Testing on my laptop was a bit better. Without any other dongles in the laptop, I had a stable connection for up to five feet; after that, I saw the occasional missed keystroke. Adding an active Razer wireless dongle next to it dropped the range down to three to four feet. Even within that range, I found that a large obstacle—in this case, my kitchen counter and sink—caused missed keystrokes as well. In addition, the RK71 has a unique 70% form factor that isn’t usually seen on mechanical keyboards. It is very similar to a 65% layout. However, there are even more keys added to the right side of the keyboard. The RK71 is perfect for those who want a more visually striking keyboard and want additional programmable keys without sacrificing the compact size of the keyboard. Royal Kludge RK84 Royal Kludge RK84

When it comes to testing a mechanical keyboard one of the things I always end up doing is a timed typing test. These can be found easily by searching for ‘typing test’ on Google. My average words per minute count is usually around 72 and with the RK84 keyboard, I found that I had a faster typing rate of 74 WPM. We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Keychron C1 Pro/C2 Pro in the Build Quality section of this review.

High-capacity Battery

This is NOT the typical RK84. It does not have 2.4GHz or Bluetooth mode. It can only be connected by a type C cable. There are many reasons why Royal Kludge became the go-to brand for many enthusiasts on a budget. But the biggest reason is that they offer some of the lowest prices while still maintaining key enthusiast features such as hot-swap switches. And while they have their fair share of limitations, they are easy to overlook because of their price tag. First up, was testing the keyboard in wired mode. All this requires is hooking the keyboard up with the included 5.6 inch USB-C to USB-A cable. There's no software needed, as Windows will detect the keyboard automatically. The wired connection was entirely stable with no missed keypresses; in a typing test, my words per minute dropped slightly, but I'm chalking the small gap up to my unfamiliarity with the layout. Software Support: I agree that the RK84 does not have the best software, but at least it has one. On the other hand, (as of the time of writing) the Keychron K2 does not have software support despite their “promise” of releasing one. Sloppy (but usable) software is still better than zero software.Things that the Royal Kludge RK84 does better than the K2:

The RK920 does not come with hot-swappable switches and does not have any wireless capability. It is pretty much just a basic mechanical keyboard with no additional special features. But overall, it is a perfect upgrade for anyone who wants to try out mechanical keyboards for the first time without having to relearn typing in a smaller form factor. RK Royal Kludge RK925 Royal Kludge RK925

84 KEYS, REDEFINE TKL

The Royal Kludge Sink87G is the company’s Tenkeyless (TKL) offering. It has the same number of keys as most 70% keyboards (including the RK84) but has a more standard layout that is closer to full-size keyboards. The Royal Kludge RK71 takes a departure from RK’s usual keyboard design. It has a more aggressive look, similar to most mainstream gaming keyboards. Royal Kludge is a Chinese gaming peripherals manufacturer that was founded in 2014 . Their main goal was to offer high-quality products at a very competitive price point. The company brought the RK61 to the market sometime in 2019. In addition, Royal Kludge is one of the only brands that offer a mechanical keyboard model in a variety of different form factors. This means that users will not be limited to smaller form factor keyboards, especially if they prefer having a TKL or a full-sized keyboard.

Expand your options using the available software to design your own new modes and effects. Macros with different keybindings or shortcuts for more efficient work and gaming. PS: There is enough space for you to do all the mods you want. I went ahead with taping the PCB and placing foam in the case. (Please do this at your own risk. This review is not modding advice from my end)

Hot-swappable RK Switch

As for its wireless capability, the RK84 offers a more reliable and lag-free solution compared to the more budget-priced RK keyboards. It will inevitably not have the same versatility as Bluetooth, meaning its use case is strictly for desktop setups. Overall, the RK84 is perfect for those who want a large keyboard with F-keys and want to have a more reliable wireless connection for general use and for gaming. Royal Kludge Sink87 Royal Kludge Sink87