Royal Kludge RK84 Pro vs RK84Aluminum vs Plastic Build
Choose the RK84 Pro for a premium aluminum build and full RGB, or the RK84 for a lighter keyboard with USB passthrough and a lower cost.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Royal Kludge RK84 Pro
Aluminum
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 75% boards under $100.
- Aluminum CNC case construction for a solid, premium feel.
- Full RGB backlighting with 21 onboard modes and adjustable brightness.
- Includes magnetic pad feet and four replacement RK switches in the package.
Get the
Royal Kludge RK84
Plastic Build
Build quality in the bottom 20% of 75% boards under $100.
- Includes two USB 2.0 passthrough ports for connecting peripherals.
- Significantly lighter at 803.5g, making it easier to move.
- Features a removable frame for customizable aesthetics.
Select the Royal Kludge RK84 Pro if you want the tactile heft of an aluminum case and vibrant RGB lighting for a stationary setup. Choose the standard RK84 if you need a lightweight keyboard with practical USB passthrough ports for desk cable management and plan to move it frequently. Both are competent, customizable 75% boards, so let your need for material prestige or everyday utility guide your final decision.
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 RK84 Pro
Royal Kludge RK84
Case material
Aluminum
Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Silent, Tactile
Weight
1,290 g
803.5 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Sound dampening
No
Yes
Keycaps
ABS
ABS, PBT
- Royal Kludge RK84 Pro
- Royal Kludge RK84
- Performance
- 6362
- Build quality
- 5850
- Productivity
- 6677
- Customizability
- 6968
- Portability
- 8180
- Layout size: 75%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 3,750 mAh
What will you mostly use it for?
The RK84 Pro wins in scenarios where build material and lighting are priorities, such as gaming and content creation. The standard RK84 is the better office and travel companion due to its lighter weight and integrated USB hub. For programming and modding, the keyboards are evenly matched on their core customizable features. Your primary use case will clearly point you toward one model's specific advantages.
Pick the Royal Kludge RK84 Pro
- The aluminum CNC case on the RK84 Pro provides a more solid, premium feel during intense use.
- Full RGB backlighting with 21 modes offers more customization for gaming setups compared to the RK84's single-color blue backlight.
- Both offer identical triple-mode connectivity (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired) for low-latency options.
Royal Kludge RK84 Pro vs RK84 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
7 of 21 specs differ
Royal Kludge RK84 Pro
Royal Kludge RK84
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB passthrough
USB-C
Case material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
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Royal Kludge RK84 Pro vs RK84: your questions
The primary difference is the case material. The RK84 Pro features an aluminum CNC case and full RGB lighting, while the standard RK84 has a plastic case, blue backlighting, and includes two USB passthrough ports. The RK84 Pro is also notably heavier.
Yes, both the RK84 and RK84 Pro feature hot-swappable PCBs. This allows you to replace 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches without any soldering, using the included switch puller.
Both keyboards have the same 3750mAh battery capacity. The manufacturer claims up to 200 hours of use with the backlight off for both models, so battery life should be comparable.
No. According to the specifications, the RK84 Pro does not have USB passthrough ports. This feature is exclusive to the standard RK84, which has two USB 2.0 ports.
Yes. Both keyboards support Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, allowing you to pair with multiple devices and switch between them. The RK84 Pro vendor description mentions Bluetooth 5.0 specifically.
Both keyboards come with ABS double-shot keycaps. The key legends are designed for shine-through lighting to work with their respective backlight systems.
Yes, both models support DIY software for customization, such as remapping keys and creating macros. The vendor notes that the software should be run in wired mode for both keyboards.
Comfort is subjective, but the RK84 has a listed 8° typing angle, while the RK84 Pro's angle is not specified. The RK84 is much lighter, which some may prefer. Both include magnetic pad feet for angle adjustment.
Both keyboards include a basic set of replacement parts in the box: a keycap and switch puller, four replacement RK switches, and a Type-C cable. Specific warranty details are not provided in the available information.
The standard RK84 listing explicitly includes 'screw-in stabilizers' as a feature. This detail is not mentioned for the RK84 Pro, so its stabilizer type cannot be confirmed from the provided data.
The RK84 Pro is listed with an ANSI (US QWERTY) layout. The standard RK84 supports both ANSI and ISO layouts, offering more regional compatibility for keycap sets.
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