Keychron K5 Pro vs Royal Kludge N80Full-Size vs 75% Low-Profile
Choose the Keychron K5 Pro for a full-size layout and deep firmware customization, or the Royal Kludge N80 for a compact form factor with a screen and superior battery life.
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4.8 (8)4.8 · 8 reviews
from$135at Keychron (DE)
No reviews
from$89at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K5 Pro
Full-Size
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $150.
- Full-size 100% layout with a number pad.
- Open-source QMK and VIA firmware support for deep customization.
- Includes low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps for better durability.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Get the
Royal Kludge N80
75% Low-Profile
Build quality in the bottom 45% of 75% boards under $100.
- Compact 75% layout saves desk space.
- Includes a smart display screen and control knob.
- Larger 3750mAh battery for extended wireless use.
- 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.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If you require a full number pad, plan to heavily customize your keymap with QMK/VIA, or need specific international layouts, the Keychron K5 Pro is the better tool. If saving desk space, having a screen/knob for media control, and maximizing wireless battery life are higher priorities, the Royal Kludge N80 is the more suitable compact keyboard.
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 K5 Pro
Royal Kludge N80
Layout size
100%
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 K5 Pro
- Royal Kludge N80
- Performance
- 8065
- Build quality
- 7962
- Productivity
- 8282
- Customizability
- 8972
- Portability
- 5579
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron K5 Pro is the clear choice for programmers and modders due to its full layout and QMK support, while the Royal Kludge N80 wins for office and travel with its space-saving design and USB passthrough. Gamers leaning on wired performance will prefer the K5 Pro. For content creation, the K5 Pro's number pad and the N80's knob offer different advantages, making it a tie.
Pick the Keychron K5 Pro
- The K5 Pro has a specified 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode for lower latency.
- Its full-size layout includes a number pad useful for certain game genres.
- The manufacturer states its 1000 Hz polling rate is engineered for competitive gaming.
Keychron K5 Pro vs Royal Kludge N80 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
20 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K5 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
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 K5 Pro
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
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 K5 Pro vs Royal Kludge N80: your questions
The Royal Kludge N80 has a significantly larger 3750mAh battery compared to the Keychron K5 Pro's 2000mAh battery. According to the manufacturer, the N80 offers up to 25 hours of use with RGB on. The K5 Pro's smaller battery will require more frequent charging.
Yes, the Keychron K5 Pro is designed for Mac compatibility. The manufacturer states it offers a Mac layout with matching multimedia and function keys, and includes keycaps for both macOS and Windows. The Keychron Launcher web app for customization is also compatible with macOS.
Yes, the Royal Kludge N80 includes a built-in USB 2.0 passthrough port. This allows you to connect another device, like a mouse or flash drive, directly to the keyboard, which can help with cable management on your desk.
Both keyboards offer hot-swappable versions, but with different limitations. The Keychron K5 Pro hot-swap version is compatible with Gateron low-profile mechanical switches. The Royal Kludge N80's listing states it is hot-swappable with RK low-profile switches only.
The Keychron K5 Pro offers far deeper software customization. It supports the open-source QMK firmware and the VIA configurator, allowing for extensive key remapping, layering, and macro programming. The Royal Kludge N80 uses its own proprietary software.
The Royal Kludge N80 has a top-mount design which the manufacturer states offers firm keystrokes for gaming. However, the Keychron K5 Pro has a specified 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode, which is a common metric for gaming performance that is not stated for the N80.
The Keychron K5 Pro comes with low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps, which are generally more resistant to wear and shine. The Royal Kludge N80 uses double-shot ABS keycaps, which can develop a shiny appearance with prolonged use.
No. The Keychron K5 Pro's hot-swappable version is specifically compatible with Gateron low-profile mechanical switches. The manufacturer's description notes that QMK does not support low-profile optical switches for this board.
No. The connectivity options for the Keychron K5 Pro are listed as Bluetooth and wired (USB-C). It does not include a 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, unlike the Royal Kludge N80 which offers Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired tri-mode connectivity.
The Keychron K5 Pro has a 3-degree typing angle. The manufacturer also mentions it has three levels of adjustable feet to provide ergonomic wrist support, allowing you to change the angle.
According to its product description, the Royal Kludge N80 features a triple sound-absorbing layer. This includes 2 layers of sound-absorbing foams and a silicone bottom dampening pad to minimize hollow sounds during typing.
The Royal Kludge N80 is substantially heavier, weighing 1200g (1.2 kg). The Keychron K5 Pro weighs 720g. The N80's weight is likely due to its larger battery and internal components like the screen.
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