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Thomas Whitlock
> 24 hourIll just say right off the bat: in the relatively short amount of time that Ive been diving into the mechanical keyboard hobby (half a year or so), I think this is the best keyboard Ive used so far. Before buying the H81, I originally purchased Royal Kludges RK61 (60%) model with the idea that I would be able to get used to not having dedicated delete, arrow, and F keys, which I realized after a while that I could not. I returned the RK61, though I was left with a very good impression, as it was the first RK board Id ever purchased. I opted for the H81 as its replacement, and Im glad I did. It has done nothing but impress me thus far. First of all, the layout is perfect for me. It has the aforementioned keys I missed on the 60%, and omits all the other dedicated keys I never use (scroll lock, home, insert, etc...), though they can still be accessed through other keys + the FN key for people that want them. Both that and removing the number pad leaves it at a nice compact size of less than even a TKL keyboard. The case itself has a good heft to it, and while it is plastic, it still feels high quality. Also, though its a preference thing, I love the fact that it has a thick bezel. I think thick bezels look a lot better than thin ones. The dust cover is also a nice touch. To be completely honest, knowing that the switches were Royal Kludge-branded, I was fully planning on replacing them with something else (the Royal Kludge switches on the RK61 I had were good, but couldve been better), but as soon as I started typing I fell in love. They are completely free of scratchiness and sound absolutely heavenly thanks to them being pre-lubed. Usually factory-applied lube is not great, or at least not consistent, but in my opinion the Sky Cyan switches in this board feel and sound just as good as Gateron Yellow switches I hand-lubed. The description mentions that these switches are supposed to be like them, but I was skeptical. They definitely annihilated my expectations. The stabilizers are just as good. Buying boards in the past Ive always had to re-lube the stabs, but I was pleasantly surprised that they sounded fantastic right out of the box, no rattling at all, and consistent across all of them. I am absolutely blown away at how nice this board sounds and feels at this price. It is buttery smooth and has a nice thocky sound profile. Im sure the silicone in the bottom of the case also helps with that. Though I have replaced the keycaps that came on this board (as seen in my review photo), there is absolutely nothing wrong with the ones that come stock. They are good quality and they feel great, with the double-shot legends looking nice and sharp. I just had another set that I already planned on using before buying this board. Though I already have a keycap and switch puller, it is still nice that one is included for people that dont have one. Its also nice that a few extra switches are included. The only things I cant comment on are the bluetooth and dongle connections, Ive only used it wired. Other boards that Ive had in the past were good, but I always wanted something more. I think Ive finally found a board that Im completely satisfied with. I dont think you can find a better value in a keyboard for the price. Having had a Skyloong keyboard that sells for more than this one, I think the H81 is nicer. After hearing so much hype around the name Royal Kludge, and now after finally getting to try the H81 and (briefly) the RK61 out for myself, I can say Im a fan. Id say they definitely punch well above their respective price points. I typed out this review using this keyboard and it has been an absolute joy. Bottom line: I would definitely recommend this keyboard, especially if you want one that will sound and feel great right out of the box without having to do any modding.
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Just Jason
> 24 hourOne of the keyboards I owned the longest was a compact AT keyboard with a phone cord-style cable, but when it reached the point where I had to use a ridiculous combination of adapters to use, it was time to retire it. It was also very heavy for the size. This keyboard reminds me of that in styling. The off-white base, the different color keys, the big switch, the side vents. I’m a fan of Royal Kludge’s SkyCyan linear switches, I find them to be a very nice pre-lubed switch. I have other Royal Kludge keyboards and using the function key + QWE to switch between Bluetooth modes is convenient, but this big switch is more convenient, especially since it includes an Off option which is obscured on my other RK keyboards. If you’re going for a modern white setup, this keyboard won’t quite match as the white on this keyboard is not that bright. I included a picture of my RK84 Pro for comparison. Also, the keycaps do not shine through, so they are not as visible in the dark. Lastly, the spacebar seems really loud, I’ll probably have to mod it. Otherwise, it is a great 80% keyboard.
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LKF
> 24 hourI havent used a true, clunky mechanical style keyboard since I retire my IBM Pentium computer one hundred years ago tomorrow. The keys are big and feel great. The base is weighted and does not slip when you use it. But there are all the modern conveniences including a little dongle so you can connect wirelessly. A prominent selector button allows easy switching between devices--up to 6. More than an old IBM computer keyboard, this really feels like typing. You get satisfying tactile feedback in the form of crisp clicks as you type. Its big. A thick monster which is proud of its heft and ready to party. Even the colors remind me of a 1959 Ford Fairlane... The tech and quality is all there and the style as well.
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R. Andrade
> 24 hourI recently stumbled upon the KLUDGE H81 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard and I have to say, its pretty cool! Its a perfect mix of the classic keyboard design from 1985 with all the modern features of a 2020 keyboard. You get that satisfying click-click sound with every key press, and its wireless so you can connect it to your devices with Bluetooth or USB-C. Plus, you can customize the backlighting to match your style. As a gamer, I find it really functional and it looks great on my desk too!
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MichaelS
> 24 hourComing strictly from mechanical gaming keyboards, this is a breath of fresh air. I wasnt too sure about the switches (used to cherry reds) but after a few lines of text Im sold. This is my new primary keyboard. Pros: Feels very substantial for a plastic keyboard Very good typing experience Good response time 75%+ keyboard is a must as a Linux user Cons: RGB a little limited in fancier effect options compared to what Im used to No shine through keycaps and keycaps a little boring -though in theme with the board
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Nong
> 24 hourThis is definitely a statement of a keyboard. The colors look better in-person than in the images. If youre a fan of retro electronics, this will be a great addition to your collection. If you like to customize your keycaps, this might give you some trouble since the colors on it are pretty specific. Functionally, its a fantastic keyboard. The functionality dial works well and turns easily. The lights are nice and bright. The switches feel good - nice and smooth with low resistance (I got the silver switches). It is a heavy keyboard - maybe not the best for a lot of on-the-go use.
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Chris
> 24 hourOverall it’s a solid keyboard for the price. Has a solid battery life and sounds decent out of the box without any modifications done to it. Looks really clean. Only downside for me was the RGB was not the best. The white looks blue and other colors look off. Other than that it is a solid Keyboard for the price.
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Andrea
> 24 hourwhat a cute little keyboard! SUCH a good value for the price! i’ve been telling my friends about this keyboard, it’s so smooth like butter and it’s great for gaming. 10/10
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BG
> 24 hourI used Royal Kludge keyboards in past and liked really liked it. So got this one for my work. This has serious ghosting issues on Shift and Ctrl keys. More than 10% of these keys stroke is not registered. Been using it for a week, so not sure if this is caused by some stupid settings. But this is really annoying. I had this issues with other keys also, I think, because when I tried to use some shortcut, my PC behaved really differently. Not sure if it is this one keyboard with defect or not. Ill return it, and maybe buy another same model to see if this issue persists. If theres no issue, then this keyboard is nice to use.
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Grace Kim
> 24 hourI have about 7 Keyboards. 2 Wired + 5 Wireless 4 Wireless keyboards were about an average $80. Best quality & Best quite but has lovely mechanic sounds. easy to get used to and it responds very quickly. I will get another one soon. I recommend this keyboard for sure!