Mechanical keyboards have skyrocketed in popularity in the past couple of years due to their unparalleled customization options and comfortable typing experience. That said, full-sized mechanical keyboards aren’t for everybody so if you’re looking for a more compact mechanical keyboard, a 60% keyboard might be more your style.
A 60% keyboard is a keyboard that only has 62 keys in total, hence around 60% of a standard ANSI-derived keyboard. If you’re having trouble visualizing that, think of your standard full-size keyboard without the Numpad, cursor keys, and functions keys on the top row.
These are some of the best 60% keyboards you can find out there.
1. Royal Kludge RK61 Keyboard
The Royal Kludge RK61 Keyboard is a popular budget keyboard that gives you all the basic features you could possibly want out of a mechnical keyboard. Emphasis on basic since this budget keyboard is still pretty barebones.
The RK61 60% keyboard is a hotswappable keyboard that can be connected to your devices via Bluetooth and USB-C. The keyboard has over 20 backlighting effects but unlike higher-end keyboards, you can’t customize the lighting settings for this 60% keyboard.
It uses three prong switches with options for linear reds, tactile browns, and clicky blues. You can choose between a white and black RK61 though white often goes better with colorful keycaps which you might want to switch to later either due to preference or necessity.
Since the RK61 is made of ABS plastic, its keycaps will get greasier and more slippery as it ages.
Get the Royal Kludge RK61 Keyboard here.
2. Anne Pro 2 60% Keyboard
The Anne Pro 2 60% Keyboard is double the price of the RK61 which might sound like a massive jump considering that it has many of the same key features such as Bluetooth connectivity, RGB backlighting, and hot swappable keys. However, this keyboard has better build quality.
Anne Pro’s 60% keyboard is constructed from PBT plastic which is a more durable material that’s resistant to wear and tear. It doesn’t end up with a weird, greasy feeling over time. The plastic also tends to be thicker so you get a fuller, thockier sound with each keypress.
The Anne Pro 2 60% Keyboard also has a longer battery life than the RK61, has a better port placement, and fully programmable keys so you get a better working experience with it.
The Anne Pro 2 60% Keyboard here.
3. Corsair K65 RGB Mini Gaming Keyboard
The Corsair K65 RGB Mini Gaming Keyboard is in the same price range as the Anne Pro 2 60% keyboard, but its unique design makes it a must-include in our list of the best 60% keyboards out there.
This compact mechanical keyboard boasts hyper customizable keys that you can program individually to display the colors you want with its RGB backlighting. Like earlier keyboards, the switches are hot swappable so you can change them to a switch with a sound you like. And you really might have to do that since these only come with linear switches.
There’s not a lot of difference between this one and the Anne Pro 2, but you gotta admit, there’s a really cool patterned backlit space bar on the Corsair K65.
You can get the Corsair K65 RGB Mini Gaming Keyboard here.
4. HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Gaming Keyboard
The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Gaming Keyboard is priced a step up from the Anne Pro 2 and Corsair K65 60% keyboards. This ultra-compact keyboard features a slimmer side profile that’s lighter and sleeker, making the keyboard easier to travel with.
If the low profile feels a little too low for you, you can easily prop the keyboard up on its foldable feet located on the upper right and left corners.
Like the Anne Pro 2, it uses PBT plastic for the keycaps but this time, they’re double shot caps so you get a much thicker keycap with clearer legends. Since it’s a true RGB backlit keyboard, and not a static by-row colored backlight, you can easily program the keyboard to display the colors you want key by key.
You can get the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Gaming Keyboard here.
5. Glorious GMMK 60% Compact Keyboard
The Glorious GMMK 60% Compact Keyboard is a favorite among mechanical keyboard collectors and a commonly recommended device for people getting their first keyboard. And why wouldn’t it be? This sturdy 60% keyboard has a metal top plate that makes it stronger and sturdier than most budget keyboards on the market.
At the bottom, you’ll find two foldable feet and a clever little storage area that holds your keycap puller because, let’s be honest, fellow keyboard junkies, we all lose our keycap pullers eventually. This handy feature just delays the inevitable which is highly appreciated.
The keycaps that come with the Glorious GMMK 60% keyboard are at OEM height so you don’t have to press down or reach as far as you would have to with lower profile keyboards, especially membrane ones.
You can get the Glorious GMMK 60% Compact Keyboard here.
6. Ducky Mini Keyboard
The Ducky Mini Keyboard isn’t exactly a 60% keyboard since it includes the Delete, Page Up, and Page Down keys as well as a dedicated set of arrow keys. That said, if you’ve used a 60% keyboard before, you’ll know these are often the features we miss.
It’s not that 60% keyboards have less functionality โ the two-layer functions make sure a compact keyboard has full capabilities โ but it’s just that having to switch between function layers is a hassle. Sometimes you’ll even forget to do it and mess up whatever you’re writing.
With the Ducky 60% keyboard, you get the best of both worlds. Small, compact keyboard? You got it. No switching layers for commonly used keys? Got that too.
This keyboard comes with much of the same features as the Anne Pro 2, except it also comes with ten spare keys in different colors so you can start customizing your keyboard right away.
You can get the Ducky Mini Keyboard here.
7. Ajazz K620T 60% Keyboard
The Ajazz K620T 60% Keyboard takes us back to the lower end of the price range for 60% keyboards. While not as cheap as the more popular RK61, this budget 60% keyboard does have a volume wheel that lets you change the volume on your device over Bluetooth regardless of whether it’s a tablet, computer, or phone.
You’ll notice that the upper portion of the keyboard has a deep groove. This is for docking your phone or tablet so you don’t have to carry a spare stand. See? Portability, convenience, functionality, style โ it’s got everything and PBT keycaps, putting it a class above the RK61 without being too pricey.
You can get the Ajazz K620T 60% Keyboard here.
Want to take a more DIY approach to getting a 60% keyboard? Check out this beginner’s guide on how to make a custom keyboard.