no way to fix it. I ended up returning mine as this was a big issue for me. Too bad
Happy with purchase
Everything I was looking for in a keyboard in terms of the balance of features to cost. I’ve seen reviews saying that the dongle had terrible range, but on the board I have it seems to work perfectly within 5 meters. I even tried hiding behind a few objects and it still held up. I do a lot of gaming, and I percieve 0 lag when wirelesss.
The sound of the keys isn’t great out of the box (not that I ever cared before I started researching mech keyboards and peoples obsession with the “thock” polluted me) but it didn’t sound terrible. I also appreciate the minamilist design.
I think they’ve fixed a lot of the issues in the newer iterations of this board. For instace, everyone gripes that the software is trash. If you have a board that starts with 21 in the serial number you download one version of the program, and another version for older models. I don’t have a ton of experience, but the 21 software was pleasently surprising. It let me make my own rgb patterns/animations, create macros, and assign colours to keys. I don’t think its as robust as other software, but I’m good with it.
I also think they started adding foam in the board in later models, to take away some of that hollow feeling. Haven’t cracked mine open to see yet though.
The only thing I really regret is not trying out the brown switches first. I have a feeling I’d like them better then the reds, but thats the beauty of a hot swap keyboard.
The keys themselves are fine. The legend on them is legible, and the doubleshot abs will hold up. But they do have a cheap feel and clackity sound. I imagine they’ll also get greasy eventually, like every other abs keyboard Ive had. Will pick up a nice set of pbt caps eventually.
All in all, great value wireless keyboard that allows for modifications down the line. If I had a bit more patience I’d wait for the keychron k8 pro, which comes with everything plus pbt caps and compatibility with very popular tuning software, but I’m happy with this purchase.
Great keyboard for the price and great customer service
I’ve had this keyboard for almost a year and I’m very happy with my choice. I thought it was risky considering the low price and less well-known company, but it has been solid.
Even without using the software for customization, there’s still a good number of colors and control over brightness, lighting pattern, etc. is good. Mine has red switches, which feel nice and are easy to type on. Aesthetically, I’ve been really liking the simple white so much I haven’t even considered new keycaps.
A great introduction to mechanical keyboards, so I thought, but now that I’ve had it for almost a year, I’m not sure that I really even need to upgrade (though I’m sure some who know more or care more about keyboards would obviously disagree with me). I use it primarily for work, but also for gaming, and it performs well in both uses.
One feature I forgot about is that not only are the keycaps removable, the switches are removable as well. Not only does this mean you can take it apart and customize the keyboard how you see fit, it really makes it easy to clean thoroughly.
As for the customer service, I had an issue with one key backlight, and they were very responsive and help me remedy my issue much faster than anticipated.
5/5 – would buy again, and recommend to anyone looking for a good entry level mechanical keyboard
Amazing budget mech keyboard for modding
This is my second mechanical keyboard I have bought and it is very solid due to the modding capability. The body is very sturdy for plastic and there no rattle at all although I would recommend using some case foam to add to the solid sound and make it sound a bit less hollow.
If you are moving over from a laptop the red switches are usually a safe bet although if you fall down the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole you will find that changing the switches out to something better will always be the case. The pre lubing on the stabilizers is not great so it is recommended to clean and lube them again as it helps reduce rattle. The rgb lighting is very customizable and very bright which is great although do bear in mind that it is a north facing led which will cause interference with cherry profile keycaps if you plan on buying keycaps.
The noticeable cons are the software and the 2.4ghz connectivity range. Personally I use my keyboard plugged so I didn’t mind the short range and the rgb modes can be switched through keyboard shortcuts so you can work the keyboard without the software.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to buy a mechanical keyboard and if you are looking into keyboard modding, this is a really solid beginner friendly product and saves desk space without sacrificing the F keys.
Good quality mech keyboard
For this price, can’t complain much.
Smooth and thocky from the box, but there’s room for mods/upgradability.
Switches aren’t the best, decent.
The main plus imo is the usb ports and the bezel being removable.
Nice
I wanted a TKL wireless keyboard for gaming. This is that. It’s good.
First one had issues, second one much better!
The first RK84 I received quickly developed some problems with repeating keys (getting multiple characters when certain keys were pressed). This occurred even when I tried replacing the switches in question. The seller sent me out a new one and I’m pleased to report it works much better, so I may have just had a “lemon” the first time.
In addition to working better, I noticed the new keyboard also had a couple improvements over the prior one:
– a foam layer added between the plate and PCB to help reduce hollow noise
– much better stabilizers. The first unit had somewhat translucent white stabilizers on the larger keys that were very loose, and would rattle and wobble. The replacement I got has different ones that are a solid white and *much* more stable, exactly what you want in a stabilizer.
So I am a happy customer (for now) and am revising my rating upward accordingly. I will update this review if this unit develops any more unreliable key stuttering. If you have any problems like that, be sure to let your seller know and perhaps they can assist.
Overall, “bang for the buck”, this is a solid keyboard and one of the cheapest wireless models on the market with swappable keyswitches. Mine came with the brown keyswitches that are kinda average, but that’s a non-factor for me as I prefer Kailh switches and have replaced mine already. It’s a great entry point into modding keyboards or you can run it just as it is.
Great features at the price poi
It is a perfectly good out-of-the-box keyboard for most users. You get a nice looking keyboard with a very solid feel, good on-board functionality, three connectivity options which all work fine, an included USB HUB and a nice battery. But where it really shines is expandability and customization. You can turn it into whatever you like. It is really easy to swap the switches for something you prefer, the tools are included and I had no problems using many other kinds switches. Same goes for the keycaps obviously. The skirt is removable as well, so you can mod it however you like. The disassembly is easy and intuitive and I had no problems tinkering with the device. It is a great springboard, you can turn it into a keyboard with a 1000$ feel by just upgrading whatever you feel is necessary such as switches, stabilizers, keycaps, additional modding etc. If that’s not what you fancy, you can just use it as stock and still have a good experience.
This is not to say it doesn’t have shortcomings though, the software is not that great and the stock keycaps are where they seem to have cut costs. But then again, the software has essential functions such as lighting control and macros. And you can just switch the keycaps with whatever you like if you prefer to do so. Overall these shortcomings were non-factors for me.
One last thing to note is that the first keyboard I received had a minor problem, so I had to contact customer support to resolve it. And I have to say it was THE best experience I’ve ever had with customer support from any company. I had a completely new keyboard shipped to me, without any additional cost, in just 2 days. So obviously they take any potential issues very seriously.
Overall really happy with my purchase and would definitely recommend.
Keyboard works great, software does no
The keyboard it sturdy, heavy, solid and robust. The keys work most of the time with 2.5gh dongle. A little slow. Whilst plugged in it much much better. For my normal day to day I use the dongle, when I game I plug it in.
The software for the keyboard is in shambles. It barely works in the best of times but once you get used to how bad it is, it gets the job done. The good thing about it is once you spend the time getting it how you like it you don’t need the software anymore.
The keyboard came in a regular keyboard box that included an instructions sheet, a keycap puller, some extra switches, a usb-c charger and two magnetic elevating feet. You have to lube the switches yourself if you want that smooth typing experience though. The stabilizers were a bit wobbly. The keyboard has north facing RBG lights but the brightness is great (if you use keycaps that lets through light, not so bright if you use normal keycaps which isn’t that big of a problem for me personally). There are lots of different settings and colors to choose from. I tried both bluetooth and 2,4gHz connection and both worked just fine. The cable connection worked too, of course.
