Gone are the days when gamers wanted big and full-sized keyboards to enjoy their games. Things have changed a great deal and most people are opting for smaller and more portable keyboards. Moreover, newer models of gaming keyboards have cropped up to help gamers type faster and more accurately so as not to miss a step when gaming. So have you been looking for the perfect 80% mechanical keyboard to enhance your gaming experience? You are in the right place. We have outlined the list of good 80% mechanical keyboards based on a number of factors. Some of these factors are ;
- Presence of mechanical switches
- Price.
- Layout
- Backlighting
- Connectivity
- Compatibility with various operating systems
And you might be wondering why you would opt for an 80 gaming keyboard instead of the 75% gaming keyboards. For starters, 80% mechanical keyboards have a full-size layout without number pads reducing the amount of space being occupied. The lack of number pads also reduces the keyboard size immensely and helps gamers to only use the keys that matter during a game. Moreover, these keyboards have approximately 87 keys which are roughly 80 % of the number of keys present in a full-size keyboard.
Now that we have all the background information on 80% mechanical keyboards, let’s head on to some of the best mechanical 80% keyboards you should invest in as a gamer this year.
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Table of Contents
Best 80% Mechanical Keyboard for Gaming.
1. Steel series Apex pro
The steel series apex pro 80% mechanical keyboard is a customizable tkl keyboard with an OLED smart display. The keyboard is black in color and comes with an aircraft aluminum alloy frame that makes it more durable. It has a premium magnetic wrist rest to help when typing and a clickable metal roller that helps to adjust volume, change brightness, pause, skip and rewind.
Below is a list of all the specifications of the Steel Series Apex pro
Specifications
- A dynamic RGB illumination
- OLED smart display.
- Series 5000 aircraft-grade aluminum frame
- A detachable magnetic wrist rest
- An omnipoint adjustable mechanical switch
- A command center to adjust some of the settings
- Dedicated multi-media controls
- Three-way cable routing
- Price – $186.20
When it comes to speeds, The keyboard is one of the fastest mechanical keyboards present on the market. It has 8X faster response time and 5X faster actuation. The speed switch is also high with a response time of 6.0ms and an actuation point of 1.1mm. This means that the keyboard will still be durable and functional with up to 70 million keypresses. Each key can also be adjusted to meet your desired goal when using the keyboard so you can use it for both gaming and typing your normal word documents.
The keyboard has USB connectivity and is compatible with both the Mac operating system and the Windows operating system.
2. HyperX Alloy FPS Pro Mechanical keyboard.
This is an 87-key gaming mechanical keyboard that features responsive Cherry MX blue and red switches. It has a tough, solid frame to help with stability and a detachable cable to help with portability. It also features an ultra-minimal design, which is quite impressive when you compare it to the number of features it has. Some of the notable specifications of the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro Mechanical keyboard are:
Specifications
- Red-backlit keys featuring dynamic lighting effects
- Detachable cable
- CHERRY MX mechanical switches
- Separate USB charge port
- Anti-ghosting and N-key rollover functions
- Solid steel frame
- Price -$74.99
The keyboard is compatible with most operating systems and has advanced HyperxNGenuity software that helps you have more advanced settings when using the keyboard. The mechanical switches also have a low actuation force, which helps with gaming performance. Keyboard.
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3. Corsair k70 RGB TKL CHAMPION SERIES Mechanical keyboard.
The Corsair K70 80% mechanical keyboard is a compact tenkeyless pro-level performance keyboard that is perfect for gaming. The keyboard is powered by the Corsair Axon hyper-processing technology, which helps with processing speeds. It is made from a durable aluminum frame to help it last long even after years of use. It also features a no-distraction tournament mode that comes on quite easily and prepares you to be ready for a battle. You also have the option of disabling macro activation to avoid any accidental presses from occurring as you focus on the game.
Specifications
- Tournament mode to prevent accidental touches
- PBT double-shot keycaps
- CHERRY MX SPEED silver switches
- CORSAIR AXON Hyper processing technology
- Media keys are used to adjust volume, pause, play, previous, and rewind,
- RGB Backlighting
- Price: $139.99
4. The Razer BlackWidow 80% Mechanical Keyboard
This 80% mechanical keyboard is built for stability and features extended controls with Razer Hypershift. This gives you more speed and helps you execute moves quicker. It also maximizes your in-game controls and enhances your gaming experience. The Razer BlackWidow mechanical keyboard comes with the razer chroma that showcases varied colors with different effects such as ripple, breathing, cycling, and wave just to mention but a few. When it comes to storage, the keyboard lets you save 5 profile configurations with its own board memory to help you personalize your settings.
