What size mechanical keyboard should you choose?
We realize that many people are wondering what size mechanical keyboard to choose. At first, the answer to this question does not come easily. The market keeps surprising us with an ever-growing selection, which makes the decision even more difficult. And yet a properly selected mechanical keyboard results in greater comfort while working, typing, or gaming.
What size mechanical keyboard should you choose? Guide
Below we present a table with basic information that will help you decide what size mechanical keyboard to choose. It contains information about the individual sizes, as well as their visual comparison. We will cover the detailed characteristics of each type in the next subsection.
What size mechanical keyboard should you choose? Description of each type
100% mechanical keyboard
This is the most commonly used type of keyboard. It consists of four parts: the main key area, the numeric keypad, the arrow keys, and the function area. The numeric keypad itself makes any office work involving calculations or data entry easier. Therefore, it is suitable for work, but no worries – it is also good for gaming. The only drawback for some users may be its size and unwieldiness.
Recommended 100% keyboard:Keychron K5 Max
96% mechanical keyboard
Similar to a 100% keyboard, but all of its keys are joined together. Additionally, the rarely used keys have been reduced in size. It lacks some navigation keys – PrtScn, Scroll Lock and Pause. It will work well both in the office and during long gaming sessions. What’s more, thanks to its compact form, it takes up less space on the desk.
Recommended 96% keyboard:Keychron K17 Max
80% mechanical keyboard
This keyboard is also called Tenkeyless (TKL). The numeric keypad has been removed, making it much smaller. It will be an excellent solution for anyone who needs more space on their desk.
Recommended 80% keyboard:Keychron K8 Max
75% mechanical keyboard
A keyboard typically associated with laptop users. Its 84-key layout has optimized the function keys. At the same time, the arrow keys and F-keys have been retained. Importantly, it does not have a numeric keypad or some navigation keys (Insert, PrtScn, Scroll Lock and Pause). This type of mechanical keyboard is suitable for everyone used to devices such as the MacBook Pro.
Recommended 75% keyboard:Nuphy Air75 V3
65% mechanical keyboard
When asking yourself what keyboard size to choose, we cannot forget about this version. This time, the keys are even more tightly packed, making the overall size even smaller. On this keyboard, the F function keys and the numeric keypad have been removed, and their functions have been replaced with key combinations. Only the most commonly used function and arrow keys have been retained. This keyboard is recommended mainly for typing.
Recommended 65% keyboard:Keychron K7 Max
60% mechanical keyboard
The last type of keyboard we will present in the article “What size mechanical keyboard should you choose?” is 60%. It retains the number row and alphanumeric keys. As for function keys and arrows – they can be used via key combinations. This is an ideal solution for people who type a lot and want their keyboard to be compact in size.
Recommended 60% keyboard:Nuphy Air60 V2
