Keychron V1 vs Royal Kludge RK84Wired Custom vs Wireless Value
Choose the Keychron V1 for deep customization and wired performance, or the Royal Kludge RK84 for wireless flexibility and a lower price.
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1
Wired Custom
- Extensive firmware support with QMK and VIA for deep customization.
- Available in a barebones kit for building from scratch.
- Includes high-quality components like screw-in PCB stabilizers and PBT keycaps.
- Wired-only connectivity, with no wireless option.
- Heavier at 995g, which reduces portability.
- Lacks a built-in battery and USB pass-through ports.
Get the
Royal Kludge RK84
Wireless Value
- Triple-mode connectivity with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired USB-C.
- Includes a 3750mAh battery for cordless operation.
- Features two built-in USB 2.0 pass-through ports for peripherals.
- Uses ABS keycaps, which may develop shine over time faster than PBT.
- Lacks advanced programmability features like QMK or VIA support.
- Limited layout support, primarily ANSI and ISO.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If you want a keyboard as a project—to program, mod, and tune for the perfect typing experience—the wired Keychron V1 is the superior platform. If you need a versatile, plug-and-play wireless keyboard for a clean desk setup across multiple devices, the Royal Kludge RK84 delivers that convenience at a competitive price. Prioritize customization and performance, or flexibility and value.
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 V1
Royal Kludge RK84
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Case material
ABS, Plastic
Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Silent, Tactile
Knob
Yes
No
- Keychron V1
- Royal Kludge RK84
- Performance
- 9263
- Build quality
- 8950
- Productivity
- 9877
- Customizability
- 9868
- Portability
- 6580
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: ABS, PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron V1 dominates in scenarios demanding high performance, deep customization, and programmability, making it the clear choice for gaming, programming, modding, and content creation. The Royal Kludge RK84 wins in mobile and office environments where wireless connectivity, battery life, and peripheral pass-through are more valuable than raw customizability. For travel, the RK84's lighter weight and cord-free operation give it the edge.
Pick the Keychron V1
- The Keychron V1 offers a higher polling rate of 8000 Hz, which can provide lower latency.
- Its vendor description mentions a 1000 Hz polling rate for minimal latency in competitive games.
- The RK84's wireless modes may introduce latency not present in the V1's wired-only connection.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron V1
63 owner reviews
“Even tho I live in the middle of Europe the shipping only took 11 working days. It feels and sounds great to type on. And the opening experience was also great.”
“Good quality of build but its actually pretty trash keyboard, 2 years and started to not register keys, double typing ect and its not problem of the switch because i changed them with working ones and still had the problem”
Royal Kludge RK84
No owner reviews collected yet.
Keychron V1 vs Royal Kludge RK84 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
16 of 28 specs differ
Keychron V1
Royal Kludge RK84
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 passthrough
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
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Keychron V1 vs Royal Kludge RK84: your questions
The Keychron V1 is generally better for gaming due to its wired-only connection and higher polling rate. The manufacturer states its 1000 Hz polling rate makes latency hardly noticeable in competitive games. The RK84's wireless modes may introduce latency, though it can be used in wired mode.
Yes, the Royal Kludge RK84 listing states support for macOS, along with Windows, iOS, and Android. The Keychron V1 also includes Mac support and comes with an extra set of keycaps for Mac-specific legends.
Yes, both the Keychron V1 and the Royal Kludge RK84 feature hot-swappable sockets. The V1 supports both 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches, while the RK84 uses hot-swappable RK switches.
No, the Keychron V1 is a wired-only keyboard. It connects via a USB-C cable. For a wireless option from Keychron, you would need to look at other models like the V1 Max mentioned in the vendor description.
The Keychron V1 uses double-shot PBT keycaps in its fully assembled version, which are more resistant to oil and shine. The Royal Kludge RK84 uses double-shot ABS keycaps, which are shine-through for its backlighting.
The Keychron V1 is significantly more geared towards modding. It is available as a barebones kit, uses screw-in PCB stabilizers, has south-facing RGB LEDs for Cherry profile keycap compatibility, and supports open-source QMK/VIA firmware for limitless programming.
According to the Royal Kludge vendor page, the RK84's 3750mAh battery can last up to 200 hours with the backlight off. The page notes a full charge takes approximately 6-7 hours.
The RK84 vendor description mentions "DIY Software Supports," indicating some level of programmability through proprietary software. It does not support the advanced, open-source QMK or VIA firmware found on the Keychron V1.
The RK84 package includes the keyboard, a user manual, two magnetic pad feet, a 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller, four replacement RK switches, a USB-C cable, and a USB receiver for the 2.4 GHz wireless connection.
The Keychron V1 is available in a version with a programmable aluminum rotary encoder (knob). This is a separate model from the standard version. The knob can be customized for volume, zoom, brightness, and other functions via software.
The Royal Kludge RK84 has two built-in USB 2.0 pass-through ports, allowing you to connect devices like a mouse or headphone dongle directly to the keyboard. The Keychron V1 does not have this feature.
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