Everything seemed fine until I realized a key didn’t work. It wasn’t a defect switch (because I tried changing switches) but there was something wrong with the board itself. So I contacted the seller and got sent a new keyboard right away. Had to wait about a week for the keyboard to come back in stock and another week to arrive. It was understandable since this all happened between the holidays. The seller was very helpful and understanding! Service was great!
I would definitely recommend this keyboard if you’re looking for one that’s hotswappable, can be used wireless and has a good price for its value! Only thing to keep in mind is that you have to manually lube your switches, otherwise the typing will sound a bit dry and hollow. But definitely worth your money!
Overall amazing keyboard.
I love this keyboard. The LEDs are amazing, super bright. I’ve used this for light gaming so far and the red switches are slightly mushy, most noticeable on the enter and backspace keys. This isn’t a problem for me as I’m changing them soon. I haven’t noticed any software bugs/issues so far but I’ve only used it twice. I really recommend this keyboard for anyone to be honest, the 2.4g reciever is alright but like other reviews anything over around 2 feet isn’t good, keypresses aren’t registered at all or they are late. I’ve not used it with bluetooth, and I only plan on using it wired. Keycaps feel alright but they’re nothing amazing. This is a great board to build off of, and anyone can use it to be honest.
Enjoyable typing experience with linear switches
Simple design with no annoying frills.
Very customisable.
Red switches are pleasa
Mejor de lo que me esperaba
Mi primera incursin al nicho de los teclado mecnicos, disposiciones, perfiles de teclas, switches y dems, saba de estas cosas muy por encima graciass videos aleatoriamente vistos a los lsrgos de los aos atrs y finalmente opt por dar el salto (Gran salto por cierto).
Timar la desicin de qu driver comprar fue bastante dificil en especial con este en especfico gracias a los controversial que son su reseas por sus apartados de conectividad pero aqu van mis experiencias:
Yo hice la compra de este teclado a finales de octubre y lo recib a primcipios de noviembre tras decidir cancelar el envio de otro keyboard el cual en su momento pas a ser mi primera opcin tras la constante observacin de los problemas de conectividad que comentaban cientos de usuarios en foros y reviews de YT, no obstante al final decid arriesgarme con este puesto que tras todo lo recopil de infirmacin, el teclado “a priori” solo sufra de problemas por sus drivers y me alegra haber cmabiado de opinin a ltimo momento puesto que para nada he tenido problemas desde el instante en el que lo saqu de la caja, conect y encend y asi hasta el da de hoy con ms de 1 mes de uso (Ya veremos en los consiguiente meses).
Revisin de apartados:
– Construccin, no tengo mucho que decir, su peso y solidez son bastante siprendentes, el plstico no se le ve de mala calidad, difucil de flexionar y probablemente puedas partir un par de cocos con este teclado sin demasuado problema.
– La disposicin 80% es exactamente lo que buscaba, teclado de tamao reducido ya que el pad numrico solo tiene sentido si haces contabilidad a mi parecer, y yo que estudio programacin agradezco el deshacerme de las TK y conservar las teclas de funcin.
– Switches RK Red y el perfil de teclas; hasta donde tengo entendido lo switches propios de Royal Kludge intentan simular a los gateron y suelen decir que los primeros no son malos pero tampoco nada destacable, funcionan bien y se siente slidos y en lo que a mi respecta, no soy un entusiasta de esto an, soy muy nuevo en cuanto a la experiencia propia se refiere, pero eleg los rojos porque me gusta la respuesta rpida, directa sin sensacin “clicky”, muy contento con ellos y las teclas ABS de perfil OEM se sienten cmodas aunque algunas de ellas tenian pequeos defectos de fabricacin en su parte baja (Los bordes de terminacin inferiores que dan hacia el tecladi) en el da a da ni se nota.
– Conectividad, no tengo ninguna queja aqu… Tri-mode, con un dock que aade 2 USB tradicionales para conectar otris dispositivos (Solo cuando el tecladi est conectado via usb al pc) , conexin bluetooth 0 problemas, unos 10 metros y muy rpida (Aunque la ms “”‘lenta””” de las 3, aun podras jugar a un shooter si lo quisieras y no notarias la diferencia a menos que juegue competitivamente en altas esferas, el dongle funciona excelente a una distancia de mxima de unos 8 metros, de ah en adelante empieza a perder pulsaciones aleatoriamemte, estando en el escritorio es el mtodo que suelo usar tanto para jugar como para programar y tipear siempre, y la conexin por cable, pues… Ya te la puedes imaginar, raro ser que llegue algo fuera de sitio cuandi me toca usarla a causa de quedarme sin bateria.
– Batera, a no ser que mantengas el RGB encendido, este bicho dura lo suficiente cimo para que te olvides de que se supone que debes cargarlo (Si no fuera poruqe cuando est bajo de carga la tecla FN comienza a parpadear en verde.
– Caractersticas varias, el RGB tiene un brillo decente, nada dle otro mundo pero me cumple perfecto para el tipeo nocturmo que es para lo nico que lo uso, que sea HotSwap me deja la posibilidad de modificarlo a futuro lo cual es muy buena feature, el marco desacoplable es otro detalle de diseo bastante cool y por ltimo los accesorios, un key puller muy normal y, las patas traseras, un agregado que se agradece tener aunque habra preferido las del tipo built-in, la altura del teclado es algo mayor de lo que me esperaba peri con el tiempo me acostumbr al igual que su inclinacin as que no suelo usar las patas.
Estoy ya es muy extenso as que me detendr aqu, simplemente les animo a darle una oportunidad y si no quedan satisfechos siempre lo pueden devolver :).
very nice keyboard for this price
This keyboard offers fantastic features for this price. Wired, bluetooth, 2.4. mine is red switches which has nice sound, box had extra 4 red switches. for wired connection it’s type c and was included too.
layout is nice doesn’t lack arrow, function or “home’ “end” keys.
is has fantastic colors and modes to choose from, for more detailed customisation it needs software, which is normal, looks like beta one but actually offers per key color customization,. macros and updater. this doesn’t have spare keys for those macros but you can map that to included ones.
doesn’t know battery life yet, but i think it doesn’t include indicator.
some keys when set to white, are not consistent may be little bit different from one next to it.
bluetooth connection seems stable, so is wired, don’t know about 2.4 yet,
it was 1.3 kilos, but because of metal frame, which is nice quality.
backlihts can customize levels, colors, speed, modes.
keyboard itself doesn’t have built “steps” to rise, but are included in box which can be attached, not perfect but wasn’t deal breaker for me.
i am very satisfied with this purchase, i waited for sale and had about 20$ discount on friday. but i think this is priced nicely even with it’s base price.
update :
i had some issues with this keyboard and wanted replace/refund but it was shipped outside states so for refund amazon asked me to return which included too much additional fees, but royal kludge support were supportive and refunded item after saw the issue, it took some time they responded slowly, but at least they helped me. don’t know what’s the issue, it’s only on windows i think not on android. after few reconnects, keys don’t type, only function + shortcuts . but when i reboot my computer keyboard is fine, and when it’s fine, it’s very nice. i hope this was case only with my keyboard + computer combo. thanks for support. must note that amazon offered additional 20$ for return fees, but didn’t need as royal klude refunded my item.
Great keyboard with a ton a features for the price!
For the price the amount of features this keyboard comes with is amazing, the Rk red switches I got with my board feel very nice and smooth.
– The only cons I have with this keyboard is that the software for this thing is pretty crappy and could use some major work. In the software I set the RGB to never turn off (by default it turns off every 5 mins) and while I’m glad that they at least have this feature it sucks that when putting my PC to sleep they still stay on… so I have to unplug the keyboard every time I go to bed.
