A 65% keyboard is a 60% board with one more column on the right, usually arrow keys and a few navigation keys. Deskthority describes it as a 75% without the function row, with about 65 to 68 keys. It's small enough to keep your mouse close and still gives you dedicated arrows, which is why it's a popular step down from a tenkeyless. The F-keys move to a layer you reach with Fn. Plenty of good 65% boards turn up used, and they differ a lot in switches, build and how much you can change. Here are the ones we'd look at, and what to check on each.
Leopold FC660C, the Topre one
The FC660C is Leopold's 66-key board with Topre switches at 45g, made from 2013. Deskthority notes that the switches are plate-mounted, the way Realforce does it. It has dedicated arrows plus Insert and Delete on the right, and four DIP switches on the back to swap Ctrl and Caps Lock or change the Windows key. The keycaps are thick PBT, with an ABS space bar.
Topre boards this compact with arrow keys are rare. The HHKB is a 60% without arrows, and Realforce's compact RC1 from 2024 is a 70%. If you know you want Topre in a small board with arrows, this is the one to hunt for. Check that every key feels the same weight, since a worn dome shows up as one key that feels different. Ask whether the box says dye-sublimation, since some versions have laser-printed legends instead.
Leopold FC660M, the Cherry one
The FC660M looks almost the same as the FC660C but uses Cherry MX switches. Leopold's own store lists it with MX Brown, Blue, Red, Black, Silent Red and other options, so the listing should say which. There's also an FC660MBT that adds Bluetooth. Pick this one if you want Leopold's simple, sturdy build and a Cherry feel, or if you want wireless. Ask which switch is fitted and test every key for chatter. Our FC660C vs FC660M guide covers telling them apart.
Keychron Q2 and Q2 Pro, the metal hot-swap ones
The Q2 is a 65% with a CNC-machined aluminum case, gasket mount and a steel plate. It's hot-swap for three-pin and five-pin MX-style switches and runs QMK firmware, so you can remap any key. It came with Gateron G Pro switches and double-shot PBT keycaps, with or without a knob. It's heavy, at about 1,645g fully built.
The Q2 Pro adds Bluetooth to up to three devices and a built-in 4,000 mAh battery. It ships with Keychron K Pro switches, KSA-profile double-shot PBT keycaps and a polycarbonate plate, and it comes in ANSI and ISO. On either board, ask whether the switches and keycaps are still stock. Keychron also sold barebone versions with no switches or keycaps, so make sure the listing includes what you need.
Keychron V2, the plastic one
The V2 keeps the hot-swap sockets, QMK firmware, steel plate, screw-in stabilizers and double-shot PBT keycaps, in an ABS plastic case with a tray mount. At about 855g it's roughly half the weight of a Q2. It shipped with K Pro Red, Blue or Brown switches, with or without a knob. It's a good used buy if you want to try different switches without the weight of an aluminum case.
Keychron K6, the wireless one
The K6 is a 68-key 65% that connects by Bluetooth to up to three devices or by cable. It came with Gateron switches or LK optical switches, and some versions are hot-swap. The keycaps are ABS, so expect some shine on a well-used one. The battery is built in. Ask how long a charge lasts now, and check the listing for which switch and whether it's the hot-swap model.
NIZ Atom68, the other capacitive one
The NIZ Atom68 uses NIZ's own electrostatic capacitive switches. NIZ builds them like Topre, with a rubber dome, a slider, a spring and a capacitive circuit board, and sells them at 35g or 45g. There are USB-only and Bluetooth versions, and NIZ also sells a 10g spring add-on for a heavier feel. It has PBT keycaps and USB-C. Check which weight and which connection you're getting, since the listing title often doesn't say.
Is 65% the right size?
It helps to know the neighbors. A 60% board drops the arrows too, so you hold Fn to move the cursor. The HHKB Classic is a well-known example, with its own 60-key arrangement. If you edit text or code all day, those missing arrows get old, and that's the main reason people step up to 65%.
A 75% board puts the function row back and squeezes a single column of navigation keys down the right side. Deskthority points out it saves almost as much space as a 60% and that many laptops use the same arrangement. If you press F-keys often, like F5 to refresh or function keys in a code editor, a 75% such as the Keychron Q1 may suit you better. If you rarely touch them, 65% gives you the smaller board.
What to check on any used 65%
- Look at the arrow keys and the space bar in the photos. They take the most wear on a small board.
- Ask for a video of the space bar, Enter, Backspace and both Shifts. Listen for a rattle from the stabilizers.
- Check the switch type in the description. On hot-swap boards, ask whether the switches are original.
- Check the layout. Some of these came in ISO as well as ANSI.
- Check the Fn layer. Ask the seller if the arrow and F-key layers have been remapped.
What we'd buy
If you want Topre in a small board with arrows, find an FC660C. For the most room to tinker, buy a Q2 or a Q2 Pro if you want wireless. For the same tinkering in a lighter plastic case, the V2 is the pick. For a simple wireless board, the K6 works fine. If your desk has room for a function row, look at the 75% boards too. You can browse what's for sale now, and our inspection guide covers the rest.