Best 60 percent keyboards for Gaming – Typing – Programming in 2023

  • Keycaps 101
  • Posted by: amy-golden
  • Oct 19, 2022

The main reason why people seek the best 60% keyboards is mainly due to their compact size. By cutting down the keys they hardly used in the full-size keyboard, the keyboard will be smaller, therefore, more portable for those who need to carry it around.

In this list of the best 60 percent keyboards for gaming, you will unfold 10 keyboards that are of good quality. Care to explore them with us?

The Best 60% Mechanical Keyboards – Top Picks

Switches Number of keys Price
Ducky One 2 Mini and Mecha Mini Cherry MX Brown switches 61 $119.00
Kinesis TKO Kailh Box switches 63 $175
Anne Pro 2 Gateron switches. Kailh BOX switches, Cherry MX switches 61 $97.00
HyperX Alloy Origins 60 HyperX mechanical switches 61 $76.99
Glorious GMMK Compact Cherry MX switches, Gateron switches,

Kailh switches

61 ‎$79.9
Razer Huntsman Mini Razer optical  switches 61 $99.99
Royal Kludge RK61 RK mechanical switches 61 $49.99
Cooler Master SK622 TTC low profile switches 64 ‎$70.8

Ducky One 2 Mini and Mecha Mini: The best 60% keyboard overall 

Ducky One 2 Mecha Mini Keyboard (Source: Gamergear)
Ducky One 2 Mecha Mini Keyboard (Source: Gamergear)
Features:

  • 10 additional colorful keycaps
  • Ducky Macro 2.0
  • USB type C
  • Low-profile
Pros:

  • Doubleshot PBT keycaps
  • Many different switch variants to choose from
  • Aluminum frame
  • Excellent for typing
Cons:

  • Software doesn’t have key-assigning function
  • Slightly high latency

Sometimes people wonder if a 60% keyboard is easy to slide around the table due to its small size. Well, you won’t meet that problem with Ducky One 2 Mini keyboard. The frame is made of aluminum, a high-class material that is favored in the aircraft industry. Therefore, this compact keyboard can stand strong as a giant on your desk despite the heavy strokes from users.

In addition, we believe the Ducky One 2 Mini keyboard must be in the top list of the best 60 percent keyboards, mainly because the two-layer PBT keycaps and high-quality Cherry MX or Kailh switches produce a great typing experience.

Unfortunately, this keyboard’s latency is a little bit higher than other best 60% keyboards for gaming, making it not ideal for heavy game titles. Moreover, its software does not let you map keys in one go so you will need to seek help with other software.

Kinesis TKO Keyboard: Best 60 Percent Keyboard for Gaming

Kinesis TKO Keyboard
Kinesis TKO Keyboard
Features:

  • 12 customizable RGB effects
  • 9 fully customizable dual-layer profiles
  • Detachable USB-C cable
  • Three-button spacebar
Pros:

  • 3 Kailh BOX switches to pick from
  • Onboard programming shortcuts
  • Aluminum plate
  • Doubleshot PBT keycaps
Cons:

  • Difficult to update firmware
  • Expensive

Kinesis TKO keyboard is highly praised by the keyboard community for its strong construction. The plate is made of aluminum and the keycaps are durable thanks to PBT materials. Moreover, it has four silicon legs that can withstand heavy physical impact to always stay in one place.

You can choose among Kailh BOX Brown, White, or Red switches and those switches are tested to last for 80 million keystrokes. Apart from standard key characters, the manufacturers also print hotkeys on the keycaps, so it saves you time to switch between the manual and the keyboard.

Besides, this keyboard is pretty cool when it has 9 customizable profiles for specialist users. This gives you the freedom and control over the keymap to enhance your keyboard experience.

However, compared to other best 60% keyboards, it’s quite difficult to get updated firmware since this is a softwareless keyboard.

