RK ROYAL KLUDGE S98

By RK ROYAL KLUDGE · Mechanical Keyboards · Home & Workspace

  • 96 keys
  • 3750 mAh battery
  • up to 200 hours with backlight off
  • 1879 g weight
  • 16.1 x 5.5 x 1.6 in size

Lowest price seen
~$89.99 (approx.)
from $89.99 at Amazon

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

A 96%-layout wireless mechanical keyboard that keeps a numpad in a compact footprint, with tri-mode connectivity, hot-swappable switches and a TFT display paired with a control knob. Check your patience for charging: with the backlight on, one reviewer needed to charge every other day.

Strengths

  • Build quality and typing comfort earned praise from both independent reviewers.
  • Tri-mode connectivity works reliably across Bluetooth, 2.4GHz and wired.
  • The CNC knob is tight, with no wobble, and handles volume, RGB and the settings menu.
  • The display is genuinely useful — an owner on r/MechanicalKeyboards calls it a reason to buy the board.
  • The hot-swappable PCB accepts 3-pin and 5-pin switches, so you can change the feel later.
  • Five layers of dampening give the board a thocky, quiet sound.

Weaknesses

  • Battery life with the backlight on is poor: one reviewer charges every other day, far below the advertised 30-hour figure.
  • The battery drains even in standby, so it will not sit idle for weeks.
  • Keycap material is disputed: the manufacturer claims PBT, but one reviewer identified ABS.
  • Keycaps have no shine-through legends, and GIF transfer to the display is slow.
  • The numpad footprint makes it less suitable for competitive gaming setups.
  • No warranty information was readily available, and major outlets have not reviewed it.

Verified specifications

Layout96% (98 keys), US layout; the function cluster is compressed and Delete and Scroll Lock share one key.
Connectivitytri-mode — Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless dongle, USB-C wired.
Battery3750 mAh, rechargeable via USB-C; manufacturer rates it for up to 200 hours with backlight off.
Switcheshot-swappable, pre-lubed RK switches; Linear Viridian (linear) and Pale Green (tactile, ~40 g force) options; the PCB accepts 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Keycapsmanufacturer claims PBT double-shot; one reviewer identified ABS double-shot with a semi-rough texture — unresolved.
Mounttop mount with 5-layer dampening (poron foam, IXPE dampener pad, foam, silicone pad).
Displaysmart TFT display showing time, connection mode and battery level; custom GIF upload supported.
KnobCNC control knob for volume, RGB and the settings menu.
RGBsouth-facing backlighting.
Extra ports1x USB 2.0 passthrough.
Weight1879 g (4.14 lb).
Dimensions16.1 × 5.5 × 1.6 in (418.3 × 148.6 × 42.7 mm).
CaseABS plastic.
Feet2-stage adjustable feet.
In the boxkeyboard, USB-A to USB-C cable, 2.4GHz dongle, keycap and switch puller, user manual; 4 spare switches on some variants.
Indicator lightsNum Lock, Caps Lock, Win Lock, battery level.
Supported systemsWindows XP/2000/7/8/10, Mac, iOS, Android.
Full research notes and sources

Typing experience, display and knob

The S98 uses a top mount with five layers of dampening — poron foam, an IXPE dampener pad, foam and a silicone pad — plus pre-lubed stabilizers. Reviewers describe the sound as “thocky” and the typing as comfortable over long sessions. RK ships two switch options: Linear Viridian for a smooth press, and Pale Green, a tactile switch at about 40 g of force.

The CNC knob has no wobble and handles volume, RGB and the settings menu. The TFT display shows the time, connection mode and battery level, and it takes custom GIFs, though TechNuovo notes the transfer is slow. An owner on r/MechanicalKeyboards calls the display useful, with a variety of functions that give the board a little extra.

Battery life and charging

The 3750 mAh battery is rated for up to 200 hours with the backlight off. With it on, the manufacturer implies about 30 hours; Sypnotix measured significantly less and charges every other day. The same reviewer notes the battery drains even in standby. If you run RGB, treat charging as an every-other-day habit.

Keycaps and layout

Here the listing and the reviewers disagree. RK claims PBT double-shot keycaps; TechNuovo identified ABS double-shot with a semi-rough texture. The keycaps have no shine-through legends and the RGB is south-facing, so light glows around the caps instead of through them. No extra keycaps for alternate layouts come in the box — the default is US layout.

The “96%/98-key” naming refers to the same compressed layout: the function cluster is tightened up and Delete and Scroll Lock share one key. The numpad makes the board less ideal for competitive gaming, where desk space is tight; TechNuovo concludes it is more geared toward productivity.

Is it worth it?

Sypnotix lists a $69.99 retail price (2025); TechNuovo lists about £75 on RK’s UK website (2025). RK Japan lists 109,999 KRW (about $78) and RK India ₹9,999 (about $120). At that money the spec sheet is competitive: tri-mode wireless, hot-swappable switches, top-mount dampening, a display with a knob, USB passthrough.

The tradeoffs are battery life with RGB on, the keycap material question, and thin long-term data. No warranty information was readily available, and reviews from RTINGS, Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, CNET and PCMag do not exist, so the S98 has not faced standardized instrumented testing. One YouTube creator used it daily for close to a year for gaming and work without issues. If wireless flexibility and a compact numpad matter more than all-day battery with RGB on, the S98 earns its keep.

Which model this is

This page covers the RK ROYAL KLUDGE S98, FCC ID 2A4MQ-RK-S98, broadcasting as “RK-S98 RGB”, made by Jingheng Tengwei (Huizhou) Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. Colorways include Deep Black, Lavender Purple, Sky Blue, Clay Green, Turquoise Green and Pink Edition, plus limited Winter and Christmas editions. The US variant is ASIN B0CQ2MSP2B. Do not confuse it with other RK boards such as the RK61, RK96, L98 or S85.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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