Keychron K13 Pro vs Royal Kludge N80QMK vs Screen
Choose the Keychron K13 Pro for QMK/VIA customization and ISO layouts, or the Royal Kludge N80 for its display, knob, and 2.4 GHz wireless.
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3.8 (10)3.8 · 10 reviews
from$83at Keychron
No reviews
from$89at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K13 Pro
QMK
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.
- QMK and VIA support, with Keychron Launcher for remapping and macros.
- A listed 1000 Hz polling rate and N-key rollover in wired and wireless modes.
- Vendor-listed UK, German, Swiss, Nordic, French, and Spanish ISO layout versions.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No numpad.
Get the
Royal Kludge N80
Screen
Build quality in the bottom 45% of 75% boards under $100.
- Tri-mode connections include Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C.
- A smart display and knob provide at-a-glance status and physical controls.
- 3750mAh battery, larger than the K13 Pro's listed 2000mAh battery.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- No numpad.
Pick the Keychron K13 Pro if QMK/VIA, ISO layout choice, and its stated 1000 Hz wired polling rate matter most. Choose the Royal Kludge N80 if you would rather have 2.4 GHz connectivity, a screen and knob, sound-dampening layers, and USB pass-through. Both are low-profile boards, so check switch and keycap fit before planning replacements.
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.
Keychron K13 Pro
Royal Kludge N80
Layout size
80%
75%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
2,000 mAh
3,750 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Linear, Tactile
- Keychron K13 Pro
- Royal Kludge N80
- Performance
- 8165
- Build quality
- 8162
- Productivity
- 7982
- Customizability
- 8872
- Portability
- 7379
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K13 Pro takes the edge for gaming and programming on the strength of its stated wired polling rate, rollover, firmware support, and layout range. Its lower listed weight also makes it the more convenient option to carry, although the N80 has a larger battery and adds 2.4 GHz wireless. The N80 is the stronger office and content-creation fit if its screen, knob, sound-dampening layers, or USB pass-through suit your setup. For modding, the K13 Pro has the broader named firmware options, while switch replacement on both models is restricted to low-profile switches.
Pick the Keychron K13 Pro
- The K13 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate and N-key rollover in wired and wireless modes.
- Keychron specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate for wired mode, while the N80 has no polling-rate figure listed for this model.
- The N80 offers 2.4 GHz connectivity and a top-mounted design described by Royal Kludge as gaming-friendly.
Keychron K13 Pro vs Royal Kludge N80 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
20 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K13 Pro
Royal Kludge N80
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB passthrough
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K13 Pro
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic
In stockDoes not ship to you
Royal Kludge N80
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron K13 Pro vs Royal Kludge N80: your questions
The K13 Pro focuses on QMK/VIA customization, a 1000 Hz wired polling rate, and multiple ISO layout options. The N80 adds a display, a knob, 2.4 GHz wireless, and sound-dampening layers.
Keychron lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for the K13 Pro, and its product description specifies that rate in wired mode. The N80 listing does not give a polling-rate figure.
Yes, the N80 has a smart display and a knob. Royal Kludge says the display can show items such as connection mode and battery status, while the knob can adjust volume and backlighting.
The K13 Pro is offered in ISO variants including UK, German, Swiss, Nordic, French, and Spanish layouts. The N80 is listed with an ANSI layout and US QWERTY.
No, both compatibility listings specify low-profile switches and keycaps only, so standard MX keycaps will not fit. Keychron also notes that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the K13 Pro's north-facing switch housing.
Both models are listed as hot-swappable. Keychron specifies low-profile Gateron or Keychron mechanical switch compatibility for the K13 Pro, while Royal Kludge specifies RK low-profile switches for the N80.
The K13 Pro is the more directly programmable option because it supports QMK and VIA, and Keychron describes remapping and macro functions through its Launcher web app. The N80 has vendor-described software support, but its listing does not name QMK or VIA.
The Keychron K13 Pro weighs 580 g, while the Royal Kludge N80 weighs 1200 g. The K13 Pro is therefore the lighter choice based on the listed weights.
Yes, the N80 supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C connectivity. The K13 Pro is listed with Bluetooth and wired connectivity, but not 2.4 GHz.
The N80 has a listed 3750mAh battery, while the K13 Pro has a 2000mAh battery. Royal Kludge also gives claimed use times of up to 25 hours with RGB backlighting and 115 hours without it.
Neither keyboard has a numpad, according to their compatibility rules. The K13 Pro is listed as 80%, and the N80 as 75%.
Royal Kludge specifies two sound-absorbing foam layers and a silicone bottom dampening pad for the N80. The K13 Pro's listing does not identify those sound-dampening components.
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