Full-sized mechanical keyboards are rare these days. That’s because plenty of enthusiasts prefer compact and more symmetrical designs. However, one cannot deny that full-sized mechanical keyboards offer the best functionality.
You can’t have too many keys, after all. And while they are not exactly as ubiquitous as TKL, 75 percent, or 65 percent mechanical keyboards in the community, they do exist.
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We’ve even picked them out for you. They might not be as stylish or as feature-packed as their smaller counterparts, but full-sized mechanical keyboards have little to no compromises in typing and work functionality.
That’s rather important if you’re an accountant and frequently work with numbers, thanks to the Numpad. If that’s the case or a similar requirement arises, then these full-sized mechanical keyboards are ready to go all out for you.
Royal Kludge RK96
PROS
- Wide range of connectivity options
- Comes with a magnetic palm rest
- Comes with a volume wheel and mute button
- Compact design
- Decent keycaps
- Good software compatibility
- Easy to modify
- Good battery life
- Offset arrow keys removes mis-types
- Hotswappable
- Affordable
CONS
- Stabilers rattle a bit even with factory lubrication
Specs:
- Hot-swappable: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wireless 2.4G, Wired Type-C
- Compatible OS: Windows, macOS, Android
Once again, Royal Kludge leads the pack here as one of the most budget-friendly yet feature-packed options on the market. Their keyboards are sturdy, highly customizable, and are always improving year by year. The Royal Kludge RK96 is the perfect example of this.
It’s a compact full-sized keyboard with a special design. While it did cut back the insert and delete rows, it replaced those with a working volume knob and mute control. Moreover, this model comes with its own magnetic palm rest so you can type more ergonomically.
As for features, it has both Bluetooth and 2.4G wireless connectivity along with the usual USB-C wired mode. If you don’t like how the switches feel, you can always replace them since the PCB is hot-swappable.
Royal Kludge RK96
IQunix F97 Hitchhiker Gaming Keyboard
PROS
- Compact layout
- Wide range of connectivity options
- Good software compatibility
- Available in Cherry and TTC switches
- Hotswappable
- Big battery & good battery life
- Beautiful keycap set
CONS
- Expensive
- Compact layout might result in mis-types
- Keycaps don't allow for RGB shine-through
Specs:
- Hot-swappable: Yes
- Connectivity: 2.4G wireless/Bluetooth 5.1/USB Type-C wired
- Compatible OS: Windows, Mac OS, IOS, Android
Thankfully, the IQUNIX F97 exists as a solid option for enthusiasts. It’s also a compact full-sized keyboard with a no-nonsense layout. All the keys and switches are packed side-by-side. This might pose a problem if you’re not used to such a layout but that’s not a permanent issue.
It comes with its own unique keycaps and even the classic Cherry MX switch options though you can always opt for TTC switches in case you want something that sounds more geared for enthusiasts. In any case, there’s no shortage of options here and the keyboard itself looks good enough for a custom mechanical keyboard convention.
IQunix F97 Hitchhiker Gaming Keyboard
Logitech K845
PROS
- Available in Cherry and TTC switches
- Sturdy metal design
- Easy to clean
- Minimalist aesthetics
CONS
- Not easy to modify
- No wireless mode
- Non-hotswappable
- Limited backlight and RGB
Specs:
- Hot-swappable: No
- Connectivity: Wired USB
- Compatible OS: Windows
You might think that just because it’s under the Logitech brand, it’s a premium option with a high price, but the Logitech K845 is actually more affordable than the IQunix keyboard above. It falls around the same price as the Royal Kludge RK96.
It competes poorly against its Royal Kludge counterpart, sadly. The switches are non-hotswappable, only the keycaps. There’s also no wireless option. But the Logitech K845 makes up for that by being a proper full-sized keyboard and with a sturdier design and chassis.
Logitech K845
Cherry MX 10.0N
PROS
- Excellent font choice
- Low-profile keycaps is great for ergonomics
- Thin plate and case
- Surprsingly stylish
- Sturdy construction
- Sturdy Cherry switches (100 million cycles as advertised)
CONS
- Expensive for its features
- No wireless
- Not hotswappable
Specs:
- Hot-swappable: No
- Connectivity: USB Wired
- Compatible OS: Windows
With all this talk of Cherry MX switches, you might as well buy from the source. They have their own keyboard models anyway! Introducing the Cherry Mx 10.0N. Weird naming schemes aside, this keyboard actually won awards and the jury even praised the keyboard for its thinness.
It’s marketed as a gaming keyboard though it’s more sophisticated compared to its peers. The switches and the keycaps are all low-profile, adding to ergonomic advantage and the keyboard is surprisingly minimalistic compared to the other usual bulky and blocky models.
The font alone ought to be enough to convince people to try this one out.
Cherry MX 10.0N
Merdia Mechanical Keyboard
PROS
- Hot-swappable
- Comes in many color combinations
- Cheap price
CONS
- Generic Cherry MX clone switches
- No wireless
- Thin keycaps
Specs:
- Hot-swappable: Yes
- Connectivity: Wired USB
- Compatible OS: Windows
This budget option puts a lot of other premium and expensive mechanical keyboards to shame. Because despite the sub-$35 price point, it comes with hot-swappable capabilities. It’s already ahead of the curve when it comes to customization and modding.
The downside is that it was forced to cut costs by sacrificing any wireless capability. Moreover, the keyboard might feel cheap and light compared to others but you can easily fix that with thicker and prettier keycaps and better-sounding switches.
Merdia Mechanical Keyboard
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are full-sized mechanical keyboards better?
For practicality, yes. But for space, they simply take too much of it. -
Are mechanical keyboards waterproof?
Generally no. They're just more durable against regular wear and tear compared to other keyboards.