Anne Pro 2: Best Wireless 60 Percent Keyboard

Anne Pro 2 White Keyboard
Anne Pro 2 White Keyboard
Features:

  • USB type C
  • 1900 maH battery
  • Tab key and double Fn keys
Pros:

  • Doubleshot PBT keycaps
  • Wired or wireless mode
  • A lot of switch options
  • Full key programming
  • Extremely good customization software
Cons:

  • Wireless connection is not lag-free
  • Weak RGB lighting

If you prefer a keyboard that has a wireless mode for mobility and a neat working desk, we think Anne Pro 2 keyboard is the perfect fit among the best 60 percent keyboard. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 Hz allowing you to use 4 devices at the same time. Furthermore, the battery is powerful at 1900 maH.

However, the wireless mode of the Anne Pro 2 keyboard is not suitable for fast-paced games since it has a lagging issue. Asides from that, the RGB effects of this 60% keyboard are dim and dull, so it’s not a good choice for those who love colorful lighting.

But, if you like to program the keys and look for intuitive and easy-to-use software, we believe the Anne Pro 2 will amaze you on the first try. That is because you can program a lot of things with its software without the need of installing extra programs.

HyperX Alloy Origins: Best Budget 60 Percent Keyboard

HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Features:

  • HyperX NGENUITY software
  • RGB backlit keys
  • There-angle adjustable incline stands
  • Detachable USB-C cable
  • 3 onboard profiles
Pros:

  • Aircraft-grade aluminum body
  • Good typing experience
  • Customizable keys and RGB effects
Cons:

  • Hard to find keycap’s replacements

When mentioning the best 60% keyboards for gaming, we cannot forget the name of HyperX Alloy Origins 60 gaming keyboard. This keyboard uses HyperX switches that can last to 80 million key activations. They are fit for both typing and gaming experiences.

Moreover, the whole body is made of aluminum materials, and the keycaps are used PBT plastic with two layers. Therefore, we can trust the longevity of Hyper X Alloy keyboards won’t be a short time. Worth noting that, the keyboard is quite heavier than the regular 60% keyboards of the same aluminum body. This can be a hit or miss depending on the users.

This keyboard also has a detachable cable that allows you to find the replacement easily when the cables pass the using time. In contrast, it’s difficult to look for keycaps that fit the HyperX keyboard.

See for yourself how vivid the RGB effects of this keyboard are in the below video.

Glorious GMMK Compact: The best hot-swappable 60% Keyboard

Glorious GMMK Compact Gaming Keyboard
Glorious GMMK Compact Gaming Keyboard
Features:

  • 16.8 million RGB colors
  • Discreet led indicators
  • Rubber feet and pads
  • Removeable USB cord
Pros:

  • Macro keys and hot keys
  • Buttery smooth Gateron Brown tactile switches
  • Hot-swappable
Cons:

  • High latency
  • ABS keycaps

Among the 10 best 60 percent keyboards, Glorious GMMK Compact keyboard is a hot-swappable one that allows you to change the switches easily. Unlike standard keyboards, you don’t have to desolder and solder the switches to custom them based on your liking.

This keyboard has a solid build with high-quality plastic, Besides, the rubber feet and under pad will prevent it from sliding or tilting due to your heavy typing. Even though it has ABS keycaps, the typing feels on those keycaps and switches are super nice. They do not wobble but are well-balanced throughout the whole key layout.

It’s easy to program keys on this keyboard, and you are also allowed to customize the RGB lighting aside from the pre-setting effects.

The downside of the Glorious GMMK Compact keyboard would be its high latency. This characteristic makes it less desirable for gamers who are into heavy gameplay.

Related Articles

Razer Huntsman Mini: Best RGB-Ready 60 Percent Keyboard

Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard
Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard
Features:

  • Detachable USB cable
  • 5 keyboard profiles
  • Razer Chroma RGB lighting effects
Pros:

  • Onboard memory
  • Individual lighting keys
  • Doubleshot PBT keycaps
  • Aluminum case
Cons:

  •  No dedicated macro keys

Razer Huntsman Mini 60% keyboard is a compact keyboard that is not short on necessary keys. It’s thanks to the secondary functions and shortcuts printed on the side of keycaps. This means you won’t have to search every time just to know where to press for those cut-off functions.

