Why mechanical keyboards -keyboard sizes

Why mechanical keyboards -keyboard sizes

Before I got into mechanical keyboards, I thought keyboards come in at most two sizes, the keyboard like the one in every laptop and the “bigger ones” with a number pad and other things.

Now I know that there are way more than that. Other than that, they are not only come with the most used QWERTY layout.

If you are browsing a mechanical keyboard site, you will find some keyboards very small and cute, they are most likely the 40% keebs( short for keyboards), well there are mainly(there are more specific ones for satisfying different needs, it’s all about customizing!) three standard sizes plus the compacted ones. First of all, the three standard sizes are the full size that comes with number pads and all the traditional function keys, the TKL, AKA tenkeyless is without the number pad, also the compact 60% which is the one without the number pads, arrow keys and the function keys on the top.

Image illustrating the difference between full-size, tenkeyless and 60% keyboard form-factors
The three standard

The compacted ones are 75%, 65%, 60%, and 40%, they are all shrunk to the smallest size possible and all the keys are next to each other. The 75% ones fit the same keys as TKLs, the 65% ones are 75%s without the function row, and the 60%s are the 65%s without the arrow keys, you can use the layer function (FN-PN keys) to ass arrow keys. The 40% ones are the smallest, it has the least keys, means that you need to program the keyboard using the layer function to add whatever keys you need and assign those keys function to other keys.

“Which one is the best?” you ask me, you gotta get one on hand and program it yourself, don’t forget there are many different layouts for you to choose from. You can’t miss the fun part!