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Mechanical keyboards  ·  Royal Kludge M87

Which switches fit the Royal Kludge M87?

Explained
The short answerThe Royal Kludge M87 takes any standard full-height MX-style mechanical switch. Its hot-swap PCB is documented as supporting both 3-pin and 5-pin switches, so Gateron, Cherry, Kailh, Akko, and RK's own switches all fit without soldering. This answer covers the wireless gasket-mount M87 with the screen and dual knobs, which is a conventional mechanical board, not a magnetic one.

The details

  • RK's product listings for the M87 state 3-pin and 5-pin hot-swap support on the PCB. 5-pin switches seat without clipping the plastic guide legs.
  • Common retail configurations ship with RK's pre-lubed Cream linear switches, but stock switches vary by listing and colorway. Check the box or your order details if you want to match them.
  • Linear, tactile, and clicky switches all work. Switch feel is your choice; the socket only cares about the MX pin layout.
  • Only full-height MX-style switches fit. Low-profile switch formats use different housings and will not seat in this board.
  • The board is tri-mode wireless. Any compatible switch works identically across wired and wireless connections, since the switch is a passive component.

What does not fit

  • Magnetic Hall-effect switches. Royal Kludge sells magnetic rapid-trigger boards in other product lines. Those switches require a sensor PCB and will not function in the mechanical M87.
  • Optical switches. These need infrared sensing on the PCB and will not register.
  • Low-profile and non-MX formats. Choc-style, Alps, and similar mounts are physically incompatible.

If yours is a different model

Royal Kludge's naming is genuinely confusing. The M87, R87, and R87 Pro are three different boards, and RK also sells 87-key boards under other prefixes. All the current mainstream RK 87-key mechanical boards are 3-pin and 5-pin hot-swap, but do not take that on faith for your specific unit: flip the board over and read the model name on the label before ordering switches. If the label mentions magnetic, Hall effect, or rapid trigger anywhere, stop and buy magnetic switches from that board's own ecosystem instead, because MX mechanical switches will not work in it.

What owners actually do

Owner communities treat the stock RK Cream linears as decent but replaceable. The usual upgrade path is a swap to name-brand factory-lubed linears or tactiles across the whole board, which is an evening of work with the included puller. Practical notes that come up repeatedly: support the PCB when pressing switches in, keep the pins straight, and pull switches straight up rather than rocking them side to side, which can stress the socket. If a key goes dead after a swap, pull the switch and check for a folded pin before assuming the socket failed.

People also ask

Is the RK M87 a magnetic keyboard?

No. The standard M87 is a conventional mechanical board with MX hot-swap sockets. RK sells magnetic boards in other lines, so check the label on your unit if you are unsure.

Do I need to clip 5-pin switches for the M87?

No. The sockets accept 5-pin switches as-is, plastic guide legs included.

Will heavier switches affect wireless battery life?

No. Switches are passive parts and draw no power. Battery life on the M87 is driven by the backlight, the screen, and the wireless mode, not by switch choice.

Can I mix different switches on the same board?

Yes. Each socket is independent, so a common setup is heavier switches on the spacebar and modifiers with lighter switches on the alphas.

Last checked 2026-07-29. Spotted something out of date? The specs change; the answer gets rechecked.