Dareu A98 Pro vs Royalaxe XL98Budget Screen vs Premium Battery
Choose the Dareu A98 Pro for its significantly lower price and lighter build, or the Royalaxe XL98 for its exceptional battery life and premium switches if budget is no concern.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Dareu A98 Pro
Budget Screen
Build quality in the top 30% of 98% boards under $200.
- Significantly more affordable price point.
- Lighter weight of 1200g for better portability.
- Includes screw-in stabilizers for better modding potential.
Get the
Royalaxe XL98
Premium Battery
Build quality in the bottom 25% of 98% boards at any price.
- Massive 8000mAh battery offering a claimed 200 hours of use.
- Comes with premium TTC Titan Heart linear switches.
- Features a customizable DIY dot-matrix LED display.
For most users, the Dareu A98 Pro presents the better value, delivering core features like a screen, gasket mount, and wireless connectivity at a much lower cost. Only consider the Royalaxe XL98 if its specific upgrades—the five-day battery life, TTC Titan Heart switches, and customizable dot-matrix screen—are worth the premium price and added heft.
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.
Dareu A98 Pro
Royalaxe XL98
Battery
4,000 mAh
8,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Knob
No
Yes
Display
TFT
Yes
A case display rather than a typing feature
Weight
1,200 g
1,800 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Sound dampening
Yes
No
- Dareu A98 Pro
- Royalaxe XL98
- Performance
- 4956
- Build quality
- 7057
- Productivity
- 8776
- Customizability
- 7472
- Portability
- 5665
- Layout size: 98%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum, Plastic
- Switch options: Linear
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
What will you mostly use it for?
The Royalaxe XL98 wins for office use and content creation due to its exceptional battery life and customizable display. The Dareu A98 Pro is the clear choice for travel and modding thanks to its lighter weight and inclusion of screw-in stabilizers. For gaming and programming, the keyboards are evenly matched on core layout and connectivity features, making the decision more about budget and secondary preferences.
It's a tie
- Both offer the same 98% layout with dedicated arrow keys.
- Both support low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless and wired USB-C connections.
- Both feature RGB backlighting for in-game ambiance.
Dareu A98 Pro vs Royalaxe XL98 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
8 of 21 specs differ
Dareu A98 Pro
Royalaxe XL98
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
Compare prices
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Dareu A98 Pro vs Royalaxe XL98: your questions
The Royalaxe XL98 has a significantly longer battery life. It uses an 8000mAh battery with a claimed runtime of up to 200 hours. The Dareu A98 Pro has a 4000mAh battery with a claimed 45 hours of use.
Yes, both the Dareu A98 Pro and the Royalaxe XL98 feature hot-swappable sockets. According to their specifications, both support 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches for easy customization.
The Dareu A98 Pro features a 1.4-inch TFT color display that can cycle through pre-loaded animations. The Royalaxe XL98 has a DIY dot-matrix LED display that can be customized with user-defined text and patterns.
Both use a gasket mount structure designed for a softer typing feel. The Royalaxe XL98 pairs this with a carbon fiber plate and TTC Titan Heart switches, while the Dareu A98 Pro uses multi-layer sound-absorbing silicone pads. Comfort is subjective and may depend on preference for these specific components.
Yes, both keyboards list Mac support in their extra features. Their vendor descriptions also confirm compatibility with macOS, alongside Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Both use PBT keycaps. The Royalaxe XL98's keycaps have a three-sided transparent design to enhance RGB backlighting, according to its vendor page. The Dareu A98 Pro uses PBT double-shot and dye-sublimation keycaps, but does not mention a transparent design.
Only the Royalaxe XL98 lists 'Knob Support' in its extra features. The Dareu A98 Pro does not include this feature in its listed specifications.
The Dareu A98 Pro is notably lighter at 1200 grams (1.2 kg). The Royalaxe XL98 is substantially heavier at 1800 grams (1.8 kg), which is 50% more weight.
Yes, both keyboards have dedicated software. The Dareu A98 Pro has a driver for Windows to customize lighting and macros. The Royalaxe XL98 listing mentions 'Royal Axe Driver Integration' for customization.
The Dareu A98 Pro is likely the better choice for a first-time buyer due to its lower price. It offers a comprehensive feature set including a screen, wireless connectivity, and hot-swap sockets, allowing new users to explore customization without a high initial investment.
Both keyboards offer identical triple-mode connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless via a dongle, and wired USB-C. This allows you to connect to multiple devices and choose the mode with the lowest latency or best battery life.
Not sold on either?
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