TKL Keyboards
Tenkeyless is a full layout without the numpad. Same function row and arrows, less reach for the mouse.
The Keychron V3 is plastic and programmable. The Q3 Max and the MonsGeek M3 are the aluminum versions. The Leopold FC750R is the one you buy and leave alone. The Wooting 80HE and the Apex Pro are the gaming boards with adjustable actuation.
If you only want one, start with Keychron V3 . It is the one we marked Budget King: programmable, finished, and under $100.
31 keyboards
“QMK support under $100 is absurd”
A wired 80% TKL with QMK/VIA, hot-swap sockets, PBT keycaps and an optional knob, in a plastic tray-mount case. Keychron lists it as sold out.
“Ducky's wired hot-swap TKL with PBT keycaps and Cherry MX”
A wired 80% (TKL) board with a hot-swappable PCB, Cherry MX switches and double-shot PBT keycaps. Tom's Guide found the typing feel outstanding, and faulted the lack of wireless, companion software and macOS support.
“HyperX's aluminum-bodied TKL with red or aqua switches”
A wired TKL with a full aluminum body, HyperX Red linear or Aqua tactile switches, a detachable USB-C cable and per-key RGB. ZDNet loved the case but called the keycaps among the worst it had reviewed; TweakTown rated it highly.
“80% TKL scissor-switch wireless board with 3.5 mm travel”
A tenkeyless wireless keyboard with taller scissor switches, ABS construction and no backlight. TechPowerUp covered the launch; no independent review of the B33 itself turned up.
“Wired retro TKL with 8000Hz polling, QMK and OSA keycaps”
A wired retro TKL with up to 8000Hz polling, hot-swap Super switches and Launcher. Tom's Guide and Notebookcheck both rated it highly for the price. Also covers the C1 and C1 Pro.
“Wireless 80% TKL with hot-swap, QMK and a big battery”
A tri-mode tenkeyless with QMK and Launcher, hot-swap sockets and a 3750 mAh battery. No standalone review found; evidence is Keychron's specs and a comparison listing.
“K1, from Keychron's store”
The current K1 is a low-profile 80% with Keychron Milk POM switches, shine-through ABS keycaps and a 160-hour battery rating, over Bluetooth or wired. No review of this version was found.
“K1 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K1 Max adds a 2.4 GHz dongle to the low-profile TKL. Wccftech and GGRecon found it comfortable and travel-friendly; low-profile switches are the main limit.
“K1 Pro, from Keychron's store”
The K1 Pro is the QMK/VIA low-profile TKL. AppleInsider called it an excellent upgrade with redesigned stabilizers and a 1000 Hz wired rate; wireless is Bluetooth only.
“K1 SE, from Keychron's store”
The K1 SE is the budget-tier low-profile TKL: ABS keycaps, a 190-hour battery rating, optical or mechanical switch options and about 550 g. The maker lists no QMK support on this version.
“K1 Ultra 8K, from Keychron's store”
The K1 Ultra 8K is the slim TKL with 8000 Hz polling, ZMK firmware, aluminum and wood and a 490-hour battery rating. No board-specific review was found.
“K13 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K13 Max is a low-profile 80% with an integrated numpad, 2.4 GHz and QMK/VIA at 600 g. Tom's Guide liked the comfort but flagged loose feet, short battery life and a numpad learning curve.
“K13 Pro, from Keychron's store”
The K13 Pro is the Bluetooth-only slim numpad TKL with QMK/VIA at about 580 g. Buyer feedback on the maker's page mentions a locked numpad; no professional review was found.
“Wireless 80% Hall-effect board with Rapid Trigger”
The K8 HE is the 80% Hall-effect Keychron: aluminum tray mount, 2.4 GHz, Rapid Trigger and about 1185 g. Windows Central found it beautiful and well-balanced but limited to Hall-effect switches and a short cable for software.
“TKL with 2.4 GHz, QMK and a 4000 mAh battery”
The K8 Max is the 2.4 GHz K8: QMK, hot-swap, PBT keycaps and an aluminum-frame option. MakeUseOf scored it 9 out of 10 as a customizable board with a plastic base and a heavy, sturdy feel. Also covers the K8 and K8 Pro.
“Wired 80% TKL aluminum Q with a steel plate”
A wired 80% tenkeyless in CNC aluminum, about 2 kg, with a steel plate, double gasket, QMK/VIA and an optional knob. Reviewers liked the value; Windows Central found the stock damping weaker than pricier boards.
