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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 12, 2026

Royal Kludge R75 vs R87 PRO75% or TKL?

Get the Royal Kludge R75 for its 75% layout and triple-layer sound dampening, or the R87 PRO for its 80% layout, larger battery, and N-key rollover.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Royal Kludge R75

Build quality in the top 20% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • 75% layout in a 680g keyboard.
  • Vendor-described triple-layer dampening with poron cotton, IXPE foam, and sponge case foam.
  • MDA-profile, double-shot PBT keycaps, as listed by the vendor.

Rules this board out

  • No numpad.

Get the

Royal Kludge R87 PRO

Battery

Build quality in the top 20% of 80% boards under $100.

If you want

  • 80% layout with N-key rollover.
  • 6000mAh battery.
  • South-facing RGB LEDs and a removable metal volume knob.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No numpad.

Bottom line

Get the R75 for its smaller 75% layout and vendor-described triple-layer dampening. Choose the R87 PRO for its 80% layout, N-key rollover, larger listed battery, and south-facing LEDs. The R87 PRO's south-facing lighting may not suit shine-through legends or some sculpted keycaps.

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 R75

Royal Kludge R87 PRO

  • Layout size

    75%

    80%

  • Battery

    4,000 mAh

    6,000 mAh

    A larger battery means fewer cables during the day

  • Weight

    680 g

    760 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • Backlight

    RGB

    RGB, south-facing

    RGB for looks and low light rather than speed

  • Media keys

    No

    Yes

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Royal Kludge R75
  • Royal Kludge R87 PRO
Performance
71
83
Build quality
78
78
Productivity
93
93
Customizability
88
91
Portability
79
85

What they share

  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Switch options: Linear
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount
  • Knob
  • QMK
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The R75 is the more compact choice for desks where space and lower listed weight matter, and its three named foam layers may appeal to buyers focused on a quieter typing setup. The R87 PRO is a stronger fit for gaming and media workflows thanks to N-key rollover and its volume-control knob. Its larger 80% layout also offers more room for keys, while the R75 keeps a smaller footprint. For customization, both list hot-swappable switches and QMK/VIA, but the R87 PRO has spare switches in its listed package.

For gaming

Pick the Royal Kludge R87 PRO

  • The R87 PRO lists N-key rollover, a feature not listed for the R75.
  • Its vendor description specifies linear creamy switches with 45±10g actuation force and 3.4±0.4mm travel.

Full specs

Royal Kludge R75 vs R87 PRO specs

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

7 of 23 specs differ

Royal Kludge R75

Royal Kludge R87 PRO

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear
Linear

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

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

Battery

4,000 mAh
6,000 mAhBetter

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

—
Plastic

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Weight

680 g
760 g

Dimensions

42 x 323 x 42 mm
43 x 131 x 43 mm

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2024
2024

Where to buy

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.

FAQ

Royal Kludge R75 vs R87 PRO: your questions

The R75 is a 75% keyboard, while the R87 PRO is an 80% keyboard. The R75 vendor description highlights three sound-dampening layers, while the R87 PRO lists N-key rollover and south-facing LEDs.

Neither keyboard has a numpad, according to their compatibility notes. The R87 PRO has an 80% layout, while the R75 has a 75% layout.

The R75 weighs 680g, and the R87 PRO weighs 760g. That makes the R75 the lighter option based on their listed weights.

The R75 metadata lists Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, wired, and wireless connectivity. Its vendor description also calls the product a wired keyboard, so check the specific version and listing before buying if wireless use is essential.

The R87 PRO metadata lists Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, wired, and wireless connectivity. The vendor description specifically identifies its product as the wired version, so confirm which version a seller is offering.

Both keyboards list hot-swappable switches and QMK/VIA support. The R75 vendor description says it supports 3-pin or 5-pin switches, while the R87 PRO package listing includes four spare creamy switches.

The R87 PRO lists N-key rollover, and its vendor description gives switch actuation force and travel details for its linear creamy switches. The R75 is also described by its vendor as a gaming keyboard and has linear switches, but its metadata does not list N-key rollover.

Both list QMK and VIA support. Royal Kludge says the R75 supports key remapping, macros, and complex key combinations, and describes remaps and macros for the R87 PRO.

The R75 vendor description names poron cotton, IXPE foam, and sponge case foam as part of its triple-layer sound and shock absorption. It also mentions silencer foam under the spacebar.

The R87 PRO compatibility notes warn that its south-facing LEDs leave shine-through legends dark. They also say some sculpted keycaps can clip the LEDs.

Both list PBT keycaps. The R75 vendor description specifies double-shot MDA-profile PBT keycaps, while the R87 PRO vendor specifications identify Cherry-profile PBT keycaps.

The R87 PRO lists a 6000mAh battery, while the R75 lists a 4000mAh battery. The listings do not provide battery-life estimates.

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