10 Best Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards

Since writing is one of the most major tasks in our schedules, we don’t believe there is anything better than a precise, minimal, and feature-full mechanical keyboard for the purpose. There might be a lot of you who have to type a lot throughout the day and want to take the experience to a good level.

Well, we have been testing out many mechanical keyboards every now and then to find the best suitable for our needs. Actually, we were pretty satisfied with our existing mechanical keyboards at the office until we got introduced to a somewhat minimal version of it which we usually call a low profile mechanical keyboard.

As you all know, mechanical keyboards have shapes like tanks and are quite bulky which does not fit to everyone’s likings. The experience is pretty satisfying though but looks matter a lot as well when someone is willing to pay a whopping amount for a premium kind of typing experience.

So, we did some research and got ourselves a bunch of different low profile keyboards to test out personally. And, you know what? These are surely a gem and everyone should have one on their desk if you want to maintain a minimal look of your PC setup.

So, in this article, we will be going through a list of low profile mechanical keyboards which includes low profile gaming keyboards, and some flat mechanical keyboards too. So, basically, no matter what kind of a taste you have, there is a lot of variety available on this list that no one would go without finding a suitable low profile keyboard for themselves.

Table of Contents show

10 Best Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards

Rank	Keyboard	Award	Switches	Connection
1	Havit Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard	Best Value for Money	Kailh Blue	Wired
2	Alienware AW510K Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard	Best Aesthetics	Cherry MX Red	Wired
3	HyperX Alloy FPS Pro Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard	Ultra Compact Keyboard	Cherry MX (Blue/Red)	Wired
4	CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 RAPIDFIRE Low Profile Keyboard	Fastest Low Profile Keyboard	Cherry MX Speed	Wired
5	Redragon K552 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard	Best Budget Low Profile Keyboard	Outemu Red Key Switches	Wired

1. Havit Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Source: Amazon

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PROS

Windows Key Lock support
Fully customizable RGB Backlighting
No Driver Installation Required
Superior Build Quality

CONS

No Support for Mac
No Palmrest included
No dedicated computer software to manage keyboard settings

Features

Switches: Kailh Blue Switches
Connection: Wired
RGB: Multiple RGB Custom Backlit Modes
Number of Keys: 104

Dimensions

Length: 5 in
Width: 17.2 in
Height: 0.89 in
Weight: 570 g

So, starting off the list with a quiet value for money offering from the brand known as Havit. Although this brand is not one of the main-stream ones that you hear about every now and then, still the havit low profile mechanical keyboard has enough grunt and potential to compete with any top-tier keyboard on this list, hence we are putting it in the first place over here.

Apart from the features, the most important thing to check in a keyboard is the build quality, and Havit has done a pretty good job. The slim aluminum chassis offers enough confidence and the metallic strip going around the edges makes it far more premium than it costs to be.

Over the superior built chassis of a full-size keyboard form-factor, it is almost 47 cm long in length and will surely take good space on your desk. However, one good fact about this keyboard is that it comes with the option of detachable USB to Micro USB cable which makes it easier for the user while carrying it.

However, the low profile nature of this keyboard is well maintained as the keys do not appear to be popping out that much. All that is possible because there are the latest Kailh Blue switches lying under the keycaps. The switches are marked to have a lifespan of more than 50 million clicks which is good even for the heavy users.

In fact, if you want to purchase this keyboard for gaming, it is absolutely a smart decision as all 104 keys of N-key Rollover support offer you the advantage of clicking multiple keys at the same time.

As we talk about the key travel, these Kailh Blue low profile switches have a total key travel of 3mm. However, the actuation point comes somewhere in the middle at around 1.2mm, with a clicky sound as well, since it is a signature feature of blue switches.

Moreover, the height of the keycaps of this havit low profile mechanical keyboard is 7mm lesser than a standard keycap. Thus, you can’t even tell it is a mechanical keyboard until you press any button on it. In addition, you can also lock the Windows Key to have a good gaming session without any interruptions.

As for the other features, this mechanical keyboard offers Multiple RGB Custom Backlit Modes, in case you are a fan of colorful lightings. Although it is compatible with platforms like Win 10/Win 8/Win 7/Vista/Linux, unfortunately, the Mac users will have to look for some other option since it does not support that OS.