“Compact 80% magnetic Q for typing and gaming”
A 1.8 kg aluminum 80% TKL with Gateron magnetic Nebula switches, Rapid Trigger, 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth. Tom's Guide and AppleInsider like it; price and a single switch choice hold it back.
“Tri-mode 80% TKL Q praised for sound and build”
A 1.8 kg aluminum 80% TKL with 2.4 GHz (1000 Hz), Bluetooth and wired modes, double gasket and Gateron Jupiter switches. Tom's Guide and PC Gamer rate the sound and build highly.
“Bluetooth 80% TKL Q with a PC plate and knob”
A Bluetooth-only 80% aluminum Q3 with PC plate, double gasket, a knob and a 4000 mAh battery rated up to 300 hours. Keychron's page lists conflicting weights.
“Wireless 8 kHz 80% Q with a 660-hour battery”
An 80% TKL aluminum Q with 8000 Hz over 2.4 GHz and wired, Silk POM switches, ZMK firmware and a battery rated up to 660 hours. Tom's Guide notes tall KSA keycaps.
“Retro-styled 80% wireless hot-swap board with QMK and Launcher”
A retro-styled 80% TKL with 2.4GHz, Bluetooth and wired modes, hot-swap Keychron Super switches and QMK. Evidence is Keychron's page and one Japanese owner write-up that found it loud and heavy.
“Wired 80% TKL with 8000Hz polling and a knob”
A tray-mounted plastic TKL with a steel plate, 8000Hz polling and a volume knob. APH Networks found it solid and quiet but its switches slightly squishy.
“Wireless 80% TKL with a gasket mount and PC plate”
A tri-mode TKL with a gasket mount and PC plate. Tom's Guide praised typing feel and sound but flagged PCB flex in the corners and an awkward knob; V Max chatter reports apply.
“Leopold's 87-key Cherry MX TKL with a sound-absorbing pad”
A wired 87-key TKL with Cherry MX switches, thick double-shot PBT keycaps and a sound-absorbing pad over a steel plate. Tom's Guide called the typing experience fantastic and the build excellent; it has a single height setting and a cheap keycap puller.
“Aluminum TKL, barebone price”
A wired aluminum TKL (87-key) barebone kit with gasket mount, a PC plate, QMK/VIA and screw-in stabilizers.
“The magnetic M3”
The magnetic M3: an 87-key aluminum TKL with gasket mount, 8K polling over USB and 2.4GHz, and an 8,000 mAh tri-mode battery.
“NuPhy's assembled custom-style TKL kit with an aluminum top and omni-mount”
A barebones TKL with a CNC aluminum top, thick PC bottom, FR4 plate, hot-swap sockets, QMK/VIA and tri-mode wireless. Tom's Hardware called it a great introduction to custom boards; Tom's Guide hit firmware issues and spacebar wobble.
“SteelSeries' TKL with adjustable Hall-effect switches and an OLED screen”
A wired TKL with OmniPoint 3.0 Hall-effect switches adjustable from 0.1 to 4.0 mm, Rapid Trigger, an OLED screen and PBT keycaps. PC Gamer called the typing feel immaculate; PCMag and Laptop Mag found the OLED and scroll wheel awkward.
“Varmilo's wired Cherry MX TKL with dye-sub PBT and quiet stabilizers”
A wired TKL with Cherry MX switches, dye-sublimated PBT keycaps, a plate-mount build and mini-USB. Switch and Click (an affiliate-linked site) called its stabilizers the best on any prebuilt; there is no RGB, software or hot-swap.
“Wooting's 80% Hall effect board with a gasket mount and 8 kHz polling”
A wired 80% Hall effect keyboard with Lekker L60 V2 switches, a silicone gasket mount, a polycarbonate plate and true 8 kHz polling, in recycled ABS or zinc. Reviewers praise the software and build, and fault the wired-only design, non-standard layout and some chassis flex.
“The updated Wooting 80% with Tikken switches and an FR4 plate”
An 80% Hall effect keyboard that updates the 80HE with Lekker Tikken Medium switches, an FR4 plate and extra dampening. Wooting offers ABS or zinc cases, a large knob on zinc prebuilts and a split spacebar on the module. No independent review of the 80HE+ was found.