– The last thing is that even with a Bluetooth 5.1 adapter in my PC there is still a very noticeable input latency while gaming in Bluetooth mode, so I have chose to keep it wired. This is the first Bluetooth keyboard I have used so I’m not sure if that type of latency is normal for BT keyboards or not but it makes playing any kind of online competitive game out of the question while connected with BT. (btw my PC is right next to my keyboard so it is not a distance latency thing.)
Other than those two cons I am very happy with my purchase of this keyboard and plan to easily upgrade it with new keycaps and switches down the road thanks to the useful hotswap feature!
Great value, fantastic customer suppo
This keyboard is awesome. It’s the perfect layout to have all the keys you need while leaving room on your desk, it’s comfortable to type on, hot-swappable switches, nice keycaps, and is built great for the price. I use it wired and bluetooth and both work as expected.
I’m on my 2nd keyboard now because the first one had a bad Home key (was like it about 1 month in, but dealt with it for 5 more months). Switching the switches didn’t fix it so I knew it was the board. Customer support was fantastic! Only have 3 emails back and forth to confirm the purchase number and a few quick troubleshooting techniques, they sent me a new keyboard and it showed up in a few days while also letting me keep the old one, no return needed. This essentially gave me a full free set of keycaps and switches! Super generous on their part! With a 2 year warranty and customer support like this, you can’t go wrong with this thing.
The only reason I gave it a 4 star instead of 5 is because the software used to customize the lights, keys, etc. is terrible. It feels like they built the app in a week and never looked back to improve it. It gives enough options to get by but those looking for something more robust, the software may be a deal breaker for you. The other point of reduction is the QA on these boards. I have a feeling I’m not the first or will be the last with the problem. Comparing keyboard1 and 2, the newer one I have sounds slightly different and the lights move way faster than the first one… which may be a software issue instead of a QA issue but still, I get the sense these come flying off the manufacturing line lol
Solid keyboard
I really like this keyboard, good build quality and beginner friendly to upgrades
I have upgraded it with a foam mod and got Akko ocean blue switch in it I wasn’t a fan of the stock red switches, the stock keycaps were really bad cheap abs plastic making it greasy and there was a bad shine over 3 weeks, so I upgraded to Akko wob keycaps.
I am going to start by saying that I am typing out this whole review with this keyboard (but the keyboard is fully modded, but I will get to that detail later). Let’s start with the basic features of this keyboard. I mainly use all of my keyboards with the USB-C cable connected (for competitive gaming reasons) but the wireless connectivity options are a plus. Tested the 2.4 GHz USB Reciever mode. The mode does not have the best low latency input but it is a minor latency. The range for the USB Reciever Dongle is not usable at a long distance. Definitely must use close-range for optimal usage. The Bluetooth connectivity is a bit better than the USB Reciever for sure. But basically for everyday usage and single-player gaming is fine, but I would not use this keyboard in its wireless modes for fast First-Person-Shooter game though.
As for its built quality, I would say the RK84 is decently fine. Every stock components about it (as in its plastic build, its switches, its stabilizers, and its keycaps) are roughly the same in feel and sound as any other basic mechanical keyboard out there. So the switches are relatively audible and scratchy when typing and the stabilizer in the large keys (as in the Spacebar key, Left Shift key, Back key, and Enter key) can rattle quite a bit. But for most regular consumers, that might not be too noticeable or become a problem in everyday usage. Other than that, the stock RK84 itself is great for everyday consumers and the stock keyboard is sturdy and surprisingly a bit heavy for a plastic build (which is good as the keyboard won’t move around as much). Everything about the keyboard works as intended.
Now for the “fully modded” part that I mentioned at the beginning of this review. I recently started getting into the world of custom mechanical keyboards but I am by no means a pro keyboard enthusiast (yet). However, I do mod and upgrade all of my keyboards to make them feel smoother and sound better (it is not recommended to disassemble a keyboard if you don’t know what you’re doing without watching some videos first). I have 2 other keyboards that are also fully modded as well; my secondary budget keyboard: Redragon K530 and my daily driver high-end keyboard: Glorious GMMK Pro. I got this keyboard because of the “budget” recommendation from a few pro keyboard enthusiasts on YouTube. I say “budget” but $80 is still relatively high for a keyboard to regular consumers. I guess it is “budget” when compared to other custom mechanical keyboards that are $100+ for just being a barebone kit like my Glorious GMMK Pro. Anyway, I digress. I would highly recommend this keyboard over any other “budget” keyboard because it has the correct hot-swappable feature for anyone looking to dip their toes a bit into the world of custom mechanical keyboards and modding them in the future. I say “correct hot-swappable” because this keyboard’s PCB actually can support numerous brands of switches like:
– Gateron switches
– Cherry switches
– Durock switches
– Novelkeys switches
– Kailh switches
– and etc.
Unlike other budget keyboards that only support one type of hot-swappable switches. An example would be my Redragon keyboard that is technically hot-swappable but only hot-swappable with the same brand of Outemu Switches or something similar like Akko Switches.
Some of the modifications I ended up doing to the RK84 were:
– Adding 2 layers of PE Foam (roughly 1.5-1.6 mm or 1/16 inches thick each layer) to the bottom inside of the plastic case.
– Adding 2 layers of Masking Tape to the bottom of the PCB (as shown in the picture).
– Adding a Keyboard Switch Sound Dampener Foam (84 key layouts) between the PCB and the metal plate (as shown in the picture).
– Taped down a single layer of PE Foam (roughly 1.5-1.6 mm or 1/16 inches thick) between the PCB and where the stabilizer would hit the PCB to dampen the sound of impact.
– Switched the stock stabilizers with Durock Plate Mount Stabilizers (Clipped and Lubed with Krytox 205g0).
– Hot-swapped out the stock TTC Red Switches with Gateron Ink V2 Black Switches (Lubed with Krytox 205g0 + added Deskeys Switch Film)(as shown in the picture).
– Switching out the stock keycaps with Glorious Aura V2 Keycaps.
After hours of modding the keyboard to its fullest potential, I managed to make this keyboard feel smoother and sound thockier than it ever has before (as shown in the video). The mods I made to this keyboard made it so much better that I replace my budget Redragon K530 (which is also similarly modded) with this fully modded RK84 to be my secondary keyboard.
Couple of minor things to note:
– The advertisement for the keyboard stated that it is an 80% keyboard. This is not true. Although 75% and 80% are similar, the key layout of the RK84 is that of a 75% keyboard. For a more detailed difference between what a 75% or 80% keyboard is, you can Google search that for yourself.
– While it is no major deal-breaker, I wish the keyboard has brighter RGB lighting. I have a Glorious GMMK Pro keyboard with the same switches and keycaps and it is a lot brighter than the RK84.
– The RGB LED on this keyboard is north-facing so there might be some keycap interference (depending on what kind of keycaps you’re using. The Glorious Aura V2 Keycaps that I use for this build has no interference issue at all.)
– I know the RK84 Pro has it but I wish this regular RK84 comes with the aluminum frame as well. It would have made this board feel even more high quality. (I would get the RK84 Pro but I like the 2 USB pass-through ports that this regular RK84 has).
– To fully mod this board, as I did with mine, would cost you an additional $100-150.
Good keyboard feel, sensible features, just works
As a keyboard for extensive typing, this is excellent. Keys are clicky but not overwhelmingly so, key feel is comfortable but without a really strong tactile bump. Mostly I use this as a wired USB keyboard (and hub to plug my mouse into); it does support pairing with multiple Bluetooth devices and running off batteries, but in this mode it sometimes takes a keystroke or two to wake up, and I do have the ports to plug it in, so I do and never worry about charging. The RGB patterns are simple and not very programmable but perfectly adequate – mostly I prefer low-level constant illumination. Some of the colours come apart if you look past them quickly but these are easy to avoid. Occasionally the keyboard needs to be restarted to notice it’s been connected to USB; turning off the battery makes this automatic (because then it turns off when unplugged). Overall it’s an excellent keyboard for a modest price.
