Modern keyboards are manufactured to such a high standard that even the compact 60% versions can cram in most of the same features as the very best keyboards of any size. The distinct look, compact sizing, and often better pricing of 60% keyboards make this a keyboard type well worth considering. That’s especially true if you’re already looking at the best mechanical keyboards — many of them are one and the same.
With a number of keyboard makers offering the compact form factor for gamers and typists, it shouldn’t be tough to find the right one for you. Here are some of the best 60 percent keyboards that we recommend.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Razer Huntsman Mini Analog
Best 60 percent keyboard
Pros
Software customization with onboard memory
Individually lit RGB keys
Customizable actuation distance
Detachable USB cable
Why should you buy this: It’s a premium gaming keyboard with fast optical analog switches.
Who’s it for: Gamers and occasional typists in need of a feature-rich compact keyboard.
Why we picked the Razer Huntsman Mini:
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Razer is a reliable name in the peripherals space, and its 60 percent keyboard offering, the Huntsman Mini Analog, is a feature-packed compact keyboard solution with some of the most advanced switches you can find. It is available in black or white (Mercury) color schemes with a total of 61 keys and a detachable USB-C cable. Despite the premium price, the build is all plastic, which was probably done to keep the overall weight to a minimum. The company includes its own doubleshot PBT keycaps with a superthin font that allows for sharp-looking letters.
The real standout feature with this keyboard, though, are the analog switches. They combine the performance of optical switches with near-infinite customization, letting you fine-tune the actuation distance for the task at hand. Shallow and responsive for gaming, deeper for greater typing accuracy, or any combination for any key(s) you wish — it’s all adjustable within the backend software, alongside the excellent Razer Chroma RGB per-key backlighting.
Whether you’re looking to type fast, game slow, vice versa, or anything in between, the Huntsman Mini Analog is the best 60% keyboard for the job.
Razer Huntsman Mini Analog
Best 60 percent keyboard
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Keychron K12
Best compact keyboard for multi-device setup
Pros
Solid build quality
Wired and wireless operation
Multi-device pairing
Optional hot-swap switches
Cons
Not the best with latency
Could use a wrist rest
Why should you buy this: Highly compatible and well-rounded wireless keyboard.
Who’s it for: Working professionals with a multi-device setup.
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Why we picked the Keychron K12:
Keychron started off as a Kickstarter project in 2018 and today offers a range of keyboards available in various layouts. The K12 is the company’s 60 percent offering that offers both wired and wireless connectivity. It is compatible with both MacOS and Windows, with additional keycaps so you can get the right layout. It can also be used with Linux, Android, and iOS devices. With Bluetooth 5.1, the keyboard can pair and quickly switch between three devices, making it perfect for someone who has to deal with more than one device. Available with factory-fitted Gateron G Pro mechanical switches (red, blue, or brown), one can also buy the K12 in a hot-swap version where you can choose between Gateron G Pro and Keychron’s own optical switches. Additionally, you get the option of white or RGB backlighting for the keys, as well as an aluminum frame for that extra sturdiness.
The inbuilt 4,000mAh battery can last about two months (with backlighting turned off) before it needs a recharge. There is no dedicated software, which means there are no options to program macros, but there are dedicated keys to control the RGB lighting. Also, the keyboard is a little thick and could use a third-party wrist rest for added comfort.
Keychron K12
Best compact keyboard for multi-device setup
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Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini
Best 60% keyboard for gaming
Pros
Unique Omnipoint 2.0 switches
Dual actuation inputs
Perfect size for gamers
Satisfying typing and gaming experience
Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections
Cons
Unnecessarily expensive
SteelSeries GG is a bit confusing
60% form factor limits use cases
Why should you buy this: It’s fantastic for gaming purists.
Who’s it for: Gamers who don’t want any wasted space or keys.
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Why we picked the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini:
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini is a lean and mean gaming keyboard, with all of the keys you need built on SteelSeries’ fantastically responsive and customizable Omnipoint 2.0 switches. They have dual actuation, so you can use granular controls in racers and games with nuanced inputs. They also unlock additional potential for more controls within the confines of a more compact design.
The keyboard is entirely wireless, and can run off Bluetooth or the 2.4 GHz wireless dongle. It’s rated for 40 hours of battery life with the lights on, but if you run it on low or don’t run it continuously, you should get far longer than that on a single charge.
The adjustable switches can be incredibly fast if you lower the actuation distance to fractions of a millimeter, and you can always extend that again for more accurate typing. RGB lighting is excellent, too, with per-key controls adjustable in the SteelSeries software.
