Greatest TKL keyboards of 2022

Tenkeyless, or TKL, keyboards are the “goldilocks” dimension for most individuals. Placing a steadiness between customary, 104-key keyboards and compact 60% designs, the TKL appears to be like and feels simply full-size boards, however with the quantity pad sliced off the proper facet. The steadiness between straightforward typing and a smaller desk footprint makes TKL keyboards a perfect choice for avid gamers, writers, or programmers seeking to unencumber their desk area with out sacrificing useful navigational keys. Although not as widespread because the full-size board, there’s numerous TKL keyboards on the market, particularly for gaming. In lots of circumstances, you may even discover TKL variations of widespread full-size fashions. All these choices, although, make evaluating and purchasing a little bit of a chore. Fortunately, our greatest TKL keyboards information has every little thing you might want to get one thing nice.

How we picked the perfect TKL keyboards

After a lifetime of PC gaming, a number of years as knowledgeable author, and dabbling in sport improvement and media manufacturing, I’ve touched extra keyboards than I can rely. I’m additionally keenly conscious an ideal gaming keyboard is probably not an ideal alternative for workplace work, for instance, and there are options programmers want that writers would by no means contact. Our checklist of the perfect TKL keyboards displays my very own skilled and private experiences, and the understanding that some duties require completely different keyboard options.

We discovered our alternatives for the perfect TKL keyboards by means of hands-on testing, analysis, and evaluations from colleagues and trusted sources. They had been judged on a number of components, together with worth, sturdiness, ergonomics, connection choices, and typing expertise. We additionally thought-about every product’s viability for enjoying video games, writing, and programming.

Greatest TKL keyboards: Critiques & Suggestions

Now that you just’ve had a crash course in keyboard-picking, let’s have a look at the perfect TKL keyboards you should buy proper now. As we talked about, many of those fashions are supposed for gaming-focused PCs, however all of them are robust picks for any kind of typist.

Greatest general: Razer Huntsman V2 TKL

Purchase it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the minimize: The Razer Huntsman V2 TKL is a kind of uncommon “jack-of-all-trades” gadgets that manages to (largely) overcome the “master-of-none” curse. 

Specs

• Switches: Razer Click on or Razer Linear optical switches
• Keycaps: Doubleshot PBT
• Connectivity: Wired USB
• Backlighting: RGB per-key
• Quantity Curler: No
• Particular options: Extraordinarily excessive 8000Hz polling, Removable wrist relaxation
• Value: $138

Professionals 

• Clean, responsive typing expertise
• Sound-damping foam for quiet keystrokes
• Full macro programming for every key
• Consists of wrist pad

Cons 

• Bigger keys have a slight wobble
• Excessive polling charge modes could affect CPU efficiency

The Huntsman V2 TKL is a surprisingly balanced gaming keyboard that works nicely for gaming, productiveness, and on a regular basis typing. Like most gaming keyboards, you may configure any key, customise RGB lighting, and program macros utilizing Razer’s Synapse 3 desktop app. The PBT doubleshot keycaps make sure that its lettering won’t ever fade. It even ships with a removable wrist pad. 

However its greatest characteristic is the super-responsive typing efficiency. This wired keyboard options Razer’s proprietary optical switches, with the selection of both Razer Click on switches for clicky (however not clacky) stab suggestions, or second-gen Razer Linear switches that provide a fast, silent press. The kicker, which makes it stand out for non-gamers, is its built-in sound-dampening foam that reduces the typing noise that makes mechanical keyboards exhausting to make use of considerately within the office.

The Huntsman V2 additionally options the flexibility to set an ultra-high 8,000Hz polling charge, which Razer has added to a few of its esports-facing gear. Polling charge, like refresh charge for TVs and displays, refers back to the variety of instances your mouse or keyboard sends alerts to your PC. Normal 1,000Hz polling sends a sign roughly as soon as a millisecond (ms). At 8,000Hz, Razer claims the Huntmans V2 can ship alerts with solely 0.2ms of enter lag. That greater efficiency comes at a price, nonetheless: Utilizing that prime setting can evenly tax your PC in a means that utilizing most keyboards merely doesn’t. 