I’ve been using the RK84 keyboard for at least two months now and I held off on writing this review until I’ve had enough time with it.
Alright, so let’s address the elephant in the room first. Is the 2.4 GHz USB dongle so horrible that it’s unusable? Not for me. I’ve got a video uploaded to demonstrate that. Does this mean you’ll have the same experience? Doubtful, especially since we all have different sized monitors which enables us to move back further, but for me I can back up to impractical distances from my monitor, with LOS to the USB dongle, and still have no issues with connections.
The RK84 keyboard is loaded with features. The RGB has a lot of preset functions that most people won’t really need to chance themselves on flashing the keyboard’s firmware to the newest version and risk bricking their keyboard in the process. The RGB lighting is quite bright, so you can really enjoy things.
I’m still a novice in the world of mechanical keyboards, so I have no comment with the loudness of the keys. The enthusiasts will probably dislike the sound, but there are enough videos of how to open the keyboard up and add foam to the back, and lube the keys to dampen the key sounds and improve the acoustics. I’m not that hardcore though, but if that’s what you want to do then yes there is plenty of room inside the keyboard for you to do these modifications.
It’s a fairly heavy keyboard, which I personally find pleasant. Be aware that the two USB-A ports on the keyboard will not function unless the keyboard itself is plugged into your PC/laptop, if it’s on battery it won’t power your USB devices.
The Bluetooth connection is really convenient. Being able to swap between two different laptops AND my phone is a nice quality of life boost.
The magnetic feet that the RK84 comes has fairly strong magnets. You won’t have to worry about it slipping off during a frantic round of gaming. I’ve put it to the paces, those magnetic feet didn’t move an inch, so I’m pleasantly surprised.
The RK84 keyboard software is WORTH getting if you enjoy customizing your keyboard’s RGB, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for newer updates to see if they will increase flexibility. The software and the key extractor that can damage your keys is the area where I removed a star.
Pros of the RK keyboard software:
– There actually is a RGB, and it actually works for a product of this price range.
– Within the confines of customizable options, you can still do a lot of creative things with it. Some areas of the keyboard you can choose to glow a certain way, and others another way, or not glow.
– You’re able to create your own macros. BE CAREFUL if you’re going to use this within games. RK84’s software is not well-known by any stretch, if you’re using online you may risk getting accidentally banned by the anti-cheat when it scans your computer’s memory to see what’s running.
– You can also change what each key does.
– The software allows you to check if there are software and firmware updates, you don’t have to go to the RK website anymore to check.
Cons of the RK keyboard software:
– There is only a limited selection of glowing patterns in RGB customization compared to the preset ones (i.e. there’s a preset RGB option that glows or ripples from the key you’ve just hit. That’s not available for you to choose when you’re self-customizing your RGB setting. I hope they’ll update the software to let us do that)
– The software isn’t really intuitive, it took a while for me to learn. When you start customizing your own RGB profile, remember that you have to click on the key, or drag and select the keys you want to affect, and THEN select another RGB glow and THEN choose the RGB glow you actually want. Yeah, I know, this is awkward, and it’s why I thought the software was glitched when I first tried it. It’s not glitched. It’s just awkward.
– Apparently you need to have the RK software running in order to preserve your custom RGB settings. If you close the software and it shuts off to preserve power, it will lose the setting. So you might want to set the program to autorun, there’s a place in the settings to click that off. I don’t feel comfortable doing that though, I still don’t feel 100% with RK software from the perspective of cybersecurity.
– When your keyboard powers down to preserve power, it’ll also shut down your RK84 keyboard software.
The RK84 comes with some replacement keys in case you have a malfunction, and it also has a key extractor. BE CAREFUL with the key extractor! The quality is not that great and it has a tendency to dig and damage your key’s surface because the claw is that sharp. I’m thinking maybe I can tweak it a bit by dulling the edges, but I highly recommend you get a better pair of key extractor or you might be upset at the damage it can leave behind.
We don’t have nearly as much options as US consumer does here on Amazon, and our prices are a bit higher too. For the price range that this keyboard is going for, it’s a very competitive deal in 2021, especially for a 80% form factor. Sometimes the keyboard also goes on sale, so those times it makes this keyboard a very compelling one to get if you’re new to the world of mechanical keyboards.
I hope this helps answer some questions you might have about this product, and feel free to post questions in case I missed some points that you’re concerned about. If it’s within my ability and I notice it, I’ll come and answer it if no one else has. Have a good one!
Good produc
I bought this for my son’s birthday I found it extremely pricy but they offer me some discount later on , works great .
I am glad that their customer services is great .
great value, great customer suppo
he layout is perfect, no wasted space at all. lots of lighting options for whatever you need. unfortunately the wired mode on my keyboard doesn’t work but the wireless mode is just as good, and the battery life is unbelievably long.
and when I contacted them about the wired mode issue, they helped as best they could with quick replies. you really can’t go wrong with this
Amazing!
I love this product. I use it for general typing, programming, gaming and whatever else you can use a keyboard for. I don’t know why my experience with it has already been so great. Maybe it’s because I just switched from a clunky and flimsy membrane keyboard to this perfect creation. No regrets whatsoever. I already feel very comfortable using it. I feel at home. The best value for money and it’s easy to use. The RGB is amazing and my ears enjoy the sounds of the switches. Heck, all of my senses (except taste) have took a liking to this keyboard. Well done!
Great keyboard... But Stopped Working after 3.5 Months... New one sent!
Edit: their customer service reached out and informed me about a warranty! A new keyboard was quickly sent out and works amazingly. Great service
It was a great keyboard but literally stopped working while I was typing for no reason… It does not charge or even work when wired directly to PC. Very disappointing for its price 🙁
Feature rich starter keyboard that can grow with you
I got the RK84 and love the features it offers. Bluetooth with 3 profiles so I can switch to different computers/laptops/cellphone with ease. The 2.4ghz works great as of the September firmware update. I play Destiny 2 to farm/grind daily’s and it works like it’s wired. I use a male to female extended usb for the dongle however so the receiver is right under my monitor. Pvp you may err on the side of caution but you can still use this keyboard wired. With type C too, which they include.
Royal Kludge’s customer service is top notch as well, btw. E-mail them directly because amazon can make contacting them weird. Directly, they’ve been very helpful for my experience with the product. The RGB may not be as bright as you want. Compared to my old corsair k95 the RGB is a smudge under the middle brightness corsair setting. The frame bezel can be removed to make this a floating style keyboard, but beware of the white panel underneath the keys. I wish it was black but I understand why they went with white (to make the RGB pop more). With this bezel being removable I hope that they one day offer replacements here on amazon. Maybe even offer aluminum versions as well. Replacement parts in different materials and colors would be great so we can make our keyboards feel more premium/personal. ( Black pcb plate? Plate and pcb foam? Standalone aluminum chassis in the future??)
If you don’t want to download and utilize their software the keyboard can still cycle through some colors and patterns/modes. The FN+Fx shortcuts up top are so helpful personally. I mostly use the volume controls and the pause/play for streaming services. The double usb pass through is a nice touch too. If you use this wired you can plug in your wireless mouse dongle into the keyboard. In wireless only mode you can’t use the usb’s though.
If your keyboard works right out of the box I wouldn’t suggest the software unless you were having severe problems. All because I don’t seem to use it now. That, and the keyboard has onboard memory.
