When it comes to customizing your workspace, balance is everything. A balance of aesthetics, practicality, and ergonomics can bring order into your life and make work less about suffering and more about productivity. When it comes to keyboards, TKL mechanical keyboards, or the so-called 87 percent layout is the most balanced.
They offer the functionality of the “F” keys and they also have a few extra keys for specific functions such as a dedicated “delete” key for when things are starting to get out of control. At the same time, TKL mechanical keyboards are less bulky than full-sized keyboards.
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As we stated earlier, it’s a perfect balance. Of course, they don’t also have to be as expensive as those crowdfunded custom mechanical keyboards. Some of these TKL keyboards have balanced prices as well, and we’ve gone through the trouble of looking out for the best for you through a balance of enthusiast and layman-consumer perspectives.
Royal Kludge RK87
PROS
- Wide range of connectivity options
- Sturdy build
- Decent keycaps
- Affordable
- Hot-swappable
- Pretty, clean design
- Wide range of OS compatibility
CONS
- Stabilizer rattles too much despite the lubrication
- Small battery
Specs:
- Hot-Swappable: Yes
- Connectivity: 2.4Ghz Wireless / Bluetooth / USB Wired
- Compatible OS: macOS, Windows, Android
Despite being mostly known for offering budget options for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, the Royal Kludge RK87 turned out to be the best option here. Because when it comes to features, it’s the most superior since it offers both Bluetooth and 2.4G wireless.
Everything else is there from the RGB backlighting, the universal font that’s not just for gamers, hot-swap sockets so you can change the switches, and a pretty case. It’s a lot more considerate compared to other options.
This keyboard is also easy to modify and you don’t really need to replace the keycaps with something thicker or sturdier since Roya Kludge’s keycaps are decent enough.
Royal Kludge RK87
Keychron K8 Pro QMK/VIA
PROS
- QMK/VIA compatibility
- Bluetooth mode
- Good keycaps
- Hot-swappable
- Easy to modify
- South-facing RGB offers good keycap compatibility
- 4000 mAh battery
- Wide range of OS compatibility
CONS
- Keycaps aren't backlit
- Somewhat pricey
- No 2.4G wireless mode
Specs:
- Hot-Swappable: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth / USB Wired
- Compatible OS: macOS, Windows, Android
If you’re looking to delve a bit deeper into the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole, then the Keychron products offer a good start. There’s the Keychron K8 which will cater to your TKL needs and it also offers a professional look and functionality.
The K8’s strongest feature, apart from its sturdiness and build quality is that the board’s PCB is QMK & VIA-compatible. This means you can simply go to a website (either QMK or VIA) to re-map or re-program the keys– no need for clunky proprietary software.
Beyond that, Keychron also has a solid reputation in the mechanical keyboard community.
Keychron K8 Pro QMK/VIA
Logitech G915 TKL
PROS
- Comes with a volume knob
- Sturdy metal design
- Good battery life
- Lightsycn RGB
- Low-profile mechanical switches offer good ergonomics
- Dedicated media buttons
- Fast recharge
CONS
- Expensive for its features
- Not easy to modify
- Non-hotswappable
- Keycaps aren't easy to replace
- Stabilizers rattle too much, you'd expect more for the price
Specs:
- Hot-Swappable: No
- Connectivity: Bluetooth / USB Wired
- Compatible OS: Windows
If you want something a little bit expensive but works and has Logitech’s guarantee of durable tech, then the Logitech G915 TKL is one of their more robust offerings. We do have to be honest with you here; the price here doesn’t mean it comes packed with the most desirable features in a keyboard.
You can’t swap the switches (though you can swap the keycaps) and Logitech also likely doesn’t recommend opening the case and modding the whole keyboard itself. So you’re stuck with what you get out of the box which is still good.
For one, the G915 TKL comes with a volume knob which is a handy feature. There are also numerous media buttons to help you during gaming or when watching movies. And the battery life for the wireless mode is one of its strongest points.
Logitech G915 TKL
NZXT Function MiniTKL
PROS
- Comes with a volume knob
- Hot-swappable
- Comes with "pre-lubed" switches for a smoother typing experience
- Customizble NZXT CAM lighting
- Cheap price
- Durable aluminum build
CONS
- No wireless mode
- Terrible, noisy,and rattly stabilizers
- Not easy to modify
Specs:
- Hot-Swappable: Yes
- Connectivity: USB Wired
- Compatible OS: Windows
The TKL layout is already considered compact but NZXT shrunk it down even further, which is great if you’re working with limited small space. They crammed the nine keys right next to the main body of the keyboard.
The Function MiniTKL also comes with a volume knob on the left side which is quite ideal for a lot of people. It does lack some features, such as wireless, so this is only a good option over the others if you prefer the layout.
NZXT Function MiniTKL
CIY X77
PROS
- Comes with a removable top plate for easy cleaning
- Hot-swappable
- Cheap price
CONS
- No wireless mode
- Thin keycaps
Specs:
- Hot-Swappable: Yes
- Connectivity: USB Wired
- Compatible OS: Windows, iOS, macOS
The CIY X77 undercuts a lot of the competition here with its sub $45 price tag; that makes it a good starting point for anyone looking to find out what the fuss is about with mechanical keyboards. The best part is that it comes with a hot-swappable PCB, meaning you can experiment with the switches you like.
There’s no shortage of options in this budget configuration though you do have to sacrifice wireless functionality which is understandable for this price. In any case, it’s hard to find TKL keyboards at this price, so this one’s a bit of a steal.
CIY X77
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What does TKL mean?
TKL stands for ten-key-less, meaning the Numpad is removed (usually has 10 keys). This makes the keyboard smaller. -
Are mechanical keyboards more durable?
Yes. The affordable switches, which are already rated for 50 million cycles, can also be replaced in the event that they break or wear out.