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- TKL gives you better access to most of the useful keys like: DEL, HOME, PageUp, PageDown, END, and arrow keys.
- Not only that, the width of most TKL keyboards looks aesthetically pleasing compared to other crammed, smaller keyboards.
- In gaming, its right side does smack with the mouse when I flick it, but for the most part, it is much better than the other ones I’ve used.
Tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards have become a go-to for quite a long time. Initially, I used to hate them because they took the extra space, and I preferred the 65% but over time, TKL has grown on me. Let me explain the reasons why.
Why TKL Is The King?
When we speak about the sizes of keyboards, the 100% full-sized layout was already out of the options. This is because I always hated the numpad anyway, and it took up so much space that it was a no-brainer to ditch that altogether.
Compared To Other Sizes
Then there’s 75%, which, although it is pretty good, looks good because it has the arrow keys, but it looks abnormally taller than your usual keyboards. Even though a lot of people might disagree, given the hype around 75% keyboard such as Aula F75, but for me, it gets negative points for the poor aesthetics.
Yes, it might have a knob or even a screen like on the Tecware Spectre 75, but I couldn’t care less because a keyboard should be slim when it comes to its width. Again, I’m being very picky, but that’s just my opinion.
Then we have the 65%, which has the arrow keys and has the optimum width as well, which are plus points for me, but everything is crammed together without many gaps. For me, it looks cluttered, and I love it when keyboards have little spaces for the keys to have “breathing room.”
The same issue is with the 60%; it feels like you just squeezed all the keys and fit them into a keyboard chassis. Moreover, you need to put extra effort into accessing the arrow keys, and there’s no ‘delete’ key.
More Access To Keys
For me, I need to play games and use my keyboard for content writing as well, so along with the arrow keys, keys like DEL, END, HOME, Pageup and Pagedown matter to me a lot. And all of those keys are available in the TKL.
Apart from content writing, these keys are very helpful in casual browsing as well. For instance, if you have to scroll all the way back up, you just hit the HOME key and you’re at the top in an instance.
And if you compare these with the 60% or the 65%, you have to go through additional steps just to access these basic keys, which might be too small to ignore for some people but a source of annoyance for others.
Function Row
I couldn’t care much about the Function row as well, but it does fill the keyboard’s width in the TKL, so it looks good aesthetically. Some TKL keyboards, like the Epomaker Shadow X, do come without the F-row, and it looks very weird as if you’ve chopped the head of a TKL keyboard.
Better Typing
Typing feels so much better on the TKL, at least for me, because I feel less fatigue over long typing sessions, and my fingers tend to glide along naturally in this layout. On the smaller keyboards like the 60% and the 65%, I tend to misclick because of the reduced gap.
Drawbacks In Gaming
In gaming, however, I still do find the TKL a bit uncomfortable because my mouse keeps hitting the right section of the keyboard when I try to flick. Keeping the keyboard further to the left side puts strain on my arms, and it becomes awkward.
And if I drag it towards to right side, there’s less space for my mouse with my medium-sized desk, and then I have to extend my right arm further away in an awkward position. So, this is a bit of a downside that I don’t experience in the smaller layouts, especially for gaming.
Verdict
Ultimately, the TKL is the best of both worlds, even for gaming, except for a few instances. Moreover, these are just my opinions, and I’m very particular about the peripherals I use, and these don’t apply to every single user.
Still, my love for TKL has grown ever since I started using the Razer Huntsman TKL Tournament Edition, which was ahead of its time when it was released and still holds up great among other newer keyboards.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
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[Comparisons Expert]
Shehryar Khan, a seasoned PC hardware expert, brings over three years of extensive experience and a deep passion for the world of technology. With a love for building PCs and a genuine enthusiasm for exploring the latest advancements in components, his expertise shines through his work and dedication towards this field. Currently, Shehryar is rocking a custom loop setup for his built.
Get In Touch: shehryar@tech4gamers.com
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