I don’t know what else to add, I just really appreciate what this keyboard has to offer. I love it, it works, and I’m looking forward to modding it more.
Great keyboard but software is sorely lacking
Edit: I originally gave this thing 5 stars but after a month I’m gonna have to knock it down.
The keyboard itself is great, built-in LED modes are awesome and the fit and finish feels good to me. Coming from my 5-year-old K95 platinum, the switches on this board feel more premium and less pingy to type on. If you’re someone who expects Apple level integration, this might be a little letdown. Nevertheless, I’m happy with my purchase. This thing has never had any real issues just some slight annoyances or “quirks.”
The “quirks”:
– The included dongle is crap. Just don’t use it. From a distance of 2 feet, it occasionally lags out which is unacceptable for a gaming keyboard
– After the computer is shut down, the LEDs will start flashing to notify you that Bluetooth is disconnected and will not stop until it falls asleep
– Even with a wired connection, it defaults to Bluetooth and falls asleep after a few minutes of inactivity. If inactive for a very long time, it takes a couple of seconds to re-pair with your PC. Windows will ding you every time this happens.
– I’m glad they offer software but it’s very barebones compared to what others are offering, but this is just a fact of life to expect when buying a keyboard from smaller manufacturers.
– Cannot lock fn key / invert F keys. I wish there was a way to do this so I don’t have to press Fn each time I want to change the volume
Great typing and gaming experience
I am not a crazy fan of customized keyboards but I did some research and really like this product.
I personally like 84 key layout because I use a macbook pro for work and this layout matches the macbook keyboard layout best. I need ESC and backquote key since I work as a software engineers so I prefer to having them on separate keys.
The key switches I got for mine are red switches. It has a small printed brand name RK on it. I saw other comments saying their switches are made by TTK but mine was not. Some reviewers say this is RK branded switches made by Huano. Overall these red switches feels pretty smooth and I believed they are pre-lubed very well. The press force is good for my daily work and gaming.
Hot swappable capability is one big reason I chose this product. After reading many reviews I kinda fancy some well-known switches like Kailh Box series or TTK gold pink. I will probably try other switches on this keyboard in the next few years.
I didn’t experience any 2.4g connectivity issues like mentioned in other earlier comments. I saw comments saying RK managed to fix them in the latest product batches. 2.4g works within a few feet range. Bluetooth connection was also good. For work I sometimes use 2.4g but for gaming I mostly use wired connection. All connections work fine with my macbook pro (macos big sur) and my windows 10 pc.
The keycap material is not mentioned on the package or in the user manual. I found some online reviews saying it’s ABS. The keycaps feels good but I am going to change to PBT later.
RGB looks as good as other RGB keyboards in this price range. Haven’t tried the software yet. I am not a RGB person so I will just keep RGB off.
Overall, for the <90 dollar price, this is a great deal. Other well known custom keyboard brands like Keychron or Epomaker are either more expensive or with fewer features.
I ordered both the RK68 and the RK84, the RK68 had blue switches and the RK84 has brown switches. The size of the RK84 is literally one key row bigger than the RK68, if it’s strictly desk space you’re looking for, I would choose the RK84 10 times out of 10. The placement of the keys is also much better on the RK84, on the RK68 the delete key and the print screen key should be swapped. It’s absolutely crazy that they would decide to place the print screen in the top right, and the delete key underneath that.
As for the connectivity issues that many people speak about with their dongles, get an extender or move the USB’s to somewhere other than the back of your motherboard. I have a Razer Orochi V2 and when that is plugged into the rear of the computer, I have significant connection issues. Much like every mouse I’ve ever used, besides the G Pro wireless. In order to counteract this, all you need to do is move your USB’s from behind all that hardware, to wherever the front USB is on your computer, if you don’t have that or those are full, get a desktop USB stand and plug it into that. You would need to do this with 99% of wireless receivers on the market anyway.
The range on the RK84 is about 20 feet to maintain perfect connection (i.e. every single key press will still be received). As for the ergonomics, if you haven’t tried either browns or blues, go with browns. If you’ve tried blues but not browns, go with the browns. If you’ve tried blues and reds but hated the linearness of the reds… go with browns. The blues are a little hollow sounding but are amazing to type on, however the sound that they make is enough to make you go insane if you have to write a 10 page paper like I have. The browns have enough bass to make you feel all funny inside, hitting the spacebar is like listening to the lowest voice in a barbershop quartet.
Overall, this keyboard is amazing and if you’re deciding between the RK60, RK68, RK71, and this one. Get this one. The battery life is so much longer that you will only have to charge it maybe once a week with moderate to heavy use.
Uneven painting
Very solid and heavy built.
pros
– very bright RGB, easy to use and change without requirement of a software
– fast switching between different Bluetooth devices. I don’t have to manually switch within my pc like most other bluetooths.
– USB C port and 2 USB A ports
– Additional keycap/switch puller, extra switches included , magnetic feets. removable frame to give you that floating keycaps effect.
– 3 different ways to connect, wire, Bluetooth, and dongle.
cons
– This is probably just a personal preference, but this keyboard sits sort of high and I feel like I need to use some sort of wrist rest. I have short fingers so I often find myself levitating my wrists just to type.
– windows key had a weird dot, which you could see in the photo.
– keycaps look unevenly painted, the top of each keys are more see through
– stabilizers aren’t great. They’re loud and a bit scratchy. I’ve opened my keyboard to check and they come pre-greased, but they either need to be replaced or lubed more, especially my spacebar and enter There is quite a bit of rattling from the stabilizers.
– bluetooth connection stops at around 4.3-5 ft
– Keycaps wobble a bit, noticeable if you’re gaming and need a tight grip on your wasd keys, not noticeable when typing.
This is my first mechanical keyboard so take this review with a grain of salt, but overall for a budget and hot swappable keyboard, it’s pretty decent. Definitely needs some foam as the keys sound a bit hollow, but it’s not too bad. I got the red switches and they’re okay. Way louder than I had expected and definitely doesn’t feel as nice as cherry mx switches.
Decent Wireless Keyboard
I have both the white and black versions, so this review applies to both. It works as expected and almost as wanted. The customization capabilities of the lights are weak, and the key re-mapping is limited. I haven’t used the macros. It’s rather bulky and heavy, but that’s not surprising with a battery two to three times the capacity of other wireless keyboards I looked at; for my intended use of the keyboard that’s more than a fair trade. Charging the battery must be done using a USB A to USB C cable, or with a USB C cable with a USB A adapter, otherwise it won’t charge. There is no battery level indicator, the space bar flashes when you plug in the USB cable, thrice if it is charging, five times when it’s done.
The white came with a combination keycap and switch puller, the black came with a standard keycap puller.
Both keyboards ship with bad firmware at the time of this review; the included image shows the symptom, when attempting to use your customized lights mode, of the bad firmware. Firmware updates are built into the customization software. The white was made functional by the software linked in the product description at the time of this review; it did not work with the black. I ended up doing a little research and found a more recent version of the software on the manufacturer’s website (en. rkgaming. com) which worked. Note that the customization and firmware flashing must be done over USB. I have not experienced the issues with Bluetooth and 2.4GHz that have been reported in other reviews.
So far, I like the keyboard for its intended purpose, writing documents on my Android tablet when I must be away from my Windows PC (I do not use the keyboard with my Windows PC as I need the keypad, not because of any issue with the RK84).
Great keyboard with useless software
So after I spilled a cup of water over my previous favorite keyboard (a G-Pro with Roamer-G switches), I needed to replace it. I tried to fix it, but I had owned it long enough that the keycaps had started to break off anyways. They were unusual keycaps, so the only way to get a direct replacement was finding a used one. A used roamer-g g-pro costs almost as much as a new gaming keyboard, so I started looking to see what else was out there.
