The Best Small Gaming Keyboard for 2021 | Our Tips + Buying Guide
Keyboards are an ever-changing and ever-present tool for gamers and office workers alike. With many of us having our hands practically glued to the keys, we all want a keyboard that’s perfect for us. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of choices out there in the world of keyboards and a lot of room to go wrong with your purchases. So let’s say that you’re someone who up until now has been using a big, bulky, and cumbersome keyboard. A keyboard that you’re sick of and now you want to get something that is way more streamlined. So let’s jump right into our list for The Best Small Gaming Keyboard Guide.
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The Best Small Gaming Keyboard Guide
We’ve sifted through a ton of keyboards to try and find the right small, gaming keyboard just for you. Ranging from a bunch of different styles, this list is going to show you the next keyboard that you need in your life.
Arteck HB030B
First up we’ve gone for a choice that might not have been the obvious choice. The Arteck HB030B is an ultra-compact, wireless keyboard that is designed more for tablets and smartphones. But, it can work just as easily for laptops and PCs too. Connecting via Bluetooth, this keyboard is great for those who need their next keyboard to be extremely portable. Maybe you travel a lot and you need something that’s going to fit right next to your laptop. Visually this is a really nice, black keyboard that comes with key lighting in 7 different colors. So you can change it up at your own pace and get the right aesthetic for you. The keyboard runs on a rechargeable battery and it lasts a good long while, Meaning you shouldn’t have to worry about suddenly running out of juice in the middle of a match.
In terms of the more tactile feel of the keyboard, this is a nice and quiet keyboard. It doesn’t have the recognizable clicks of a mechanical keyboard due to it being a membrane keyboard. This means you won’t be bothering anyone else around with either your gaming or your work. In terms of its size, it sits at 9.7” X 5.9” X 0.24” and weighs in at 0.37lbs. So not only is this keyboard compact, but it’s also extremely light too. So it’s perfect to just sit in your bag while traveling, taking it out when you need to. Again this choice probably isn’t the obvious one, it’s more geared towards gamers who take the action on the road and if that doesn’t appeal to you, maybe our next choice is more your speed.
Pros:
- Very Small Factor
- Wireless
- Colour Changing
Cons:
- Designed for tablets
- Membrane Keyboard
E-Yooso 60
Our next choice is going to look a lot more familiar to those who are well accustomed to gaming keyboards. We’ve gone for this E-Yooso Mechanical Gaming keyboard for its easy on the eyes visuals and its small form factor. The first thing you’ll notice about this keyboard, in particular, is the stark white body, complemented by the full RGB backlit keys. It comes with 14 RGB color modes that each offer different visual aesthetics and allows you to get the aesthetic that’s right for you. One thing is for sure, this keyboard stands out and is going to look great on your desk if you’re a fan of vibrant things. Luckily the keyboard itself isn’t lost in transmission and the keys are nice and clear with really good quality printing on each key.
As mentioned, this is a mechanical keyboard with Outemu DIY Blue Switches. Which offers a very satisfying click and has a nice smooth motion. These switches are very loud so if that’s something you aren’t a fan of or if you don’t want to bother others, this might not be the keyboard for you. The dimensions on this keyboard are 13.8” x 6.6” x 2.4” and it weighs 1.6lbs. So it’s nice and compact while still being a very decently sized keyboard. It isn’t going to take up too much room on your desk so if you haven’t got much real estate to work with, don’t worry too much. A few other bonuses that come with this keyboard include water resistance for those accidental spills and a very long lifespan of over 50 million keystrokes. So it’ll be a long while before you need to upgrade.
Pros:
- RGB Backlight
- Water Resistant
- Light and Portable
Cons:
- Noisy
RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61
Our next option on this list carries over a lot of the same benefits but in an even smaller package. Combining an awesome gaming keyboard experience with the added perk of portability. To suit these needs we’ve gone for this RK Royal Kludge Mechanical keyboard which is very easy on the eyes and has the performance to match. Packaged in a very similar white body to our last choice, this keyboard boasts the same sort of visual awe. Though we aren’t getting a full RGB setup here, leaving us with only a blue backlight for our keys, Though you can get a different model that comes with a different backlight color if the blue isn’t to your liking. At the cost of RGB we’ve got a fully wireless bluetooth keyboard though, so that’s a pretty good trade-off if you’re into wireless keyboards.
This mechanical keyboard is coming with blue switches that are very clicky and responsive. The trade-off here is that they’re noisy, though if you’re into that you’re in luck. These switches do give a very tactile feel to the keyboard and make their presence very well known. The keys themselves are sitting in an 11.5” x 4” x 1.5” body which is a nice and small form factor. It’s weighing in at 1.6lbs, which is a pretty good lightweight for a keyboard like this. This is a great choice for those who want to have a mix of a portable keyboard that is also very well suited to gaming. It being a wireless keyboard gives it a good edge over the competition and it’s a great choice if this is the kind of thing you’re looking for.
Pros:
- Light and Portable
- Wireless
- Great, Clean Look
Cons:
- Noisy
- Not RGB
HyperX Alloy FPS Pro
For our next choice, we’ve gone for this HyperX Mechanical Gaming keyboard, as a step up in terms of sheer quality. This is a keyboard that is geared towards gamers through and through. It’s also pretty straightforward, at least in comparison to some of our other choices on this list. This keyboard is for those who prefer a more subdued device that gets the job done. In terms of aesthetics, we’ve got a simple black keyboard with red key backlighting. Which looks great, isn’t too flashy and is perfect for those who don’t want a keyboard that stands out too much. While this keyboard may not have a bunch of flashy features like full RGB backlighting or wireless capabilities, it does have fantastic build quality. With a steel frame giving it a tonne of support.
