Compare Royal Kludge C98 HE vs Royal Kludge S98 ES Differences Side by Side

This comparison is for buyers choosing between two 96% Royal Kludge keyboards with very different strengths. The C98 HE is a wired Hall Effect board with magnetic switches and 8K Hz polling, built for low-latency gaming. The S98 ES is a triple-mode wireless keyboard with a top mount, an LCD screen, and a multifunction knob, better suited for daily productivity and desk flexibility. The decision is hard because both have the same layout and hot-swap capabilities, but they serve opposite primary use cases.

Model
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Rating	0.0 stars (0 reviews)	0.0 stars (0 reviews)
Purchase Options
Main differences	Has Magnetic switch options Includes a No display Utilizes Hall effect sensors Enables rapid trigger functionality Supports Wired, Wired only connectivity Runs at a 8000 Hz polling rate Weighs about 1200 g Sized at 41 x 409 x 140 mm Features PBT keycaps Offers Yes, Rgb, South-face, Rgb South-face RGB lighting	Includes a Yes, LCD display Offers a USB passthrough port Features N-key rollover Includes screw-in stabilizers Uses a Top Mount mounting style Supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired, Wireless connectivity Equipped with a 3750 mAh battery Weighs about 1879 g Sized at 42 x 409 x 140 mm Features ABS keycaps Offers Yes, Rgb RGB lighting
Score	Scores Performance: 95.1 Build Quality: 52.1 Productivity: 83.3 Customizability: 67.2 Portability: 45.1	Scores Performance: 78 Build Quality: 69.7 Productivity: 90.9 Customizability: 79.2 Portability: 56.4
Name	Name Royal Kludge C98 HE	Name Royal Kludge S98 ES
Release year	Release year 2025	Release year 2025
Switch Options	Switch Options Magnetic	Switch Options -
Profile	Profile Normal Profile	Profile Normal Profile
Hot Swappable	Hot Swappable	Hot Swappable
Layout Size	Layout Size 96%	Layout Size 96%
Layout Standard	Layout Standard ANSI	Layout Standard ANSI
Layout Ergonomics	Layout Ergonomics Normal	Layout Ergonomics Normal
Knob Support	Knob Support	Knob Support
Display Support	Display Support	Display Support LCD
Mac/Win Support	Mac/Win Support	Mac/Win Support
Multi-Media Keys	Multi-Media Keys	Multi-Media Keys
USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
USB passthrough	USB passthrough	USB passthrough
Connection	Connection Wired, Wired only	Connection Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired, Wireless
Polling Rate	Polling Rate 8000 Hz	Polling Rate -
Battery capacity	Battery capacity -	Battery capacity 3750 mAh
Hall Effect Support	Hall Effect Support	Hall Effect Support
QMK Support	QMK Support	QMK Support
VIA Support	VIA Support	VIA Support
VIAL Support	VIAL Support	VIAL Support
N-Key Rollover	N-Key Rollover	N-Key Rollover
Rapid Trigger	Rapid Trigger	Rapid Trigger
Mount Style	Mount Style -	Mount Style Top Mount
Screw in Stabilizers	Screw in Stabilizers	Screw in Stabilizers
Sound Dampening	Sound Dampening	Sound Dampening
Backlight	Backlight Rgb, South-face	Backlight Rgb
Case Colors	Case Colors	Case Colors
Case Material	Case Material -	Case Material -
Keycaps Material	Keycaps Material PBT	Keycaps Material ABS
Dimensions	Dimensions 41 x 409 x 140 mm	Dimensions 42 x 409 x 140 mm
Weight	Weight 1200g	Weight 1879g

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Pros and Trade-offs

If competitive gaming is your priority, the C98 HE offers magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger, and 8K Hz polling that the S98 ES cannot match. If you need a wireless daily driver with a screen and a knob for productivity and media control, the S98 ES is the better fit. Both share the same 96% layout, so your choice depends on whether you value raw speed or flexible features.

Royal Kludge C98 HE

+Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.01mm to 3.5mm.
+8K Hz polling rate with 0.125ms response time.
+Rapid Trigger and SOCD features for competitive FPS and fighting games.
+Cherry profile PBT keycaps resist shine and wear.
+3-layer sound dampening (EVA foam, absorbing foam, silicone pad) reduces hollow noise.

−Wired-only connectivity limits desk setup flexibility.
−ABS case construction may feel less premium to some users.
−Web-based driver reported as unreliable by some customer reviews.

Royal Kludge S98 ES

+Triple-mode wireless (Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4 GHz, USB-C).
+Built-in LCD screen for GIFs, battery, and connection info.
+Top mount design with 2-layer sound dampening foam for a quieter typing experience.
+USB pass-through port for connecting peripherals.
+Includes screw-in stabilizers and supports 3 or 5 pin hot-swap switches.

−Heavier at 1879g, less portable than the C98 HE.
−ABS keycaps may develop shine over time.
−No magnetic switch support, limiting gaming performance features.

Which Keyboard Is Better for Your Needs?

The C98 HE dominates gaming due to its magnetic switches and ultra-high polling rate. The S98 ES wins in office, travel, and content creation thanks to wireless connectivity, a screen, and a knob. For programming they tie because the layout and hot-swap capability are identical. Modders will prefer the S98 ES for its top mount and screw-in stabilizers.

GamingRoyal Kludge C98 HE