Thus began my journey. Between now and the last time I was keyboard shopping the enthusiast community has become a lot more popular. After watching a lot of videos and seeing what custom keyboards could do, I was intrigued. So I started looking at recommended budget boards and came across this one. I really wanted something that would sound decent when typing and have hot swapping options so I could try some of the many, many switches out there.
Overall this keyboard has a really solid feel, which is why it sounds pretty good when typing. It doesn’t compare to some of the slightly more expensive 60/65% boards… but those have other drawbacks, and I needed my Fn and Home/End keys. I ordered some gateron yellows and stabilizers that I’m going to lube to make this even better. It’s already my favorite kb, and I haven’t even started modding.
Notes:
The backlighting is not super bright. Comes off very “matte”, but I like it. I tend to only use a little backlighting when it’s dark and the dimmest settings on bright keyboards are usually too bright for me. As of this review, the software is unusable (crashes on load) so you can’t rebind keys or change the color presets(update: reaching out to customer support they sent me a firmware patch and the software works now!). The key layout is XD84, which seems to have limited custom keycap sets (you can use a standard set if it has a 1.75u right shift key and 1u alt, fn and ctlr keys included. The far right row keys will have heights that don’t match their rows unless those are also included). I found that they do make a pudding set in XD84 and that will probably look fantastic with the matte soft lighting on this board. I got this in black, but I highly recommend white. Especially if you want to remove the side cover.
Arrived with Broken RGB
I was super excited to get this keyboard, and rightfully so. The lights (that work) are bright and the switches both feel and sound good (got the browns and share an office). I didn’t personally have any problems with the software, but it is a little sketchy so be warned/use at your own risk.
The only actual con was that the Escape key arrived with broken RGB. There is no green as you can see in the video. The other keys change color as I change it in the software, but the escape key does not. And I know it isn’t the software, because it never shines green even on any other keyboard controlled settings. I would really love this keyboard if it weren’t for that and other keys that seemingly (in bluetooth/ghz) blink for no reason. I think it may be faulty documentation, but I am not sure.
I’m currently contacting Royal Kludge and hopefully (if I can find contact info) the seller. Until then, I’m rating this two stars since it arrived broken. I sincerely hope there is a solution so that I can both comment on their customer service and improve the rating. It really is a good budget option for people getting started in the mechanical keyboard hobby.
Update: I was able to get in contact with AceGadgets, the distributor, who offered to replace it or give me a partial refund. I’m one to get attached to things so I chose the refund, but I’m very happy with the quick response time and customer service.
Great keyboard, great customer service at a solid price
The keys feel amazing. Probably the best feeling keyboard I’ve used(Previous keyboard in recent usage are Corsair Strafe, both Mk1 and Mk2, and Roccat Vulkan 122)
Software isn’t the best, but it is easier than a lot still(And infinitely better than most ‘indie’ keyboards as most don’t even have software to control keybinds, RGB Lighting, etc)
The feet for the keyboard are magnetic, rather than held in with plastic stubs like most keyboards. This is both a pro and con, the con is that they can get knocked off and lost(which is what happened to me), the pro is if they get knocked off because you’re being a little rough, they aren’t broken – just put it back in place.
As said, I lost 1 of the feet for the keyboard and contacted customer service and requested to pay for a pair of feet, rather than let me pay for it, they insisted they’d just send them to me at no extra cost. Shipping was also fast, took about 4 days from me opening a ticket to receiving feet – significantly better customer service than I’ve experienced with even the monolith keyboard companies like Razer, Corsair, etc
Keyboard is very customizable as you can pop the keys off and replace them with other key caps as well as the stem itself, which is very nice and uncommon as most keyboards have the stems soldered on.
Only major downside, for me, is the lack of a numpad. If they had a wireless/bt keyboard like this, but was a 100% keyboard, I’d definitely be on board for that, unfortunately their 100% keyboards are not wireless/bt, however.
RK84 80% With linear red switches.
For starters – YES, this keyboard works on Mac! It even says so in the description AND user manual. It has a Mac mode and a Windows mode right on the keys! I can’t speak for the software – I imagine that may only be usable on windows – but it is swappable, and it is compatible with both! I own both and use it on both so I promise you that it is. You can even swap the windows key with the alt key to where the command key normally is on a Mac when you switch the keyboard to Mac mode if you’d like. Much more comfortable!
That said – here is my review:
While this Mechanical keyboard is considered to fall under the “budget” end of mechanical keyboards for its size – this keyboard is a great value.
Hot-swappable switches, swappable keys, works both wired via USB-C, or wireless via any of its 3 different Bluetooth channels or it’s 2.4ghz USB, and even has two pass-through USB (type A) ports on the back for added convenience. It comes pre-built (although u would’ve loved to assemble it), is compatible with Windows AND Mac, and it even has software! All for under $90? That’s hard to beat.
I’ll be honest — this is my first mechanical keyboard, so take that for what you will. However, believe you me when I tell you that I did my research (and a lot of it) before purchasing this one. Seriously, it’s been months.
This Royal Kludge RK84 met all of my criteria for a starter keyboard and then some. Has all the keys I really need (including a couple for convenience), could connect to two computers (but not at the same time), has red linear switches, is hot swappable, had decent battery life, adjustable RGB backlight, USB-C, and doesn’t break the budget (around $100 since this is my first mechanical keyboard). I also wanted it to show up the next day, so keep in mind that these thoughts also include that I searched primarily on Amazon (which may or may not have limited me here, although I didn’t feel that it did based on the options I found on YouTube and other forums as well). The selection on Amazon is quite decent for boards in this price range.
I digress.
Being a budget pre-built, and despite watching video after video on this mech (let alone probably 15-20 other keyboards), I was super unsure of what to expect after opening the box. I was nervous that it would feel super chintzy. I almost expected it to. I was worried it would rattle and clunk, it would be lightweight, and that it would feel cheap. More so, I was worried that I would be disappointed. However, that was not the case at all.
I am currently blown away at the features and quality of this board (and I’m a picky guy). Considering I could’ve spent double for a keyboard with the same (or even fewer) features that this bird has, confirms to me that this is a great starter levied for me, or for just about anybody who wants to affordably ‘dip their toes’ into the mech world.
I can’t speak much for longevity, but I am confident in saying that this is an awesome option among the many in its price range (at least on Amazon). I’ll upload a video of it completely stock later, but there isn’t all that much rattle considering that things are minimally lubed from the factory – if at all.
Now, no decent review is complete without an honest list of cons. After using it for a few hours this afternoon I have come upon a few things that are less desirable – but to be expected.
– The user manual could be considered somewhat confusing at parts. Not that bad, but it’s mostly just pictures so some things are left to the imagination. For instance, the P button blinks indefinitely until you either pair it with the 2.4ghz USB dongle included, or switch the keyboard into Bluetooth mode and connect it.
– There is some rattle in the stabs — but again this is to be expected and isn’t severe enough that it can’t be fixed fairly easily.
– The case does sound a bit hollow/cheap — also an easy fix. It doesn’t feel cheap though (as a reminder).
– The brightness could be slightly more adjustable, although there is enough adjustability for me to be content.
All things considered, this is a great keyboard. I would recommend it to anybody who thinks they might be interested in the enthusiast-side of mechanical keyboards.
Easy 5 stars from me.
Keyboard is great, but mine had a quality control defec
The seller is great. Note that I got the version with blue switches, which came from the seller so took longer shipping (though still free and reasonable; just not Prime so not two-day). Versions with brown and red switches were Prime and shipped from Amazon. I’m not upset, though, as I knew that going in; just something to watch for.