If you settle for the razor black widow Elite then you get additional features such as additional switch options with the razer orange and yellow mechanical switches. You also get a wrist rest to make you more comfortable as you game. Some of the notable specifications include :
Specifications
- N-key rollover
- Razer green mechanical switches
- Cable routing
- Onboard and cloud storage
- Price – $139.99
The keyboard, however, comes with a few cons which might be a deal-breaker for most people. The keyboard lacks media controls and macro keys that can be helpful with gaming performance.
5. Keychron K8 Mechanical keyboard
The keychron K8 80% mechanical keyboard is a tenkeyless keyboard with a hot-swappable option on both optical and mechanical switches. This helps to personalize the typing experience and gives you more performance when gaming. It is compatible with both the Mac os and Windows operating systems with a gateron hot-swappable version that comes with a pre-installed Gateron switch.
Specifications
- Tenkeyless layout
- Switch options -Durable Gateron Mechanical switch
- RGB lighting
- Wireless and wired options
- Connectivity technology-Type C USB plug
- 4000m AH Battery
- Price -$62.30
Due to its wireless nature, the keyboard features a Bluetooth 5.1 chipset that allows connection with up to three devices. It also allows users to connect to either smartphones or laptops with a wired USB type C connection found on the side of the keyboard. The keyboard can be a hit for Mac users since it features a Mac multimedia key layout that’s quite different from other keyboards mentioned in the article.
On issues to do with comfort, the keychron K8 Wireless mechanical keyboard has two adjustable rubber feet that can help to enhance productivity. It also has a dedicated key for smart assistants such as Siri and Cortana with a battery capacity of 4000 mAH that lasts for more than 200 hours.
6. Durgod Taurus K320 TKL Mechanical keyboard
This 80% mechanical keyboard has an elegant design with clicky Cherry MX switches. The keyboard has adjustable feet to help shift the keyboard to three different angles and enhance your comfort as you play your games. When it comes to connectivity, the Durgod Taurus K320 TKL Mechanical Keyboard features USB type C connectivity and customized macros with the Durgod Zeus Engine. The key caps, on the other hand, are double-shot PBT keycaps that help the keyboard not chip off or fade away. Protection of the keyboards is also a priority since they come with a dust cover to protect your keyboard from harmful dust particles and a Durgod Wire key puller.
Specifications
- Connectivity technology: USB type C
- Compatible operating systems: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, XP, and Mac OS
- Doubleshot PBT keycaps
- Full N-key rollover
- Switch options -Cherry MX blue and white
- Material Plastic
- Anti-ghosting technology
- Durgod Zeus engine software.
- Color: White
- Number of buttons: 87
- Price -$99.00
7. Razor Huntsman Tournament Edition
This keyboard is armed with one of the fastest razer switches from its creators. It has a 1.0mm optical switch that increases response speed with every keystroke that you make. The keyboard feature double shot PBT keycaps giving a premium and quality feel to the general look of the keyboard. Moreover, the Razer Huntsman mechanical keyboard allows you to activate up to 5 profile configurations from its onboard storage and other custom settings that can be done via the cloud storage.
The tenkeyless design makes it more portable and easier to set up when gaming. It also comes with a USB type C cable that can be detached from the keyboard. However, to ensure that the keyboard stays put through a tournament, the keyboard is fitted with a secure latch so as to prevent any unnecessary movements during gaming.
Specifications
- Standard bottom row for customization
- Razer Chroma RGB lighting
- Connectivity-USB Type C port
- Doubleshot PBT keycaps
- Tenkeyless design
- Onboard and cloud storage
- Razer linear optical switch
- Price -$76.96
8. Logitech G-pro mechanical keyboard
The Logitech G Pro 80 mechanical keyboard is a customizable gaming keyboard that is built for gamers. It features user-swappable pro-grade switches that not only advance performance but also improve the response time when pressing the keys. The keyboard also comes with three removable variants of switches, which are:
- The GX Blue clicky
- GX Brown tactile
- GX Red linear.
When it comes to lighting, the keyboard features customizable lighting and animations that can be saved on the onboard memory to be used during tournaments. It also has a detachable cable to help with portability and three angled rubber feet that can be customized to help with comfort during tournaments.
Specifications
- color-black and blue
- Style-Linear, Clicky, Tactile
- Tenkeyless design
- Light synching RGB lighting
- Swappable mechanical switches
- Connectivity –USB port
- Compatible operating systems: Windows 7 operating systems and later versions, Mac OS 10.11 and later versions
- Logitech G HUB software
- switch and keycap puller.
