Best 60 Percent Keyboard 2021

Buying Guides
By Rich Edmonds
published

Hyper X Ducky Mini Box
Hyper X Ducky Mini Box (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Not everyone needs a numpad. Not everyone requires a cluster of navigation keys. If you're collecting dust on a portion of your keyboard, it may be time for you to consider a 60% keyboard. Here are our favorite compact typing peripherals.

Ducky Channel One 2 Mini

Ducky Channel One 2 Mini

Best For Purists

If you've never heard of Ducky, it's a company that has been pumping out some of the best mechanical keyboards for years. The Ducky Channel One 2 Mini may have a strange name, but it offers a sublime typing experience. You can choose from an array of Cherry MX switches and you don't need any software.

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Hyper X Alloy Origins 60 Reco
HyperX Alloy Origins 60

Best Value

If you need something that offers exceptional value, you will want to consider the HyperX Alloy Origins 60. It's priced aggressively compared to other 60% keyboards, has a bustling compact design, all the RGB lighting you'll need, and a premium feel for gamers seeking a smaller footprint.

Razer Huntsman Mini

Razer Huntsman Mini

Best Gaming

The Razer Huntsman Mini is specially designed for typists, minimalists, and gamers who need more desk space. Instead of using the standard mechanical switch, Razer opted for excellent linear optical switches, beautiful colorways, and RGB options. This is one fun mini keyboard.

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Fnatic STREAK65

Fnatic STREAK65

Not Quite 60%

Looking for something that was designed with esports in mind? Fnatic STREAK65 has everything you'll need in a compact typing platform. Fnatic makes some excellent keyboards under the STREAK family and the STREAK65 is yet another fine example of a gaming peripheral done right.

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RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

Best Budget

Just because the RK61 from RK ROYAL KLUDGE is on the more affordable slide of the pricing scale, it's still worth considering. This mechanical keyboard supports wireless use through Bluetooth though you can still use it with a USB-C cable. It has RGB lighting, an ergonomic design, and a choice of red, blue, or brown linear switches. Not too bad!

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Choosing the right 60% keyboard

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The one question anyone has to ask before buying a keyboard of this size is should you buy a 60 percent keyboard? The answer is "yes," so long as you don't mind losing arrow keys, the numpad, F keys, and the navigation cluster. It'll save plenty of space on your desk, but may not be for everyone.

60% is about as compact as we'll likely get before a keyboard becomes too useless for typists and gamers. Our top recommendation goes to the Ducky Channel One 2 Mini from the company that caters to keyboard purists. You'll find plenty of enthusiasts — many of whom enjoy building their own keyboards — using Ducky keyboards. It's also one of our top picks for best mechanical keyboards and best keyboards.

Razer Huntsman Mini is about as good as you can get for a 60% mechanical gaming keyboard. It's brilliant with optical switches, colorful RGB lighting, and support for the company's superb software. If you need something a little more value-orientated, HyperX has you covered with the Alloy Origins 60.

Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.