I did have a quality control issue with the keyboard. I emailed the manufacturer, but no response after three weeks (not even a “thanks for letting us know”). It appears the opening for one of the switches (hyphen key) was too small. The symptom was the switch would not pop all the way back up, and did not click when pressed. When I removed the switch to replace it with one of the (4!) included spares, the removed switch worked properly and the spare, once installed, exhibited the same behavior. I was able to shave the opening with a razor blade and metal file and got the switch to work properly. So the keyboard works great now. Just a little disappointed in the quality control and lack of response from the manufacturer.
Other than that, I am very happy with the keyboard. The 84 key layout is perfect for me, I like the removable frame to change up the style, I like the two USB-A pass-through ports, and I like the keycaps (even the font) and switches. I really like the blue switches, but love the idea I could change them out for reds or browns if I want to try them out. I always use the keyboard plugged in, but I like that I have the option of either a 2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth (though I haven’t tried either, as I am told the pass-through doesn’t work with those).
Does its job and looks grea
Was my first mechanical keyboard, does its job and looks great.
Best Mechanical Keyboard In Its Price Bracke
After doing some extensive research to find a high quality Mechanical Keyboard at an affordable price, the brand that kept popping up on reviews was Royal Kludge. Hesitant at first due to not knowing the brand very well, all reviews seemed so positive. The feature set this keyboard offers is astonishing. You have 2.4ghz usb, Bluetooth with 5 devices connected at the same time, Bluetooth with a built in HUGE battery. Removable shielding, 2 extra USB’s that work with your PC and ARGB backlight on each individual key. Hot swappable too! The features this keyboard has normally come under a $200 keyboard. for just 75 you get the exact same thing. The blue switches are brilliant too. I wanted a key type that had a small amount of resistance and a noticeable click. It does not disappoint. Do not sleep on this brand. They are AMAZING keyboards.
Everything in one
Switches feel really nice. Good build quality. Comes with so much utility and features, this keyboard does it all. And the perfect size in my opinion.
Customer service was great too
The only (sane) compact low-latency wireless gaming keyboard on the market.
Excluding the struggle to find a set of keycaps supported by this keyboard, all I can say are great things. The compact eighty four key layout is perfect, with no wasted space which is a benefit both functionally and in terms of looks. The use of a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless mode allows for much lower latency than any Bluetooth keyboard on the market, though it would be nice if their software could work over a wireless connection. I like the addition of the two USB ports, which can be quite useful to attach a fingerprint reading module to. I love the ability to remove and attach the bezel, allowing for different styles to match your look.
For the mechanical keyboard fans out there the board itself is quite sturdy, and supports hot-swapping it’s switches. The default switches (own-branded Browns that seem to be based off Gateron Browns) aren’t amazing, but they’re much better than I expected.
I would like to remind all buyers however that you must update the firmware to solve some typing bugs via their software or you’ll hand a hard time typing. I don’t necessarily consider this a downside though as it’s a standard procedure with pretty much any “advanced” peripheral out there.
Hardware is great ( if you are willing to do a little bit of modding), software not so much
It is a decent keyboard with respect to hardware. The keyboard I got was the newer 2021 manufactured one, and it does not have any issue with the 2.4ghz connection. It works flawlessly for approximately 5 feet of range, after which it starts missing many of the keypresses. One thing to note is that the latency benefits are not that much for this 2.4 ghz connection compared to Bluetooth 5.0. We should not expect Logitech lightspeed level of performance. It is just a good option when the device you are connecting to does not have Bluetooth capabilities.
The switches used in this keyboard are actually very acceptable. Not the smoothest. Lubing the switches should surely help. The stabilizers are also decent. The keycaps are very good abs keycaps for the price. Overall the hardware is on par to, say Keychron k2 v2. Out of the box, these keyboards are a huge upgrade from cheap membrane or mechanical keyboards. Although, these keyboards wont match in out of the box typing quality to keyboards like Yunzii Akko.
Issues arise when dealing with the firmware and the software. The device has a really unintuitive battery level indicator. The official instruction says: Spacebar will flash 3 times when battery is not full, 5 times when it is fully charged. For me, even after charging for 10 hours, the space bar never flashed 5 times. I reconnected the keyboard as well to reset the keyboard, but that did not help. Further, there is no way to know even an approximate estimate of charge level. So, there was no way to confirm if the firmware was failing to show full battery, or if the battery actually did not charge.
Another major issue is that the backlight turns of in 15-20 seconds when in wireless mode, irrespective of the sleep time set in the software. In wired mode, the backlight stays on for the correct amount of time.
Overall, all these issues add up and make it difficult for me to recommend these to anyone who cannot ignore such irritations.
Was hesitant to spend 70+ on just a keyboard but decided to take the plunge. Once delivered I was genuinely impressed, the functions, features, RGB, hot-swap, switches, USB ports, Bluetooth – all pretty useful. 80% board defo suits my style, I do miss the number pad though, so may buy a USB number pad and plug it to the keyboard as and when required.
Post sales support was excellent (shout out to Nicole). They handled my queries efficiently and professionally. Would highly recommend. 9/10.
Great value
I researched this keyboard and didn’t buy it at first because of the wireless dongle not working properly. I ordered a Keychron K2 that was never delivered and got a refund on that one, but while I was waiting I gave the RK84 a second look and then I read that the new version fixed a bunch of issues. This version also came with Fn media keys which I like, the price is better than the K2, hot swappable, RGB. To be fair, this is my first mechanical keyboard so don’t take my word as an expert. So far I been loving it.
Update:
I’ve been using this keyboard for almost 2 years now and still works very well and I’m very happy with it. I had an issue with the wired mode though. When the PC was asleep and I would press a key in the keyboard, depending if it was switched to BT or 2.4Ghz wireless mode (although it was also switched off) it would try to connect using the wireless mode. I had to unplug the USB cable and plug it back again to make the keyboard recognize it was in wired mode. My work around was to keep the 2.4Ghz dongle plugged as well as the USB cable (because I use the USB passthrough a lot). This was ok at first but also there was the other issue: the keyboard software did not recognized the keyboard. This got enoying over time. Recently I contacted email support and they were super helpful. I got a firmware update from RK that fixed both issues so I’m really happy. I’m thinking of doing some mods, taking advantage of the hot swappable switches. It is a very good long term investme
The keyboard is fine, nice and bulky but it’s not a good fit for someone like me who uses MAC OS. The software is only for Windows and the customisation you can do is only for Windows. Pretty disappointing, plenty of YouTube reviews but nobody actually says that.
White keyboard
Son happy with it just what he wanted and works to his specifications
When I bought this I was very unsure about what product I was getting. Reviews were very mixed and sometimes contradicting. It turned out that at the purchase date of 5/4/21 they were shipping an updated version of this keyboard from what most reviewers got.
The newer version is great! It is the one with the serial number starting with 21. I wanted to write a review to clear up any confusion for future buyers.
First off, the Bluetooth and 2.4 wireless connection are great, no firmware update needed. I was able to walk into another room and still remain connected on Bluetooth 5 and stand about 10 feet away on 2.4 wireless. I have not noticed any latency when typing and have never waited for it to connect after waking from sleep (At least with the 2.4 connection, I’ve only used Bluetooth for testing).
I’m not a huge keyboard enthusiast but this keyboard feels nice to type on. Although they claim the same actuation force, the brown switches are a bit more stiff compared to the gateron browns that I came from. The board has a nice weight to it. Lighting is clear and bright if you need it.
