///100% aka full-size///
The full-sized 104 key keyboard is what you find that comes with a PC, and it is a popular size though not always ideal due to rarely used cursor and number pad portion. If you don't know what to buy, you can't go wrong with a full-size
.
Eagletec KG010/KG011 -- cheap keyboard that doesn't look cheap
Floating design, aluminum top frame, blue backlit... This keyboard is usually under $50 on Amazon, and people had doubted it was even mechanical. It is indeed Outemu blue switch. KG010 is black on black, KG011 is white on silver Just beware, they can be quite loud, and the huge bezels are a turn-off to some people.
Plugable 104 -- cheap full size floating key NKRO w/ minimum bezel
Floating key design, minimum bezel, white backlight, this keyboard is under $50 on Amazon and looks quite good. TKL version also available. And it's one of the cheap keyboards that actually support NKRO for game playing. Outemu switches are not too bad, but good enough.
Magicforce 108 w/ Gateron Switches -- very pretty crystal look and Gateron switches
MagicForce 108 is the big brother of MagicForce 68 (see 60% section), with a crystal bottom (reminiscent of Apple keyboards) and Gateron switches, often regarded as equal to and sometimes, superior to genuine Cherry switches. It's also a rare white keyboard, and at price of $70 on Amazon, it is a bargain.
Cougar Attack X3 -- cheapest Cherry Switch MKB
At about $70 on Amazon , Cougar Attack X3 is now the cheapest full-size keyboard with Cherry switches, with aluminum frame, backlight, media keys, custom programming software, and so on. It's looking rather game-y, but not outrageously so.
Monoprice Mechanical Keyboards (select / enthusiast / rainbow) -- cheap, but strange layout
Only available in black, then in blue (Kailh or Gateron) and red (Gateron?) switches, these keyboards are available for $50 (no backlight), $60 (blue backlight), and $70 (multi-color backlight) respectively. With a mostly standard layout ("American ISO") and cheap price, the single color backlight can serve as a LAN party board or as backup to your regular keyboard. There are occasional sales on these keyboards occasionally bringing their prices down even further (at low as $35).
Nixeus Moda Pro -- guaranteed Mac compatible
The Nixeus Moda Pro is a 104 key mech keyboard based on Kailh switches that has an extra trick: it is Mac compatible and has Mac style keycaps included. At $65 it is very reasonably priced and fits well with any Mac. And it is obviously compatible with PC as well. It is available with blue, brown, or red switches.
E-Element Z-88 104 -- cheap RGB, and switch swapper
E-Element Z-88 104-key is the one of the cheapest RGB keyboard on Amazon, at under $60 USD. Just don't expect fancy features like software controls and such. It however, has an additional feature: the switches are user-changeable, as you can replace them if needed.
Azio MGK L80 -- multimedia control buttons and volume scroller
Azio uses Kailh switches and the recently launched L80 (which was also on Massdrop, but that's the RGB version ) has 4 macro keys and big volume scroller wheel, very rare in a keyboard under $100. If you must have scroller / multimedia controls this is not a bad choice.
///Tenkey-Less aka TKL aka 87-key aka 80%///
TKL (Ten key-less) is the regular 104 keyboard minus the number pad. It is a popular size because it is much more compact and thus your right hand (assuming you're a rightie) don't have to go far to reach the mouse.
Plugable TKL -- cheap with NKRO
Plugable TKL is a white-backlit TKL with Outemu blue switches and supports NKRO. There are reports that the cheaper keyboards, like Z-77 / Z-88 do not support NKRO, which can be problematic if you are into these keyboards for gaming. At
under $50 on Amazon, these keyboards are quite affordable
Nixeus Moda V2 -- floating design, cheap, no Backlight, Mac Compatible
Looks almost identical to its cousin, Noppoo Lolita Spyder 87, this floating design metal body black key keyboard is striking and delivers decent performance at an affordable price, but with Kailh switches. For Mac Users, this also comes with Mac Keycaps. Available for $65 on Amazon , it's a good alternative if you need a choice of blue, brown, or red switches. It has no backlight, however.
Rantopad MXX -- easiest to find Gateron switch MKB, now with available RGB
One of the few commonly available keyboards with Gateron switches (blue and red only). available in multiple exterior colors, and about $60 on Amazon Rantopad now has a support and sales office in Southern California, so if you have any problems help is not far away. Interestingly, the RGB version of the same keyboard, Rantopad MXX is available with Gateron Browns for about $70
///84 key / compact / 75% ///
So-called 75% keyboard basically made 80% more compact by removing several of the cursor keys and pack the rest along the right side of the keyboard, making the whole thing more compact (barely wider than the 60%) without losing more keys.
Noppoo Choc Mini 84 -- a classic, but unknown outside of Asia
Noppoo is a pretty famous brand in China but little known outside of it. POM or ABT keycaps, full cursor keys and function keys, but more compact.
