Royal Kludge A72 Alice vs N80Ergonomic Alice vs Low-Profile Screen

The Royal Kludge A72 Alice has significantly better battery life. It features a 7500mAh battery, which is double the 3750mAh capacity of the N80. According to the manufacturer, the A72 can last up to 550 hours with RGB off, compared to the N80's 115 hours under the same conditions.

Yes, the Royal Kludge N80 is hot-swappable, but with a specific limitation. The vendor states it is 'hot-swappable with RK Low Profile switches only.' This means it is not compatible with standard MX-style switches, limiting your aftermarket switch options compared to the A72.

The main difference is ergonomics. The Royal Kludge A72 uses an Alice layout, which splits the keyboard into two angled halves to align with the natural position of your hands. The N80 uses a standard, straight layout. The Alice layout aims to reduce wrist pronation and strain during long typing sessions.

No, the Royal Kludge A72 Alice does not have an integrated screen. This is a key differentiator from the N80, which features a smart display screen that can show custom GIFs, battery status, and connection mode. The A72 focuses its features on ergonomics and sound dampening instead.

The Royal Kludge N80 is more portable. It is lighter, weighing 1200g compared to the A72's 1350g, and has a lower profile with a height of 28mm versus 42mm. The N80 also includes a shorter 5.6-inch USB-C cable, which is more convenient for travel than the A72's 1.6m cable.

The Royal Kludge A72 Alice uses Cherry profile PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps, which are known for their textured feel and resistance to shine. The N80 uses ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) double-shot keycaps, which allow for shine-through legends but are more prone to developing a glossy finish over time.

The vendor description for the N80 states that advanced software functionality for customizing the screen is accessible via a wired connection. One user review notes a lack of software for Mac. For full screen customization, Windows is likely best supported, though basic screen functions may work on other OSes.

For ergonomic typing comfort, the A72 Alice is designed to be better. Its split Alice layout promotes a neutral wrist posture to reduce strain. For users who prefer a low, fast typing experience, the N80's low-profile switches and keycaps might feel more comfortable. It's a matter of preferring ergonomic angles versus a lower typing height.

Yes, both the Royal Kludge A72 Alice and the N80 include a volume knob. On the A72, it is a metal knob for volume and media control. On the N80, the knob is multifunctional, also controlling connection modes, backlight brightness, and RGB settings in addition to volume.

Both keyboards have multi-layer sound dampening. The A72 Alice uses a five-layer system including dual sound-absorbing foam, an IXPE switch pad, a silicone dampener, and PET film. The N80 uses a triple sound-absorbing layer with two layers of foam and a silicone bottom dampening pad.

The Royal Kludge A72 Alice has more dedicated programmable keys. It features five dedicated macro keys labeled M1 through M5. The N80's programmability is managed through its software for key remapping and macros, but it does not have the same set of physically dedicated macro keys.

According to the vendor, the Royal Kludge A72 Alice comes with pre-lubed custom switches (Linear Cream, Tactile Beige, or Silent Purple). The vendor description for the N80 does not mention pre-lubing for its low-profile Red or Brown switches, so it is safer to assume they are not.