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Royal Kludge RK61
Royal Kludge
Royal Kludge

Royal Kludge RK61

For space-conscious gamers and everyday typists who want deep customization, this tiny 60% keyboard pairs QMK/VIA remapping with hot‑swappable red switches so you get smooth linear feel and easy key reprogramming other cheap boards lack.

7.2

If you want a compact keyboard that frees up desk space for big mouse movement without sacrificing customisation, this is the kind of 60% board you'll search for. The RK61 squeezes 61 keys into an ultra‑compact footprint and supports remaps, macros and RGB lighting so you can replace a full-size setup when desk real estate matters. ## What makes it worth it The RK61 stands out because it supports QMK/VIA — you can remap keys and program macros from the open-source ecosystem rather than relying on limited vendor software. It’s also hot‑swappable, so replacing switches takes seconds without soldering, and the board ships with linear red switches that many gamers prefer for fast, low‑force keypresses. Connectivity is flexible: many RK61 variants offer USB‑C wired, Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz dongle (the model listing and manual reference triple‑mode operation), and the RGB lighting includes multiple built‑in modes for night use. ## Where it falls short This is a budget‑oriented compact board so expect average keycaps, simple stabilisers and a lighter build than premium options; some reviewers also note quirks with Bluetooth hotkeys and missing dedicated function keys that require FN combos. Buy this if you want an affordable, ultra‑compact keyboard with genuine QMK/VIA programmability and easy hot‑swap customisation; skip it if you need premium keycaps, full‑size layout features or rock‑solid multi‑device Bluetooth without FN compromises.

£39.99

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Buy if

You need a tiny, budget 60% keyboard with real programmability and hot‑swap support for swapping switches or building a custom setup.

Skip if

You want premium build quality, factory PBT keycaps, or a full layout with dedicated arrows and numpad without relying on FN layers.

What we found

Layout

60% / 61‑key US (ANSI) layout

Connectivity

USB‑C wired; many RK61 variants also support Bluetooth 5.x and 2.4GHz dongle (triple‑mode)

Hot‑Swap

Hot‑swappable switch sockets (mechanical)

Programmability

QMK / VIA compatible (user programmable keymaps and macros)

Switch Type

Linear Red mechanical switches (hot‑swappable)

Backlight

RGB backlight with multiple built‑in modes (user listing cites ~18 RGB + monochrome modes)

mechanical-keyboardcompact-keyboard60%-keyboardhot-swappablergbgaming-keyboard

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£39.99

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