Starts at $92 on Amazon . Make sure you get the right switch type and keycap as there are many different variations.
Qisan 82 key aka Ajazz AK33 -- cheap, reasonably well built, odd keysizes
Qisan imports many keyboards from China (including the MagicForce 68 in the 60-65% category), and this 82-key MKB is actually the Chinese market Ajazz AK33. If you must have the function key row and cursor keys it is worth considering at a mere $60 on Amazon though it uses a completely unknown "Zorro" switch that no one seems to know anything about. Many of the keys are also non-standard size making it hard to customize later. Also available in "flame edition" (red/orange flickering backlights) and even RGB version for about the same price .
Mechanical Eagle / E-Element Z-88
The Z-88 is related to the more bezeled cousin Z-77 highlighted earlier, but only barely. This one offers up very very cheap RGB effects keyboard for price of a regular cheap mech... at well under $50 USD, while being a 75% format. It is worthy of consideration despite the ugly keycaps, as it also offered swappable switches.
Drevo Gramr
Appears to be a rebadged Chinese Keycool 84, this one is even cheaper at a merely $40 on Amazon and available with blue, brown, red, and black Outemu switches. Keycool is a respectable brand in China if a bit on the cheap side.
/// Mini / 60% or 65% or 70% ///
60% keyboard is a regular 104 keyboard with its function key row chopped off, and anything to the right of ENTER removed as well. It is very compact, but requires a bit more key manipulation as you have to use function keys to get to the keys that are no longer on the keyboard. 65% is 60% with a few extra keys, such as dedicated cursor keys. We're lumping them together.
MagicForce 68 -- cheap AND compact
MagicForce 68 is available with Kailh or Cherry switchs, these are well received on Massdrop when available, as these can go as low as $40 for the no LED cheap version switches and
about $70 w/ Cherry switches and backlit . There are even DIY kits from China where you can put in whatever switches you want . They are perfect little portable keyboards.
LinDon-Tech Mechanical Bluetooth Keyboard / RK-61 -- dual mode, wired AND wireless
This rebadged Royal Kludge RK-61 with Kailh switches has an extra trick... It has a built-in battery and can work in Bluetooth mode in addition to wired mode. At $60 on Amazon it is well below the price of a KBP V60 or almost half the price of a Pok3r, or the Filco Minila Air, making it a viable alternative for those who need a SMALL keyboard on a budget or a wireless keyboard.
Anne Pro -- dual mode, wired and wireless... RGB, app control
Anne Pro, available on Banggood shipping out of China is a BT4.0 / Wired dual mode keyboard with full RGB effects and a matching smartphone control app, for a surprisingly low price of $80 USD. And there are occasional coupons that can drop it even further.
Drevo Calibur -- 71-key dual mode RGB mini keyboard, available in black or white
Drevo Calibur is a rebadged "Keycool 71 RGB" from China, and it's advertised as having been upgraded to Bluetooth 4.0. It is basically a TKL without the function key row. It is basically an Anne Pro with a TKL cursor cluster. And for under $60 on Amazon it seems to be even more of a bargain as long as you can stand the extra width.
/// Honorable mentions ///
Here are some other nominees that have something about them that made them special, even though they didn't stand out.
TeamWolf Zhuque CIY TKL -- switch swapper
This TKL keyboard looks quite generic, but it hides a trick underneath... you can swap the switches with the included "switch puller" to any other compatible switch. (Obviously you need to pull the keycap first) It requires SMD compatible plate-mount type switch, but those are readily available should you ever want to try different switches. For differences, you'll need to see the switch guide in the Wiki. Not recommended for beginners. Also available as 104 key full size keyboard .
Rosewill RK-9000v2 -- plainest full-size Cherry switch keyboard
Rosewill is Newegg's house brand and they have a whole series of keyboards, often relabelled Chinese stuff for US market. 9000V2 is a very plain looking MKB w/ authentic cherry MX switches for just under $100. Looks very plain until you start typing on it. Former cheapest Cherry but since overtaken by Cougar Attack X3.
TVS India-only 104 w/ authorized Cherry clone?
According to a local MKB enthusiast, this board is made locally in India with switches made by Indian branch of ZF/Cherry. While it's not like "authentic German Cherry", can we call this "authorized Cherry clone"? And it comes out to less than $35 USD.
Velocifire TKL01
At only about $30 on Amazon, it actually has brown switches, rare among the bargain brands, which tend to always be blue switches.
There are so many other MKBs that sort of deserves a mention. If you spot one that you think is worthy of mention, feel free to add it in the comments below. The requirement is it has to be mechanical (doesn't matter by who), and it has to be under $100 USD (or local equivalent using current exchange rate).
Keyboard buying suggestion
Originally Posted by sensei
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