Are you on the lookout for a compact yet powerful mechanical keyboard? Look no further than the Epomaker EP84 and Royal Kludge RK84!
In this blog post, we're going to compare and contrast these two sleek keyboards Epomaker EP84 vs Royal Kludge RK84!
The Epomaker EP84 and Royal Kludge RK84 both are substantial compact mechanical keyboards in an affordable range. The Epomaker EP84 is popular for excellent gaming performance and succeeds RK84. On the other hand, RK84 is recommended for typing and professional use but it's still a great gaming board.
Well, it won't be wrong to say that both keyboards are masterpieces loved by their users and are widely used by both typists and gamers.
Below will be a thorough comparison of these two top-notch gaming keyboards.
Is the Epomaker EP84 good?
The Epomaker EP84 is considered one of the best available 75% gaming keyboards. It has a very stable build quality and sleek design. Secondly, the depth of customization potential with this keyboard is super amazing!
Epomaker EP84
It is hot-swappable and you can change the switches and feel. Besides, it comes with 19 different RGB lighting options to match your preferred gaming aesthetic.
Except for the minimal flex of the board and slight rattling of stabilizers, this keyboard didn't have any negative reviews, but a lot of positive ones!
Epomaker EP84 vs Royal Kludge RK84
Buckle up! and get ready as we are going for an exciting showdown between the Epomaker EP84 vs Royal Kludge RK84 to help you decide which one is right for your needs.
In The Box
Both the EP84 and RK84 come with some identical items in their box but the latter has more additional items. Also, the RK84 is presented in a more aesthetically pleasing manner in an Orange and Black box with one extra item.
Epomaker EP84: Keyboard, Type-C cable, and Instruction Manual.
Royal Kludge RK84: Keyboard, Type-C cable, 2x Magnetic pad foot, 2 in 1 switch & keycap puller, 4 x Replacement RK Switch, and User manual.
Connectivity
Connectivity is crucial to analyze the connection strength and responsive speed of the keyboard.
Epomaker EP84: The keyboards come only with the wired connection option. However, its pro version does have the wireless option as well.
Royal Kludge RK84: The RK84 has three connectivity options: Low-latency Bluetooth mode, USB-C wired mode, and a convenient 2.4GHz wireless mode.
Its polling rate is 1000Hz so the keyboard won't have any sort of delay.
Compatibility
The compatibility of a keyboard plays an important role in increasing their demand among the community. A keyboard must be compatible with various operating systems.
Epomaker EP84: The Epomaker EP84 is compatible with Windows, macOS, etc. You can download the Epomaker EP84 driver from the official Epomaker website.
Royal Kludge RK84: The RK84 is compatible with more operating systems including Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.
To download its software, visit the Royal Kludge software page.
Build Quality
Keyboards are very much prone to accidents, and the durability of the keyboard is essentially determined by their build quality.
Epomaker EP84: The keyboard has a solid and sturdy build. The keycaps are made of PBT plastic, which is a more durable material than ABS plastic. Moreover, the keycaps are waterproof, dust-resistant, and abrasion-resistant.
The biggest downside to the build quality of the EP84 is the stabilizers. The stabilizers are the plastic pieces that help to keep the longer keys (like the spacebar) from rattling.
The stabilizers on the EP84 are not very well-lubed, and they can cause some rattling.
Royal Kludge RK84: The RK84 comes with excellent build quality for its economical pricing. The fully plastic-made base of the keyboard does not hinder the premium classy look of the keyboard and gives a durable feel.
The keyboard is also equipped with ABS Double Shot PBT plastic keycaps that do not normally fade even after intense and aggressive usage.
Typing Performance
The typing performance can vary and be altered as per your need because both keyboards are hot-swappable and compatible with most 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
Epomaker EP84: By default, the keyboard is equipped with Gateron switches, which provide a smooth and consistent typing experience
Royal Kludge RK84: The keyboard comes with the RK Red, Blue, Brown, or low-profile Red switches. The blue and brown switches will provide a better typing experience because of their clicky and tactile natures, respectively.
