Royal Kludge C96 HE vs C98 HEWireless vs Wired Hall Effect
Choose the C96 for wireless flexibility or the C98 for a dedicated knob and broader layout support.
Which one should you get?
Get the
Royal Kludge C96 HE
Wireless
- Offers triple connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired USB-C.
- Includes a 3750mAh rechargeable battery for cordless operation.
- Comes with a magnetic wrist rest for ergonomic support.
- Heavier at 1370g, partly due to the internal battery.
- Hot-swap capability may be limited to RK-branded magnetic switches only.
- Lacks the dedicated physical control knob found on the C98.
Get the
Royal Kludge C98 HE
Wired Hall Effect
- Features a dedicated control knob for media and settings adjustment.
- Officially supports multiple language layouts (US, DE, ES, FR, JP).
- Lighter weight (1200g) due to the lack of a battery.
- Wired-only connectivity, with no wireless or battery options.
- Does not include a wrist rest.
- May be priced higher than the C96 at some vendors.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If you value a clean desk and the ability to switch between devices wirelessly, the Royal Kludge C96 HE is the logical pick. If you prefer a wired setup with the convenience of a tactile control knob and need specific international layouts, the Royal Kludge C98 HE is the better tool. Both deliver identical high-end gaming performance through their Hall Effect magnetic switches.
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.
Royal Kludge C96 HE
Royal Kludge C98 HE
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Hot-swappable
No
Yes
Weight
1,370 g
1,200 g
- Royal Kludge C96 HE
- Royal Kludge C98 HE
- Performance
- 9495
- Build quality
- 4752
- Productivity
- 7684
- Customizability
- 5367
- Portability
- 5045
- Layout size: 96%
- Hall effect (magnetic)
- Rapid trigger
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Switch options: Magnetic
- Knob
What will you mostly use it for?
The C96 HE is the clear choice for office and mobile scenarios due to its wireless modes and battery. The C98 HE takes the lead for programming and content creation, thanks to its dedicated control knob and support for multiple keyboard layouts. For core gaming performance, the keyboards are effectively tied, sharing their high-performance Hall Effect foundations. Modders should verify hot-swap compatibility, but the C98 appears to have a slight edge in explicit support.
It's a tie
- Both feature an 8000Hz polling rate and 0.125ms response time.
- Both have Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.01mm to 3.5mm.
- Both support Rapid Trigger technology with a 0.01mm step distance.
Royal Kludge C96 HE vs C98 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
3 of 20 specs differ
Royal Kludge C96 HE
Royal Kludge C98 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
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Royal Kludge C96 HE vs C98 HE: your questions
The core difference is connectivity. The C96 offers Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired USB-C connectivity with a 3750mAh battery. The C98 is a wired-only keyboard but includes a dedicated control knob and supports more international layouts.
Yes. According to their vendor descriptions, both the Royal Kludge C96 HE and C98 HE feature Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.01mm to 3.5mm. Both also support Rapid Trigger technology with a 0.01mm step distance.
Both keyboards are described as hot-swappable, but with a potential limitation. The vendor page for the C96 specifies hot-swap is for 'RK magnetic switches only'. The C98's metadata lists 'Hot-Swappable' as a feature without the same explicit restriction in the provided text.
For pure gaming performance, they are equivalent. Both have an 8000Hz polling rate, a 0.125ms response time, and fully adjustable Hall Effect switches with Rapid Trigger. The choice depends on whether you prefer a wireless (C96) or wired (C98) connection for your setup.
Yes. The manufacturer's description for the Royal Kludge C96 HE states it includes an 'Ergonomic Magnetic Wrist Rest' in the package contents.
Yes. The Royal Kludge C98 HE features a 'Dedicated Knob Control'. The vendor description states this knob can adjust volume, lighting, and connection settings.
The C96 uses Cherry profile PBT keycaps, as per its vendor description. The C98's description mentions 'Cherry Profile PBT Keycaps' in its feature list, though it also references 'MDA profile' in a separate section, suggesting possible variation or error in the listing.
Both have features conducive to typing, like PBT keycaps and a 3-layer sound dampening system. The C96 is stronger for office use due to its wireless connectivity, which allows easy switching between devices, and its included wrist rest.
The Royal Kludge C96 HE is heavier, weighing 1370g (1.37 kg). The Royal Kludge C98 HE weighs 1200g (1.2 kg). The C96's weight includes its internal 3750mAh battery.
Both keyboards support a web-based driver for customization. According to the vendor pages, this allows for remapping keys, creating macros, adjusting actuation points, and personalizing RGB lighting without dedicated installed software.
The metadata for both keyboards lists 'South-face' RGB. The vendor description for the C96 explicitly confirms 'South-facing RGB' lighting. The C98's description mentions 'south-facing RGB lighting effects' in one section, confirming the same orientation.
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