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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Royal Kludge M87 vs RK Sink87GFeature-Rich vs Budget TKL

Choose the M87 for its premium features and customizability, or the Sink87G for a basic, lower-cost wireless TKL.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Royal Kludge M87

Feature-Rich

Build quality in the top 35% of 80% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Advanced gasket mount design with five-layer sound dampening foam.
  • Large 7500mAh battery for extended wireless use.
  • Hot-swappable PCB for easy switch customization.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Get the

Royal Kludge RK Sink87G

Budget TKL

Build quality in the bottom 5% of 80% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Generally available at a lower cost.
  • Includes a stated 8° typing angle for ergonomics.
  • Vendor description highlights macro recording functionality.

Rules this board out

  • Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.

Bottom line

The Royal Kludge M87 is the clear recommendation for most buyers willing to invest more for a full-featured, modern mechanical keyboard. Its gasket mount, hot-swap capability, superior battery life, and extra controls justify its price. Only consider the RK Sink87G if your budget is strictly limited and you can accept a basic, non-hot-swappable board with fewer features and a smaller battery.

What actually differs

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 M87

Royal Kludge RK Sink87G

  • Hot-swappable

    Yes

    No

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Battery

    7,500 mAh

    1,850 mAh

    A larger battery means fewer cables during the day

  • Knob

    Yes

    No

  • Display

    LCD

    None

    A case display rather than a typing feature

  • Weight

    840 g

    1,100 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Royal Kludge M87
  • Royal Kludge RK Sink87G
Performance
66
58
Build quality
69
42
Productivity
83
59
Customizability
78
49
Portability
85
67

What they share

  • Layout size: 80%
  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Royal Kludge M87 is the decisive winner across all use cases due to its superior feature set. It brings modern enthusiast features like a gasket mount, hot-swap sockets, PBT keycaps, and a large battery to a wireless TKL format. The RK Sink87G serves as a more basic alternative, potentially suitable if the absolute lowest cost is the primary concern and advanced features are unnecessary.

For gaming

Pick the Royal Kludge M87

  • The M87 features a gasket mount design with five layers of sound dampening for a quieter, more consistent typing feel.
  • It includes south-facing RGB LEDs, which are preferred for compatibility with Cherry-profile keycaps to avoid interference.
  • The M87's linear Cream switches, described as pre-lubed by the manufacturer, may offer a smoother keystroke for rapid inputs.

Full specs

Royal Kludge M87 vs RK Sink87G specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

11 of 21 specs differ

Royal Kludge M87

Royal Kludge RK Sink87G

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear
—

Hot-swappable

Yes
No

Mount style

Gasket Mount
—

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

80%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
No

Display

LCD
None

Media keys

Yes
No

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Battery

7,500 mAhBetter
1,850 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

—
Plastic

Keycaps

PBT
ABS

Weight

840 g
1,100 g

Dimensions

41 x 157 x 41 mm
39 x 360 x 135 mm

Typing angle

—
8°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB

Firmware & software

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2024
2021

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

FAQ

Royal Kludge M87 vs RK Sink87G: your questions

The Royal Kludge M87 has a significantly larger 7500mAh battery compared to the Sink87G's 1850mAh battery. According to the M87's product description, this allows for up to 400 hours of usage with RGB off. The Sink87G will require more frequent charging.

The product metadata and vendor description for the RK Sink87G do not list hot-swappable as a feature. This suggests its switches are soldered to the PCB and cannot be easily changed without soldering equipment. The M87 is explicitly hot-swappable.

The M87 uses a gasket mount, where the plate holding the switches is suspended on rubber or silicone gaskets. This design, combined with its five layers of dampening foam, aims to provide a softer, more consistent typing feel and reduce case vibrations. The Sink87G's mounting style is not specified but is assumed to be a more standard tray mount.

Yes, both the Royal Kludge M87 and RK Sink87G list Mac and Windows support in their specifications. The M87 vendor description also lists iOS and Android compatibility for its Bluetooth mode.

The M87 is likely better for a quiet office. It features linear switches and a gasket mount with five layers of internal sound-absorbing materials specifically designed for a quieter typing experience. The Sink87G, as described, comes with tactile Brown switches which have a gentle sound, but lacks the dedicated dampening construction.

The Royal Kludge M87 uses double-shot PBT keycaps, which are more durable and resistant to shine. The RK Sink87G uses double-shot ABS keycaps, which can develop a shiny appearance with prolonged use.

The connectivity metadata for the RK Sink87G lists only 2.4 GHz and Wired modes. Its vendor description and comparison table specifically mention 2.4G wireless and wired modes, with no mention of Bluetooth connectivity.

According to its vendor description, the M87 package includes the keyboard, a USB-C to USB-A cable, a keycap and switch puller, four spare Cream switches, and a user manual.

The RK Sink87G has a fixed 8° typing angle, as per its specifications. The M87's typing angle is not specified in the provided data. The Sink87G's description also mentions an optional magnetic pad foot for additional height adjustment.

The RK Sink87G is heavier, weighing 1100g (1.1kg). The Royal Kludge M87 is lighter at 840g (0.84kg), making it more portable despite having more features and a larger battery.

Both keyboards have RGB backlighting. The M87 vendor page mentions software for customization. The Sink87G description states it supports 9 sets of custom backlight modes and 8 kinds of RGB backlight mode cycle switching, controllable via function keys.

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