Royal Kludge A72 Alice vs L98Ergonomic Alice vs Southpaw Layout

The Royal Kludge L98 is specifically designed with a left-handed, or southpaw, layout. Its numpad is positioned on the left side, which the manufacturer states is ideal for lefties and also beneficial for right-handed users who want to keep their mouse hand free.

Yes, but there will be an adjustment period. The Alice layout angles the two halves of the keyboard, which changes the finger positioning for keys like 'B', 'Y', and the space bars. The manufacturer promotes this design to reduce wrist strain, but it requires relearning muscle memory.

Yes. Both the Royal Kludge A72 Alice and the L98 offer tri-mode connectivity. You can use them via Bluetooth 5.0, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, or a wired USB-C connection.

Based on manufacturer claims, the A72 has a longer claimed battery life with RGB off at up to 550 hours from its 7500mAh battery. The L98 claims up to 310 hours with RGB off from its 8000mAh battery. Real-world results will vary with usage and lighting settings.

Yes. Both keyboards use Cherry profile PBT keycaps on a standard ANSI layout, making them compatible with many aftermarket keycap sets. The L98 has south-facing RGB LEDs, which prevent interference with thicker keycaps.

Both keyboards offer a choice of pre-lubed switches from Royal Kludge. Options typically include Linear Cream switches, Tactile Beige switches, and Silent switches. Both have hot-swappable sockets, allowing you to easily install other 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches.

Both the A72 Alice and the L98 come with the keyboard itself, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a combined keycap and switch puller, and a user manual. The vendor descriptions do not list extra switches or keycaps beyond what is installed.

The manufacturer states the L98's smart display can show information like battery level. It can likely be customized via software to display other system stats or custom graphics, but specific functionalities are not detailed in the provided specifications.

Both keyboards feature five-layer sound dampening, including foam and silicone, and offer silent switch options. Acoustics will be very similar if configured with the same silent switches, though the larger internal cavity of the L98 could produce a slightly deeper sound.

Yes. Both keyboards support software for customization. The A72 uses a web-based driver accessible via a touch-sensitive nameplate, while the L98 uses dedicated software. Both allow for key remapping, macro creation, and RGB lighting control.

The manufacturer descriptions confirm both keyboards have a knob for media control. The L98's listing specifically notes its knob is hot-swappable. Both knobs likely default to volume control but can probably be reprogrammed via their respective software suites.