RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard RGB Backlit Bluetooth5.1/2.4G/Wired 96% Full Size 100-Key Hot Swappable Gaming Keyboard Red Switch Carbon

Ok keyboard, a little mushy. Main complaint is that 2 of my keys broke, but it was easy to fix with superglue.

The RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard is not just a keyboard; it's a powerhouse that enhances every tap with a symphony of sound and a cascade of color. After spending extensive time using this keyboard for everything from gaming to long coding sessions, I am thrilled to share just how transformative this piece of technology can be.Sound Quality: Each keypress on the RK100 is a satisfying experience. The Red Switches under each key deliver a smooth, tactile response that’s audibly pleasing, making typing feel more like playing a finely-tuned instrument. This isn’t just typing; it’s an auditory experience that makes you look forward to every email, every line of code, every message.Appearance and Lighting: Visually, the RK100 is a stunner. It sports a sleek, minimalistic design that fits perfectly in any modern setup, but it’s the RGB backlighting that truly steals the show. With customizable color schemes and dynamic effects, the lighting is not only beautiful but also functional, greatly enhancing usability in low-light conditions.Comfort and Layout: The keyboard is designed with user comfort in mind, featuring a 96% full-size layout that includes a numeric keypad in a compact form factor. The keycaps are of high quality, and their slight texture helps prevent finger slipping, enhancing the overall typing experience. However, the absence of a space between the number pad and the main keys can be a slight nuisance, as I find myself accidentally toggling the num lock throughout the day. While this takes some getting used to, it's a minor hiccup in what is otherwise a flawless design.Responsiveness: Whether I’m using it wired, on Bluetooth, or via 2.4G wireless, the RK100 is impressively responsive. There’s virtually no lag, which is critical during intense gaming sessions or when I’m on a tight deadline and need my equipment to keep up with my pace.Usage: I use this keyboard incessantly. It’s not only my go-to for gaming, where responsiveness and key feel can make or break a session, but also for writing and programming. The hot-swappable feature is particularly beneficial for someone like me who likes to customize their typing experience, allowing for easy switch replacements without the need for soldering.In conclusion, the RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK100 is a phenomenal choice for anyone who values sound, aesthetics, and performance in their keyboard. While it does have a slight learning curve with the num lock key, the sheer quality and joy it brings to everyday tasks more than make up for this small oversight. It’s a keyboard that turns the mundane into the extraordinary, making it a must-have for enthusiasts and professionals alike. If you're looking for a mechanical keyboard that feels as good as it looks and sounds, the RK100 should be at the top of your list.

I don't want to harp on the 2.4ghz dongle too hard. They all suck for some reason when you need like eight feet of range and anything has the audacity to break LOS like resting the keyboard on a leg. My 8bitdo controller? Very spotty. Logitech light speed? Terrible. This is no better or worse. I would recommend switching to Bluetooth if you can't have dead on LOS. We got this for our multimedia PC in the living room, which can game a bit. The gaming experience on Bluetooth is perfectly adequate. If you need PRECISION, however, plug it in. Battery life is well over a week of being used about 20-40 mins a day. The typing experience is truly fabulous though. The red switches are thocky and super satisfying, especially at this price bracket. Very linear and consistent. The board looks great and the non-RGB backlight is very subtle and subdued, but feature rich in patterns and brightness. I like the condensed layout that still has everything, F keys are important to me, as is a numpad. And it doesn't do any particularly wonky layout tweaks. I would have liked the letters to be clear for the backlight though. Overall, the price simply is unbeatable. I wish the 2.4ghz was more reliable, but I just think 8 feet for multimedia use of anything on that band is simply never going to work with anything unless I run a USB hub to the top of my TV like a freaking Wiimote motion tracker. While this was bought for the TV, my wife uses it wired all the time for work, and if I needed to replace my custom one for my office, the price makes it nearly unbeatable for the physical quality of the board. Rk makes awesome budget stuff, and this is no different.

This is my first mechanical keyboard and honestly, feels close to a lot of the top brand stuff I tried while I was researching different key types (i got the red keys). The build feels good and is on the heavier side. The documentation is very lacking though. The usuar manual is hard to understand on some aspects. There's a lot of on board backlight options but thats a down side since there's no easy way to pick one quickly, you just have to cycle through them until you find the one you like and there is no back tracking so you'll spend a lot of time on that. No indication of which profile you're using if you set that up which gets annoying as well. The companion app is just awful and not really worth it, apart from being hard to find, doesn't have any good options nor is it clear to use. Backlight settings is very lacking and you won't be able to make anything better than the what the keybaord pre-ships with. Virtually non existent macros in the app either, and not really clear on how you even go about setting things up. If you're into a lot of customization this is not the keyboard for you. But if you want a cheap entry level keyboard this might be a good option. But only if its on a sale or something.

Update 12/18/21 - Bought this keyboard back in 7/29/21. It’s been couple of months and this keyboard has been holding up just fine. I’m still using the original carbon PBT keycaps that came with the board. They still have their texture and hasn’t shown any shine—even typing on it 8 hrs daily. I’ve added lubed gateron yellow and it has dramatically decreased hand fatigue. I’ve used Bluetooth as my main connection. Battery on BT would last me more than a week. I still would recommend this for those who are on edge about this keyboard. ______________________________________________ I work from home and needed a good budget 96% keyboard that I can modify without spending too much money. My modification for this keyboard. + added neoprene foam on the bottom of the case (between the pcb and the case). This help eliminate the hollowness of the case. I didn't have the specific PCB foam at the time but will be adding this in the near future. + added lubed DROP halo true switches (heavy tactile switches). Will be switching these out to some lubed Gateron PRO yellow switches (5 pins version) + Kept the original caps as they feel quite nice due to PBT materials + added a black aviator cable for aesthetic purposes So here's the breakdown for the PROS and CONS of this keyboard Pros: + hot swap with 3 or 5 pins switches + 96% compact layout + USB-C + Tri mode: Bluetooth, Wired, or 2.4ghz (with adapter) + 2 USB 2.0 Hub - so you can attach additional devices + Large battery pack 3750 mAh + Comes with switches and PBT keycaps (caps has texture on the surface and less likely to shine when compared to traditional ABS plastic keycaps) Cons: - plastic case, subjective - case sounds hollow - gateron switches will need to be switched out unless you're ok with standard non-lubed switches - switch that turns BT/2.4ghz on/off is on the bottom of the case. I prefer it to be on the side like other keyboards. - modifiers on the keycaps has some fading. Doesn't matter if you're going to be switching out the caps - 96% is not for everyone. I often find myself looking for the arrow keys. I will probably give the 1800 layout a try in the near future.