Royal Kludge RK61 Review: Budget 60% Wireless Keyboard

RK Royal Kludge RK61 Wireless 60% Mechanical Keyboard

Photos coming soon.

The short version

Buy it if

First time mechanical keyboard buyers on a budget
People who switch one keyboard between a laptop, tablet and phone
Gamers who want more mouse room on a small desk

Skip it if

You use arrow keys, function keys or a number pad often
You need a quiet keyboard for a shared space and would pick blue switches
You want premium stabilizers and keycaps out of the box

What owners like

Solid, well built feel for the price
Bluetooth multi device switching works well
Battery lasts a long time between charges with light use
A low cost way to try a mechanical keyboard

Common complaints

Stabilizers, especially the spacebar, rattle
Switches and keycaps feel budget compared with pricier boards
60% layout takes time to learn, and the arrow keys share space with other keys
No adjustable feet for typing angle
Pairing instructions are confusing; latency is better wired than wireless for competitive games

Based on Royal Kludge's product page, the Amazon listing, two editorial reviews (Switch and Click, High Ground Gaming) and a long term owner write up on Planet Geek..

Research scores

Performance 7.0 three connection modes and solid multi device Bluetooth, but wired is better for competitive games

Build quality 6.5 sturdy case, but rattly stabilizers and budget switches

Ease of use 6.5 60% Fn layer and confusing pairing instructions take time to learn

Value 8.0 a low cost, well reviewed way into wireless mechanical keyboards

Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.

Ownership

Times bought1

Price range$

Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.

What it does

A 61 key wireless mechanical keyboard that works over Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz dongle or a USB-C cable; reviewed here in place of the unbranded 61 key Bluetooth gaming keyboard it resembles.

Three ways to connect: Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz receiver or a USB-C cable
Switches between up to three paired devices with Fn key shortcuts
Hot swappable switch sockets, so switches can be changed without soldering
Choice of linear red, clicky blue or tactile brown switches
Optional software for remapping keys and lighting
Compact 60% size leaves more desk room for a mouse

A good first mechanical keyboard for someone who wants a small, wireless 60% board that pairs with a computer, tablet and phone. The trade-offs are the 60% layout, which hides arrow and function keys behind a Fn layer, and budget parts such as rattly stabilizers and plain switches.

How it compares

RK Royal Kludge RK61 PlusBetter if you want the same layout with quieter linear switches and a built in USB hub$

RK Royal Kludge RK61 ProBetter if you want full RGB lighting and an aluminum frame$$

Redragon K530 DraconicBetter if you want another budget 60% wireless board with RGB lighting from a known gaming brand$

Specs

Layout: 61 keys, 60% size, US QWERTY
Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless and USB-C wired on current versions; up to 3 Bluetooth devices
Battery: 1450 mAh, rated by RK at about 10 hours
Switches: Red, blue or brown; rated for 50 million keystrokes
Hot swap: Yes, 3 pin and 5 pin switches
Lighting: Single color blue on the base model; RGB versions sold separately
Size and weight: About 11.4 x 4 x 1.5 in, 0.5 kg
Works with: Windows, Mac, iOS and Android

Questions

Does the RK61 have arrow keys?

Not as separate keys. Arrows sit on a Fn layer shared with other keys, such as the slash key.

How many devices can the RK61 connect to?

Up to three over Bluetooth, and current versions also have a 2.4GHz receiver and a USB-C cable mode.

Is the RK61 hot swappable?

Current versions are. Royal Kludge lists support for 3 pin and 5 pin switches.

Does the RK61 have RGB lighting?

The base model uses single color blue backlighting. Royal Kludge sells RGB versions separately.

Is the RK61 good for gaming?

It works for gaming. One reviewer found wired mode better than wireless in competitive games.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-02. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.