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.
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4.9 (64)4.9 · 64 reviews
from$44at Keychron
No reviews
from$54at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1
Wired Custom
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $50.
- 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.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Royal Kludge RK84
Wireless Value
Build quality in the bottom 20% of 75% boards under $100.
- 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.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
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
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS, Plastic
Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Silent, Tactile
Knob
Yes
No
- Keychron V1
- Royal Kludge RK84
- Performance
- 9162
- Build quality
- 8950
- Productivity
- 9877
- Customizability
- 9868
- Portability
- 6480
- 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.
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
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron V1
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Royal Kludge RK84
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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.
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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