Gaming Performance
When it comes to gaming performance the Epomaker EP84 is far more positively regarded than the Royal Kludge RK84
Epomaker EP84: The EP84 is reviewed popularly as the best 75% gaming keyboard available in the market. It is an absolute beast when it comes to gaming keyboards in its budget.
Royal Kludge RK84: The RK84 is not as popularly used for intensive gaming as compared to the EP84. However, it is still a pretty decent gaming board if you can work with it.
But overall, it is better known for its sleek design and amazing typing experience, and professional use.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics plays an important role in preventing muscle strains from extensive keyboard usage and is a key aspect to be considered in keyboard comparisons.
Epomaker EP84: It has a straight design and a small inclination angle, making it easy for the fingers to easily reach all the keys. There is no attached wrist rest but can be externally attached.
Royal Kludge RK84: It also has a straight design at an 8° angle and gives the option of 12° as well. It also does not have an attached wrist rest.
Backlighting
The true charm of mechanical keyboards comes from the pleasing sensation of RGB backlighting, making it an important factor to consider.
Epomaker EP84: The Epomaker EP84 comes with an option of 19 different customizations of backlighting, including 12 RGB and 7 single-color lighting effects.
Royal Kludge RK84: The RK84 is also equipped with per-key RGB backlight support, and has an impressive amount of 21 dynamic RGB backlit modes.
Pricing
Both keyboards, the Epomaker EP84 and the Royal Kludge RK84 lie in an affordable range of mechanical keyboards.
They are suitable for anyone looking to buy an excellent mechanical keyboard with a tight budget.
Overall Winner
It is extremely difficult to decide a winner between the two keyboards, as both share many features and majorly have positive reviews.
But in this comparison, we declare Royal Kludge RK84 as the winner, particularly for having better connectivity, more compatibility, stable build, and excellent typing experience.
But if you want a board, particularly for gaming, then go for the Epomaker EP84.
Video Suggestion
Is the Epomaker EP84 good for gaming?
The Epomaker EP84 is a masterpiece for gaming in its affordable price range. It is widely used by gamers ranging from moderate players to highly competitive ones for its customizable and portable nature.
Is Royal Kludge RK84 worth it?
Absolutely YES! Royal Kludge RK84 is an excellent compact 75% keyboard having aesthetic design, good response timing, smooth typing experience, and portable nature with superb battery life.
Is the Epomaker EP84 hot-swappable?
Yes, the Epomaker EP84 is hot-swappable and comes with a switch puller inside the box. This means that you won't have to do any kind of soldering to change the keys.
How long does RK84 last?
The RK84 is a well-built keyboard that is quite durable. However, it won't be possible to give an absolute number on how long the keyboard will last, because it depends on how you use it.
But generally, it should last for at least 5-6 years if you don't break it.
Is the Epomaker EP84 Programmable?
Yes! The Epomaker EP84 is programmable allowing users full-key programming, remapping keys, creating custom macros, and configuring various functions according to their preferences.
You can use the Epomaker software for all this.
What is the difference between RK84 and RK84 Pro?
The Royal Kludge RK84 and the RK84 pro, are two variants of the same compact mechanical keyboards. Even though they share most of the features, there are a few subtle differences.
Battery Capacity: The RK84 Pro typically comes with a larger battery capacity compared to the original RK84. This allows for longer wireless usage without the need for frequent recharging.
Weight: The Pro version is much heavier due to its aluminum bottom and not very easy to carry like the basic RK84.
Sound: The stabilizers are more stable in the RK84 pro and contribute to a pleasing overall sound.
Which is better Royal Kludge or Keychron?
Royal Kludge and Keychron both are respected keyboard manufacturing brands, and it is not possible to conclude which one is better.
However, Keychron is known better for its minimalist designs and good typing experience while Royal Kludge has strong wireless connectivity and high compatibility.
Conclusion
The Epomaker EP84 and Royal Kludge RK84 are two superb compact 75% mechanical keyboards with top-notch features.
The Epomaker is recommended more if you are a game freak, while the Royal Kludge RK84 is more suited for typists and office use.
Stay tuned with TheTechSetup.com for more exciting keyboard comparisons, and everything trendy about the world of keyboards.