Fortunately, you don’t have to make use of 8,000Hz polling to get pleasure from utilizing the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL. It’s merely a handy guide a rough, easy-typing keyboard that may work wonders for anyone.

Greatest for gaming: SteelSeries Apex Professional TKL

Purchase it used or refurbished: Amazon

Why it made the minimize: SteelSeries’ Apex Professional TKL might be personalized to match your particular gaming preferences and playstyle.

Specs

• Switches: SteelSeries OmniPoint 
• Keycaps: ABS
• Connectivity: Wired USB
• Backlighting: RGB Per-key
• Quantity curler: Sure
• Particular options: OLED show, removable wrist relaxation, USB passthrough
• Value: $146

Professionals

• Adjustable actuation switches
• Removable magnetic wrist relaxation
• Customizable OLED show

Cons 

• ABS keycaps can put on out, long-term
• Costly

The SteelSeries’ Apex Professional is really distinctive. Moderately than selecting a mechanical key kind to create a selected really feel, the Apex Professional options proprietary OmniPoint switches with adjustable resistance and actuation. Utilizing SteelSeries’ Engine configuration software program, you may change the texture of most keys everytime you need to suit your private preferences for various duties. The linear-style keys have a novel really feel, which can be an acquired style, however supply unbelievable utility for many who need to tinker and determine precisely what they like.

The Apex Professional TKL additionally encompasses a strong suite of luxurious options for a TKL keyboard. It has a devoted quantity wheel for fast sound changes, USB passthrough, a removable wrist relaxation, and an built-in OLED display screen used to manage the keyboard’s settings and might even show helpful information for some video games and apps. As with most gaming keyboards, SteelSeries Engine means that you can retailer a number of configuration profiles, regulate its RGB lighting, and extra.

Frankly, most of the keyboards on this checklist are made for gaming, so if the Apex Professional’s distinctive method appears dangerous, there are positively loads of nice choices. You aren’t going to seek out any keyboard fairly like this one, although.

Greatest wi-fi: Logitech G915 Lightspeed

Purchase it used or refurbished: Amazon

Why it made the minimize: The Logitech G915’s modern wi-fi design saves much more desk area than the common TKL keyboard.

Specs

• Switches: Logitech low-profile GL (tactile, linear, or clicky)
• Keycaps: ABS 
• Connectivity: 2.4GHz wi-fi through USB dongle, Bluetooth, or USB Wired
• Backlighting: RGB Per-key
• Quantity curler: Sure
• Particular options: Quantity curler, 5 devoted macro keys, hot-swap amongst up a number of wi-fi connections
• Value: $189

Professionals 

• Lengthy battery life, even with RGB turned on
• Low-profile switches really feel good, even with much less journey
• A number of connection choices

Cons 

• Restricted macro assist
• Costly

For a mechanical gaming keyboard, the Logitech G915 Lightspeed appears to be like shockingly modern. A skinny, 22mm slate lined with low-profile switches—it achieves an Apple-Esque futuristic look that stands out as sharp and thrilling. 

Low-profile switches are shorter, which implies they provide much less “journey” or distance from unpressed to completely pressed down. Amongst mechanical keyboards, much less journey often equates to a much less snug typing really feel, however Logitech’s proprietary low-profile GL switches discover a candy spot between laptop computer keyboard quickness and a satisfying press.

The “lightspeed” within the Logitech G915’s title refers to Logitech’s proprietary wi-fi know-how. It connects to your PC utilizing a 2.4 GHz “Lightspeed” connection through a USB dongle but in addition helps Bluetooth wi-fi for non-gaming purposes. As for battery life, you may count on round 40 hours of use on a single cost so long as you retain the per-key RGB lighting on, and turning it off will naturally increase your use time.

Finally, the Logitech G915 Lightspeed is an excellent wi-fi mechanical gaming keyboard that defies conference and appears good doing it. Whether or not it’s value over $200—an especially excessive worth for a TKL—is as much as you.

