Not sure which keyboard to choose? Try the Keyboard Finder now!

Head to head · Prices checked Nov 12, 2026

Design Roost DRK 601R vs Royal Kludge R65

Get the Design Roost DRK 601R for hall effect. Get the Royal Kludge R65 for hot-swappable.

KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Design Roost DRK 601R

Hall effect

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.

Get the

Royal Kludge R65

Hot-swappable

Build quality in the top 15% of 65% boards under $100.

Rules this board out

  • 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.

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.

Design Roost DRK 601R

Royal Kludge R65

  • Layout size

    64%

    65%

  • Hall effect (magnetic)

    Yes

    No

    Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing

  • Hot-swappable

    No

    Yes

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Ergonomics

    Split Backspace, Split Spacebar

    Standard

  • Switch options

    Linear, Magnetic

    Linear

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Design Roost DRK 601R
  • Royal Kludge R65
Performance
68
65
Build quality
80
84
Productivity
51
89
Customizability
69
88
Portability
79
85

What they share

  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Case material: Aluminum
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount
  • QMK
  • VIA
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Design Roost DRK 601R vs Royal Kludge R65 specs

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

14 of 25 specs differ

Design Roost DRK 601R

Royal Kludge R65

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear, Magnetic
Linear

Hall effect (magnetic)

Yes
No

Hot-swappable

No
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

64%
65%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Split Backspace, Split Spacebar
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

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

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
—

Battery

3,000 mAh
—

USB-C

No
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

1,300 g
580 g

Dimensions

18 x 286 x 96 mm
41 x 116 x 41 mm

Typing angle

7°
—

Backlight

None
RGB

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
No

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2025
2024

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.

Still torn?

Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.