The Best small keyboards for gaming in 2022 (TKL, 60%, Budget)
Let's find you the best small gaming keyboard
Like mice, keyboards have been getting smaller and smaller over the last couple of decades, with current options bringing the absolute minimum amount of keys to the gaming table. Many people have started to tire of full-size keyboards these days, so let’s have a look at the best options for reducing your keys. Trigger warning: If you’re a frequent user of the Numpad, steer clear of this guide as there will be no Numpad in sight. Sorry, accountants. Custom PC builders might also want to avoid going small, as there are no Fn keys here either, and Fn keys are particularly useful when it comes to messing around in the BIOS and other low-level hardware.
While the smaller form factor keyboard removes a lot of the versatility they can potentially offer, many people are still leaning towards them for their gaming needs. With a smaller footprint and less clutter, the small gaming keyboard is slowly starting to compete with full-size keyboards.
Our Top Picks
The Best Small Keyboards For Gaming In 2021
In-depth Review
Ducky One2 Mini
Ducky One2 Mini
As far as small gaming keyboards go, you’ll struggle to do much better than Ducky’s One2 Mini. This is one of the best mechanical gaming keyboards for gaming and traveling thanks to its super-small, 60% footprint.
Despite the lack of dedicated media keys and losing out on most of the function buttons and number pad, this keyboard still comes to the table with an abundance of versatile features, including hotkeys, mechanical switches, and RGB. In the past, we’ve had that chance to use many of the Ducky range, all of which provided a fantastic gaming experience – the Ducky One2 Mini is absolutely no different.
Visually, this board may seem simple in design, having said that, it’s still very aesthetically pleasing none the less. The black color theme works extremely well with the RGB backlighting, whereas the PBT keycaps offer a luxurious finish to the surface of this board. The One2 mini does come with a bit of weight to it, which tells me the build quality is of the highest order. It sits very firmly on the desk and provides a stable gaming environment – no matter how robust you decide to be. Unfortunately, this board doesn’t come with any software accompaniment, with all the features actually built into the board itself. This, on one hand, can be great for people with an in-depth knowledge of the hotkeys. However, for those that don’t, it can cause some problems if truth be told.
As far as gaming is concerned, this board is absolutely brilliant. The version we managed to test had Cherry MX Red switches that felt extremely tactile and responsive. The One2 Mini also comes in Cherry MX Blue and Brown variants, for those wanting a slightly different type/game feel. Alongside the impressive PBT keycaps, users will also have an assortment of additional colored caps to allow further customization.
Overall, what you’re looking at here is one of the best small gaming keyboards on the market. While that is the case, be aware, if you do decide to go for this board you’ll have to fork out for it.
Razer Huntsman Mini
Razer Huntsman Mini
We really like the Razer Huntsman 60% for a few reasons. Primarily for the choice of key switches and colorways. You can choose from Linear, clicky, or optical switch types, and the board itself comes in either a stealthy black or a minimalist mercury white. Also, thank god, it ships with double-shot PBT keycaps, instead of the ABS material which continues to plague the typing experience on even expensive small keyboards these days. Additionally, Razer’s Synapse software allows you to create dedicated macro keys and secondary functions to increase the practicality and usability of the otherwise limited 60% keyboard.
While the Razer Synapse software isn’t the most intuitive of peripheral software suites, once you get the hang of it it can really elevate the experience, allowing for limitless RGB lighting customizations and it all integrates with other Razer peripherals too, making for a fairly convenient ecosystem of PC gaming accessories.
limiting factors of the Huntsman mini include its lack of extra inputs and the high price of $130, though it can often be found for as little as $90 so we’d recommend shopping around a bit before making the final purchase. We would have liked to see other connection inputs on the Huntsman like 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, but Razer is yet to release a wireless keyboard, but we imagine it won’t be too long before they join that party.
HyperX Alloy Elite
HyperX Alloy Elite
HyperX are no strangers when it comes to creating some of the best peripherals on the market. This, their Alloy FPS, is one of the when it comes to gaming – especially esports players looking to take their game to the next level.
