The 10 Best 60% Mechanical Keyboards, Updated for 2021!

On this page, I’ll be reviewing and comparing the best 60% mechanical keyboards, updated for 2021!

As the name suggests, a 60% keyboard is 60% the size of a regular keyboard. These mini mechanical keyboards are a popular choice amongst mechanical keyboard fans. The 60% size is achieved by removing the function keys, navigational keys, and the numpad. All of the missing keys are accessible using Fn, Shift, Ctrl and Alt macros.

The small size of 60% keyboards makes them very aesthetically pleasing. They take up a lot less desk space making your setup look clean and neat. At the same time, they can take some getting used to. Hopefully this page helps you explore the options you have when choosing a 60% mechanical keyboard.

1. Ducky One 2 Mini

The Ducky One 2 Mini is a 60% mechanical keyboard and is possibly the most popular 60% board on the market. Ducky are known for their high-quality mechanical keyboards and the One 2 Mini is no exception. It’s marketed as a gaming keyboard and is used by multiple pro players, the most notable being Tfue. Like most 60% keyboards, it’s missing the arrow keys, function keys, the numpad, and the navigational keys.

The wide range of switches to choose from makes the One 2 Mini suitable for all typing preferences. There are currently 5 Cherry MX switches available when you order from Amazon US. The doubleshot PBT keycaps have transparent lettering allowing the RGB backlighting to shine through. Ducky promises long-lasting keys with zero fading on the lettering.

It’s a cool looking keyboard with a unique two-piece casing, the top half is black and the bottom half is white. All of the keys are raised above the edges of the keyboard giving them a floating effect, the RGB lighting enhances this effect even further. As the name suggests, the Ducky One 2 Mini is a small mechanical keyboard perfect for gaming, working, and traveling. When buying from Amazon you will also receive a keycap puller, as well as a few extra keycaps.

Key features:

  • Multiple Cherry MX switches to choose from
  • Doubleshot PBT keycaps
  • Keycap puller + extra keys included

The Anne Pro 2 is a 60% mechanical gaming keyboard made by Obinslab. It’s small, lightweight and portable, more importantly it looks super cool. You often see people compare the Anne Pro 2 to the Ducky One 2 Mini, they are quite similar and are possibly the two most popular 60% keyboards available. You can read my comparison here.

There are plenty of switches to choose from when buying from Amazon. Keep in mind the options will vary depending on what region you’re in. If you buy from the US there are three brands to choose from, each having three switches available. These brands are Cherry, Gateron, and Khail. The wide range of switches makes the Anne Pro 2 suitable for all typing preferences.

All of the keyboard settings can be adjusted using the OLS software, it’s a simple program with everything you’ll need. The keyboard has dynamic RGB lighting, 3 Fn layers, and two colors to choose from. Lastly, the Anne Pro 2 has Bluetooth 4.0 wireless with an 8-hour charge. The option to go wireless really complements the portable design. This is one of the few 60% mechanical keyboards with 4.0 Bluetooth. Of course, it also comes with a USB-C cable for standard wired use.

Key features:

  • Many switches to choose from
  • Bluetooth 4.0 wireless
  • Per key RGB backlighting
  • Available in both black and white

3. Cooler Master SK621

Thanks to its low profile switches, the SK621 from Cooler Master is possibly the smallest 60% keyboard on the market. It’s one of the first keyboards to use Cherry’s new low profile switches, they are extra slim MX Reds with the actuation point lowered by 0.8mm.

The keyboard weighs 430g making it the lightest 60% keyboard on this list, by quite a longshot. It’s also available in two other sizes, TKL and full-sized. If you want a compact mechanical keyboard without losing the extra keys, I would check out the SK630 instead.

To complement the portable style, the SK621 has Bluetooth 4.0 wireless. You can use the keyboard wirelessly for up to 5 months without having to charge it, this goes down to only 15 hours if the RGB lighting is enabled. While they might not be the first to experiment with low profile switches, Cooler Master may have done the best job yet.