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SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini
Best 60% keyboard for gaming
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HyperX Alloy Origins 60
Rock solid gaming keyboard
Pros
Robust build quality
Competitive pricing
Responsive and silent key switches
Great RGB LED lighting
Cons
Low onboard memory
Custom software limited to Windows users
Why should you buy this: Great value for the asking price.
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Who’s it for: Budget-focused gamers looking for a reliable compact keyboard.
Why we picked the HyperX Alloy Origins 60:
The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a highly praised 60 percent keyboard for gamers featuring one of the most compact designs, paired with a rock-solid build and an excellent price tag. It makes use of high-quality plastics, an aircraft-grade aluminum top frame, and a detachable USB-C cable that is braided for longevity. The company offers the keyboard with its own linear red mechanical switches and Doubleshot PBT keycaps with 45G actuation force and 1.8mm actuation distance. There is per-key RGB lighting as well and adjustable feet that offer three different angles of inclination. One can easily set macros and control the RGB lighting using the NGenuity software, while the keyboard’s onboard memory can save up to three profiles. The software also lets you customize functions and assign them to almost any key on the Base Layer or the Fn Layer.
Overall, the Alloy Origins 60 performs quite well, with light and silent operation and extremely low click latency. It’s also very affordable compared to its competitors, especially since HyperX bundles a keycap remover with some extra keycaps, including a trippy-looking spacebar keycap.
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HyperX Alloy Origins 60
Rock solid gaming keyboard
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2
One of a kind 60 percent keyboard with capacitive switches
Pros
Clean retro design
Long-lasting build quality
Wired and wireless connectivity
Topre switches
Cons
Unusual layout
No backlighting
High price
Why should you buy this: Minimalist design with premium Topre key switches.
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Who’s it for: Programmers and typists looking for a unique experience.
Why we picked the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2:
Focusing on aesthetics and a great typing experience, the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2 or the HHKB Pro 2 is one of the most unique products on this list. Catering to a niche audience, it features an understated retro design, solid PBT keycaps, and Japanese Topre key switches, all of which manage to deliver an interesting typing experience. There is a steep learning curve though, as the keyboard doesn’t have a traditional layout, especially when it comes to the Control key that is positioned where the Caps Lock key should be. The capacitive non-contact Topre switches are definitely the highlight of the keyboard, offering linear and smooth key travel, almost like a superior version of the Cherry MX Brown switches.
As for connectivity, there are two pass-through USB ports to attach additional peripherals or thumb drives, and for some odd reason, a mini-USB port for connecting your PC. You also get Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to wirelessly connect multiple devices. Apart from the confusing layout, the biggest issue with this keyboard is the price. Currently available for over $300, the HHKB Pro 2 is one of the most expensive 60 percent keyboards on the market.
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Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2
One of a kind 60 percent keyboard with capacitive switches
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Corsair K65 RGB Mini
Appealing design with strong software ecosystem.
Pros
Customization options
Bright RGB lighting
Up to 50 custom profiles
Great design
Cons
Misses out on adjustable feet
8,000Hz polling rate doesn’t make a difference
Why should you buy this: Great design aesthetics with multiple customization options.
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Who’s it for: Gamers who seek a good-looking design and robust software ecosystem.
Why we picked the Corsair K65 RGB Mini:
Corsair made its entry into the 60 percent keyboard category K65 RGB Mini and did so with gusto. The advertised “hero feature” of the keyboard is its class-leading 8,000Hz polling rate, though that shouldn’t be the only reason for you to buy one. It comes with a pleasing design and bright RGB lighting, making it one of the most premium-looking 60 percent keyboards. You also get a removable USB-C cable, Doubleshot PBT keycaps, and the option of Cherry MX Red, brown, blue, Silent, and Speed key switches. Available in black or white color schemes, Corsair additionally sells custom-colored keycap sets for the K65 RGB Mini to please enthusiasts. Then there is the iCUE software integration, which has become one of the best in the business, giving you full control of the RGB lighting as well as a variety of other options to play with.
This is definitely one of the most practical 60 percent keyboards with minor gripes. It misses out on adjustable feet, meaning you cannot change the angle of inclination, and for a $100 keyboard, one expects a metal top frame for that extra rigidity.
While a traditional keyboard comes with 104 keys, a 60 percent keyboard has a total of 60 to 62 keys. It sacrifices most of the function keys, including the number pad, arrow keys, and other miscellaneous keys, in favor of a compact and sleek design. Such keyboards offer great portability and take up very little desk space, which is great for compact or minimalistic setups.
Are 60 percent keyboards good for gaming?