Greatest with hot-swappable switches: Drop CTRL

Purchase it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the minimize: The Drop CTRL gives a unbelievable typing expertise out of the field, however permits for fanatic customization.

Specs

• Switches: Halo Clear or Halo True; Hailua Velocity; Cherry MX
• Keycaps: Doubleshot PBT
• Connectivity: Wired USB
• Backlighting: RGB Per-Key
• Quantity curler: No
• Particular options: Twin USB-C connectors, detachable ft
• Value: $270

Professionals 

• Swappable switches
• PBT keycaps
• Nice typing really feel whether or not or not you convey your individual switches

Cons 

• Cumbersome macro programming

Drop, a social market for offers and user-requested gear designs, has loads to supply for fanatic keyboard followers. Should you prefer to construct your individual keyboards, or modify them with customized keycaps and switches, it has a wealth of assets to buy. Not all keyboards are constructed to allow you to “hot-swap” or set up new switches with out taking your keyboard aside. As you would possibly count on, Drop’s pre-built choices do, they usually make it fairly straightforward.

As an fanatic’s keyboard, the CTRL is extra targeted on aesthetics and pure typing really feel, moderately than different options. In contrast to the gaming keyboards on this checklist, you may solely customise your configuration utilizing a clunky web-based software.

Nonetheless, the Drop CTRL has an unbelievable typing really feel, even if you happen to don’t contact the switches. You may have the choice to mess around, however you’re getting a winner even if you happen to don’t contact a factor.

Greatest for Mac: Keychron K8

Purchase it used or refurbished: Amazon

Why it made the minimize: The Keychron K8 helps many gadgets and working techniques that different mechanical keyboards typically overlook.

Specs

• Switches: Gateron G Professional, Gatreon Optical
• Keycaps: ABS
• Connectivity: Bluetooth wi-fi or wired USB
• Backlighting: RGB (15 patterns), or white
• Quantity curler: No
• Particular options: wi-fi connection to a number of gadgets, keycaps for Mac and Home windows layouts
• Value: $80

Professionals 

• Choices for quieter mechanical switches
• Adjustable typing angle
• Helps Mac, Home windows, Linux, iOS, iPad, and Android.
• Scorching-swappable switches (on some fashions)

Cons 

• No macro assist
• Restricted performance on cellular gadgets

Apple sells a compact model of its Magic Keyboard however there are higher choices on the market for Mac typists. If you wish to go mechanical on Mac, the Keychron K8 permits you to substitute these chiclet keys with one thing that has a bit of extra journey. 

Its modern and easy design will match completely in any workplace. In the meantime, there’s a big selection of configurations on the market, making certain you should buy a keyboard that matches your preferences. There are Keychron K8 fashions with six sorts of mechanical and optical switches, optionally available change hot-swapping assist, and RGB or white-only backlighting.

We wouldn’t limit the Keychron K8 to only Mac customers, nonetheless. It’s additionally an honest all-rounder for Home windows, and even has partial assist for Linux, iOS, iPad, and Android gadgets. It’s a easy keyboard, with none notable particular options, however an excellent typing really feel and an ideal, sub-$100 worth.

Greatest price range: Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Sequence

Purchase it used or refurbished: Amazon

Why it made the minimize: The Corsair K70 Champion Sequence packs high-end specs and options at a mid-range worth.

Specs

• Switches: Cherry MX
• Keycaps: Doubleshot PBT
• Connectivity: Wired USB
• Backlighting: RGB per-key
• Quantity curler: Sure
• Particular options: Esports “match mode,” media keys, 8,000Hz polling
• Value: $109

Professionals

• 8000Hz polling charge
• Devoted “Match Mode” change
• Media keys and quantity curler aren’t widespread on TKLs

Cons

• Esports specialization is probably not for everybody

The Corsair K70 RGB TKL will not be the most affordable TKL keyboard yow will discover, however it’s a very robust worth for its worth. It options a lot of little facilities, starting from widespread TKL upgrades like PBT keycaps and customizable RGB lighting, to much less widespread thrives like built-in media buttons and a quantity curler.

The Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Sequence is an esports keyboard, not only a gaming keyboard, so it additionally has options like 8,000Hz polling and a match mode change, which quickly turns off customized macros and different options that will intrude throughout official aggressive play. Which will appear frivolous for some, however its different quality-of-life options are novel and nice for any gamer.

What to contemplate earlier than shopping for a TKL keyboard

TKL keyboards don’t range that a lot from different keyboard type components, so selecting your subsequent one received’t be a lot completely different than selecting the perfect gaming keyboard or wi-fi mechanical keyboard. Crucial query is whether or not you truly desire a TKL design. The Tenkeyless falls proper within the center between 60 p.c keyboards and full-size fashions and often has round 87 keys. By way of saving area, they’re much narrower than a full-size keyboard however aren’t as small as a compact design. Alternatively, they keep the full-size keyboard’s spacing, in order that they’re arguably simpler to navigate. Should you like the way in which your full-size keyboard feels, however can confidently say you by no means use your Numpad, then switching to a TKL might be an excellent transfer. 

Selecting your switches

When selecting a keyboard, any form or dimension, it’s vital to consider typing really feel, which implies fascinated with how your keys work. Like many keyboard fans, we are inclined to desire mechanical keyboards, which use a bodily spring and change to function the keys. As a gaming-focused keyboard sub-genre, you’ll discover that the overwhelming majority of TKLs options mechanical keys.

While you decide a mechanical keyboard, you typically additionally want to select the form of key switches it makes use of. The change you select will affect how a lot drive you might want to use to activate and/or totally depress a key, in addition to how far down you might want to press a key to actuate it, or ship a sign from the keyboard to your gadget. There are additionally variations in really feel and even sound that fans could desire.

Key change varieties are usually color-coded. Whereas the nuances range from change producer to producer, there are three core classes: Linear (typically “Crimson”), Tactile (“Brown”), or Clicky (“Blue”). Linear switches often have the lightest contact and supply little or no tactile response once you click on them, in order that they’re most popular for aggressive gaming. The tactile is the balanced choice, emphasizing the “bump” you are feeling when actuating every key. Clicky switches are much like tactile switches, however with a stronger emphasis on making a loud “clang” with every faucet. There are lots of, many extra choices past these core three however most main producers will supply a minimum of one, if not all three, of those choices.

In recent times, we’ve additionally began to see an inflow in optical gaming keyboards, which use a laser to finish a circuit that actuates every key you press down. Producers declare that optical keyboards decrease the already imperceivable quantity of enter lag in different keyboards. Firms additionally declare the switches could last more.

We are able to’t inform you what change will really feel proper. Should you can’t head out to a retailer to strive some keyboards with completely different switches, we suggest tactile switches for individuals who desire a good typing really feel throughout gaming and work, or Crimson switches if you happen to’re a aggressive participant who needs controls with a hair-trigger.

Connectivity

Even amongst TKLs, you’ll have the choice to decide on whether or not you desire a wired or wi-fi keyboard. Wired keyboards are straightforward to arrange, and by no means lose energy. Wi-fi keyboards, nonetheless, provide you with extra flexibility and hold your desk cable-free.

Should you resolve to get a wi-fi keyboard, be sure you search for one with robust battery life and connection choices. For workplace work, any Bluetooth keyboard will do fantastic, however avid gamers will need to be sure that and get a keyboard that comes with a 2.4GhZ wi-fi dongle, which ensures a extra steady reference to minimal enter lag. There are some aggressive purists who will insist that you just want a wired keyboard for gaming. In our expertise, that isn’t the case.

FAQs

Last ideas on the perfect TKL keyboards

Should you can half along with your quantity pad, TKL keyboards supply an ideal steadiness between the large performance of a full keyboard and the space-saving effectivity of extra compact designs. It’s a good method to unencumber some desk area or complement a cellular work setup.