75% Keyboards Are All The Rage But I Still Prefer A TKL

Key Takeaways

I find the TKL layout more visually appealing, thanks to the ample spacing between the key clusters.
I prefer TKL over 75% due to the straighter hand positioning and the full navigation cluster.
I find more keycap options for TKL layouts compared to 75% keyboards, but that has started changing.

In the world of mechanical keyboards, there is no layout more popular than the 75%, at least based on the current market. Wherever you look, you’ll find endless products and videos featuring 75% layout keyboards. I spend almost half my day looking at sound tests of 75% keyboards like the Aula F75, Bridge75, and Epomaker TH80 Pro. The 75% mechanical keyboards are having their moment.

But, when it came to buying a new keyboard, even though I was quite impressed by the Aula F75, I decided against it and went with the equally good Aula F87, a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard. There are multiple reasons that went into this decision, some of which might not apply to you, but I strongly feel there are strong arguments to be made in favor of TKL keyboards.

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1 I need my space, but I also like the TKL look

How small is too small?

I cannot argue that the 75% layout is the ideal layout for those wanting to save space on their desk. Based on my own desk and desk mat size, the 75% layout should be the obvious answer, which is why I used the RK84 for a year, but I started feeling that the keyboard was too small for my taste. Cramming all the necessary keys as close together as possible works great for reducing the keyboard size, but it also hurts the look of the keyboard, at least in my book.

Compare that to a standard TKL layout, where you have a decent amount of spacing in the function row, and between the navigation cluster and the arrow keys. This is more visually appealing, as I feel the keys have space to breathe and aren’t stuffed together just for the sake of symmetry. Now, many might feel the 75% layout looks cleaner, and that’s a perfectly sound feeling to have. But, after switching from 75% to TKL, I can’t see myself going back.

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2 It’s easier on my arms

I prefer the ergonomics of using a TKL

A mechanical keybaoard with a mouse on a deskmat next to a monitor

I need to use my keyboard for 8-10 hours every day, so the ergonomics matter a lot. Now, you might see the obvious advantages of a TKL board over a full-sized one, but it’s even preferable over using a 75% keyboard. This is because on a 75% board, my arms are not in the optimal position — instead of being relatively straight, they’re positioned at an angle. Over a long working session, the stress of working in that position would add up, and I needed to stretch and crack my elbows a lot throughout the day. After switching to a TKL board, however, I realized that due to the relatively longer layout, my arms were naturally in a straighter position. I could reduce the stress in my arms and wrists, while at the same time using the mouse in a comfortable position, since I’m not extending my arm as much as I would with a full-sized keyboard. The TKL feels like a natural sweet spot between the 75% and the full-sized layouts.

wooden desktop with a compact mechanical keyboard, wireless mouse, keyboard magazine and phone stand on top

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3 I have all the keys I need

And they’re just where I need them

The appeal of the TKL layout lies in the fact that most people don’t need a numpad, so it removes it and saves space on your desk, while looking a lot better in the process. The same concept is extended further when you truncate the TKL layout to the 75%, retaining all the functionality but resulting in an even more compact layout. You still have dedicated arrow keys and function keys, and there’s no need to add complicated secondary layers for additional functions.

But, this ends up repositioning the navigation cluster (Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down) so that the keys are now vertically positioned instead of horizontally. It might not seem like a big thing to some users, but I sorely missed the nav cluster in its original form when working on a 75% keyboard. On my current TKL board, I have it exactly where I need it, and how my fingers are used to finding it.

You might consider this just a habit, but your keyboard is supposed to fit your habits and preferences, rather than the other way around. The TKL layout feels like the smallest form factor I can use without making sacrifices to the way I’m used to typing.

Image showing 6 mechanical keyboards incluiding Monsgeek m1 with the black and yellow keycaps, ciy gas67 with transparent keycaps, nzxt function tkl keyboard, ajazz ak 820 pro in purple blue and white keycaps, skyloong sk68 and a rk 71 in the camp green color scheme.

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4 I have more keycap options

More options for standard profile keycaps

Finally, by switching to a TKL keyboard, I find things much easier when shopping for custom keycaps. Due to the more standard-sized Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and Fn keys on a TKL board, I have more options to explore when choosing a new keycap set. Standard profile keycaps are more easily available due to manufacturers being able to sell them for both full-sized and TKL keyboards.

The availability of smaller keycap sizes (for the few keys I mentioned) for 75% keyboards is improving, thanks to the exploding popularity of the 75% layout, but I still find TKL keycaps more easily available, especially in my region. You can definitely find keycap sets that include both standard and smaller-sized keycaps in the pack, but these are in relatively short supply. As things improve on this front, though, this will become less of a factor.

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I might succumb to 75% keyboards, but I’m holding on for the time being

My TKL keyboard seems like the perfect choice for my current preferences, but no one knows when that might change. I might start feeling that the TKL layout is too big, or I might start crushing on a newly-launched 75% keyboard. Many reasons might convince me to jump back to the 75% camp, but for now, I’m happy with what I have.