7 Best Tenkeyless (TKL) Keyboards in 2023: Wired and Wireless

Tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards provide a compact key layout, making them an excellent choice for gamers, typists, and those seeking space-saving options. They offer the same functionality as full-size keyboards but ship without a Numpad, thereby freeing up desk space. If you’re on the hunt for the best Tenkeyless (TKL) Keyboards, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best Tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards on the market in 2023. We’ll consider factors such as performance, build quality, features, and price to help you find the perfect keyboard for your needs. We’ll also look at both wired and wireless TKL keyboards, so you can choose the right one for your setup.

But first, you might want to check out the following:

• Looking to replace your Magic Keyboard? Check out these Apple Magic Keyboard alternatives
• On the hunt for a budget custom mechanical keyboard? Here are some hot-swappable mechanical keyboards under $100
• Add comfort to your TKL keyboard with these wrist rests for TKL keyboards

1. Best Budget: MageGee 75% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

• Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Yes
• Switches: Red

The MageGee 75% keyboard is an affordable mechanical keyboard. That said, it doesn’t feel or perform like a cheap keyboard. The keyboard offers a robust build quality thanks to its metal alloy construction. Add to that, the switches are quite responsive too. Speaking of which, you can choose from a variety of switches when buying the keyboard. These include Red, Blue, or Yellow switches. However, note that the keycaps’ color combination will also change basis your selection.

With just 87 keys, you’d expect there to be some keys omitted. But to MageGee’s credit, you still get a total of 12 multimedia keys. Add to that, the keyboard supports full anti-ghosting, so you don’t have to worry about the device not picking up on your keystrokes when you mash a bunch of buttons together.

2. Best Customizable: Glorious Gmmk TKL

• Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Yes
• Switches: Customizable

The Glorious Gmmk TKL keyboard comes with a standard ANSI layout, without the numpad. It features hot swap switch sockets so you can install switches as per your liking. So, you can keep blue switches for your WASD keys and outfit the rest of the deck with Red switches – the world is your oyster. What’s more, the keyboard is compatible with Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh Switches, which is great.

The keyboard also comes with RGB backlighting. In fact, you can choose from 16.8 million colors to light up the deck, which is great. The keyboard itself has a sturdy build and comes with an ergonomic stand as well to allow for a better typing experience. Add to that, the device comes with a keycap puller stowed inside the back plate as well.

While the Gmmk TKL keyboard is perfect for customization, you can opt for one of their pre-builts if you’re buying your first mechanical keyboard. Even then, you can swap out individual elements from the pre-built decks and customize them down the line.

3. Best for RGB lighting: ROCCAT Vulcan TKL Pro

• Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Yes
• Switches: Optical Linear

The ROCCAT Vulcan TKL Pro features ROCCAT’s proprietary linear optical Titan Switch. Not only are these faster than traditional mechanical switches, but they also provide a smoother and more responsive typing experience. The switches are also rated for 100 million clicks, so you can expect them to last for a long time.

Another thing that the Vulcan TKL Pro has going for it is its design. It features an ultra-low profile design, which, per the brand, helps mitigate wrist strain. In fact, most consumers highlight that they could use the keyboard without a wrist rest just fine.

Another benefit of the low-profile design is that the keycaps are slightly slimmer, thus allowing the RGB backlighting to shine brighter. You can even customize the keyboard’s lighting effects via ROCCAT’s Swarm software companion app.

4. Best for Mac Users: Keychron K8

• Connectivity: Wired/Wireless | RGB: Yes
• Switches: Brown/Blue

You can hook up the Keychron K8 with your Mac through a USB connection, or go the wireless route and connect it via Bluetooth. And, you don’t have to worry about the battery life either. The K8 is rated to last up to 200 hours (with the backlight off), which is mind-boggling, to say the least.

Moving on though, the Keychron K8 is available with Gateron G Pro Brown, Blue, or Red switches. It’s also available in both mechanical as well as optical Gateron switches. However, for that level of customization, you’d have to purchase the keyboard from Keychron’s official website.

