First. Any of these 60% boards can be configured with mod-tap arrows, so the four modifier keys in the lower right corner act as arrow keys when tapped or modifiers when held. It works quite well. [Notes](https://github.com/ArgentStonecutter/keyboards/tree/main/layouts).
* [Redragon K717 Alcor](https://redragonshop.com/products/alcor-k717-pro) * ($33)
* [CIDOO QK61](https://www.amazon.com/MechLands-QK61-Programmable-Swappable-Mechanical/dp/B0D8VMD3P3) * ($60)
* [Skyloong GK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/MOLGRIA-Dual-Space-Swappable-Double-Shot-Mechanical/dp/B0CZ9F8P76) * ($54)
* [Royal Kludge RK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-Mechanical-Ultra-Compact/dp/B0832CZNS5) * ($40)
* [Womier WK61 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/COSTOM-WK61-PRO-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0F5HYHWY8) * ($31)
Note that there are multiple rip-offs of the GK61 (Geeky, HKGaming, etc), and older inventory still being sold (Epomaker in particular seems to have a bunch), so only get the GK61 from that link if you go that way.
Second, you can get a ["minila"](https://imgur.com/a/minila-layout-zaANnZG) layout board.
* [YMDK DK61](https://ymdkey.com/products/ymdk-dk61-iso-ansi-via-vial-wired-hot-swap-hot-swappable-keyboard-kit) * (barebones, $88 wooden case, $38.50 bare PCB, you will need an alternate plate for minila layout)
* [KBDcraft Adam 60%](https://kbdcraft.store/products/adam) * ($70 lego case)
On the other hand, some games require you to be able to use navigation keys in combination with movement keys for things like flying or crouching, so you may be better off with a 75%.
* [Inland Gaming MK Pro v2](https://www.microcenter.com/product/671236/inland-gaming-mk-pro-v2-3-modes-wireless-diy-custom-rgb-gaming-barebone-keyboard) ($45 barebones)
* [Redragon K715](https://redragonshop.com/products/finke-k715-pro) * ($30, 15% off with XMAS)
* [Royal Kludge RK R75 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R75-Mechanical/dp/B0CWGR5KM9) * ($51 with coupon)
* [Womier Q75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Keyboard-Topographic-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DQV22S2T) ($59)
* [Womier Era75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Wireless-Mechanical-Pre-lubed-Swappable/dp/B0FGD7HWPW) ($63)
* [Womier SK71 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Keyboard-Mechanical-Swappable-PRO-Black/dp/B0DSFWXFV7) ($65)
* [Yunzii AL80](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL80-Wireless-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DT73C6VP) ($84)
Not a fan of the Inky75, it's not actually QMK, it's just emulated so a lot of the VIA features won't work.
65% with a bit of a premium feel:
* [Akko YU01](https://www.amazon.com/Akko-Mechanical-Transparent-Swappable-Bluetooth/dp/B0DJ77MY6V) * ($129)
* [XVX MU68](https://www.amazon.com/XVX-FujiWave-Mechanical-Keyboard-Pre-lubed/dp/B0FTXSHRPK) * ($89 wood)
* [Yunzii AL65](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL65-Mechanical-Structure-Swappable/dp/B0DRHYJPCF) ($80)
* [Yunzii AL68](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL68-Mechanical-Swappable-Structure/dp/B0DG1QZR7N) * ($75)
* [Weikav Nut65](https://www.amazon.com/Glacier-Wireless-Detachable-Swappable-Anodizing/dp/B0D5CBPPGJ) ($86)
75% similar:
* [Womier RD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-RD75-Pro-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DG82QD1X) ($95 w/ coupon)
* [Womier WD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Mechanical-Swappable-Translucent-Keycaps-POM/dp/B0DT8SP79R) * ($90 wood)
* [Glencreag WK84](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYDM9N49) * ($95 w/ coupon, wood)
* [Womier Era75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Wireless-Mechanical-Pre-lubed-Swappable/dp/B0FGD7HWPW) ($63)
* [Womier SK71 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Keyboard-Mechanical-Swappable-PRO-Black/dp/B0DSFWXFV7) ($65)
* [Yunzii AL80](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL80-Wireless-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DT73C6VP) ($84)
80%:
* [Weikav Stars80 v2](https://www.amazon.com/BOYI-Aluminum-Mechanical-Keyboard-Programmable/dp/B0F6VQ7J94) ($100)
* [Womier SK87](https://womierkeyboard.com/products/womier-sk87) * ($90, same as Stars80 v1)
Monsgeek and Akko's VIA boards are good, Weikav and Womier are absolutely crushing it, Yunzii and Kiboom have some good boards. YMDK and KPRepublic if you want to DIY it. KBDcraft for goofy Lego-style boards where you literally build the case from bricks. Skyloong makes boards that are quirky AF with featured like hotswap knobs and screens. I would generally avoid Redragon and Royal Kludge but they have a few decent boards.
Epomaker and Attack Shark and HKGaming and Geeky.gg are kind of scummy. Not businesses you want to depend on.
Keychron used to be good but expensive but they have been having QC and design issues in the past couple of years and their customer support has degraded from competent to bad and sometimes abusive.
The Redragon k717 is a good inexpensive board that I have seen recommended for gaming but it seems to be out of stock everywhere now. I would not recommend any of their other small boards, they have really awful software. The k717 is running QMK firmware instead and is really an exception.
