What is a 60-percent keyboard?

Hyper X Ducky Mini Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal

All-time respond: A threescore% keyboard is one that lacks a number pad, F keys, navigation key cluster, and pointer keys. The benefits of a small form factor outweigh the lack of functionality, especially for any minimalist who prefers a clean setup.

Why choose a threescore% keyboard?

Hyper X Ducky Mini Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Shopping for a keyboard in a market then saturated with options tin can be quite disruptive. On top of myriad options, there are tons of dissimilar categories that contain different types of keys, switches, and features. The all-time gaming keyboards are wildly unlike from the best productivity keyboards, for example, and the best ergonomic keyboards also take on a totally different shape than a standard keyboard.

One segment that's gaining a lot of traction is lx% keyboards. These lack the other 40% of keys constitute on a standard keyboard, including number pad, arrow keys, navigation cluster, and F row along the top. 60% keyboards are not bad for those who often travel with their gear and it's adept to note that many manufacturers design these pop keyboards to ensure y'all notwithstanding accept admission to all standard keys.

Ducky One 2 Mini Source: Windows Fundamental

The chief attraction here is the considerably smaller form cistron compared to a total-size deck. A sixty% keyboard is easier to adapt in a comfortable position on your desk, alleviating some wrist and forearm pain. It's likewise easier to fit onto a crowded desk-bound, leaving more space for your mouse and other accessories. If you're 1 who often travels and don't want to exit your gear backside, a 60% keyboard is much easier to stuff into a haversack than a full deck with all keys.

There'southward also the customizable aesthetic of 60% keyboards to consider, especially once y'all get-go getting into designer models with specialized keycaps and color combinations. If you lot're aiming to create the best-looking office setup possible, chances are y'all won't be going with a full-sized keyboard.

What about the missing keys?

Hyper X Ducky Mini Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

All 60% keyboards lack nigh 40% of the keys you'd notice on a regular deck. What if you need those keys? If the keyboard is primarily used for gaming, chances are near people won't notice the lack of these keys. The WASD keys are used for navigation, the F keys are unremarkably ignored in lieu of the standard number keys, and the number pad is left alone.

On the flip side, the lack of keys would pose a trouble for anyone with productivity in listen. Luckily, most manufacturers of lx% keyboards have into account the concrete lack of keys and make up for it with shortcuts. For example, 60% keyboards will almost always include a Role (Fn) key that, when pressed, opens up an entirely different set up of central commands.

With the Fn key pressed, F keys tin can be reassigned to the standard row of numbers. Arrow keys can exist reassigned to WASD keys, and the cluster of navigation keys tin live on the YUI, HJK, and NM keys. These shortcuts can differ depending on the make of lx% keyboard you buy, only in full general the best keyboards volition provide workarounds for but nigh anything.

For a deeper await at a 60% mechanical keyboard, cheque out our Ducky Channel One 2 Mini review.

Our Selection

Ducky One 2 Mini

One of the best small-scale keyboards you volition ever touch

The Ducky Ane two Mini is simply staggering, not because of flashy features, but considering it's merely an uncommonly good, well put together keyboard that's a joy to use.

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