Key features:

  • Low profile Cherry MX switches
  • Bluetooth 4.0 wireless
  • 5 month wireless lifespan with RGB disabled

4. Qisan Magicforce 68

The Magicforce is more like a 65% keyboard as it includes the arrows keys, insert key, delete key, home key and the end key. For people who like to use arrow keys, this is a great balance between a 60% keyboard and a TKL keyboard. It’s still a compact mechanical keyboard and the 8 extra keys only add a few inches to the size.

With a silver base and white keycaps, the Magicforce 68 is a perfect choice for an all-white setup. Each key has LED backlighting to complement the white design. You can either leave the keyboard flat or prop it up using the legs on the back. The no border design gives the keyboard a cool floating key effect, which looks even cooler with the lights enabled.

It’s currently only sold with OUTEMU Brown mechanical switches on Amazon. These switches are essentially a clone of the Cherry MX Browns and should hold up to a similar standard. Brown switches have a tactile bump with no audible click, they are perfect for people who like a tactile feedback without causing a racket.

Key features:

  • Unique 65% layout
  • Perfect for all-white setups
  • Currently only available with Outemu Brown switches

5. Drop ALT 60% Mechanical Keyboard

The Drop ALT is a high-end mechanical keyboard produced by Drop.com, a popular site amongst keyboard enthusiasts. It’s a smaller version of their popular CTRL model, featuring just 67 keys instead of 87. The ALT is more like a 65% keyboard as it has kept the arrow keys as well as a few utility keys. This fancy keyboard has a lot to look at, but the first thing you’ll probably notice is the hefty price tag. It’s sitting at just over $200 as of writing this, putting it just behind the HHKB Pro 2 for the priciest product on this list.

As for switches, the ALT has plenty of options to choose from. When buying from Amazon US you have the choice between Cherry MX Blues, MX Browns, Halo True’s, Halo Clear’s, Kaihua Speed Silver’s and Kaihua Box White’s. For a better understanding of what each switch offers, I suggest checking out the product description on the Amazon page. Whether you’re primarily gaming, typing, or somewhere in between, Drop has covered all bases with their wide range of switches. And to top it off, the built-in switch plate allows you to swap out your switches with no soldering required.

Although it’s expensive, the Drop ALT is clearly built to last. The hefty aluminum frame gives it a rock-solid feel, while still remaining fairly low profile. The doubleshot PBT keycaps have shine-through lettering to complement the per-key RGB backlighting. Speaking of RGB lighting, not only are the keys backlit, there is also a strip across the base of the keyboard for even more flashiness. Lastly, the ALT is fully programmable via the open-source QMK firmware.

Overall, the Drop ALT is a high-quality 65% mechanical keyboard with no shortage of features. If you’re looking for the best of the best, and you’re not put off by the price tag, this could be the perfect keyboard for you.

Key features:

  • Unique 65% layout
  • Plenty of switches to choose from
  • Change your switches with no soldering required!
  • Pricey and built to last

6. MOTOSPEED CK62

MOTOSPEED’s CK92 is yet another 60% mechanical keyboard. Although this time it’s only gonna cost you less than $50. If you’re looking for a 60% mechanical keyboard on a budget, the CK62 is a great bet. Much like the Anne Pro 2, the CK62 is available in both black and white when buying from Amazon.

It’s equipped with 3.0 Bluetooth wireless which is a nice complement to the portable design. You can connect to all kinds of devices such as your phone or tablet. There are currently two switches to choose from on Amazon: Outemu Reds or Outemu Blues. The blue switches are loud, tactile and clicky, whereas the Red switches are linear and marketed more towards gaming.

The keys have full RGB backlighting with 18 effects to choose from. Each keycap has transparent lettering allowing the lights to shine through. Like a lot of 60% boards, the CK62 has no borders giving the keys a neat floating effect. Overall, the MOTOSPEED CK62 is a perfect budget choice for a 60% mechanical keyboard.

Key features:

  • Bluetooth 3.0 wireless
  • Available in both black and white
  • 18 pre-installed lighting effects
  • Relatively cheap

7. RK61 Mini Mechanical Keyboard

The RK61 is a mini mechanical keyboard built for gamers and typists. It’s available in both black and white when ordered from Amazon. Both colors have full RGB backlit keys with 18 lighting modes to choose from. Just like the MOTOSPEED keyboard, the RK61 also has 3.0 Bluetooth for wireless use.