2. Alienware AW510K Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Source: Amazon

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PROS

Amazingly Durable
An ideal pick for gamers
Linear key-press
Fully Customizable RGB lighting
Volume Scroll Wheel

CONS

Software is tricky to use
A little expensive

Features

Switches: Cherry MX Red Switches
Connection: Wired
RGB: AlienFX RGB
Number of Keys: 105

Dimensions

Length: 6.14 in
Width: 18.4 in
Height: 1.2 in
Weight: 910 g

Alienware has been a great brand for unbeatable gaming laptops for a long time now, and there would be barely anyone who is still not aware of their name. However, the gaming laptop brand has tried to leave its mark on the peripherals market as well.

There are a bunch of mechanical keyboards that Alienware proposes with new tweaks every now and then, so let’s check out if this product has enough features to be called the best low profile keyboard.

As you look at the keyboard, the Alienware keyboard wins your heart by their aggressive and stylish gaming looks since the grey chassis of this keyboard is quite eye-catching and feels soothing at the same time.

The chassis is built out of Durable 5000 Series aluminum which adds more confidence while you use it even aggressively while gaming, ramming the keys hardly, it would withstand all the thumps. Apart from that, we would give this keyboard a 10/10 in terms of design and aesthetics.

Moving to the keyboard layout, it is a full-size keyboard with all the keys supporting N-key Rollover, including the Numpad too. In fact, the press of the switch is quite soothing since it uses the most anticipated Cherry MX low profile Red switches. These switches are built to be used in a quiet environment as there is no clickiness in these linear switches, still, the mechanical feel is there to please you.

As for the additional keys, there are no additional keys to set as macros, but you can use the existing ones whichever way you want as Alienware allows you to use your keyboard your own way. So, multiple customization options are there in the AlienFX software.

Also, there are various function key options available to use for easy experience. Moreover, the scroll wheel audio control feels magical to a pretty convenient thing to use than most other keyboard manufacturers should learn from Alienware.

For the backlighting effects, it is also a feature that you can fully customize using the AlienFX software, but our personal recommendation for you is to try out the rainbow effect if you are a fan of RGB. Since it supports 16.8 million colors per Key, the waves will feel much pleasing to the eyes. However, there are a bunch of different lighting combinations available, you can choose whichever you want, and even make your own lighting presets as well.

3. HyperX Alloy FPS Pro Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

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PROS

Steel Frame is highly durable
An ideal option for FPS professional players
Detachable cable offers extreme portability
Cherry MX RED switches are quiet yet hefty
Affordable Pricing

CONS

No RGB lighting effects
Does not support macOS

Features

Switches: Cherry MX (Blue/Red) Switches
Connection: Wired
RGB: Only Red LED
Number of Keys: 87

Dimensions

Length: 5.1 in
Width: 14.1 in
Height: 1.4 in
Weight: 816.5 g

HyperX has its own fan base as it is one of the biggest names in the industry for making gaming peripherals, such as Gaming Headsets, keyboards, and even mice. The supreme quality and durability of the products are on the absolute peak of the graph, that’s also the reason most professional gamers love HyperX products even for their competitive matches.

However, there is no such low-profile mechanical keyboard from HyperX in the market, because the standard ones have good enough potential to beat one already.

As you look at the keyboard, you will notice the red accents going around everywhere across the keyboard, especially the lighting, maybe because red is HyperX signature color, and it also helped them to make some cost-cuttings without compromising the charm of the keyboard.

Although it is a standard gaming keyboard, the only low profile thing that we can talk about is that it’s a tenkeyless keyboard, which means there is no Numpad. This small form-factor makes it ideal for professional gamers who love to carry around their own peripherals while going for a tournament.

Since it is tenkeyless and has Cherry MX red switches, the sound from the switch press is almost negligible and you can surely use it in your office without disturbing your colleagues for sure.

Being a gaming keyboard, it is necessary to have anti-ghosting and N-key rollover functions which it particularly shines at. That being another reason for the pro players to choose this keyboard over the others. Although there are no funky designs, and RGB lighting, it is still a good-looking keyboard with all the necessary functions that a gamer would expect from the keyboard.

The build quality of this keyboard is quite rugged and robust too, all thanks to the whole steel chassis which supports it and offers a good and premium feel to the user. We have listed the Cherry MX Red switch variant while keeping in mind the low profile nature.

However, if you are more concerned about the proper mechanical feel, you can go with the other variant as well which offers a similar keyboard with Cherry MX Blue Switches which are the clickiest ones that you could find on the internet, as of now.

4. CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 RAPIDFIRE Low Profile Keyboard

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PROS

Dedicated Volume Wheel
Additional Palm Rest for support
Fully Customizable RGB lighting
Corsair iCUE software compatibility
Ultra-Slim Design

CONS

No USB Pass-Through
Slightly Expensive

Features

Switches: Cherry MX Speed Switches
Connection: Wired
RGB: Vivid Dynamic RGB
Number of Keys: 104

Dimensions

Length: 6.61 in
Width: 17.24 in
Height: 1.14 in
Weight: 1.25 kg

While talking about low profile keyboards, one can not neglect to mention Corsair since they are certainly the ones who make the best low profile mechanical keyboards in terms of quality and features as well. So, if you are looking for a feature-rich low profile keyboard in the market and have a decent budget as well, don’t miss out to check the CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 RAPIDFIRE Low Profile keyboard.

The design and aesthetics of this keyboard are good enough to please even the picky ones since there would barely be any other better-looking keyboard out there than this one right here.

The whole design is pretty slim and every part of it screams low profile at your face, but elegantly. The keycaps design is pretty slim as well, and still has a slight curve to maintain the ergonomics which also makes it ideal for gaming purposes as well as casual typing.

The dedicated media controls with a scroll wheel for volume adjustments is absolutely the most unique and interesting feature that will add amazing convenience to your experience. In fact, the frame of this keyboard is made of Aircraft-grade anodized aluminum which makes it one of the most strong yet lightweight keyboards out there.

Apart from the low profile keycaps, even the switches promote the low profile nature as it comes loaded with Cherry MX Low Profile RGB Speed mechanical key switches. The travel of these switches feels to be very linear with 1.0mm actuation and there is no audible clickiness from the switch itself. Thus, you can surely use it as aggressively as you want even in your office without making any other person notice you.

As for the additional features, the keyboard is fully loaded with RGB backlighting which is totally customizable using the Corsair iCUE software. Also, the software allows you to set up macro key binds and if you have any other Corsair iCUE compatible peripherals such as Corsair mouse or headset, you can also pair them and synchronize the lighting effects. In terms of comfort, Corsair also offers a palm rest along with the keyboard that also counts as a plus point.

5. Redragon K552 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

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PROS

Very Affordable
Raw Mechanical Feel
N-Key Rollover and Anti-Ghosting is good for gaming
12 Multimedia Function keys
Solid Steel Frame

CONS

Only one light per row
Keycaps are of average quality

Features

Switches: Outemu Red Key Switches
Connection: Wired
RGB: LED Rainbow Backlit
Number of Keys: 87

Dimensions

Length: 4.86 in
Width: 13.94 in
Height: 1.46 in
Weight: 1000 g

For the budget-oriented people, there are not many options to choose from when particularly searching for a mechanical gaming keyboard. However, Redragon is certainly the brand that fulfills most people’s wish for a budget mechanical gaming keyboard. Since the keyboard comes for a very affordable price, it focuses on providing an overall mechanical feel to the users.

We won’t deny that it is a cheap gaming keyboard and compromises on most parts to cut down the costs. But, it is very much capable of offering the raw mechanical feel to any user. No, there are no big names associated with this keyboard such as Cherry MX or Kailh. Instead, it comes with some third-party Outemu Red Key Switches which replicate the feel of Cherry MX Red up to a great extent.

So, the actuation point is quite similar as well, around 1.5mm, but the key switches are of standard type. However, since these are Red switches, these are the quietest ones that you would find in the standard switch types. Thus, it is sort of a low profile keyboard as it does not make much noise while typing. Apart from that, its form-factor is also small because of the tenkeyless design which makes it a tad bit easier to carry while travelling as well.

Basically, it does not fall into the low profile mechanical category, but it does have some sort of feature to act as one. Due to the Tenkeyless design, there is no Numpad and it only has 87 keys in total. But, all the keys support N-key rollover and Anti-Ghosting so it is a perfect keyboard for gaming purposes as well. As for the lighting, you miss out on RGB lighting here, but the Rainbow backlighting does not make you feel totally regretting to purchase. There is plenty of lighting presets that you can enjoy in this configuration as well.

Moreover, the K552 is compatible with all versions of Windows OS and even ideal to use with Linux. However, there is no support for macOS, so that is sort of a bummer. For connectivity, this keyboard uses a USB interface which is also gold-plated for absolute reliability and longevity.