Certain gamers today prefer using a 60 percent keyboard as they are easy to maneuver and position at different angles, while the compact size makes more room for mouse movements. Additionally, most 60 percent keyboards offer the ability to set macros and choose between various key switches, which is again quite useful while gaming.
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How expensive are 60 percent keyboards?
Due to their smaller size, 60 percent keyboards are relatively cheaper compared to full-size keyboards. Having said that, you can find a compact keyboard for as low as $50 going all the way up to $100. There are also some exceptions, like the Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2, which costs upwards of $300!
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What are the drawbacks of 60 percent keyboards?
There are a number of keys that are not immediately available on 60 percent of keyboards, which may hamper your overall productivity. You can access the missing keys by rebinding the keys you do have, but there is a learning curve with that, and it definitely takes time to get used to the layout. If you are someone who heavily uses the numpad or the function keys, you will be better off with one of the best full-size keyboards.
To some degree, every business that has a presence on the web is in the content business — whether that’s for informing customers, finding new clients, or for SEO. That means managing the production of those texts and images, updating them, and potentially optimizing them for a search engine to index and rank. Since large language models (LLMs) are quite good at generating text, it’s no surprise (and unwelcome news for freelance copywriters) that businesses now expect their content operations tools to also generate text and images for them.
AirOps, which is announcing a $15.5 million Series A funding round today, wants to be the all-in-one platform for doing all of that, with a focus of managing and generating content at scale.
In its early days, the company had a significantly broader remit. When we first wrote about AirOps after its $7 million seed round in 2023, the team was building an LLM-based tool that allowed any business to create AI-enabled applications.
Image Credits:AirOps
“It’s just been this process of figuring out where can the models deliver real value in the economy for real customers,” AirOps co-founder and CEO Alex Halliday told me. After launching the original product, the team talked to a lot of customers to get a better grip on the problems they were trying to solve with a platform like the early version of AirOps.
As many businesses have now realized, there are areas where you can’t yet rely on LLMs to perform to a consistent benchmark. But one area where they do well enough — for better or worse — is generating content.
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“It was a little bit ironic, because when we first started working with LLMs — think content and maybe less SEO — content seemed like a solved problem with all the first kind of generation of models,” AirOps co-founder Matt Hammel said. But it’s also far too easy to get these models to create bad content that doesn’t fit a company’s brand — and the real problems start once you have to manage and update this sudden plethora of text.
That’s where AirOps comes in. It allows businesses to use virtually any popular model (and bring their own API keys to them, if they want to) to generate text and images, and it allows companies to put what it calls guardrails around this, while also keeping humans in the loop. It also focuses on streamlining the overall workflow from content generation to optimization.
Image Credits:AirOps
It’s no secret that the internet is quickly filling up with drab LLM-generated slop that is often incorrect. The AirOps team is aware of this and throughout the conversation, the team stressed that its focus is on quality.
“The core thing we tell customers again and again is that when working with LLMs, the quality of the content in equals the quality of the content out,” Halliday said. “We help the customers find these little nuggets or little gold mines internally that they can transform into content.”
Halliday, who previously ran product at Masterclass, also stressed that he believes educating customers is key.
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To build out the product and kickstart its go-to-market operations, AirOps has now raised its Series A. The round was led by Unusual Ventures, with participation from Wing VC, Founder Collective, Xfund, and Alt Capital.
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Anker has released its new Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro wireless earbuds that include improved noise canceling and faster charging than their predecessors. The most obvious change, though, is the upgraded case with a screen to show battery life or adjust ANC settings without grabbing your phone.
The Liberty 4 Pro is available now for $129.99, which is $20 cheaper than the $149.99 Soundcore Liberty 4 that debuted in 2022 and $70 cheaper than the previous version, the $169.99 Liberty 3 Pro from 2021.
The Liberty 4 Pro are available in three color options: glossy black, white, and glossy light blue.Image: Anker
The screen added to the Liberty 4 Pro’s charging case could be a welcome addition for those with battery anxiety, but it’s not a new feature for wireless earbuds. JBL added a 1.45-inch touchscreen to the charging case of its Tour Pro 2 in 2023, which offered a lot of functionality, including playback controls, volume adjustments, EQ settings, and even notifications from a connected smartphone. The screen on the Liberty 4 Pro is more limited, with a small touch bar below it that can be swiped to adjust the ANC or turn on transparency mode.
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Anker says that on a full charge, the buds alone will run for 10 hours with ANC off or 7.5 hours with it on. That’s boosted to 40 hours when paired with the charging case or 30 hours when you factor in ANC. When they’re completely dead, a quick five-minute charge will revive the earbuds with four hours of playtime, while the case charges over USB-C or with a wireless charging pad.
