A 60 percent keyboard does not have the function row, cluster of navigation keys, and numpad. They are great for competitive gamers and minimalists.
With the compact size, 60 percent keyboards are easier to position, they leave more room for your gaming mouse, and can fit in most backpacks for gaming on the go.
Here are the best 60 percent keyboard for gamers.
Q: What Is a 60 Percent Keyboard?
Fujitsu pulled an Apple on the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2. Without wireless connectivity, macro keys, or backlighting, this keyboard costs more than most 60 percent keyboards in the market.It’s understandable. This keyboard features top-of-the-line Topre capacitive switches built for speed and responsiveness. It’s a remarkable 60 percent keyboard for gamers looking for precision, smooth keypress, and no chattering.You also get a clean, minimalist design that does not look out of place in an office environment. It has a contoured design to provide outstanding ergonomics and comfort when typing. You can remap different key functions using the dip switches to suit your task at hand.The Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 might be expensive, but it’s the only 60 percent keyboard that ticks the boxes for gaming and productivity.
The Ducky One 2 Mini is one of the most popular 60 percent keyboards you can buy right now. It features excellent stabilizers to prevent rattling for a rigid typing and gaming experience. You also get to choose from a variety of Cherry MX switches.The keyboard is well built with PBT double-shot keycaps and three levels of height adjustment for greater ergonomics. You can set any key as a macro, assign different key functions, and customize the RGB lighting directly on the keyboard.You don’t need any software, and the included cable is detachable, so you can easily replace it.
The HK Gaming GK61 is a cheap 60 percent keyboard with a lot of features for the money. It is available in several mechanical and optical Gateron switches. The optical switches are hot-swappable and waterproof.You can fully customize the RGB lighting, set macro keys, and remap function keys through the included software. The best selling feature of the GK61 is the optical switches, which provide very low latency and a longer lifespan. The faster performance benefits highly competitive and esports gamers.
If you can live with a bit of rattling, the Razer Huntsman Mini might be the best 60 percent keyboard for gaming you can buy. It comes with fast and smooth Razer optical switches, great for competitive gaming.If you play many competitive games and esports, the Razer Huntsman Mini is a better option than the Ducky One 2 Mini. However, the stabilizers aren’t as rigid as in the One 2 Mini, and they are loud.For the upsides, you’re getting a compact 60 percent keyboard with an aluminum build and PBT keycaps. It supports macro recording and RGB customization. Even better is that the RGB lighting can sync with other Razer Chroma-powered peripherals.
If you’re looking for a 60 percent keyboard for traveling and gaming on the go, the Cooler Master SK622 with its low-profile design is a great consideration. It’s comfortable to type on even without a wrist rest and can easily fit in most backpacks.The SK622 is one of the few 60 percent keyboards with arrow keys. And in addition to the wired mode, you can connect it with up to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth.Like most mainstream keyboards, you get RGB lighting, ergonomic design with adjustable feet, macro programming, and n-key rollover (six-key in wireless mode). Unless you’re looking for Cherry MX switches, the Cooler Master SK622 has it all.
The RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 is another cheap 60 percent keyboard. It is available in white or black with different options of Outemu switches. They are not as good as Cherry MX, but they are excellent for the price.The keyboard supports a wired operation and wireless modes via Bluetooth. It can last up to 360 hours with a single charge and 13 hours with lighting. You can set macros, reassign key functions, and customize the backlighting with the included software.However, the backlight isn’t RGB. It’s a single blue color with 17 dynamic lighting modes.
The Kraken Pro 60 is designed for gamers looking for as much of a competitive advantage as possible. It comes with silver optical switches with shorter key travel allowing you to press keys faster.Combined with the inherent faster performance of optical switches, the Kraken Pro 60 makes the perfect 60 percent keyboard for FPS gaming and esports.Another excellent feature of the Kraken Pro 60 is the lighting effects. You can customize the RGB lighting with different lighting modes, including a sound reactive mode, which syncs the backlight with in-game sound for added immersion.
If you want to match your white gaming rig or break from the usual gamer aesthetic of black with RGB lighting, the Redragon K530 Draconic can be the best 60 percent for you.It’s a budget 60 percent keyboard that supports both wired and wireless modes. You can get up to 15 hours of use on a single charge and connect it to three devices simultaneously.You get more bang for your buck with advanced features such as hot-swapping, n-key rollover, macro recording, and fully customizable RGB lighting. The keyboard is also height adjustable for greater comfort when gaming or typing.
The DIERYA DK61E ticks all the boxes for most gamers without breaking the bank. It comes with different options of Gateron optical switches and durable double-shot PBT keycaps.This keyboard provides all the advantages of optical switches, including faster performance, hot swapping, and a waterproof circuit board. You can fully customize the RGB lighting, set up macro keys, and reassign function keys through the software.The only thing missing is wireless connectivity, but this keyboard has all the bells and whistles of a 60 percent keyboard.
A 60 percent keyboard is a small, compact keyboard without the function row, arrow keys, and Numpad. It has 60 percent of the keys available in a standard full-size keyboard.
Q: How Many Keys Does a 60 Percent Keyboard Have?
Most 60 percent keyboards have about 61 keys. Depending on the type of 60 percent keyboard you get, you can access all the missing keys and inputs through secondary functions.
Q: Are 60 Percent Keyboards Good for Gaming?
Sixty percent keyboards are suitable for gaming as they only include the necessary keys needed for gaming. You don’t get the additional cluster of keys, and you can position the keyboard the way you like it, great for competitive FPS and esports gamers.Since 60 percent keyboards inherently occupy less desk space, you get ample space to move your gaming mouse around.
