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Compact Form Factor Mechanical Keyboards in 2024

Need to free up some desk space or is portability a requirement for your gaming keyboards? This article will introduce small form factor gaming keyboards in the 60% and 65% form factor range.

Keychron K7 Pro Ultra Slim Low Profile
  • Comparison
  • Keychron
  • Nuphy
Written by

Admin

Published on

April 11th, 2024

Updated

April 12th, 2024

TLDR; compact keyboard sizes

These are the keyboards mentioned in this article:

The 60%, 65% and TKL (TenKeyLess) keyboards all share the distinctive lack of a number pad but there are som subtle differences between the keyboard sizes. The biggest difference besides the physical size is the key layout and the functional keys.

A 60% keyboard generally lacks the four home group keys (Print Screen, Delete, Page Up and Page Down) and has a slightly denser key layout. It is not uncommon for 60% keyboards to lack the arrow keys. Unlike the TKL form factor the 60% and the 65% form factors do not include a function row.

This article will provide some pointers for each of the form factors and a suggested starting point for your new compact mechanical keyboard. Look for our TKL introduction in the next few days.

60% - Nuphy Air60 V2

NuPhy Air60 V2

  • Bluetooth 5.1/2.4GHz/USB-C
  • Low Profile
  • Multiple Colors and Switch options
See it on Amazon

Aluminium frame case with RGB backligt. Illuminate the low profile shine-through keycaps with the RGB backlight.

Colors: White, Gray, Black

Switch options: Red, Brown, Blue, Aloe, Cowberry, Wisteria, Moss

64 keys, fully cusomtizable and programmable with QMK & VIA.

Wireless (Bluetooth and 2.4GHz)

Wired (USB-C) connection for charging

Connect up to 4 devices

Battery Capacity: 2500mAh. 30 to 90 hours with all RGB lights on or up to 150 hours with all lights off.

See it on NuPhy

65% - Keychron K7 Pro

Keychron K7 Pro

  • Ultra Slim Low Profile
  • Programmable
  • Bluetooth
See it on Amazon

Switch options: Low-Profile Gateron Red and Low-Profile Gateron Brown

Hot-swappable switches.

Wireless Bluetooth and wired USB-C connection.

Fully programmable with QMK & VIA and 22 types of RGB backlight.

68 double-shot PBT keycaps.

Battery Capacity: 1550mAh. Around 70 hours with RGB lights on at the lowest setting or up to 130 hours with all lights off.

See it on Keychron

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