The best thing that happened to gaming keyboards was getting rid of that useless old number pad and giving us more room on a desk for more important things: like bigger mouse pads for less sensitive mice.
Tenkeyless, or TKL, keyboards have been around for a while now and as many brands have set out to create the best TKL keyboard for gamers, very few have actually hit the mark in terms of performance given the larger form factor. small. While some add functionality despite the smaller form factor, it's the performance that ultimately counts. These keyboards below perfectly combine both functionality and performance.
These are the top five TKL keyboards on the market right now.
Related: The 5 Best Esports Keyboards of 2021
Logitech G915TKL
Given the current wave of just about everything going wireless, it's only fitting that we open the list with the only wireless keyboard making this list.
The Logitech G915 TKL eliminates the use of any wires outside of its charging and with its Bluetooth and 2.4G wireless connection capabilities, it offers versatility not seen in many other wireless keyboards. The Bluetooth mode does not require any type of dongle, which allows it to connect to many devices such as tablets, phones and other laptops. The 2.4G connection requires the dongle as expected and, unlike Bluetooth mode, allows for the stronger and faster response needed for gaming.
Just like almost all gaming keyboards in the market, the G915 TKL includes RGB lighting and the battery is said to last around 40 hours at full brightness.
What sets this keyboard apart from others is its lack of hot customization. Unlike the popular G Pro X, you can't hot-swap the switches, although you can order the ones you want on your board through the Logitech G website. It also uses a different type of keycaps, not PBTs or even the usual ABS found on most other keyboards, especially the others on this list.
At $200-$230, it's the most expensive and high-end keyboard on the market right now, especially on this list.
Logitech G Pro/ G Pro X
As I've mentioned in previous articles, the Logitech G Pro/G Pro X is a personal favorite of mine and my current primary at the time of posting - I'm typing this on the G Pro.
It's as reliable as you'd expect from a premium Logitech keyboard and the G Pro and G Pro X are as fast as I'd expect from a Logitech gaming keyboard, making it an almost unanimous choice among esports professionals and the world's leading streamers.
It lets you choose between one of three switch options: Logitech's GX Blue Clicky switches, which come standard with the G Pro, as well as the GX Red Linears and GX Brown Tactiles available for the G Pro X. Browns and Reds have a shorter actuation point at 1,9 millimeters with the GX Blues at 2,0 millimeters, yet depending on how you type or press your keys the response time is just about the same.
The switches on the G Pro X are hot-swappable whereas the base G Pro is not and comes with the GX Blue Clicky switches which are as quick and responsive as I need them to be.
However, both keyboards allow customization of the keys. The board uses standard ABS keycaps, which aren't bad. I upgraded my Logitech G Pro's keycaps to HyperX's doubleshot PBT keycaps, which have a more durable, premium feel compared to the stock ABS keycaps on the G Pro. My D key was nearly scratched after about six months of use, which led me to change the keys.
Both keyboards connect to Logitech's G Hub software, allowing full map customization, from profile settings to RGB lighting customization.
Starting at $130 for the G Pro and $150 for the G Pro X, both are more expensive than TKL keyboards. Compared to other keyboards at this price, Logitech should offer more for the price, like having both boards hot-swappable, or even an aluminum frame, or even USB-C charging which is increasingly becoming the norm. in this generation – at least all of that should come with the G Pro X for $150.
I would recommend the G Pro X to keyboard enthusiasts who will take the time to replace the switches on the board with newer, faster switches to hit the market, but for those looking for a solid, still fairly premium type of TKL keyboard , the standard G Pro works the same as the G Pro X and saves you money.
HyperX Alloy Origins Core TKL
HyperX has always offered its users premium products at a relatively low price and the Alloy Origins Core TKL is no exception.
Saving at just $90, the Alloy Origins Core TKL comes with an aircraft-grade aluminum frame, PBT keycaps, a detachable USB-C charging cable, and of course, RGB lighting (super bright RGB lighting ).
