Royal Kludge S98 DE vs S98US vs German Layout Showdown
Choose the Royal Kludge S98 for a US layout or the S98DE for a German layout, as their core features are otherwise identical.
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from$109at Royal Kludge
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Royal Kludge S98 DE
US
Build quality in the top 45% of 96% boards under $150.
- German QWERTZ ISO layout for users in Germany and surrounding regions.
- Includes screw-in stabilizers for a more secure typing experience.
- Comes with PBT double-shot keycaps according to the vendor description.
Get the
Royal Kludge S98
German Layout Showdown
Build quality in the top 30% of 96% boards under $100.
- Standard US ANSI QWERTY layout is widely compatible and familiar.
- Vendor description confirms south-facing RGB LEDs for better compatibility with Cherry-profile keycaps.
- Listed with both ABS and PBT keycap material options in the metadata.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Your choice between the Royal Kludge S98 and S98DE is almost entirely geographical. If you type primarily in English or code with a standard US layout, the S98 is the straightforward option. If you require the specific key placements of a German QWERTZ layout, the S98DE is your model. Ignore the minor spec discrepancies, as the core typing experience, features, and build quality are functionally the same. Base your decision on the keycaps under your fingers.
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 S98 DE
Royal Kludge S98
Mount style
Top Mount
Gasket Mount, Top Mount
Display
LCD
TFT
A case display rather than a typing feature
Keycaps
ABS
ABS, PBT
Screw-in stabilizers
Yes
No
Easier to tune than the plate-mount stabs you get prebuilt
Backlight
RGB
RGB, south-facing
RGB for looks and low light rather than speed
- Royal Kludge S98 DE
- Royal Kludge S98
- Performance
- 6865
- Build quality
- 7072
- Productivity
- 9182
- Customizability
- 7972
- Portability
- 5753
- Layout size: 96%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 3,750 mAh
- Switch options: Linear, Tactile
- Knob
What will you mostly use it for?
The use-case analysis reveals a near-perfect tie across all categories except programming. For programming, the standard S98 with its US QWERTY layout is the pragmatic choice due to the standard placement of brackets and symbols. For all other uses, including gaming, office work, and modding, the decision purely comes down to your required physical key layout, as the feature sets, build, and performance are otherwise matched.
It's a tie
- Both share the same top-mount design for a stable feel.
- Identical triple-mode connectivity (wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth) offers low-latency options.
- The same hot-swappable PCB allows for installing preferred gaming switches.
Royal Kludge S98 DE vs S98 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
6 of 20 specs differ
Royal Kludge S98 DE
Royal Kludge S98
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
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 S98 DE vs S98: your questions
The primary difference is the physical key layout. The S98 uses a US ANSI QWERTY layout, while the S98DE uses a German ISO QWERTZ layout. Their core features like the 96% size, LCD screen, knob, and hot-swap capability are identical.
Yes, both keyboards feature a hot-swappable PCB. This allows you to change the mechanical switches without any soldering, supporting both 3-pin and 5-pin switch types.
According to the provided specifications, the Royal Kludge S98 lists south-facing RGB LEDs. The S98DE's product listing does not specify the LED orientation.
Yes, both the S98 and S98DE include a built-in USB 2.0 pass-through port. This allows you to connect a mouse, flash drive, or other peripheral directly to the keyboard.
The vendor description for the S98DE states it includes PBT double-shot keycaps. However, the product's metadata lists the keycap material as ABS, so there may be variation between batches or listings.
No, both keyboards are equipped with the same 3750mAh rechargeable battery. The manufacturer claims up to 200 hours of use with the backlight turned off.
It is possible, but not ideal. The German QWERTZ layout has different physical locations for brackets, braces, and the backslash key, which are frequently used in programming. This could slow down your typing speed and cause errors if you are accustomed to a US layout.
Yes, both models offer triple-mode connectivity. This includes a USB-C wired connection, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, and Bluetooth. The S98DE vendor page specifies Bluetooth 5.0.
They are equally capable. Both feature sound-dampening foam inside the case. The S98DE vendor description mentions two thicker sound-absorbing foams, while the S98 page describes a four-layer foam, but both are designed to reduce noise and eliminate hollow sounds.
The information provided is not consistent. The S98DE's extra features and vendor description explicitly list 'screw-in stabilizers'. The standard S98's listing does not specify the stabilizer type, so they may be clip-in or a different variant.
Yes, according to the manufacturer, the LCD screen on both models is customizable. You can display custom GIFs, the date, connection mode, battery status, and switch between WIN and MAC layout indicators.
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