Royal Kludge C98 HE vs S98 DEMagnetic vs Wireless 96% Showdown
Pick the C98 HE for its hall effect switches and 8000Hz polling rate if gaming performance is your priority, or choose the S98 DE if you need wireless flexibility and a built-in LCD screen.
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from$89at Royal Kludge
from$109at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Royal Kludge C98 HE
Magnetic
Build quality in the bottom 25% of 96% boards under $100.
- Hall effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points, enabling Rapid Trigger for competitive gaming.
- 8000Hz polling rate delivers a 0.125ms response time, which is 8x faster than standard gaming keyboards.
- Cherry profile PBT keycaps are durable and resistant to shine and wear.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Royal Kludge S98 DE
Wireless 96% Showdown
Build quality in the top 40% of 96% boards under $150.
- Tri-mode wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, wired) offers cable-free operation and flexibility.
- Features a smart LCD screen that can display custom GIFs, date, and connection status.
- Large 3750mAh battery provides extended usage between charges.
For competitive gamers, the Royal Kludge C98 HE is the clear choice thanks to its hall effect switches, rapid trigger, and 8000Hz polling rate. For everyone else, the Royal Kludge S98 DE offers a more complete package with wireless versatility, a long-lasting battery, an LCD screen, and a quieter typing experience. If you value latency and performance above all else, go with the C98 HE. If you need a do-it-all keyboard for work and play without being tethered to a desk, the S98 DE is the better fit.
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 C98 HE
Royal Kludge S98 DE
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
Yes
No
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Switch options
Magnetic
Linear, Tactile
Display
None
LCD
A case display rather than a typing feature
- Royal Kludge C98 HE
- Royal Kludge S98 DE
- Performance
- 9568
- Build quality
- 5270
- Productivity
- 8491
- Customizability
- 6779
- Portability
- 4557
- Layout size: 96%
- Hot-swappable
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The C98 HE, with its magnetic switches and 8000Hz polling rate, is clearly the better choice for gaming scenarios where speed and responsiveness are critical. For office and content creation, the S98 DE's wireless freedom, long battery life, and LCD screen offer more practical benefits. In programming, both keyboards are evenly matched due to their similar layout and hot-swap capabilities. For modding, the S98 DE's top mount and screw-in stabilizers give it an edge, while its wireless features make it more portable for travel. Overall, the S98 DE is the more versatile tool for daily productivity and customization.
Pick the Royal Kludge C98 HE
- Hall effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.01mm to 3.5mm enable rapid trigger for faster response in FPS games.
- An 8000Hz polling rate and 64K Hz key scanning frequency deliver a 0.125ms response time for near-instant input registration.
- Supports advanced gaming features like Dynamic Keys, Multi-Tap, Toggle, and SOCD Cleaning for genre-specific controls.
Royal Kludge C98 HE vs S98 DE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 23 specs differ
Royal Kludge C98 HE
Royal Kludge S98 DE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB passthrough
USB-C
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
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Royal Kludge C98 HE vs S98 DE: your questions
Yes, both keyboards are hot-swappable. The C98 HE is specifically compatible with RK magnetic switches only, while the S98 DE supports 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches, giving it a wider range of switch options.
Yes, the S98 DE features a smart LCD screen that can display custom GIF images, date, connection mode, WIN/MAC layout, and battery status. This is a feature not found on the C98 HE.
The S98 DE is the better choice for wireless use as it offers tri-mode connectivity including Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, along with a 3750mAh battery. The C98 HE is wired-only and cannot be used without a cable.
Yes, the C98 HE supports Rapid Trigger technology with a 0.01mm step distance, enabling instant activation and reset for fast-paced games. The S98 DE does not have this feature as it uses traditional mechanical switches.
The C98 HE uses Cherry profile PBT keycaps, which are known for durability and resistance to shine. The S98 DE comes with PBT double-shot keycaps, as specified in its tech specs, though the metadata lists ABS as the material.
Yes, both keyboards include Mac/Win support according to their metadata and vendor descriptions. They are compatible with Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, Mac, iOS, and Android operating systems.
The S98 DE is significantly heavier at 1879g compared to the C98 HE at 1200g. This makes the C98 HE lighter and easier to move, while the S98 DE's weight may appeal to users who prefer a more solid desk presence.
Yes, the S98 DE includes one integrated USB 2.0 pass-through port, in addition to a Type-C port and a 2.4G dongle slot. This allows for easy connection of a mouse or other USB device.
Yes, the C98 HE supports a web-based driver for customization. The vendor description mentions a powerful web driver for remapping keys, creating macros, adjusting actuation points, and enabling advanced features like Rapid Trigger and SOCD.
The polling rate for the S98 DE is not explicitly stated in the provided data. The metadata shows a performance score lower than the C98 HE, but specific numeric polling rates for the S98 DE are not available from the vendor description.
Yes, according to the vendor's product description, the C98 HE package includes a dust cover. This is a bonus for keeping the keyboard clean when not in use.
Yes, the vendor description for the S98 DE mentions 'gut geschmierte Schalter', which translates to well-lubricated switches. This can contribute to a smoother typing experience out of the box.
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