Royal Kludge S85 vs S98OLED Screen vs Numpad
Get the Royal Kludge S85 for its OLED screen, 7200mAh battery, and compact TKL layout, or the Royal Kludge S98 for its numpad, USB pass-through, and linear or tactile switch options.
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from$89at Royal Kludge
from$89at Royal Kludge
Which one should you get?
Get the
Royal Kludge S85
OLED Screen
Build quality in the top 30% of 80% boards under $100.
- 7200mAh battery, with the manufacturer claiming up to 41 hours at maximum backlight brightness or 240 hours at the lowest setting.
- OLED display shows battery status, connection mode, and system mode.
- Gasket construction includes silicone cushioning, IXPE foam, and PET film.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Royal Kludge S98
Numpad
Build quality in the top 30% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout includes a numpad and media keys.
- USB pass-through port and a separate Type-C port.
- TFT display supports customizable GIF displays and RGB modes.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Choose the S85 for its OLED screen, larger 7200mAh battery, and lighter TKL design. Choose the S98 for its numpad, USB pass-through, and choice of linear or tactile switches. Both are hot-swappable and support Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired connections.
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 S85
Royal Kludge S98
Layout size
80%
96%
Battery
7,200 mAh
3,750 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Top Mount
Display
OLED
TFT
A case display rather than a typing feature
Weight
950 g
1,879 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Royal Kludge S85
- Royal Kludge S98
- Performance
- 6665
- Build quality
- 6972
- Productivity
- 8482
- Customizability
- 7472
- Portability
- 8653
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The S85 is the more suitable pick for gaming setups that benefit from a compact layout and for buyers prioritizing lower weight. The S98 has the edge for office work and content tasks where a numpad or an extra USB port matters. For programming, the S85's compact TKL form and larger battery are useful trade-offs, while the S98 offers more switch choices for modding. Both boards have south-facing LEDs, so shine-through legends may stay dark on either one.
Pick the Royal Kludge S85
- The S85's 80% TKL layout leaves more desk space for mouse movement, according to Royal Kludge.
- Its OLED screen displays battery status and connection mode.
Royal Kludge S85 vs S98 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 19 specs differ
Royal Kludge S85
Royal Kludge S98
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Battery
USB passthrough
USB-C
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
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Royal Kludge S85 vs S98: your questions
The S85 is an 80% TKL board with an OLED display and a 7200mAh battery. The S98 is a 96% layout with a numpad, USB pass-through, and a TFT display.
The S98 has a numpad as part of its 96% compact full-size layout. The S85 is an 80% TKL layout and has no numpad.
The S85 has a 7200mAh battery, while the S98 has a 3750mAh battery. Royal Kludge claims up to 41 hours at maximum backlight brightness or 240 hours at the lowest setting for the S85, and up to 200 hours with the backlight off for the S98.
The S85 has an OLED screen that shows battery status, connection mode, and system mode. The S98 has a TFT display, which the manufacturer says can show customizable GIFs and RGB modes.
The S85 weighs 950g, while the S98 weighs 1879g. The S85 is the lighter option for buyers who prioritize carrying weight.
Both keyboards are hot-swappable. Royal Kludge says the S85 supports 3-pin and 5-pin switches, while the S98 is offered with linear Viridian or tactile Pale Green switches.
Yes, the S98 has a USB 2.0 pass-through port and a separate Type-C port. The S85's listed features do not include USB pass-through.
Both support Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired USB-C connections. The S85 has a 7200mAh battery, while the S98 has a 3750mAh battery.
Both have south-facing LEDs, and their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark. Some sculpted keycaps can also clip the LEDs.
The S85 uses an 80% TKL layout, while the S98 uses a 96% layout with a numpad. Royal Kludge describes the S85's compact TKL design as leaving more room for mouse movement.
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