‘The best 60 percent keyboards for gaming’ list cannot be completed without this keyboard. The main reason is the 5 built-in profile that allows you to remap and set the layout for different purposes. Besides, the Razer Huntsman Mini 60% keyboard has an aluminum body and PBT keycaps that are strong and very durable under time.

Moreover, the optical switches from Razer are precise and crazily fast, making them very suitable for those who compete in games.

Related Articles

Royal Kludge RK61: Best budget wireless 60% Keyboard

RK Royal Kludge RK61 60% Mechanical Keyboard
RK Royal Kludge RK61 60% Mechanical Keyboard
Features:

  • Four rubber feet
  • USB-C to USB-A rubber cable
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Blue backlighting
Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • It has wireless mode
  • Multi-device connections
  • Hot Swappable
Cons:

  • ABS keycaps
  • High latency

Royal Kludge RK61 60% keyboard allows users to alter between wired and wireless mode with a small switch underneath. Moreover, it is a rechargeable type, so you don’t have to care about storing batteries for this keyboard. Besides, you can link the Royal Kludge to three different devices, convenient for multi-working.

The RK switches are nice to type on, despite the keycaps being merely cheap ABS. You can choose between RK Brown, Blue, or Red switches. Apart from that, this keyboard is hot-swappable, meaning you can set different keyswitches in different positions with only a puller.

However, the latency is quite high for both cable-in and cable-out modes. This means when you are playing games, there are moderate chances that the signal will delay for a moment. Therefore, it’s not recommended for heavy games. You should look for other keyboards in this best 60% keyboard list.

Cooler Master SK622: Best 60 Percent Keyboard for Use With Multiple Devices

Cooler Master SK622 White Mechanical Keyboard
Cooler Master SK622 White Mechanical Keyboard
Features:

  • Low-profile
  • Colorful RGB lighting
  • Rechargeable battery
  • USB-C cable
Pros:

  • Wired or wireless
  • Aluminum or plastic option
  • Three switch types to choose from
  • No additional software required
  • Minimal input lag
Cons:

  • Wireless mode has 125Hz only

The last keyboard in this list of the best 60% keyboards will be Cooler Master SK622 keyboard. It’s better than other wireless keyboards on the list since the lagging issue in wireless mode is controlled to be minimal. However, clearly, the transmission rate will drop compared to wired mode.

You can choose between aluminum or plastic for the keyboard case. Also, there are TTC Low-profile Red, Blue, or Brown switches to pick from. Overall, the typing feels on the three switch types are nice and firm, making it a good option for those who prioritize typing performance.

Note: If you want to know more about low profile switches, this Low-Profile Switches Guide is for you.

The best feature of the Cooler Master SK622 is the 32-bit ARM Cortex processor. Thanks to it, you won’t need to install extra software for personal programming. It has the ‘On the fly’ system that controls macro programming and lighting changing. Hence, you can set up everything quite easily and quickly.

Visual effects on this keyboard can enhance your gaming experience. Take a look and feel it yourself.

What is a 60 % keyboard?

60% Keyboard Layout
60% Keyboard Layout

Before getting into the definition of a 60 percent keyboard, you should take a look at different keyboard layouts and sizes to fully grasp it.

In one sentence, a 60% keyboard has around 62 keys. It cuts off more than tenkeyless keyboards, for instance, the Numpad, function keys, and even arrow keys. This varies for different brands.

Pros and Cons of a 60% keyboard

Why should you use a 60% keyboard?

For those who will prefer a 60% keyboard:

  • Want a small keyboard to save space
  • Need to carry the keyboard around
  • Think that some keys are unnecessary, hence, they can be ditched out.