Other decent 60% and 65% options:
* [CIDOO QK61](https://www.amazon.com/MechLands-QK61-Programmable-Swappable-Mechanical/dp/B0D8VMD3P3) * ($60)
* [Skyloong GK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/MOLGRIA-Dual-Space-Swappable-Double-Shot-Mechanical/dp/B0CZ9F8P76) * ($54)
* [Royal Kludge RK61 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-Mechanical-Ultra-Compact/dp/B0832CZNS5) * ($40)
* [Womier WK61 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/COSTOM-WK61-PRO-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0F5HYHWY8) * ($31)
* [Womier VK66 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Percent-Keyboard-Mechanical-Mounted-Backlit/dp/B0CDC14PL5) * ($39)
* [Womier Q61 v2](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ2PMSXP) * ($42)
* [Royal Kludge RK R65 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R65-Mechanical/dp/B0CNP1BG1W) * ($48 with coupon)
* [XVX M67 Jadestone](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHCRJPR6) * ($47)
* [XVX MU68](https://www.xvxchannel.com/products/xvx-mu68-fuji-wave-keyboard) * ($100 wood)
* [Yunzii AL65](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL65-Mechanical-Structure-Swappable/dp/B0DRHYJPCF) ($80)
* [Yunzii AL68](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL68-Mechanical-Swappable-Structure/dp/B0DG1QZR7N) * ($75)
* [Weikav Nut65](https://www.amazon.com/Glacier-Wireless-Detachable-Swappable-Anodizing/dp/B0D5CBPPGJ) ($86)
These are all running QMK firmware with a 1 kHz poll rate. The starred boards I own or have at least tested, and I have built custom firmware for the RK61 so I can vouch for the published source code.
Okay first off most mechanical wireless keyboards are what they call trimode - they work over usb, bluetooth, or 2.4 gigahertz dongle. You can (and I generally do) disconnect the battery completely (o even remove it) and treat them as purely wired. Second, the Keychron Q and V series boards are generally available both in wired only and in trimode. Third... they have been having terrible quality control problems with both of these product lines and I really can't recommend them.
On the other hand, you may find that a better deal would be to get two keyboards, a small, possibly magnetic board for gaming and a full-sized or 96% board for work. For the letter the Monsgeek M2 V5 via is kind of the platonic ideal of a 96% aluminum board. The YMDK YMD96 in the wooden case is a simpler, more compact and I think rather elegant option.
Magnetic boards, you'll have to ask someone else. I have been increasingly disappointed in the options, even the Keychron offerings have some clangers.
For a smaller conventional board, I like the Keychron J2 enough I bought extras for my media laptop and for hacking on... I've been customizing the firmware. Or the RK RK61, though that one really *needs* heavy customization... the default layout is terrible. I have custom layout.json files as well as firmware source and images to improve it rather a lot.
They have a problem that started late 2023 or early 2024 with the very flexible plate and PCB in many of the Q and V series boards with the gasket mount, where over time the switches get loosened and worked out of the PCB by the pressure of the plate and the plate foam, and you start getting bouncing and missed keystrokes. Keychron's customer support is most abusively bad, and they make people jump through all kinds of Hoops to deal with this. I have seen reports that this has been fixed in more recent versions but there's still a lot of old stock in the pipeline, and I have seen reports of people having these problems with more recent boards. My own Q Series boards are much older than the start of the problem but looking at pictures that people have posted it looks to me like the plate foam is just too thick and heavy, and some people have reported that rebuilding the board without any plate foam solves the problem at the cost of some change in the feel and sound of the board.
You may never have an issue but it's a risk.
The m2v5 is perfectly good as an office board, that's actually what I was recommending it for. It's a little bit big and heavy in my opinion for a game board but some people like a battleship.
To get an idea of the sizes and layouts that are available, the Keychron website is actually a good place to just browse to get an idea of what board configuration spark joy in your heart.
I have been a 75% fan since the early 90s, and lately I've kind of flipped to even smaller boards.
I would strongly recommend against that specific Royal Kludge model. The QMK/VIA versions of the RK61/R75/R65/R87 are OK.
Magnetic is not going to give you better battery life. Even TMR requires more power than simple switches.
Nuphy Air75 v2 perhaps.
Rk61 probably, always buy used, there's an aula win60/68 and that's pretty cheap for me here, but I don't think that magnetic boards are worth the price, there are a ton more budget mechanical
I have a Royal Kludge RK61 just because it was cheap and i wanted a mechanical keyboard. Now i realise i cannot use it for a long period of time at work because it is to high. I know it is hot swappeble, but can i low profile switches on this keyboard. it wil be the right height then and i dont wanna buy another keyboard because it will be more expensive.
for that budget, you have some solid options. the [Redragon K552](https://featherab.com/shopit?market=am&search_keywords=Redragon+K552) is a classic starter board that is tough and feels decent. if you can stretch the budget a little, the [Royal Kludge RK61](https://featherab.com/shopit?market=am&search_keywords=RK61+keyboard) is wireless and has hot swap sockets which is huge for trying new switches later. both are great for getting into competitive gaming without breaking the bank.
Same issue here, now using the RK60 keyboard with some cheap silent switches from amazon. Works very well, though if you're literally in the same room I don't think anything will help enough lol.
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Wooting
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Elite gaming performance, deep customization, but divisive typing feel.
ArgentStonecutter