6. Redragon K552 60% Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Source: Amazon

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PROS

Budget-Friendly Mechanical Keyboard
Clicky Switch feel is good
An ideal option for FPS gamers
Compact Tenkeyless Design
Durable Steel frame and ABS combination

CONS

Limited Customizations
No macro key support

Features

Switches: Outemu Blue Key Switches
Connection: Wired
RGB: LED Rainbow Backlit
Number of Keys: 87

Dimensions

Length: 4.86 in
Width: 13.94 in
Height: 1.46 in
Weight: 898 g

If the previous offering from Redragon didn’t have enough features to please you, definitely this one corrects all the things that you might have felt missing in the previous one. This is a little bit advanced version of the Redragon K552 model, but with a slight twist of RGB lighting that most people already love a lot.

So, all the other features are quite similar to the previous listing as it is also built on a total steel frame which makes it a solid keyboard and promises extreme durability and ruggedness.

Despite the fact that you might be searching for a low profile keyboard, this standard mechanical keyboard is absolutely the most affordable option which offers RGB lighting. However, the lighting effects are limited to 18 different modes with 5 different brightness adjustments. Still, it is more than enough, especially when you consider the price that you will be paying to get your hands on it.

The keycaps are made out of ABS material and there lies Outemu Blue Switches beneath them which are most likely equivalent to Cherry MX Blue switches. Thus, if you are fond of the clicky sounds and tactile feedback, this keyboard will serve you well. Moreover, it is quite suitable for the FPS gamers out there due to its tenkeyless design. Hence, you will not find it difficult to pack in your bag and go from one place to another.

Apart from that, all the 87 keys of this keyboard support Anti-Ghosting and N-key rollover. Hence, even if you press multiple keys at the same time while gaming, the keyboard will read every action precisely and help you play the games the way you want. Another great reason for you to pick this keyboard is that it is compatible with all the platforms such as Windows, Linux, and limited use for macOS too.

7. Keychron K2 Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

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PROS

Can be used with all OS
Extra Keycaps included
Wired and Wireless connectivity
Good Battery Life
Type-C wired connection

CONS

Not compatible with any software for customizations
Macros setup is not possible

Features

Switches: Gateron G Pro Blue Switch
Connection: Wireless + Wired
RGB: White LED backlight
Number of Keys: 84

Dimensions

Length: 4.84 in
Width: 12.32 in
Height: 1.52 in
Weight: 663 g

Sophisticated is the word that goes well with Apple products, and so with this wireless low profile mechanical keyboard from Keychron. Since all the keyboards that we have discussed till now didn’t have full compatibility with macOS, it would not be justice to the MacOS family to not offer something good from this list. Most people out there don’t actually appreciate the way Apple has changed the keyboard on its laptops.

However, for the key travel enthusiasts and those who want to ditch the chiclet keyboard and move over to a mechanical one, the Keychron K2 is definitely the best option to go with. Since it comes with Gateron Blue Switches, the clicky feedback from this keyboard sounds like music to the ears while typing.

Since it is a wireless mechanical keyboard, your desk will not have the clutter of wires going all around and you can maintain a neat and clean look of your work desk with ease. Being a wireless keyboard, it boasts a 4000 mAh battery as well which can last for about 72 hours of continuous usage. Even if you use it for 8 hours a day, you will only need to charge it once a week, so that does not seem like a big issue for anyone at all.

Apart from that, if we talk about the design, we personally like it a lot because of the minimal color scheme going on, and especially the orange color keycap for the Escape key. To keep the things the simplest, there is white LED backlighting given on this keyboard instead of funky RGB since it is not meant for gaming at all.

Since it has the Mac keyboard layout as default, you will not feel any difficulties to shift to this one. However, if you want to use this one with a Windows or Linux System, there are additional keycaps included in the package. Thus, it is an all-rounder mechanical keyboard compatible with all the Operating systems.

Another best part that we felt about this keyboard is that it has the latest Broadcom Bluetooth 5.1 chipset which lets you connect this keyboard to up to 3 devices at the same time and switch between them with one key-press. Although if you connect it using the USB Type C cable connection, you get the advantage of N-Key Rollover whereas it only has 6-Key rollover on the wireless mode.

8. Cooler Master Sk-621 60% Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Source: Amazon

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PROS

Compact and Lightweight
Additional Set of Keycaps
The RGB lighting is fully customizable
Battery life lasts for about week on a single charge

CONS

Not ideal for Gaming
Keycaps are a bit tricky to replace with the additional set

Features

Switches: Cherry MX Red Switches
Connection: Wireless + Wired
RGB: RGB Backlighting and Lightbar
Number of Keys: 64

Dimensions

Length: 4.72 in
Width: 12.48 in
Height: 2.36 in
Weight: 422 g

Cooler Master is yet another big name in the industry well-known for making each kind of gaming-related products starting from mouse to chairs. Thus, a keyboard from such a brand seems quite interesting to check out as well.