The switches in this keyboard are Cherry MX Red’s which have a great tactile feel but aren’t as loud and clicky as MX blue switches. These switches are great for those who don’t want to make too much noise while using their keyboard, though these are still going to produce some click sounds so watch out for that.
In terms of the portability of this keyboard, we’ve got a few nice things to talk about here. Firstly the actual size of the keyboard, which is 14.1” x 5.1” x 1.4” and it’s weighing in at 1.8lbs. Which isn’t the smallest keyboard on this list but it’s still nice and light and given the steel frame it’s actually really good. The other aspect that aids the portability is that even though this keyboard isn’t wireless, you can still detach its cable to aid in storing it somewhere. Which is a really cool feature of this keyboard and makes it a lot easier to take out and about.
Pros:
- Great Build Quality
- Detachable Cable
- Nice Key Switches
Cons:
- Plain
- Lacking Unique Features
Corsair K63
Our final choice on this list is for those of you who want the highest possible quality in a small and light package. Which is exactly what this Corsair K63 Mechanical keyboard offers. At first glance, it may seem very similar to our last option and that’s because it is very similar. It offers the same black and red styling, which is a little plain in comparison to some of the others on this list but it gets the job done. The black and red combo is tried and tested and it always looks great. The main thing that this keyboard is offering is superb build quality and top of the line performance, all in a very sleek, portable package.
Though this isn’t the smallest on the list, being 14.4” x 6.7” x 1.6” in size and weighing in at around 3.1lbs. This is the heaviest keyboard on this list. This might impede how portable it is, but it’s nice and small so it won’t take up too much room on your desk. Once again we’ve got Cherry MX Red key switches which have a fantastic feel and aren’t too noisy either. Though they still have that satisfying tactile feedback you’d find on most other switches, just in a more subdued way.
Again, these are great switches if you’re concerned about noise and you want a quieter keyboard, you’re just going to be sacrificing some of that clicky feedback. Apart from that this laptop doesn’t really offer any standout features or neat little tricks. Though it is the only keyboard on this list to have media controls so that might be a pretty big deal to you. It’s a very straightforward gaming keyboard that offers very high fidelity performance. This might seem a little boring, but this keyboard is for those of you that want the best of the best and don’t want to be bogged down by other features.
Pros:
- Fantastic Build Quality
- Media Controls
- Built for Gaming
Cons:
- Plain
- On the Heavy Side
Small Gaming Keyboard Buying Guide
If you’ve managed to come all this way and you still have no idea about what keyboard you actually want, don’t worry. In this section, we’ll provide you with some information and tips to help you with your purchase!
Membrane Vs Mechanical
So, in the world of keyboards, you currently have to choose between two very different kinds of keyboards. One choice being membrane keyboards and the other being mechanical. What you’ll prefer is largely going to come down to personal preference, how you want the keys to feel and how they’ll react. Typically, membrane keyboards are seen as a cheaper, lower-end option. Which is because they are, but that doesn’t mean they’re garbage by any means.
If you have ever typed on a keyboard before then it was most likely a membrane keyboard. The experience itself isn’t really that memorable and they’re by far the more common kind of keyboard. Though they definitely have their positive points too. For instance, their actuation force is much lower than you’d see on a mechanical keyboard (depending on the switches used) so you’ll have an easier time typing on a membrane. They’re also quieter too, which means you aren’t really going to be annoying anyone else around you. The trade-off is that there just isn’t as much tactile feedback like you’d find on a mechanical keyboard. You won’t be getting any of those satisfying clicks or smooth motions on a membrane keyboard.
Mechanical keyboards are a different beast entirely and they’re a lot harder to shop for. With these keyboards, it really comes down to what kind of typing experience do you want. If you want your keys to have a very audible click with a smooth motion, get some blue switches. If you want a nice smooth travel without the loud clicks go for some reds, or get some browns if you want an experience that’s more in the middle. But there are tonnes of switches out there and they all have a different sort of personality when it comes to how they work. This makes buying for them pretty difficult if you don’t know what you’re looking for, so do plenty of research and try some keyboards out at your local tech store.
See Also: The Best Laptop for World of WarcraftGet the Keyboard that’s right for you
The most important tip we can give you is, make sure you get the keyboard that’s going to fit into your daily routine the best. If you travel a lot, prioritise a keyboard that is going to aid that experience. Whether it be a wireless or just a small form factor keyboard. If you’re going to be using the keyboard at home then prioritize something that works well on a desk and doesn’t take up too much room. If you live with someone else, take that into account. You probably don’t want to be getting a keyboard that is super loud with each key press. Ultimately keyboards are an intensely personal thing and one person’s favourite could be your most hated, so look around, do research and look into what you’re getting before hitting that buy button.
Tips
- Don’t overspend on a keyboard with functions you’ll never use. Colors and media controls are pretty nice but if you aren’t going to use them, look for a cheaper keyboard that offers that same experience for cheaper.
- Wireless keyboards have the potential to lag and have a delay. So if you are doing some intense gaming, stick to the wired keyboards.
- Pay extra attention to the switches that are on your keyboard of choice and then do the extra research on them. You don’t want a keyboard to arrive and then have a miserable experience with it first thing.
- Most importantly, get the keyboard that suits you and your environment the best. You don’t need to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get a decent keyboard and find one that fits your personality best.
Verdict
That’s that for our list of The Best Small Gaming Keyboard. If this list helped you out in any way, let us know, it’ll be a good way to test out that new keyboard. Thanks for reading!
