AULA F98 PRO vs Royal Kludge S98Gasket vs Top Mount Showdown
Choose the AULA F98 Pro for its gasket-mounted typing feel and PC keycaps, or the Royal Kludge S98 for hot-swappable switches and a USB passthrough port.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
AULA F98 PRO
Gasket
Build quality in the bottom 25% of 98% boards under $100.
- Uses a gasket mount design with Poron cotton and EVA damping materials for a softer typing feel.
- Features transparent PC keycaps with a GDA profile for a unique aesthetic and sound.
- Includes double-sided RGB side lights for additional lighting effects.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Get the
Royal Kludge S98
Top Mount Showdown
Build quality in the top 30% of 96% boards under $100.
- Hot-swappable switch sockets allow for easy switch replacement without soldering.
- Includes a built-in USB 2.0 passthrough port for connecting peripherals.
- Comes with double-shot PBT keycaps, which are more durable and resistant to shine.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Your priority should guide your choice. If you value a specific, potentially softer and more cushioned typing experience and like the look of transparent keycaps, the AULA F98 Pro's gasket mount is compelling. However, for most users, especially those who want to customize switches later or appreciate the utility of a USB passthrough, the Royal Kludge S98's hot-swappable design and PBT keycaps offer greater long-term value and practicality.
The differences that matter
Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.
AULA F98 PRO
Royal Kludge S98
Layout size
98%
96%
Hot-swappable
No
Yes
Switch changes without soldering
Battery
4,000 mAh
3,750 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Top Mount
Display
LCD
TFT
A case display rather than a typing feature
- AULA F98 PRO
- Royal Kludge S98
- Performance
- 4866
- Build quality
- 5072
- Productivity
- 7682
- Customizability
- 5872
- Portability
- 5053
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Royal Kludge S98 wins more categories, particularly for office use, modding, and content creation, thanks to its practical USB passthrough, hot-swappable design, and durable PBT keycaps. The AULA F98 Pro is the better pick for travel due to its larger, user-replaceable battery. For programming, both keyboards are evenly matched with their compact layouts and multi-system support. Gamers may lean toward the S98 for its implied gaming pedigree and south-facing LEDs.
Pick the Royal Kludge S98
- The Royal Kludge S98's listing includes a 'Gamer's Pick' variant in its product family, suggesting a design focus for gaming.
- Its south-facing RGB LEDs are less likely to interfere with Cherry-profile keycaps, a common choice for gaming sets.
- The top-mount design may offer a more consistent and stable typing platform for rapid key presses.
AULA F98 PRO vs Royal Kludge S98 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 19 specs differ
AULA F98 PRO
Royal Kludge S98
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Battery
USB passthrough
USB-C
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
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AULA F98 PRO vs Royal Kludge S98: your questions
Only the Royal Kludge S98 is listed as hot-swappable. This means you can easily pull out and replace its mechanical switches without any soldering. The AULA F98 Pro is not described with this feature in its specifications.
Yes, the Royal Kludge S98 includes one built-in USB 2.0 passthrough port. This allows you to connect a mouse, flash drive, or other peripheral directly to the keyboard. The AULA F98 Pro does not have this feature.
The AULA F98 Pro uses PC (polycarbonate) transparent keycaps with a GDA profile. The Royal Kludge S98 uses double-shot PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps. PBT is generally more resistant to wear and shine than PC or ABS plastic.
The AULA F98 Pro uses a gasket mount, where the plate is suspended on soft gaskets for a bouncier, quieter typing feel. The Royal Kludge S98 uses a top mount, where the plate is fixed to the top of the case, typically resulting in a firmer, more direct feedback. The AULA's description mentions Poron and EVA foam for damping.
Based on specifications, the AULA F98 Pro has a slightly larger 4000mAh battery compared to the Royal Kludge S98's 3750mAh battery. The AULA's vendor page also notes its battery is designed for easy replacement, which could extend the keyboard's usable life.
Yes, both the AULA F98 Pro and Royal Kludge S98 list Mac and Windows support. The AULA's description specifically details a system switching function on its LCD screen to swap between Win and Mac modes, which also adjusts the left Win and Alt key positions.
The Royal Kludge S98's package contents list includes a keycap and switch puller. The included accessories for the AULA F98 Pro are not detailed in the provided information, so it may not come with one.
Both have per-key RGB backlighting. The Royal Kludge S98 specifies it uses south-facing RGB LEDs. The AULA F98 Pro adds double-sided RGB side lights on its case, which are controllable via key combinations according to its vendor description.
According to their vendor descriptions, both screens are customizable. The AULA F98 Pro's description states you can use software to personalize display images on its 1.14-inch screen. The Royal Kludge S98's page mentions tailoring GIF displays, RGB modes, and battery status on its screen.
The Royal Kludge S98 is notably heavier, with a specified weight of 1879 grams (4.14 lbs). The weight for the AULA F98 Pro is not provided in the specifications, but its gasket-mounted construction with foam may result in a lighter build.
The AULA F98 Pro's vendor description states it supports Bluetooth 4.0/5.0 and BLE 5.1. The Royal Kludge S98's description mentions Bluetooth 5.0 support. Both offer modern Bluetooth connectivity alongside 2.4GHz wireless and wired USB-C options.
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