RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard RGB Backlit Bluetooth5.1/2.4G/Wired 96% Full Size 100-Key Hot Swappable Gaming Keyboard Brown Switch Carbon

I originally am coming from a Logitech G613 that I got for ~$85 when it was still relatively new. I had that keyboard for nearly 4 years and it still is working totally fine today. Zero problems with that keyboard, and I highly recommend it. HOWEVER, my desk space had always been really small and the lack of backlighting still kind of bothered me. So I needed an upgrade with small form factor, still had a 10key pad, and had backlighting. After doing a lot of comparison and research (Keychron, Epomaker, Vortex, etc), I settled on this Royal Kludge RK100. Here's a breakdown of my review. PROs: + Switches. I chose the hot-swappable Browns, as I'm one of the people who don't like the ultra clicky sound of the blues, but want a good balance over the Reds. I love the feeling of these Browns, especially after using the Romer G switches on the G613. These switches have a great sound that isn't loud, but the feedback and actuation feels satisfying with every click. A nice "thocciness" as the keyboard enthusiasts say. The fact that you can choose your own base switch, and then switch it entirely with customization is nice, although I myself will never do any customization. I don't have the patience haha. + Backlighting. Full RGB with multiple lighting modes and even lighting recording! I haven't even tried the lighting recording, and I probably never will, but the fact that you can do that is pretty damn cool. The keycaps also allow the light to come through the letter itself so its not just background lighting. I like switching up the lighting modes just based on what Im doing or my mood. Theres a "Christmas-y" mode that I definitely will use come holiday time!! + Num10 keypad. I wasn't going to give up my 10keypad anytime soon, and I still don't plan on it. Number entry for me is a necessity and I love having the numberpad while still having a much smaller form factor than the G613. More on this later though........... + Battery life/charging. I like being able to just unplug my phone and plug the keyboard in for a quick charge. I've only had to charge this once in the month that I've had this. I turn it off everytime I walk away from it to conserve battery life. Those of you who will want to keep it on at all times will probably get closer to the ~7 to 9 day battery life if you keep the backlight on all the time, and if you don't use it, you can probably get up to a 25+ days. USB-C charging is really nice though. And the battery light indicator is helpful. + Build quality. This keyboard is very sturdy with no creaking or flex. The rubber feet stay put nicely and the riser feet are also rubberized and are not flimsy at all. + Connections. I like the ability to connect via dongle, Bluetooth, or wired. I only use the dongle. Its been perfect. No lag. No drops. Connects instantly as soon as I turn it on. Zero complaints here. Just as good as my G613 that NEVER had any drops in connection. But we'll see if this can last years. + PRICE. All the features of this keyboard and its only $75 and wireless????? Sign me up. CONs: These aren't necessarily BAD things about this keyboard, its more of things that I am not exactly thrilled about. - Height. The height of the keyboard can be quite uncomfortable if you don't have a wrist rest. The G613 had a built in wrist rest that made it very comfortable to use, but it wasn't removable which made the keyboard SO much heavier and bigger than I wanted it to be in a small desk area. Though the riser feet are nice, there's no way I'm using them. I don't need to have an even higher angle. And that's WITH the wrist rest. Its a pretty high keyboard. So keep that in mind. - USB passthrough. Has anyone been able to get this to work? For some reason. It doesn't work for me. Maybe I'm using it wrong. Is it just for charging? It can charge my phone which is nice, but its very slow. But in terms of connecting a mouse....I never got that to work. I don't mind that much because I wasn't planning on using it anyway, but if you're buying it for the extra passthrough, hopefully you have better luck than me. - ARROW KEYS and ZERO on keypad. I get that its due to unfamiliarity and I totally understand this is the compromise of the small form factor with keypad. But I guess I just have long fingers. When I press shift, I tend to press farther on the right side of the right shift key. And because of the shortened key and the UP arrow replacing that area, I am pressing that up arrow way too much, its pretty annoying. I've gotten better at it and writing this review hasn't been the biggest pain, but it does get annoying. Hopefully in 3 months I wont even have to think about it right now. The single key size ZERO on the numpad is also a jarring difference for me. As an avid numpad user, I still have yet to get used to this. It may just take time, but I really do miss my full size zero..... BOTTOM LINE: Despite those complaints (they are just complaints, not really negatives about this keyboard), I freaking love this keyboard. The switches feel and sound great. Theyre so satisfying to press. I love typing on this thing. I go out of my way to write longer comments just because typing on this is so enjoyable. The back lighting is fun and extremely helpful. The small form factor is much more suitable for my desk size, and all I need is a long adjustment period to the shortened zero and shift keys. I highly recommend this keyboard. Both for the enthusiast who wants to customize everything, and for the average person who just wants a good keyboard of this size and doesn't want to give up the numpad. Anyone who gets this as their first mechanical keyboard is opening the golden door to world of keyboards. And you may not need to go any further!! 5/5

The RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard is not just a keyboard; it's a powerhouse that enhances every tap with a symphony of sound and a cascade of color. After spending extensive time using this keyboard for everything from gaming to long coding sessions, I am thrilled to share just how transformative this piece of technology can be.Sound Quality: Each keypress on the RK100 is a satisfying experience. The Red Switches under each key deliver a smooth, tactile response that’s audibly pleasing, making typing feel more like playing a finely-tuned instrument. This isn’t just typing; it’s an auditory experience that makes you look forward to every email, every line of code, every message.Appearance and Lighting: Visually, the RK100 is a stunner. It sports a sleek, minimalistic design that fits perfectly in any modern setup, but it’s the RGB backlighting that truly steals the show. With customizable color schemes and dynamic effects, the lighting is not only beautiful but also functional, greatly enhancing usability in low-light conditions.Comfort and Layout: The keyboard is designed with user comfort in mind, featuring a 96% full-size layout that includes a numeric keypad in a compact form factor. The keycaps are of high quality, and their slight texture helps prevent finger slipping, enhancing the overall typing experience. However, the absence of a space between the number pad and the main keys can be a slight nuisance, as I find myself accidentally toggling the num lock throughout the day. While this takes some getting used to, it's a minor hiccup in what is otherwise a flawless design.Responsiveness: Whether I’m using it wired, on Bluetooth, or via 2.4G wireless, the RK100 is impressively responsive. There’s virtually no lag, which is critical during intense gaming sessions or when I’m on a tight deadline and need my equipment to keep up with my pace.Usage: I use this keyboard incessantly. It’s not only my go-to for gaming, where responsiveness and key feel can make or break a session, but also for writing and programming. The hot-swappable feature is particularly beneficial for someone like me who likes to customize their typing experience, allowing for easy switch replacements without the need for soldering.In conclusion, the RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 is a phenomenal choice for anyone who values sound, aesthetics, and performance in their keyboard. While it does have a slight learning curve with the num lock key, the sheer quality and joy it brings to everyday tasks more than make up for this small oversight. It’s a keyboard that turns the mundane into the extraordinary, making it a must-have for enthusiasts and professionals alike. If you're looking for a mechanical keyboard that feels as good as it looks and sounds, the RK100 should be at the top of your list.

Ive had this keyboard for about 4 months now and have really come to love it. Originally I had reached out to the company (which does not support this keyboard model btw RK100) after having nothing but problems the first few days using it with constant keys dropping or the keyboard just not register at all. The issue was the wifi receiver which other people have also confirmed is basically garbage. I had the receiver less then 6" from the keyboard with clear line of sight and it still worked properly maybe 75% of the time and I was absolutely ready to return it. I was in the process of returning it before deciding to give it one more try and switched to bluetooth. Once I switched to bluetooth I have not had any issues with this keyboard since. If you don't have bluetooth and want to use this keyboard wirelessly, do not buy this, the wifi is absolutely terrible. The keyboard is very sturdy and fells well made and I love the feel of the brown keys (the model I have). The battery life is alright, maybe 1-2 days of constant use at best. Its not fantastic and I keep the keyboard plugged in most the time and unplug it only when I want to move it. It also doesn't warn you the battery is low until its at like 3% on windows. The software for the keyboard comes from some random google drive account and the link is somewhat hidden in the product description, but once you get it it does what it says and works well. Overall I would very much recommend this keyboard to anyone looking to maintain all the functional keys of a full size keyboard while reducing the overall profile as well as good BLUETOOTH wireless functionality. 4/5 stars (removing one for the useless wifi and sketch software location)

