Gaming Keyboards – Size Matters, But is Bigger Better?

How Much Does it Cost?

The keyboards featured here really run the gamut in terms of size and features, so of course, so do their prices. The full-size XPG ADATA XPG SUMMONER Gaming Keyboard is around £125. Not a bargain, but pretty competitive for such a great-looking keyboard. The TECWARE Phantom RGB 105 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is a surprise, as it’s got the features and quality of a much more expensive product, yet it’s just £62! Both the HyperX Alloy Origins 65 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard are around £85 and £70 respectively, but I can’t find stock of the 65 at this time. Finally, the Corsair K70 PRO MINI WIRELESS RGB 60% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard has an MSRP of around £170, but it’s got a lot of class-leading technology built-in so that’s hardly surprising and competitive with flagship mini keyboards from ASUS, Razer and a few others.

Overview

I was honestly hoping to get all these tested and think, hey, I want THAT one, but well… they all found their own place and had their own benefits too. For a straight up full-fat mechanical keyboard experience, the XPG is rock solid. It’s really well made, with durable construction, a fully mechanical design, a big wrist rest and it’s just really comfortable to use.

Of course, the XPG is as big as they come, so those looking to save a little space, and a lot of money, could look at the Tecware, which I really liked. It’s hard to beat its value, and the hot-swap switches certainly add to the appeal, although do miss the wrist rest of the XPG.

The HyperX keyboards are really cool, offering two fairly similar, but surprisingly unique takes on keyboard ergonomics. While it’s hard to say which one is better, I do seem to prefer the even more focused design of the 60% for gaming. However, if you actually needed something compact and more practical for daily use, the 65% is well worth checking out, as it’s a little easier to live with outside of gaming.

As for the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless RGB, that thing is in a league of its own. I’d likely buy the HyperX with my own money, but if my budget wasn’t an issue… it would have to be the Corsair. It may be small, but it amusing has more features than full-size keyboard, with a broad range of shortcuts spanning seemingly every single button on the keyboard. You can even more the mouse pointer with the keys, it’s freaking nuts. Plus, it has some really trick RGB and blisteringly fast connectivity. The only thing that’ll be faster is your bank balance going down.

Should I Buy One?

It’s interesting to see just how small keyboards have been getting, and all the creative ways each brand is approaching the ergonomics. People want smaller keyboards, well, some people do, but they don’t want to lose functionality. I think the 65% design provides a welcome middle ground and something fresh vs a simple TKL design that merely chops off the numberpad. However, if you’re a WASD warrior and your PC is used 99% of the time playing games, the compact and stylish designs of the 60% models are hard to ignore. However, if you’re planning on working and gaming, the full-size keyboard designs are still king for productivity, at least in my opinion.