There are three switches to choose from on Amazon: Blue, Brown, and Red. I’m not sure what brand switches they are but they should still have a satisfying mechanical feel. Like most 60% keyboards, you can access all of the missing keys using Fn, Shift and Alt macros.

The RK61 is another great choice for anyone looking for a budget 60% mechanical keyboard. Although Royal Kludge are a lesser-known brand, they have still produced a solid keyboard with hundreds of promising reviews online.

Key features:

  • Bluetooth 3.0 wireless
  • Available in both black and white
  • 18 pre-installed lighting effects
  • Relatively cheap

8. Happy Hacking Professional 2

The HHKB Professional 2 is a high-end mechanical keyboard made for programmers by programmers. It’s easily the most expensive keyboard on this list making it a luxury choice. You have two designs to choose from, white or charcoal. Both designs have the option of having blank keys, which might sound strange to some people, and cool to others. The old school white design is my personal choice for the best looking 60% keyboard.

It’s equipped with the renowned Topre switches, which is partly why it’s so expensive. They provide perfect precision and efficiency, requiring only a gentle press to register a keystroke. The PBT keycaps are printed with dye-sublimated lettering, a technique that prevents fading for an extremely long time.

Overall, The Happy Hacking Professional 2 has a lot to offer, whether it’s worth the price is up to you. It has Topre switches, an intelligent layout, an ergonomic design, and is built to last a lifetime.

Key features:

  • Renowned Topre switches
  • Sloped design for improved ergonomics
  • Unique 60 key layout
  • Two sleek designs to choose from

9. Vortexgear Poker 3 (Pok3r)

The Poker 3 is a compact 60% keyboard with a simple and clean design. It’s a high-quality build with an aluminum case and PBT keycaps. The aluminum case makes it resistant to breakage and flexing. The PBT keycaps are laser etched meaning they shouldn’t become smooth or shiny after prolonged use.

As of writing this review, the Poker 3 has 5 Cherry MX switches to choose from on Amazon. The wide range of switches available makes it suitable for all typing and gaming styles. The options are MX Browns, Clears, Reds, Silent Reds, and Silvers.

The keyboard does not lie completely flat due to the base being slightly angled. There are no keyboard legs which could be a deal-breaker for some. I’m sure you could add some custom legs but that wouldn’t be ideal. Once again, this keyboard has a sweet floating key effect due to having no borders around the edges.

Programmers will be pleased with the four independent programming layers available with the Pok3r. The custom keys are saved on the keyboards hardware rather than requiring additional software to access them. There are also four DIP switches on the back allowing you to switch between different keyboard settings.

Key features:

  • 5 Cherry MX switches to choose from
  • Floating keys design
  • Laser-etched PBT keycaps

10. Ajazz AK33 Geek

Similar to the Magicforce 68, the Ajazz AK33 is more of a 65% keyboard as it has kept the arrow keys, F-keys, and four utility keys. Although, while the Magicforce has the extra keys separated, the AK33 has opted for a more compact approach.

There are two switches available when buying from Amazon, Blue, and Black. The Blue switches are essentially cheaper alternatives to Cherry MX Blues. The Black switches are linear with a low actuation force, Ajazz claim they are the ideal switches for gaming.

As of writing this, the AK33 is the cheapest keyboard on this list, and it’s even cheaper if you choose blue or white backlighting instead of full RGB. As for the RGB version, there are 18 default lighting modes to mess around with, as well as the option to create your own lighting using their software. Overall, the AK33 is yet another cheap compact mechanical keyboard with a few more keys than usual.

Key features:

  • Unique 65% layout
  • Available in both black and white
  • Choose between RGB or static blue / white lighting
  • Relatively cheap

Summary – Best 60% Mechanical Keyboards

As you can see, there are plenty of 60% keyboards to choose from. Hopefully this list will help you decide which one is best suited for you. The main factors to consider are the price tag and the switches available. Although this list is ordered, at the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference, not everyone is looking for the same things in a mechanical keyboard.

Thanks for reading : – )