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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
    5. Latency
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Keychron K4 vs ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K4
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 15, 2023 09:40 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 19, 2024 06:17 PM

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Amazon.com
Keychron K4 Picture
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Picture

Variants

  • K4 (Black)
  • RK61 (Black)
  • RK61 (White)

Our Verdict

Keychron K4

ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

The Keychron K4 and the ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 are different types of wireless mechanical keyboards. The Keychron is a 96% keyboard, so it has most keys compared to a full-size one, including a numpad and dedicated arrow keys, which the 60% RK61 doesn't have. The Keychron is better for office use because typing feels better with the LK Optical Brown switches, but the RK61 is better for mobile use because it's smaller. The Keychron is available in a variety of switches, but the RK61 is hot-swappable, so you can use whichever switches you prefer.

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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
7.1

Backlighting 
 

8.9
6.5

Pre-Travel 
 

1.9 mm
2.3 mm

Latency 
 

7.4
6.8

Operating Force 
 

58 gf
55 gf

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K4 Top Picture
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (96%)
Compact (60%)

Height 
 

1.5" (3.7 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)

Width  

14.6" (37.1 cm)
11.5" (29.1 cm)

Depth 
 

4.9" (12.5 cm)
4.0" (10.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.69 lbs (0.765 kg)
1.28 lbs (0.579 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K4 Build Quality Close Up
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K4 Side Picture
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

6.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A

Home Row Height 
 

32.9 mm (1.3")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

8.9

Customizability Overview  

ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes

Backlight Features 
 

8.9
6.5

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K4 Backlighting Picture
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron K4 Brightness Max
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron K4 Brightness Min
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Keychron K4 White Shot
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 White Shot

RGB 
 

No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Color 
 

White

Color Mixing 
 

White Only
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0

White Shot  

Keychron K4 White Shot
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

3.8 ft (1.2 m)
5.8 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
Rechargeable
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K4 Extra Features
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
Yes

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
No Indicator

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K4 Bundle Picture
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
7.4

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.0 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

LK Optical Brown
RK Brown

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

LK Optical Brown
RK Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

58 gf
55 gf

Actuation Force 
 

57 gf
48 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.9 mm
2.3 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
4.1 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.4
6.8

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.1 ms
16.9 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

23.3 ms
30.8 ms
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.4
6.8

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

16.9 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±5.8 ms

Wired 
 

11.1 ms
16.9 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

23.3 ms
30.8 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

14.8 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.3

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

17.4 ms

Key Release 
 

18.2 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

7.5

Multi-Key Raw USB  

ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

250 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

4.8

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

17.3 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

39.4 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron K4 Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Account Required 
 

No Software

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

9.1
10

Windows 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Partial
Fully Compatible

iOS  

Partial
Fully Compatible

iPadOS  

Partial
Fully Compatible
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10

Android 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad
Show Text 

Keychron K4

ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron K4 vs ROYAL KLUDGE RK61: Main Discussion

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