Royal Kludge M87 vs S85
Choose the Royal Kludge M87 for its dedicated media buttons and larger battery, or the S85 for its OLED display and pre-lubed Cloud switches.
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from$89at Royal Kludge
from$89at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Royal Kludge M87
Battery
Build quality in the top 35% of 80% boards under $100.
- 7500mAh battery.
- Dedicated calculator and media function keys.
- LCD screen described as showing time, connection status, and battery level.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Royal Kludge S85
Build quality in the top 30% of 80% boards under $100.
- OLED screen displays battery status, connection mode, and system mode.
- Pre-lubed Cloud switches with a stated actuation force of 45±10gf and total travel of 3.4±0.4mm.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the M87 for its dedicated media buttons, larger 7500mAh battery, and included spare Cream switches. Choose the S85 if you want its OLED status display and pre-lubed Cloud switches with listed force and travel figures.
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 S85
Battery
7,500 mAh
7,200 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Display
LCD
OLED
A case display rather than a typing feature
Weight
840 g
950 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Media keys
Yes
No
Dimensions
41 x 157 x 41 mm
44 x 142 x 44 mm
- Royal Kludge M87
- Royal Kludge S85
- Performance
- 6566
- Build quality
- 6869
- Productivity
- 8384
- Customizability
- 7874
- Portability
- 8586
- Layout size: 80%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The M87 gets the edge for office shortcuts, travel weight, switch tinkering, and content workflows, thanks to its dedicated media controls, lower listed weight, and included spare switches. For gaming, its larger battery and media buttons provide practical distinctions, though neither listing establishes a specific gaming performance advantage. Programming is a close match because the boards share their main layout and connection options. The S85 remains a strong alternative if its OLED display or Cloud switches are the features you prefer.
Pick the Royal Kludge M87
- The M87 has a dedicated calculator key and four additional media function keys, according to its product description.
- Its 7500mAh battery is larger than the S85's 7200mAh battery.
Royal Kludge M87 vs S85 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
5 of 19 specs differ
Royal Kludge M87
Royal Kludge S85
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Battery
USB-C
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
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Royal Kludge M87 vs S85: your questions
The M87 has an LCD screen, dedicated multimedia buttons, and a 7500mAh battery. The S85 has an OLED screen and pre-lubed Cloud switches.
Yes. Its product description lists a dedicated calculator key and four additional media function keys.
The S85 product specifications list media keys as unavailable. Its vendor description mentions function and media keys in general, so check the exact controls if dedicated media buttons are essential.
The M87 has a 7500mAh battery, while the S85 has a 7200mAh battery. The M87's vendor description also states up to 400 hours of use with RGB backlighting off.
Royal Kludge describes the M87 LCD as showing time, connection status, and battery level, with support for custom GIF images through software. Its description also says screen settings include visuals and keyboard status.
The S85 OLED displays battery status, connection mode, and system mode, including Windows or Mac mode. The vendor says it is intended for checking status and making adjustments without interrupting use.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. Each product description says the PCB supports 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
The M87 is described with pre-lubed linear Cream switches, while the S85 comes with pre-lubed Cloud switches. The S85 description lists a 45±10gf actuation force and 3.4±0.4mm total travel.
Both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C connection options. The M87 vendor description specifies Bluetooth 5.1, while the S85 description does not give a Bluetooth version.
The M87 is listed at 840g and the S85 at 950g. Based on those listed weights, the M87 is the lighter option.
Both keyboards have south-facing LEDs, and their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends may stay dark. Some sculpted keycaps may also clip the LED.
Not sold on either?
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