I don't want to harp on the 2.4ghz dongle too hard. They all suck for some reason when you need like eight feet of range and anything has the audacity to break LOS like resting the keyboard on a leg. My 8bitdo controller? Very spotty. Logitech light speed? Terrible. This is no better or worse. I would recommend switching to Bluetooth if you can't have dead on LOS. We got this for our multimedia PC in the living room, which can game a bit. The gaming experience on Bluetooth is perfectly adequate. If you need PRECISION, however, plug it in. Battery life is well over a week of being used about 20-40 mins a day. The typing experience is truly fabulous though. The red switches are thocky and super satisfying, especially at this price bracket. Very linear and consistent. The board looks great and the non-RGB backlight is very subtle and subdued, but feature rich in patterns and brightness. I like the condensed layout that still has everything, F keys are important to me, as is a numpad. And it doesn't do any particularly wonky layout tweaks. I would have liked the letters to be clear for the backlight though. Overall, the price simply is unbeatable. I wish the 2.4ghz was more reliable, but I just think 8 feet for multimedia use of anything on that band is simply never going to work with anything unless I run a USB hub to the top of my TV like a freaking Wiimote motion tracker. While this was bought for the TV, my wife uses it wired all the time for work, and if I needed to replace my custom one for my office, the price makes it nearly unbeatable for the physical quality of the board. Rk makes awesome budget stuff, and this is no different.

First off, this is the first non full (or over full) size keyboard I've had since as long as I can remember. I briefly did have a Corsair wireless gaming mechanical but I returned it after a few days because the battery life could only get me a day or so, which defeated the purpose of the wireless. That turned me off wireless keyboards for a few years, but after my last keyboard had a failure I gave this one a shot. I like a lot about this device. I'm going to detail some cons here but I want to be clear, I like a lot about this but it is taking some getting used to. Pros: - Battery life seems great. It's a bit hefty compared to others (or my Apple work keyboard), but it has solid feel and the battery has lasted me days already after charging, low battery indicator still not on. - Keys feel good, pretty responsive even over Bluetooth - Wakes from sleep quickly Weird/New To Me Stuff (might be cons to some people): - The layout is... interesting. Cramming the arrow keys under the right Shift and Enter, tucked into the Numpad making the 0 smaller is good for saving space but I can adamantly say I do not like that layout. I'm getting used to it, but quite a few wrong button presses this week. The placement of the Delete key is also not ideal, enough to where I moved it - They gave a PrtSc and Ins key but by default End is a Function button, which means coding with this thing is not a great experience out of the box. The keys are both moveable and remappable, but I'm going to have to 3D print an End key because the Insert key takes it's place. They include some extra switches in the box, an End key seems like a no brainer (because now my End key says Insert until fixed) - The software is functional, but has to be downloaded off some Google Drive repository and feels sketchy at best to get. Honestly this is actually a con. The software did work, but it's 2024 and this is a large brand on Amazon. Get a website. Host your files. Host them on AWS honestly. Just don't be an unnamed Google Drive link you have to find on Reddit - Brown switches are new to me, getting used to the feeling. I like the keys and they're pretty quiet which means I can actually type while on calls and take notes. The Spacebar is loud as heck though, feels like a different switch set entirely. I do like the TAP over the CLUNK of my last mechanical, but getting used to the "almost there but not quite" presses I'd still give this thing a great score even with the quirks. It feels well built, it is sturdy, and it looks good. I like that it takes up way less space and in addition to being smaller there is no giant double thick braided dual USB cable coming out the back in the way all the time. I also like that it can switch between Windows/MacOS functionality. That all being said, having the 10 key is nice for what I do (gaming and coding/design), but if I were to go back to square one I'd probably go with an even smaller version of a similar keyboard and then a dedicated wireless 10 key that had arrows and a full suite of Home/End/Delete buttons in normal positions. I think I'll get used to it, but it's hard to break 30 years of typing habits.

Absolutely useless for work, daily use, or gaming. I got this as a compact alternative to do some 3D designing and writing because it has all the necessary hotkeys without a huge numpad to eat up desk space. On days off I also like to do a little gaming. Unfortunately, it has a weird ghosting/stuttering issue where I'll type in a word, it'll freeze on the first half of the word, then double-type the second half of the word. Like "buy literally any other higher quality keyboard" might type as "buy teraterally any herher higher..." etc. etc. This issue started 3 weeks into purchase and comes and goes whenever it wants. Sometimes 5x in a sentence, sometimes I don't see it for several days. No other keyboard does this on the same computer. Wired or wireless. Then about 6 months in the control key stopped working 70% of the time. I'll have to copy something 10x before it actually copies correctly. I can't undo or redo tasks because CTRL is a pretty essential key. Honestly just buy a $20 keyboard, investing your hard-earned money into this isn't worth it. The quality is below that of a $20 keyboard by far. Support tells me to download some sketchy file to run tests to tell me what other files I have to download just to fix the problem. It's a $70 keyboard. Shouldn't it just WORK as soon as it's PLUGGED IN? I want it to TYPE when I press a key. Not cook me breakfast and solve calculus for me.