Battery is the best thing about this board. I have using it for two weeks on 2.4 wireless coming from a full charge. Lighting mostly off except for a few hours a night when it was on the 2nd lowest brightness. When I connected to my Chromebook to test Bluetooth just now it said the battery was at 70% after 2 weeks!
I considered giving it a 4 star review because of the software but since it is optional that seems unfair. It is functional and from what I can tell, not malware. However the updates are iffy. When I tried to update firmware the keyboard was temporarily bricked. Unplugging it and connecting wirelessly fixed it, not sure why. Trying to update the software/firmware at a later date gave me errors. If you need to create macros or change lighting effects it is perfectly useable but I would skip it if you don’t. And definitely do not update firmware unless the page has new information on it (currently says updated 4/23/21).
Overall I think this is a great keyboard, especially for the price. I was looking for a wireless 75% keyboard and ended up choosing between this and a keychron k2. I decided to take a gamble on this because it had more features and customizability. I’m really glad I did. Highly recommend it!
Over the last few months I have been through about 12 different Mechanical and chicklet style keyboards on a seemingly never ending quest to find the perfect Keeb. I still haven’t got there but this one was my absolute favourite of all of them.
I had the Red switch version and it was lovely. The switches were nicely lubed so weren’t too loud and didn’t feel gritty. The stabilisers were a touch on the loud/lose side, louder than my Keychron K8, but not at bad as some I have tried out at all. There wasn’t too much in the way of pinging from the case so I suspect there MAY be some sort of sound deadening in there but I don’t know as I didn’t open the case to check.
It would have been nice to have seen PBT keycaps rather than ABS but at this price point that’s fairly rare so I can’t really deduct any points for that however adding a cheapo set of PBT keycaps would bring this board up to the 100 range and I still think that would be a fair overall price for it.
You get Bluetooth connectivity for upto three devices which works without a hitch. I switched it between my work laptop and person gaming PC daily and it is quick to change and respond. If you leave the board alone for a bit it will switch off the BT to save battery and like most BT boards there is a second or so delay in it re-activating and re-connecting but nothing as major as I saw with the Keychron mentioned earlier.
Backlighting is decent and bright and has many different settings for how you want the lights to work or how bright they are and the colour. I personally liked the multicoloured one, I think it works well with the white.
The board has many different media functions and things but I didn’t test any of them as I don’t care about that sort of stuff. I would imagine it works fine though, this is a very well put together board.
The case does not have flick out feet but you do get magnetic feet which attach to the back. These work well and put the board into a really nice typing angle and if you want to game you can just flick them off and it’s in a decent gaming angle. Kick out feet would have been better but this solution works just fine.
There is a band around the case which you can remove so that you can have either floating keys or sunken ones, whichever floats your boat. It’s pretty hard to get off but this means it’s not lose and rattly, adding sound to the board.
Battery life if good. I only had to charge it once. I think you get something like 10 hours if you have all the RGB going all the time but if you turn it off you will get many many more hours. Not sure of the official figure but you’ll be good for a week or more between charges I would think. Also depends on how much you used it too.
I think this keyboard is an excellent starting point in the world of mechanical boards. It’s hot swappable so you can modify it to your hearts content, it’s wireless so you can use it with multiple devices, it’s got all the function and arrow keys so you don’t need to worry about annoying modifiers and at the same time it’s more compact than a traditional TKL board. There are some things which I would like to see improved, Options without backlight, Black option, PBT Keycaps and quieter stabilisers but overall this has been my favourite board out of all the mechanical ones I have tested so far.
Build quality
I thought it will be clicky but not at all.. it was perfect for me.. Build quality is superb and battery life too.. Seller is also accomodating and replies promptly. They even given me dicou
Really lovely keyboard
Love using this keyboard (red switches fitted) for gaming and for general typing – I would be using it now but my partner took it to use on her PC! The Bluetooth is very short range but shouldn’t be an issue for most people – but it is worth noting. My only gripe was that white keycaps can be hard to read in the daytime and you really need to set the lighting to be always on to make them easy to read.
Currently I’m not using the original key switches or the original keycaps. That said, the original keycaps were fine, nothing remarkable, and I thought the switches were pretty good, I preferred them to the Gateron and MX Browns I’ve used before. I knocked a star off for poor 2.4 GHz range although I use bluetooth and have had zero issues with this so far. The stabilizers on this board are surprisingly good and not too rattle-y. I might lube them in the future but they’re good stock. The battery life so far has been excellent, and the RBG seemed to work fine when I tried although I always keep the LEDs off to save battery. The removeable frame is very nice although it is ever so slightly warped so there’s a visible gap as a result of the center parts bowing out slightly. I used this on windows but I tried the mac mode and it seemed to map the keys correctly for macs. Overall this board is definitely worth the $80 I paid for it and with the switches I put in (Gateron Kangaroo Inks) and some thicker PBT keycaps its the best typing experience I’ve ever had.
Update: I’ve modded this keyboard a bit now and have some additional feedback. These stabilizers have a lot of potential, once you clip and lube them and add tape or band-aids to make the fitment tighter, they sound really good. Swapping the keycaps out for thicker ones will really help this keyboard sound great. The battery life has been fantastic and I’ve been loving the ability to easily swap out switches. The removable frame sometimes makes my space bar sounds more hollow and echo-y but I don’t like the look of the board without it so I keep it on. The frame was also slightly warped but I’ve stopped caring about that after a month or so. Overall, definitely, a great board that’d I’d recommend to anyone, but especially keyboard enthusiasts on a budget.
I am by no means a keyboard enthusiast at all, so take this review with a grain a salt.
This is my first mechanical keyboard that I’ve ever used. I was very hesitant because looking for a gaming keyboard to transition to pc gaming (I mainly use ps4 controller) seems like a difficult task to someone who has no knowledge of peripherals whatsoever. I’ve watched a few videos and stumbled upon this keyboard and it seems to tick every check box (that I know of) that a enthusiast might want.
Mechanical keyboard? check
Hotswap switches? check
bluetooth? check
2.4 ghz connection? check
usb c to standard usb cable? check
large battery? check
RGB? check
RGB pattern effects? check
Software? check
Macros? check
Key mapping? check
There maybe more to name but that’s all I have at the moment. You can also remove the outside frame to give the keys a floating look. The switches are cherry mx red clones made by TTC. They are easy to type on, with some type of grittiness feeling when pressing keys down. Maybe lubing the switches will further improve the experience. All of the keycaps are marked with the available controls like the volume, play/pause, skip back/forward, default app shortcuts, rgb settings and 5 bluetooth connections on QWERT keys. You can record macros on the software included in the amazon product information or thru a shortcut mentioned in the included direction booklet (I don’t remember at the top of my head. Speaking of which, the software link in the amazon product information seemed sketchy because its a direct download of a zip file and does not send you to a official product site. Upon extracting the files, they are legitimate. When installing one of the software installers are in Chinese (firmware I think? doesn’t install unless keyboard is connected via usb-c cable) and then the other is in English (the actual keyboard software). The software seems to work only when the keyboard is connected via usb. Once it’s connected, it’ll give you all the options to remap keys, record macros, and different rgb settings such as rgb pattern type, speed, and color selection.
Overall, with all of these options for the price I paid ($64 – Black Friday price), it’s hard to beat in my opinion!
UPDATE
I took the keyboard apart to see what’s inside:
Outside frame and case: some sort of plastic
Key switches: TTC-KS4A Series (in my case, TTC Reds [unlubed])
Keyboard plate: some sort of metal, powder coated
Stabilizers: lubed already, surprisingly. Plate mounted only
PCB: hotswappable with Bluetooth/2.4 Ghz ALSO wired mode has 2 USB ports for USB pass through