- Price -$149.99
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9. Keychron Q3
The Keychron Q3 keyboard is quite unique and comes in three different colors. These colors include carbon black, silver-grey, and navy blue. It also features double-shot OSA PBT keycaps and Gateron G Pro switches. Moreover, the keychain Q3 is fully customizable with a tenkeyless layout and an aluminum body that’s built for durability.
The keyboard has a Double Gasket design fitted with double silicone pads to reduce the amount of sound that comes when one is typing. You also have the option to customize your favorite keys and macros on the n-knob using the premium rotary encoder. This will allow you to either zoom in and out, adjust the brightness of the screen and volume and also twerk a few settings with the backlight hue. Some specifications related to the Keychron Q3 include :
Specifications
- Compatibility-Mac OS and Windows operating systems.
- Hot-swappable mechanical switches
- OSA PBT keycaps
- CNC Aluminium body
- Connectivity -USB Type C
- Double Gasket design
- Price -$174.00
The keyboard also has some unique features that didn’t appear in the keychron K8 mechanical keyboard. For starters, it has a switch that lets you toggle between different operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS. It also has a list of keys that allow you to adjust the lighting effects to what you like. The gateron G pro switches present also come with varied styles such as ;
- Linear Red
- Clicky Blue
- Tactile Brown
Apart from the different styles, the switches are pre-lubed to enhance your typing experience and give you a smooth feel during tournaments.
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10. Drop CTRL Mechanical Keyboard
The Drop CTRL mechanical keyboard has a solid aluminum frame with built-in switch plates to help with its stability. It also comes with hot-swappable mechanical switches that allow you, as the gamer, to change switches easily using a loop mechanical switch puller. The keyboard features both backlighting and underlighting that can be set to a single color if you wish for a more settled look. You also have the option to program the light cycle to a two-toed spectrum or the entire color spectrum.
Specifications
- Switch type: Halo clear 65g tactile, Halo clear 60g tactile, Cherry MX brown RGB tactile
- Customizable RGB backlighting
- PBT keycaps
- Fully programmable through QMK
- Frame aluminum aluminum
- Hot-swappable mechanical switches
- Colors: black, space gray
- Loop Mechanical switch puller
- 87 keys
- Connectivity-Dual USB type C
- Floating key design
- Price: $240.00
When it comes to customization, the keyboard allows you to program macros using the QMK firmware available on the keyboard. The USB features 2.00 USB speeds that maximize productivity by reducing the amount of time used to transfer data.
11. Razer Cynosa TKL keyboard
The Razer Cynosa TKL keyboard is a premium gaming keyboard that was designed for gamers who want to play at their best. It features an ergonomic design that helps reduce hand fatigue, together with a fully programmable key layout with 19 macro keys. Moreover, it has a minimalistic design with only the necessary keys required for gaming and typing. It also has an anti-ghosting technology that prevents keystrokes from being missed or duplicated during gameplay. This means that you can complete your moves with accuracy and speed while still focusing on the game.
The mechanical keyboard also features RGB lighting with 16.8million colors allowing you to customize the look of your keyboard using the software includes. You can also set up custom lighting schemes for each game or even create animations like fading between different colors.
The keyboard comes with a detachable wrist rest and a Key puller tool for easy cleaning and maintenance e. The built-in USB 2.0 hub also lets you connect extra devices such as mice, headphones, and flash drives without taking up space on your computer desk or requiring extra space.
Specifications
- A detachable wrist rest
- Cherry MX switches
- RGB lighting
- Dynamic lighting effects
- Anti-ghosting technology
- fully programmable keys.
- Integrated games
- Dedicated media keys
- Cable routing options
- $59.99
When it comes to compatibility, the Razor Cynosakeyboard is compatible with :
The keyboard comes with Cherry MX Brown switches that can endure up to 50 million keystrokes per key. This means that you can use the keyboard for years without needing to replace the switches or perform other maintenance on it.
One of its unique features is the larger than usual keycap which is hardly found in other tkl mechanical keyboards. Other mechanical keyboards have smaller keys to help with portability while the Razor Cynosa creates room for people with bigger fingers to enhance their typing experience.
The keyboard also has some removable feet that allow you to adjust the height and enhance your gaming experience. Moreover, the addition of PBT keycaps also prevents the shine that comes from oily and sweaty fingers and helps with the durability of the keyboard.
You may also give us reviews on the best mechanical keyboard you have purchased from the list indicated above.
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