Like most other TKL keyboards, the Alloy Origins TKL retains the same full functionality as a full-size keyboard, while holding down the "FN" key: volume and track controls, brightness settings for RGB and three different profile selections that change the lighting and macro settings you have per profile.
It uses HyperX's own Cherry MX switches, Red Linears switches and new Aqua switches are available at your local Best Buy with Blue Clicky switches available online if you prefer the latter.
While it's as basic and perhaps as simple as a TKL keyboard can get, the Alloy Origins Core TKL is also one of the most reliable and easily accessible keyboards available today. At just $90, and usually on some sort of sale most often between $60 and $75, the Alloy Origins Core TKL is hard to pass up.
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Corsair K70 RGB TKL
Keyless keyboards are primarily intended for gaming. However, Corsair's K70 RGB TKL finds a way to pack both gaming and quality of life into one fun TKL-sized package.
The K70 RGB TKL is of course the first to play shamelessly. It comes with some switches aimed at gamers, it has a bright RGB backlight and even includes a "tournament switch" on the back with low input latency.
Although it comes with premium gaming features dedicated to its esports clientele, it also keeps casual gamers and normal users in mind. Unlike some of the other keyboards on this list, it comes with dedicated media keys and a volume wheel at the top of the keyboard, it's not hot-swappable although it does come with double-shot PBT keys for you allowing you to change the keys if you wish. It uses standard Cherry MX Red linear switches and can also be ordered with Cherry MX Speed Silvers if you need near instantaneous response time.
That said, there are better switches out there. The K70 just doesn't prioritize it to stay open to the casual market.
Speaking of response times, the K70 boasts an 8Hz polling rate with Corsair software, which is eight times the average speed of most other keyboards, especially those on this list. It's the fastest keyboard on this list and it doesn't even come close.
However, this comes with a small catch. The 8Hz polling rate comes from Corsair's iCue software and warns you that a higher polling rate will use more system resources, which could cause a game to lag or just hang if you don't. pay no attention. If you have the right specs, you should be fine, but if you have a low-end, budget type of PC, you're probably better off sticking to the 000Hz rate, if not bumping it up a bit if needed. .
It's not bad for typing, making it a decent choice at best as an everyday keyboard for those who need to transition from late-night gaming to working from home, or vice-versa. The keys are durable and comfortable enough to type on and its physical support dials are a nice change from other TKL keyboards.
At $140, it's more expensive than other TKL keyboards, much like the Logitech G Pros. The gaming features of this keyboard balance out the decent non-gaming features that the K70 RGB TKL has to give it at a reasonable price.
It is first and foremost a gaming keyboard and then a living keyboard. At its price, that's exactly what you get.
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition (TE) is a very popular TKL keyboard and originally set the bar for TKL keyboards as we have them today.
The Huntsman TE screams esports. There's no numpad, the keyboard is purely geared towards competitive gaming and its performance matches that. It features optical switches instead of the Kailh-style switches we see everywhere else that are, more often than not, hot-swappable.
The optical switches used by the Huntsman TE have trigger-like triggering, further reducing the response time from keypress to command. Trigger inputs use beams of light rather than physical contact from inside the switch. Pressing a key allows the beam to pass from one side to the other, completing the circuit and signaling that the key has been pressed. It requires just 45 grams of force to actuate, with just 1mm of vacuum over a travel distance of 3,5mm.
This keyboard is truly perfect for fast-paced, snappy first-person shooters or battle royale games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty.
The Huntsman TE also comes with RGB backlighting which can be configured through the Razer Synapse with whatever macros you want to set for the card. The keyboard's built-in memory allows up to five different profiles to be configured, respecting the portability factor of the Huntsman TE.
The Huntsman TE's $130 price tag is fair despite there being no keyboard that "does more" than the average TKL. However, with switches that seemingly operate faster than the speed of light and a keyboard that's proven to be very reliable and solid in the gaming space, it's definitely something to consider, especially when in sale, which is often the case.
For more hardware guides, check out the 5 Best Mini PCs for Gaming of 2021 on Pro Gaming Guides.