Battery Life This is my first mechanical keyboard. I am not a gamer, but I do work on the computer every day and have been using this keyboard on a daily basis for 3 months now. I haven't had a need to recharge it yet, which is super impressive, especially considering the backlit LED. The Keyboard This keyboard is very solid! It has a good weight to it which (I think) gives it a premium feel. In fact, I don't call this my keyboard, this is now my typing instrument and I love it!!! Unlike other similar keyboards, this one has the 10 number keypad on the right side, being a person who works with numbers, this is a HUGE plus! Also, many keyboards similar to this one do not have a screenshot key, which is also another key that I use a lot, so I appreciate this keyboard having it. Pairing is a breeze, and you can use either Bluetooth or the included wireless USB transmitter. I love the color combination, the orange color gives it this classic retro look, and gets the attention of my office peers who love the keyboard. I got the brown switches, which can get pretty loud. I'll admit that when the office is quiet, it makes me a bit conscious, as my typing keystrokes resonate pretty loud, I would probably go with a different switch next time. Backlit LED This is super nice, it gives the keyboard the 'wow'. It has different animations and you get to customize the speed of the animation and its brightness. The key caps however are not translucent. Meaning the light only goes around the keys, not through the keys. If you are in a dark room, you won't be able to tell which key is what, even with the LED on. I thought this was disappointing, as I always thought this was the purpose of a backlit LED keyboard. I don't work in an office environment dark enough to make this a problem, but it is worth mentioning. Overall I'm very happy with my purchase and would recommend this to anyone looking for a cool mechanical keyboard with lots of functionality for non-gamers like me.

TL;DR - great quality, battery life, and feature set for the price. High latency and reliable keystrokes are a definite issue (at least for my unit) in wired and 2.4GHz mode. Bluetooth mode seems to work the best. I'll say that this is my second Royal Kludge keyboard as I also have the RK87. The RK87 is affordable, great looking, good quality, and reliable. I've never had a problem with it. My issues were the relatively lackluster battery life (needed to be charged every ~2/3 days) and the lack of a numpad. I bought the RK100 to make up for both faults. Let's start with quality. I am happy to still give it a 5/5. The quality is simply unparalleled for the price. The key caps are a little thin and the switches aren't as consistent as real Cherry MX switches, but Royal Kludge still makes probably the best wireless mechanical keyboards I've used for under $100. The fact that I can get it in white to match the rest of my setup is also a good selling point as there's a serious lack of white mechanical keyboards in general. Battery life: 4/5. I've only used it for about a week so I can't comment on longer usage but it's lasted me for more than a week without a need for a recharge which is all I can really ask for. I do typically use less-demanding lighting profiles so I'm sure that has something to do with it. But still, I'm happy with it. Next, software and features: The software isn't the greatest but it does what it needs to do. It's fairly intuitive but does require that the keyboard be plugged in to make any changes. I also have not been able to update the firmware (if there's even an update) even though I've tried several times. As for features, it's wired via detachable USB-C cable, wireless with a 2.5GHz dongle, and wireless with bluetooth. It also sports a few USB-A ports as a hub while in wired mode. Again, for under $100, it's a little too good to be true. The lighting is all RGB and each key can be changed to individual colors and patterns. The software can also make macros very easily out of any button. As for the downsides, there's really just one: Reliability. For whatever reason, the latency is /horrendous/ in 2.4GHz mode. It's bad enough to regularly miss keystrokes entirely. I thought it was just an issue with the keyboard itself but no, it's only in 2.4GHz mode. While in wired mode, the latency and consistent keystrokes is better but it's still not what I would call acceptable. You can still easily miss keystrokes if you're a very fast typist. Weirdly enough, bluetooth mode is the only mode where I can't find notice missed keystrokes or unacceptable latency. That being said, there IS normal bluetooth latency that you can't get around. It's not terrible and it's definitely low enough for fast typists to feel comfortable, but it'll probably be too high for truly competitive gaming. But then again, you probably aren't looking at wireless keyboards if that's your primary use case.