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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

AULA F99 Pro vs Royal Kludge RK96Gasket vs Ports Comparison

Choose the AULA F99 Pro for a premium typing feel and battery life, or the Royal Kludge RK96 for desktop connectivity and included ergonomic accessories.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

AULA F99 Pro

Gasket

Build quality in the bottom 50% of 96% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Gasket mount structure for a dampened, flexible typing feel.
  • Large 8000mAh battery capacity for extended wireless use.
  • Five layers of sound-dampening materials including foam, IXPE, and PET film.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Get the

Royal Kludge RK96

Ports Comparison

Build quality in the bottom 30% of 96% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Includes an integrated magnetic wrist rest for ergonomic support.
  • Features two USB 2.0 passthrough ports for peripheral connectivity.
  • Offers a choice of clicky, linear, and tactile switch types from the factory.

Bottom line

Your primary need dictates the choice. If a superior, mod-friendly typing experience and long wireless battery life are your goals, the AULA F99 Pro is the clear pick. If your desk setup benefits from extra USB ports, you value an included wrist rest, and you want immediate switch variety, the Royal Kludge RK96 offers more practical utility out of the box.

What actually differs

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 F99 Pro

Royal Kludge RK96

  • Battery

    8,000 mAh

    3,750 mAh

    A larger battery means fewer cables during the day

  • Case material

    ABS

    Plastic

  • Switch options

    Linear

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount

    PCB Mount

  • Weight

    1,023 g

    1,500 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • AULA F99 Pro
  • Royal Kludge RK96
Performance
66
51
Build quality
62
54
Productivity
83
91
Customizability
66
78
Portability
63
54

What they share

  • Layout size: 96%
  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Knob
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The AULA F99 Pro wins for travel and modding due to its lighter weight, large battery, and advanced internal construction. The Royal Kludge RK96 is the better office and content creation tool because of its integrated wrist rest and USB passthrough ports. For gaming and programming, the decision hinges on prioritizing the AULA's typing feel versus the RK96's ergonomic and connectivity features.

For gaming

Pick the AULA F99 Pro

  • The AULA F99 Pro's gasket mount structure is described by the manufacturer to dampen vibrations and reduce noise, which may provide a more stable feel.
  • South-facing RGB lighting on the AULA F99 Pro is less likely to interfere with Cherry-profile keycaps, a common preference for gaming keycap sets.
  • The RK96's listed weight of 1500g is significantly heavier, which could be less ideal for quick repositioning on a desk.

Full specs

AULA F99 Pro vs Royal Kludge RK96 specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

11 of 23 specs differ

AULA F99 Pro

Royal Kludge RK96

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
PCB Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

96%
96%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Battery

8,000 mAhBetter
3,750 mAh

USB passthrough

No
Yes

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS
Plastic

Plate material

Plastic, Polycarbonate
—

Keycaps

—
ABS

Weight

1,023 g
1,500 g

Dimensions

43 x 146 x 390 mm
38 x 124 x 38 mm

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB

Firmware & software

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2024
2022

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

AULA F99 Pro3 stores

FAQ

AULA F99 Pro vs Royal Kludge RK96: your questions

The AULA F99 Pro has a significantly larger 8000mAh battery, while the Royal Kludge RK96 has a 3750mAh battery. According to the manufacturer, the F99 Pro's battery is designed for sustained performance, suggesting longer periods between charges.

The RK96 product listing confirms it has RGB lighting. However, some customer reviews for specific color variants note that it may only have a single-color blue backlight, so it's important to verify the lighting type for the specific model you are purchasing.

The AULA F99 Pro uses a gasket mount, where the plate is suspended by rubber or silicone gaskets to dampen sound and vibration. The Royal Kludge RK96 uses a PCB mount, where the switches are soldered or hot-swapped directly onto the PCB, which is then screwed into the case. Gasket mounts are often associated with a softer, more cushioned typing feel.

Yes, both the AULA F99 Pro and the Royal Kludge RK96 feature hot-swappable PCBs. This allows you to change mechanical switches without any soldering required, using the included switch puller.

The AULA F99 Pro may have an advantage for quietness. Its vendor description emphasizes a gasket structure and five layers of sound-improving materials specifically designed to reduce noise and eliminate echoes. The RK96 also has sound dampening, but its description mentions two layers of EVA foam.

No, the AULA F99 Pro does not include an integrated or magnetic wrist rest. The Royal Kludge RK96 is the model that comes with a magnetic wrist rest included in the package.

Both keyboards support triple-mode connectivity. This includes a USB-C wired connection, a 2.4 GHz wireless connection with a dongle, and Bluetooth wireless. The RK96 manufacturer specifies Bluetooth 5.0.

The Royal Kludge RK96 listing specifies it uses ABS double-shot keycaps. The AULA F99 Pro vendor description states it uses Cherry-profile keycaps but does not specify if they are double-shot.

Only the Royal Kludge RK96 has built-in USB passthrough. Its specification lists two USB 2.0 ports, allowing you to connect other devices directly to the keyboard.

Both keyboards list Mac support as a feature. However, the Royal Kludge RK96 software description notes that its programmer software is only for Windows systems and must be run in wired mode, suggesting Mac software support may be more limited.

Both are 96% layout keyboards. The AULA F99 Pro vendor description specifies 100 keys. The Royal Kludge RK96 is described as having 96 keys, which is typical for the layout classification, though the exact count may vary slightly between models.

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