Taking apart a keyboard helps see what's used inside, which in this case also told me Royal Kludge hasn't done a lot of updating for the PCB compared to its older keyboards from when the brand became more known internationally. The USB microcontroller is the same, and thus we also see the same software too which has some basic user experience issues to date—poor scaling with high DPI monitors is unforgivable in 2025, for example. It's also got next to no help for people who want to use some of the more complex features, but thankfully trial and error helps. If there is one thing I'd like Royal Kludge to adopt going forward, it would be a web-based configurator, or at least an open-source VIA-compatible hardware driver for most of the keyboard's functionality. While I am at it, maybe offer multiple switches again as you used to, with a single SKU now and the lack of keyboard colors and keycap/switch options taking away what made Chinese keyboard brands popular in the first place. Having backlit keycaps as an option would thus be nice also, especially for a keyboard being marketed for gamers.

Now that my small rant is over, I can focus on the positives. Despite the similar PCB from a keyboard released in 2021, the new S85 TKL is clearly anything but old. You get hot-swappable switches and hybrid wireless connectivity, a nice screen and an even nicer wheel. The switches are also of better quality than before, and even the keyboard assembly has matured to a point where the days of worrying about LEDs dying randomly is long in the past. I also appreciate the TKL form factor here, as no doubt many others will too. Providing 85 keys in a familiar layout will ease the transition for many who are looking for their first mechanical keyboard, upgrading from a cheap/free OEM keyboard, perhaps. The RGB LEDs on board may not be very useful to help read the keycap legends, although they do grab your eye—especially combined with the extra LEDs used for side/under-body lighting too. Then there's the screen, allowing you to have real-time status on the home page or display a photo/GIF as desired, while also helping with easy onboard controls and customization when used with the wheel. The large battery capacity also helps those who wish to use the keyboard wirelessly, and wired-only consumers also get a bonus courtesy the spare USB port for use with a mouse or any other USB device. At the $100 MSRP, the Royal Kludge RK S85 TKL is competitive with many other keyboards on the market with a similar feature set. However, wait for a sale on Amazon and you are likely to be rewarded with a discounted price of $70 or slightly above, making this even better value for money.