Royal Kludge L75 vs R87 PROMetal vs QMK
Choose the L75 for its metal case, larger battery and wireless flexibility, or the R87 PRO for QMK/VIA customization in a lighter plastic build.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
from$79at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Royal Kludge L75
Metal
Build quality in the bottom 45% of 75% boards under $100.
- Metal case and gasket mount.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity.
- 8000mAh battery capacity.
- No numpad.
Get the
Royal Kludge R87 PRO
QMK
Build quality in the top 20% of 80% boards under $100.
- QMK and VIA support for programming.
- Lighter 760g build with a plastic case.
- Hot-swappable linear switches and a gasket mount.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Pick the L75 if you want wireless flexibility, a metal case, a larger battery and switch choices that include tactile and silent options. Choose the R87 PRO if QMK/VIA programming and its lower weight matter more, and confirm that south-facing LEDs suit your keycap choice.
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.
Royal Kludge L75
Royal Kludge R87 PRO
Layout size
75%
80%
Battery
8,000 mAh
6,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Metal
Plastic
Switch options
Linear, Silent, Tactile
Linear
Weight
990 g
760 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Royal Kludge L75
- Royal Kludge R87 PRO
- Performance
- 6784
- Build quality
- 6178
- Productivity
- 5993
- Customizability
- 6091
- Portability
- 9085
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Knob
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The R87 PRO is the stronger fit for QMK/VIA programming and switch customization, while its listed N-key rollover also makes it a compelling gaming choice. The L75 stands out for wireless use, its larger battery and its additional tactile and silent switch options. For travel, the L75's wireless flexibility and battery capacity trade off against the R87 PRO's lower weight. The macro keys give the L75 an edge for shortcut-heavy creative work, while both boards offer a knob and hot-swappable switches.
Pick the Royal Kludge R87 PRO
- The R87 PRO has N-key rollover listed in its metadata.
- Its vendor description specifies pre-lubed linear Creamy switches and a detachable Type-C cable.
- The L75 offers linear, tactile and silent switch options, plus Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity.
Royal Kludge L75 vs R87 PRO specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 24 specs differ
Royal Kludge L75
Royal Kludge R87 PRO
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Battery
USB passthrough
USB-C
Case 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.
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.
Royal Kludge L75 vs R87 PRO: your questions
The L75 has a metal case, an 8000mAh battery and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity. The R87 PRO has a plastic case, a 6000mAh battery and QMK/VIA support.
Its product metadata lists Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity. The vendor description also discusses a wired R87 PRO version, so check the specific listing and variant before buying.
QMK and VIA support are listed for the R87 PRO, not the L75. The L75 vendor description mentions DIY software support and customizable macro keys, but does not identify QMK or VIA.
The R87 PRO weighs 760g, compared with 990g for the L75. The R87 PRO is the lighter option based on those listed weights.
The L75 has an 8000mAh battery, while the R87 PRO lists 6000mAh. The L75 therefore has the larger stated battery capacity.
Both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. The L75 vendor description specifies 3-pin and 5-pin switch compatibility, while the R87 PRO vendor listing describes its Creamy switches as hot-swappable.
The L75 vendor listing names Tactile Beige, Linear Cream and Linear Violet options, and also describes a silent switch option. The product metadata lists linear, tactile and silent switch types.
The R87 PRO vendor description specifies pre-lubed linear Creamy switches. Its product metadata lists linear switches.
The R87 PRO has south-facing LEDs, and its compatibility note warns that shine-through legends stay dark. It also warns that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Neither keyboard includes a numpad, according to their compatibility notes. The L75 is a 75% layout and the R87 PRO is listed as an 80% layout.
The R87 PRO supports QMK and VIA, which its vendor description says can be used for key remaps and macros. The L75 has five customizable M1-M5 macro keys, according to its vendor description.
Both keyboards list knob support, and each vendor description identifies a metal volume knob. The R87 PRO vendor says its knob can be removed and replaced with a standard key.
Not sold on either?
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.