Royal Kludge RK84
9.20 / 10 Read ReviewsThe Royal Kludge RK84 75% wireless mechanical keyboard delivers a premium typing experience without asking for a premium price. It offers a solid build, while its 75% layout makes it compact and easy to transport. This device also features more than 22 customizable RGB layouts, effects, and designs, ensuring you can enjoy your keyboard the way you want it. You can even customize it to your need with the downloadable RK RGB Keyboard app. You also get multiple connection options with the RK84: three channels of Bluetooth 5.0, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, and a USB-C wired connection with two USB-A passthrough ports. All in all, if you're looking for an excellent entry-level compact mechanical keyboard you can customize, then look no further than the Royal Kludge RK84.
Key Features- Comes with a variety of connection options
- Choice of linear, tactile, or clicky switches
- Brand: Royal Kludge
- Wireless: 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth 5.0
- Backlight: Per-key RGB
- Media Controls: Yes
- Battery: 3,750mAh
- Num Pad: No
- Switch Type: 3-pin
- Replaceable Keys: Yes
- Number of Keys: 85
- Compatible Devices: Windows / Mac / Android / iOS
- Hot-swappable switches make it easy to customize
- Removable frame lets you customize feel
- Extremely long battery life
- Compact 75% layout makes it easy to carry around
- Poor software design
Many writers and gamers dream of mechanical keyboards. That's because their customizable tactility, solid build, and colorful aesthetics deliver a high-quality to many computer builds. However, these tend to be expensive, and customization is out of reach of many computer enthusiasts.
However, this need did not go unnoticed. To answer demands for a compact wireless mechanical keyboard, Royal Kludge released the RK84: a hot-swappable 75% wireless mechanical keyboard. It has several features, like a fully customizable typing experience and multiple simultaneous connections.
But how were they able to deliver all these at such an affordable price point? Did they make any compromises? Let's find out.
RK84 Box Contents
When you open the Royal Kludge RK84 for the first time, you'll be greeted by a white (or black) 75% keyboard covered in a protective plastic bag. You also get a pair of magnetic feet, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a User Manual. You also get four extra switches and a keycap/switch puller.
The keyboard itself offers full per-key RGB and five connection options: three Bluetooth channels, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, and a wired USB-A to USB-C cable. It also sports two USB-A passthrough ports, allowing you to connect other peripherals to your PC via the keyboard on wired mode.
You'll find this 75% design to be compact, measuring just 12.4 inches across and 4.9 inches deep. It's also just 1.5 inches tall, making it easy to pack and carry around. It also just weighs in at 1.7 lbs—an excellent balance between portability and stability. If you remove the outer frame, you'll save about another quarter-inch on each side, making it easier to slip in and out of laptop bags.
Day-to-Day Performance
Both new and veteran keyboard enthusiasts will appreciate the Royal Kludge's design. The compact 75% format saves desktop space and makes it perfect for carrying around. Its multiple connection options allow you to pair it with multiple devices and switch among them with a flick of a switch or a couple of key presses.
For example, I can connect the keyboard to my desktop computer via the wired USB-C connection and my laptop via the 2.4GHz dongle. I can then connect it via Bluetooth to my smartphone, iPad, and PS5. So, without leaving my desk, I can instantly switch to any of my devices.
The power switch must be off to use the keyboard in wired mode. It will shift to wireless mode and connect via Bluetooth or the 2.4 GHz dongle when you switch it on. You can then move the mode switch between B and G modes. G connects to the USB dongle while B activates Bluetooth.
You have to note that the dongle doesn't have much range—only about five feet. If solid objects block its line of sight, you might suffer from an unreliable signal. Thankfully, the Bluetooth 5.0 baked into the keyboard more than makes up for this shortcoming.
If the keyboard doesn't receive a signal from the dongle in G mode, the letter P will continuously blink. On the other hand, the active Bluetooth channel will blink on the keyboard when switching to Bluetooth mode.
You can also use the keyboard's two passthrough USB ports for power and data transfer in wired mode. So if you have a wired mouse, you can plug it into the keyboard instead of running its cable directly instead of running it all the way back to your PC or laptop. This could help a lot with your cable management problems. Of course, if you unplug the keyboard's USB-C connection, the two passthrough ports won't work. They can't be used in conjunction with Bluetooth or the proprietary RF dongle.
3 ImagesOne more great thing about the RK84 is that it works with both Windows, Mac, Android/Chromebook, and iOS. So no matter what device you use, you won't run into any issues with this keyboard. Unfortunately, though, it doesn't include keycaps for Mac and iOS, so you're likely stuck with the Win key for your Command key.