While we are on the topic of customization, the keyboard comes with support for customizable RGB backlighting. As for the keycaps, you get extra keycaps to accommodate both, Mac and Windows systems. Suffice it to say, if you’re looking for one of the best TKL mechanical keyboards for Mac, this is it.

5. Best TKL with Optical Switches: Razer Huntsman V2 TKL

• Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Yes
• Switches: Optical

The Razer Huntsman V2 TKL is available in both Linear as well as Clicky Optical Switches. However, they also come with special sound-dampening foam. This is present underneath the switches, to absorb any pinging noises that might occur when the keys are bottomed out. As such, you get a much more refined experience while using this keyboard.

To make the experience even better, the Huntsman V2 TKL also comes with an ergonomic wrist rest included in the package. As for the typing experience, the keyboard graces you with Doubleshot PBT keycaps. These are harder and much more durable than normal keycaps, which means that your premium TKL keyboard won’t show signs of age any time soon.

In terms of connectivity, the keyboard is wired only. However, it makes use of a Type-C port and the cable is detachable. Add to that, you get a polling rate of 8,000Hz, offering you a near-zero latency experience. The keyboard itself is available in a trio of color options, and you can choose the one that matches your style. As for customization, it’s a Razer keyboard, so, of course, you get access to Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting.

6. Best Wireless: Logitech G915 TKL

• Connectivity: Wireless | RGB: Yes
• Switches: GL Tactile/GL Linear/GL Clicky

The Logitech G915 TKL is available in both black and white colorways, with a trio of mechanical switches to choose from. The keyboard is superbly thin and durable, which can be attributed to the use of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy in its construction. What’s more, the keyboard gets per-key RGB lighting with support for over 16.8M colors. You can customize the same via the Logitech G HUB software.

While all that’s good and dandy, the keyboard’s USP is its best-in-class LIGHTSPEED wireless connectivity. Just connect the small USB dongle to your computer, and enjoy low-latency connectivity without the wires. The rated battery life of 40 hours might seem less, especially when pitted against Keychron’s 200-hour claim. But then again, Keychron uses Bluetooth while Logitech offers much faster and more reliable 2.4GHz connectivity.

Another thing worth highlighting is that while most TKL keyboards make use of Fn keys to offer multimedia hotkeys, that’s not the case with the G915 TKL. Instead, you get dedicated media controls with a volume wheel. Rest assured, the Logitech G915 TKL checks all the boxes and will undoubtedly elevate your gaming and typing experience.

7. Best for Gaming: SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

• Connectivity: Wired | RGB: Yes
• Switches: OmniPoint 2.0

Most folks buy TKL keyboards to maximize desk space. That said, you have to contend with lesser keys. With the Apex Pro TKL (2023), that’s not an issue. Thanks to its OmniPoint 2.0 switches, you can program two functions on a single key. These functions will get invoked at different actuation points when you press the key.

Speaking of actuation, the keyboard allows you to customize the actuation point of individual switches. This means each key can function just the way you want it to. In fact, you can customize the actuation point with steps of 0.1mm, which is great.

Similar to the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL, the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) also comes with double-shot PBT keycaps. These provide a nice grip to type on, while also being extra durable. The Apex Pro also offers a unique OLED Smart Display which can give insights on your GPU’s stats and other notifications.

For what it’s worth, the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) is one of the best gaming TKL keyboards out there, as noted by RTINGS. If you’re a fan of wireless connectivity, you can also check out the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless (2023), which supports 2.4GHz wireless connectivity.

FAQs about Best Tenkeyless (TKL) Keyboards

Ditch That Numpad

At the end of the day, there are many great TKL keyboards on the market, each with its own unique set of features and benefits. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, a high-performance gaming keyboard, or something in between, there’s sure to be a TKL keyboard out there that’s perfect for you.

So which of these best Tenkeyless (TKL) Keyboards will you be opting for? Let us know in the comments below.