The HyperX Alloy FPS Pro has a fairly basic design, yet still manages to look stylish and polished. The board is a TKL design, losing the number pad but still with the navigation keys and function buttons along the top. With simple red backlighting, the HyperX Alloy FPS does offer small levels of gaming aesthetics, but for the most part, it’s a fairly generic looking keyboard – in a good way.
Moving onto gaming, this board offers everything you’d want from a high-end gaming keyboard. It comes equipped with Cherry MX Red switches (which can be swapped for Blue and brown) which are probably the best when referencing response and quick actuation. The Alloy FPS also comes with 100% anti-ghosting and full NKRO, meaning gamers looking to perform the gracious act of “button bashing” will never experience missed keypresses.
The construction of this board feels very impressive. It comes with a steel frame that adds plenty of durability and robustness to its design. The keyboard has a removable USB connector at the rear, making travel all the easier too.
Ultimately, the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro offers everything you could want from a gaming keyboard. Fantastic customization, ease of travel, and great built quality.
Drop ALT Mechanical Keyboard
Drop ALT Mechanical Keyboard
The ALT mechanical keyboard from DROP is the most expensive board in this guide and for good reason. It comes to the table with a tonne of premium features and a couple of unique options that separate it from the competition.
In terms of design, the ALT mechanical keyboard looks basic yet stylish. Custom keycaps sit on top of a steel frame with tasteful RGB glowing behind the keys and around the edge. This is a 67-key board and measured up to just over a foot in length – perfect for individuals that are short on space or do a lot of traveling with their board. The frame is comprised of anodized CNC machined aluminum which is of the highest quality, giving this board a fantastic feel and excellent life span to boot. With RGB that illuminates the keys and the edge of this board, it really is one of the nicest looking keyboards on the market for me.
From a gaming point of view, you can’t really knock this board if truth be told. While the switches are designed for the typist’s out there, you do have the option to choose more gaming-oriented switches if you choose. While we’re talking about customization, it’s worth mentioning that almost every aspect of this board is customizable to your specific taste. The hot-swappable switches actually allow users to swap the switch mechanics out for something more tasteful. Keycaps can be altered with ease, as can all the RGB – of course.
Ultimately, what we have here is one of the best all-round small form factor keyboards on the market. Be aware though, if you do plan on going for this board, it’s gonna set you back a few bucks.
Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB
Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB
If you’re familiar with some of our other keyboard-related guides, you’ll no doubt already know what the Redragon K552 KUMARA has to offer. It’s one of our favorite budget boards and for good reason.
Starting with the design, it’s safe to say that this one is probably the least stylish in this guide, bringing a slightly gamey aesthetic to the table. The Redragon logo can be found above the arrow keys and stands out on the black color theme of the board. The RGB is fully customizable and comes in a number of presets that range from breathing to slow transitions.
From a gaming standpoint, the Redragon really does perform quite well. It offers Outemu Blue switches which are equivalent to Cherry MX Blue’s – IE, loud and responsive. These tactile switches require approximately 80g of actuation force and release a very audible click sound after each keypress. While being extremely responsive, they have also been rated with a 50million click lifespan. Unlike other boards of this price point, the Redragon actually offers NKRO, meaning evening the most aggressive of button bashers won’t miss a single keystroke.
The 87 key design of this board offers molded double-shot keycaps that feel and look fantastic – working extremely well with the RGB backlight. The durable metal frame at the heart of this keyboard means that it won’t deteriorate anytime soon, and should provide stellar gaming performance for years to come.
Overall, an excellent budget board that sits very highly in today’s market.
Final Word
A small form factor keyboard is one of the best purchases to make when it comes to saving space and upgrading the aesthetics of your gaming setup. We’ve covered some excellent picks, ranging from the unbeatable Ducky One2 mini, to the beautiful Razer Huntsman mini, all the way to the affordable, yet fully-capable Redragon Kumara. Just remember, when reducing the size of the keyboard, there will always be concessions that you’ll have to make, and it’s up to you to determine if this is worthwhile or not. In our opinion, small keyboards for gaming are awesome, and almost essential if your desk space is limited.