Keychron K8 Pro vs Royal Kludge R87 PRO
Choose the Keychron K8 Pro for ISO and other layout options, aluminum construction, and a choice of switch types; choose the Royal Kludge R87 PRO for its removable volume knob, gasket mount, and lower listed weight.
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4.9 (52)4.9 · 52 reviews
from$89at Keychron
No reviews
from$64at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K8 Pro
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- Supports ANSI, JIS, and multiple ISO layouts, including ISO-UK, ISO-DE, ISO-FR, and ISO-Nordic.
- Lists an aluminum case option and a steel plate.
- Offers linear, tactile, and clicky switch types.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Royal Kludge R87 PRO
Battery
Build quality in the top 20% of 80% boards under $100.
- Gasket mount with sound-absorbing foam and case foam.
- Removable metal volume knob that can be replaced with a standard key.
- Listed weight of 760g and 6000mAh battery.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the Keychron K8 Pro if you need ISO or JIS layouts, want its listed aluminum case and steel plate, or prefer a choice of linear, tactile, and clicky switches. Get the Royal Kludge R87 PRO if you want a gasket mount, a removable volume knob, and a lower listed weight with a larger listed battery.
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 K8 Pro
Royal Kludge R87 PRO
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
4,000 mAh
6,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Linear
Mount style
PCB Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Gasket Mount
- Keychron K8 Pro
- Royal Kludge R87 PRO
- Performance
- 8183
- Build quality
- 8978
- Productivity
- 9593
- Customizability
- 9691
- Portability
- 7385
- Layout size: 80%
- Hot-swappable
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K8 Pro is the stronger fit for buyers who need layout choice or want more specified construction and switch customization options. The R87 PRO is a more travel-oriented pick based on its lower listed weight and larger listed battery, and its knob gives it a distinct control option. Gaming and content-creation preferences also lean toward the R87 PRO for its gasket-mounted design and removable knob. Both provide hot-swap support and QMK/VIA, so those shared features do not settle the choice.
Pick the Royal Kludge R87 PRO
- The R87 PRO has a gasket mount with sound-absorbing foam and case foam.
- Its vendor-listed pre-lubed linear creamy switches have a stated 45±10g actuation force and 3.4±0.4mm travel distance.
Keychron K8 Pro vs Royal Kludge R87 PRO specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 26 specs differ
Keychron K8 Pro
Royal Kludge R87 PRO
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K8 Pro
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Royal Kludge R87 PRO
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K8 Pro vs Royal Kludge R87 PRO: your questions
The K8 Pro offers ANSI, JIS, and multiple ISO layout standards, plus linear, tactile, and clicky switch types. The R87 PRO adds a gasket mount and a removable metal volume knob.
Yes. Its listed layout standards include ISO and variants such as ISO-UK, ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-Nordic. The R87 PRO is listed as ANSI only.
No ISO layout is listed for the R87 PRO, and its compatibility information says ISO variants are not offered. The K8 Pro lists ISO and several ISO variants.
The R87 PRO has a removable metal knob. Its vendor description says it controls volume and can be replaced with a standard key.
The R87 PRO is listed at 760g, while the K8 Pro is listed at 1146g. Based on those listed weights, the R87 PRO is the lighter option.
The R87 PRO lists a 6000mAh battery, while the K8 Pro lists a 4000mAh battery. These figures identify battery capacity, not expected runtime.
Both list hot-swap support. Keychron's description says the hot-swappable K8 Pro version accepts 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches without soldering.
The R87 PRO lists a gasket mount. Its vendor description also names sound-absorbing foam and case foam as part of its construction.
Both have south-facing LEDs, and the compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends can stay dark. The same notes say some sculpted keycaps may clip the LEDs.
The K8 Pro lists linear, tactile, and clicky switch types. The R87 PRO is listed as linear, with its vendor description specifying pre-lubed linear creamy switches.
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