Why shouldn’t you use a 60% keyboard?

You should not buy a 60% keyboard if:

  • Do not familiar with the use of shortcuts and hotkeys
  • Heavily rely on the Numpad and arrow keys

If you are not a fan of 60% keyboards, don’t worry, we have other choices for you to explore. Check out our collection of “best keyboards” here and find your perfect match. You might be surprised by how much fun typing can be!

Factors to look for in 60% boards

SK622 Black Keyboard
SK622 Black Keyboard

Build quality

There are two things you should notice:

  • Materials for case, back plate, and keycaps since they decide the longevity of the keyboard and typing feels. The best reference: Aluminum
  • Overall design because it will bring you comfort or discomfort.

Keycaps

Your fingers will touch the keycaps most of the time so it’s best to pick out the good ones.

  • Keycaps materials: ABS and PBT are the most common materials. ABS is cheaper and smoother, but prone to shine. PBT is more expensive and rougher, but more durable and textured .
  • Printing methods: Pad printing, laser etching, dye sublimation, and double-shot molding are the most common methods. Pad printing and laser etching produce low-quality legends that fade easily. Dye sublimation and double-shot molding produce high-quality legends that last long .
  • Profile: OEM, Cherry, SA, DSA, XDA, and MT3 are some of the popular profiles. OEM and Cherry are sculpted and medium-low height. SA, DSA, XDA, and MT3 are spherical-shaped and vary in height and dish.

Check out this Guide to different types of keycaps to understand what we are mentioning above better.

Features

This is mostly based on your preferences. 

  • Do you need RGB backlit or not?
  • Do you need to program the keys for everyday use?
  • Do you like to take out the switches easily with a hot-swappable keyboard?
  • Do you need a wireless keyboard? 
  • What is the USB type you prefer? A, B, or C. And, do you want the cable to be detachable?
  • Do you need incline legs or even incline adjustable stands?

Wired or wireless

When considering factors for 60% mechanical keyboards, it’s also important to weigh the advantages of wired and wireless options:

  • Wired Keyboard: These boards offer a reliable connection with minimal latency, making them ideal for both gaming and typing tasks. Additionally, they eliminate battery concerns, ensuring uninterrupted usage.
  • Wireless Keyboard: If portability and convenience are priorities, wireless 60% boards are a great choice. They provide a clutter-free setup and the freedom to move around. However, users should be mindful of potential battery issues and slight latency that might impact gaming performance.

If you are still unsure what to choose between them, this Wireless vs Wired keyboard comparison is for you.

Conclusion

A 60 percent keyboard is the smallest keyboard type, therefore, saves the most space on your working table. Of course, it has its advantages and disadvantages so you should consider them carefully before choosing.

After that, if you decide to have one, the top 10 best 60 percent keyboards above may help you choose easier. Enjoy reading!

FAQs 

How much does a 60 percent keyboard cost?

Most 60% keyboards are at around $100. But, you can find some best 60 percent keyboards for about $50.

What are the downsides of 60 percent keyboards?

The missing keys on the 60% keyboard will need time to get familiar with them at first. If you use them a lot, function keys, for instance, you should avoid this type of keyboard layout.

Which 60 percent keyboard is the best for everyday use?

For everyday uses, you should focus on typing performance. Therefore, we suggest Ducky One 2 Mini and Cooler Master SK622.

Which 60 percent keyboard is the best for gaming?

Some best 60% keyboards for gaming are HyperX Alloy Origin 60, Kinesis TKO, and Razer Huntsman Mini.

Which 60 percent keyboard has the fastest switches?

A lot of keyboards in this best 60% keyboard list allow you to choose the switch type. So, we cannot pick out one. But, we can suggest you focus on linear switch types as they have an advantage in speed over the other two types.

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Author

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amy-golden

I work as a freelance blogger in Seattle, Washington. I've been freelancing full-time for 5 years. I'm interested in anime, resin art, and mechanical keyboards.

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