Wireless Battery Life
Since the Royal Kludge RK84 is a wireless keyboard, it has a built-in 3,750mAh battery. This is the biggest capacity battery among Royal Kludge's wireless offerings. Furthermore, it's also the only one offering both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections.
Royal Kludge assures the keyboard will have up to 200 hours of battery life on 2.4GHz with no backlight, which is more than decent. Even if you're typing or gaming eight hours a day, the keyboard will last for nearly a month before needing a recharge.
However, you can expect this to drop significantly when using the backlight, as LED lights consume a lot of power. Nevertheless, the lighting will automatically power off after five minutes when the keyboard's not used.
Recharging the keyboard takes about six to seven hours via the USB-C port. But you can still use the device as you're charging it, so you don't lose functionality.
However, there's no easy way to monitor the keyboard's battery level. It doesn't have a battery indicator, nor does it have a low battery warning sign. The only signs you get are the following: the space bar will blink thrice when you plug it in via USB-C and it's charging, then the spacebar flashes five times once charging is complete.
Customization
You can pick between three switches when purchasing the keyboard: RK Reds, RK Blues, and RK Browns. The Reds offer a linear experience, while the Blues are clicky switches. If you want something with tactility without the noise, you can opt for the RK Browns instead. The board also accepts 5-pin switches for greater stability, although it only comes with the standard 3-pin switches.
While the 75% design is already compact in itself, you can easily remove its outer casing for a floating look. I wouldn't recommend this, though, if you work outside a clean environment or if you don't want to clean and maintain your keyboard as much. That's because it makes it easier for dust and other debris to fit under your keycaps.
Nevertheless, if you travel a lot, removing the outer frame will help reduce its footprint and the space it takes in your bag.
The included magnetic feet increase the keyboard's angle from eight to twelve degrees. While this lets users have a more ergonomic typing experience, you're better off getting a wrist rest because of its tall standard keys.
Speaking of keys, the RK84 comes with white or black ABS double shot keycaps. This material is softer than PBT keycaps, making a milder sound than the latter's thicker, chunkier sound. But if you're not after crisp keypresses, the RK84's stock keys are perfect for typing, gaming, and everyday use.
However, should you want to customize your keycaps—whether you're looking for a unique color scheme, want better lighting effects, or you're looking for the thickest possible sound—the RK84's standard design means you have nearly unlimited choice when selecting keycap design.
Lighting Effects
The RK84 features 22 built-in lighting effects, including:
- Neon Stream
- Ripples Shing
- Rotating Windmill
- Sine Wave
- Rainbow Roulette
- Stars Twinkle
- Layer Upon Layer
- Rich And Honored
- Marquee Effect
- Rotating Storm
- Serpentine Horse
- Retro_Snake
- Diagonal Transform
- Customize
- Ambilight
- Streamer
- Steady
- Breathing
- Neon
- Shadow_Disappear
- Flash Away
- Music
Customize allows you to set individual key colors, while Music has ten different effects that allow your keyboard to act as a graphic equalizer. You can even use the downloadable app to create custom lighting effects.
Keyboard Software
This is the biggest drawback of the RK84. While you can perfectly use the keyboard without downloading the app, you need it if you want to unlock custom key settings, macro commands, personalized lighting effects, and update your keyboard's firmware.
The first significant issue is it doesn't have a Mac app—you must have a Windows PC to run it. Another thing is the app itself doesn't feel well built. It feels like a half-baked solution made just so that people can customize their devices.
You also have to spend considerable time figuring your way around making macros, assigning custom functions, and even disabling keys. Furthermore, creating custom lighting effects isn't easy to understand. It took me a lot of time to get my desired pattern through trial and error.
One glaring example of this poorly made app is when you go to Music under Light Effect mode. The effect dropdown menu is spelled as Efeect, and the options are listed as Efeect1 through Efeect10. This simple error is easily fixable and should've been caught when the app went live.
The Final Verdict
The Royal Kludge RK84 stands up to some serious competition. While most established brands like Corsair and Logitech offer mechanical keyboards way above this price point, models from boutique brands like the Keychron K2 offer an almost similar alternative at the same price.
However, the RK84's 2.4GHz wireless dongle, removable frame, and unique white design make it an excellent option over Keychron's offering. This is despite its customization software, which lacks polish and feels like a half-baked effort to have advanced features for keyboard enthusiasts and professionals.
At less than $80, you're getting a fully-featured 75% wireless mechanical keyboard with a load of customization options. Its low price lets you have extra cash to spend on custom switches, keycaps, and USB-C cables. This makes the Royal Kludge RK84 an excellent entry-level mechanical keyboard for those new to the bespoke keyboard hobby.
