A 60% keyboard is a small keyboard that typically lacks a numpad, a navigational cluster, and a function row. Instead, you can still access most of these missing commands with hotkey combinations. These little units are having their moment in the sun right now, and it's easy to see why. They offer gamers and on-the-go typists much more room on their desks for dynamic mouse movements while gaming or to keep a coffee close at hand. While many of these picks are gaming-focused, they're still versatile for general work or typing tasks.
Most of our recommendations below are dedicated gaming keyboards, but if you'd like to explore other gaming options, see our list of the best gaming keyboards or the best RGB keyboards. Alternatively, if you're a programmer or writer, check out our curated picks for the best keyboards for programming and the best keyboards for typing articles.
We test dozens of keyboards each year, and to maintain independence, we buy every unit ourselves. Our reviews go beyond subjective typing impressions or quick gaming sessions. Each keyboard is put through the same standardized test bench, so you can directly compare our results. We use specialized tools like a Mecmesin force tester to measure switch force curves and a Beagle 480 USB analyzer to capture input data for latency testing. Multiple teams contribute to each review in a process that can take days or even weeks from start to finish.
-
Best 60% Keyboard
GamingOfficeProgrammingMobile/TabletEntertainment / HTPCSee all our test resultsConnectivity:WiredThe Wooting 60HE v2 is the best 60% keyboard we've tested. It builds on the previous-generation Wooting 60HE with a series of iterative improvements. The polling rate jumps to 8000Hz, helping it achieve exceptionally low latency, and its switches can detect even the slightest movement. The updated Lekker Tikken switches also bring small but meaningful refinements, including reduced stem wobble and a quieter, less clacky sound profile. The optional split spacebar is an interesting addition for gamers who want to experiment with more accessible bottom-row bindings.
Like other Wooting keyboards, its magnetic switches are the standout feature, letting you customize the actuation point of individual keys. The configuration software is among the best in the industry, offering a huge array of advanced actuation adjustment options like Rapid Trigger, DKS, and SOCD, as well as other settings like custom profiles, RGB lighting effects, and more. You can run it as a desktop app or use the lightweight web-based client, which won't bog down your system resources like software from some major gaming brands. To top it off, this keyboard also comes with an industry-leading four-year warranty, and if the older keyboards are any indication, it'll stay supported for a long time even as new models come out.
-
Best Mid-Range 60% Keyboard
GamingOfficeProgrammingMobile/TabletEntertainment / HTPCSee all our test resultsConnectivity:WiredThe NuPhy Air60 HE is the best 60% keyboard we've tested around a mid-range price point. Like the Wooting 60HE v2 above, it's primarily a gaming keyboard with magnetic switches, letting you adjust actuation and reset points, along with a range of other actuation settings aimed at competitive players, such as Rapid Trigger and SOCD. What sets it apart most is its low-profile design. It sits much lower on your desk, and its switches have shorter total travel. This design can make it more comfortable to use without angling your wrists as steeply or relying on a wrist rest, even during longer gaming sessions. Its build quality is also excellent, though it feels a bit less premium than the Wooting and is only available with a plastic case. It also doesn't quite match the Wooting's raw performance, but the difference is marginal and very unlikely to matter in any competitive scenario. Its web-based software is also exceptional and offers nearly all the same features as Wooting's software.
The main downsides are that it doesn't have true shine-through legends, so you can't read the keys clearly in darker rooms. It also has a much shorter one-year warranty compared to Wooting's four-year warranty.
-
Best Budget 60% Keyboard
GamingOfficeProgrammingMobile/TabletEntertainment / HTPCSee all our test resultsConnectivity:WirelessThe MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra is our budget 60% keyboard pick. It's the best price-to-performance option on this list, with raw performance that comes close to matching the Wooting 60HE v2. Its software also includes most of the same popular competitive features, including Rapid Trigger and SOCD. It has an aluminum case, which you'd typically only find on much more expensive models, and it also supports wireless connectivity, which is rare among keyboards with magnetic switches.
It comes in two versions: one with Hall effect sensors and the other with a newer TMR sensor variant. We tested the latter, which is slightly more expensive, but its hot-swappable PCB allows you to install both magnetic and mechanical switches. That's an uncommon layer of customization and gives you a huge range of switches to choose from, letting you fine-tune the typing experience to your liking.
The build quality is also excellent overall, but the tray-mounted design feels a bit stiff and doesn't have the same premium feel as higher-end options. The software is good, but it doesn't match the polish, ease of use, or update cadence of Wooting's or NuPhy's software platform. It's also backed by only a one-year warranty, which matches the NuPhy model above but falls well short of Wooting's four-year warranty. That being said, if wireless support and top-tier gaming performance are your priorities, the FUN60 Ultra is an extremely compelling choice.
-
Best Cheap 60% Keyboard
GamingOfficeProgrammingMobile/TabletEntertainment / HTPCSee all our test resultsConnectivity:WirelessAlthough it has much higher latency than all our other recommendations and feels less well-built than the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra, the ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 is your best bet for a cheap compact board. It's well-suited for casual gamers or on-the-go professionals looking for a smaller home and office board. Surprisingly, for its price, it has a hot-swappable printed circuit board, so you can swap out the stock switches with other mechanical switches of your choice for a typing experience tailored to your needs.
It's a great choice if you're just getting into keyboards since it's a cheap way to test out what switches you like without spending a small fortune. Plus, it comes in several variants that offer wireless connectivity options and different backlighting configurations.
Notable Mentions
-
NuPhy Air60 V2:
The NuPhy Air60 V2 is a standout wireless alternative at a similar mid-range price as the NuPhy Air60 HE. While that keyboard is more purely gaming-focused, the Air60 V2 is more versatile for work, browsing, and casual gaming. It offers better typing quality, plus wireless flexibility.
See our review -
HyperX Alloy Origins 60:
The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a great 60% mechanical gaming keyboard that's typically cheaper than the NuPhy Air60 HE. However, it lacks adjustable actuation and higher-than-average polling rate settings, so its raw gaming performance isn't as strong for competitive play.
See our review -
Corsair K65 PRO MINI:
If you prefer standard non-adjustable mechanical switches over more complicated magnetic switches, the Corsair K65 Pro MINI is a great alternative to the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra, especially if you can find it around the $60 USD price point. It's made of less premium feeling materials and doesn't have wireless connectivity but still delivers exceptional latency performance.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jun 19, 2026:
We've updated this article and removed the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog since it's no longer consistently in stock. Our new 'Best Mid-Range' recommendation is now the NuPhy Air60 HE.
Mar 18, 2026:
We replaced the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless with the Wooting 60HE v2 as our new top pick. The Corsair K65 PRO MINI is now a Notable Mention, with the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra taking its place as our new budget pick. Other picks are still valid and available. We made minor text changes across the article.
Mar 12, 2025:
We reviewed this article but haven't changed our recommendations. All picks continue to represent the best options available at this time.
Dec 09, 2024:
We've made a few small tweaks to the text for clarity and verified prices and stock availability, but none of our recommendations have changed with this update.
Sep 11, 2024: We've added the Keychron Q60 to our list of Notable Mentions. We've also removed the Ducky One 2 Mini V2 as it's now a less compelling option than newer releases for a similar price.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best 60 percent keyboards available. We factor in the price (a cheaper product wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), the feedback from our visitors, and availability (no keyboard that is difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is our list of 60 percent compact keyboard reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no product is perfect for every use, most keyboards perform well enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.