The Liberty 4 Pro earbuds pair a 10.5-millimeter bass driver with a smaller 4.6-millimeter titanium-coated tweeter for improved overall sound reproduction, while ANC is powered by six microphones (three on each bud) plus a barometric sensor that takes into account changing air pressure for improved performance on flights. The earbuds support Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint connections, and the SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, although the latter can only be used when paired with an Android device.
Spatial audio is supported, with the ability to track the movements of your head, while an IPX5 rating means you can wear the Liberty 4 Pro in the rain or during an especially sweaty workout without issue. They’re now available through Anker’s online store and Amazon in three color options: glossy black, white, and glossy light blue.
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Markets: U.S. stocks were lower Thursday as Wall Street extends Tuesday’s sharp selloff, which was triggered by concern over Iran’s missile attacks on Israel. All three stock benchmarks closed only slightly higher Wednesday. U.S. oil prices have been soaring — up another 4%-plus to more than $73 per barrel — as the world awaits a response from Israel, which has vowed to retaliate. There are fears that Israel could target Iran’s oil infrastructure and cause major supply disruptions. The Mideast uncertainty was putting a lid on the Dow , the S & P 500 , and the Nasdaq ahead of Friday’s pivotal jobs reports. Club movers : Constellation Brands was our worst-performing stock Thursday, losing more than 4% after the Modelo and Corona brewer’s earnings contained no real surprises . After Constellation made big changes to its guidance a month ago, the stock had been outperforming the market. Nvidia was our best-performer on the session, gaining more than 3% on positive comments from CEO Jensen Huang to CNBC late Wednesday about “insane” demand for the company’s upcoming artificial intelligence Blackwell chip platform. Huang also said Blackwell was in “full production,” reassuring investors following some recent snags. Multiyear high : Dow and Club stock Home Depot reached its highest level since late 2021 before reversing slightly lower with the rest of the market Thursday. The home-improvement retailer got a positive mention Wednesday from research firm Gordon Haskett, which upgraded the stock to a buy and raised its price target to $450 per share. On Thursday, Home Depot’s retail advertising unit, Orange Apron Media, announced a new self-service platform, allowing onsite and offsite campaigns. Retailers, including fellow Club name Amazon , are increasingly getting into the lucrative digital ad business. Power possibilities : Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is looking at possibly using nuclear energy to power its data centers. In a Nikkei interview , Pichai said that such considerations are part of the company’s net-zero 2030 emissions goal. The CEO’s comments came shortly after Microsoft agreed to buy nuclear power from Constellation Energy , which plans to restart Three Mile Island as part of the deal. Pichai also mentioned solar. On Thursday, Alphabet announced a 12-year agreement to buy renewable energy from a solar project under development. The rise of generative AI computing has forced tech companies to think critically about the power that will supply their growing data center footprint. In general, AI computing is more energy intensive than traditional workloads of the past. Up next : There are no major earnings Thursday evening or Friday. As mentioned, the big market event of the week is Friday’s employment report. It follows Wednesday’s better-than-expected ADP data on U.S. companies’ hiring and Thursday’s worse-than-expected weekly jobless claims. Wall Street will be parsing the government’s jobs numbers for their implications on future Fed interest rate cuts. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street.
The number of phishing emails that masquerade as notifications from Microsoft services is skyrocketing, a new report from Check Point has warned.
In the report, the researchers said that just in September, its service caught more than 5,000 such emails – and to make matters worse, the attackers have gotten extremely good at creating a legitimate-looking email.
The usual suspects – spelling and grammar, color scheme, the email’s outline – all of these things have been brought to perfection: “The language is perfect. The style is familiar. The graphics look impeccable,” the researchers said. “So, what should organizations do?” Furthermore, these emails now come with copy-pasted Microsoft privacy policy statements, or links to Microsoft and Bing, all of which makes spotting the ruse with the naked eye almost impossible.
Training and AI
Ultimately, even the ‘sender’ field in the email looks believable now. Instead of the usual private, or unknown domains, these emails appear to be coming from organizational domains impersonating legitimate administrators.
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All of this means there is a higher chance of organizations losing sensitive information, or becoming infected with malware and even ransomware.
In response, organizations need to invest heavily into user awareness training, since employees will no longer be able to hunt for spelling and grammar mistakes in phishing emails, Check Point argues.
Also, they should deploy AI-powered email security, essentially fighting AI with AI, and finally, always keep their software and hardware updated.
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