RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard RGB Backlit Bluetooth5 1 2 4G Wired 96 Full Size 100-Key

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 Read more

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. Read more

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) Read more