The Cooler Master Sk-621 is a tenkeyless keyboard, but more importantly, it is a low profile flat mechanical keyboard that is best suited for typing professionals.

Since the design of this keyboard is too appealing, the floating keycaps look way more beautiful in real life than in pictures. In addition, the backlighting effects of this keyboard make it more elegant.

There are 3 different light modes such as Red+, Blue+, Green+, where you can see beautiful color transitions going on around these three major colors. These three presets are personal favorites of the Cooler Master team, however, if you want to do customizations of your own, you are allowed to map 16.7 million colors to any key using the software.

Moreover, the software also offers you various options to set macro key binds too. For the design of it, Cooler Master has not left even an inch of empty space and utilized the small brushed aluminum frame quite well to fit all the keys in a smaller form-factor.

Under the keys, there lies the set of Cherry MX RGB Low Profile Red switches which offer a linear actuation of 2mm without any clicking sound or tactile feedback as such. However, if you love to work in a quiet environment, this keyboard would just serve you very well. Although this flat mechanical keyboard looks quite modern and stylish, you also get a set of extra keycaps of standard shape if you love the standard look more.

In fact, this keyboard can be used in both wireless and wired modes too. It has support for Bluetooth 4.0 which allows you to use it with up to 3 devices. However, if you want to use it with a wired connection, it even comes with a Type-C USB cable that will also work to charge the in-built battery.

9. Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Source: Amazon

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PROS

Hybrid Connectivity Options
Volume Wheel
Dedicated Media Controls
Different Switch options available
Rugged Brushed Metal build and design

CONS

40 hours of battery backup is quite average
Very Expensive

Features

Switches: GL Clicky
Connection: Wireless + Wired
RGB: LIGHTSYNC RGB
Number of Keys: 90

Dimensions

Length: 5.9 in
Width: 15.2 in
Height: 0.9 in
Weight: 812 g

If you are a Logitech fan, then the G915 tenkeyless keyboard is the amazing choice to pick since it’s quite compact and ideal for both typists and gamers too. In fact, the low profile is maintained well too with smaller keycaps and dedicated low profile switches. Thus, Logitech has been able to design this keyboard in a much slimmer form-factor than the standard mechanical keyboards.

Like every Logitech product, you can notice the glowing blue LED-backlit Logitech logo upfront with some cool-looking round multimedia buttons.

There are 4 round buttons on the left-hand side for Lightspeed, Bluetooth, Game Mode, and Lightsync RGB. The use and meaning of these buttons are self-explanatory by their names. Whereas on the right-hand side, a similar set of four round buttons are given for media controls which makes the keyboard look symmetrical as well. Along with that, you also get a volume scroll wheel too.

As this is a tenkeyless keyboard, you will not find any Numpad here which is also the main reason why it looks so compact and modern. This keyboard can work on both wired and wireless connectivity, and Logitech calls the wireless connectivity as Lightspeed. No doubt, Logitech has almost perfected the way to implement wireless technology in all its products as we usually see it working flawlessly with mice and headsets too.

If you are a fan of RGB lighting, the G915 low profile mechanical keyboard won’t disappoint you at all since you can choose the lighting effects of your own from the Logitech G Hub software and select your own personal favorite colors from the palette of 16.8 million colors. Since the wireless option is there, its battery life works for about 40 hours of continuous gaming time, and as soon as it reaches 15%, you will also get warned about that.

In addition, talking about the build, the switches sit on a brushed aluminum chassis which is quite durable and won’t face any issues in the long run. Moreover, you are free to choose your own choice of switches since this model comes in different variants with GL Tactile, GL Linear or GL Clicky switches. In fact, if you wish to have the same keyboard with Numpad, the G915 model is available too, if not, this G915 TKL has everything you could ask for.

10. Cooler Master Sk-650 Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Source: Amazon

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PROS

Fully Customizable RGB backlighting
Additional keycaps set
On-the-fly controls
Detachable USB cable

CONS

Not meant for Hardcore gaming
Difficult to replace keycaps

Features

Switches: Cherry MX Low Profile switches
Connection: Wired
RGB: RGB Backlighting and Lightbar
Number of Keys: 104

Dimensions

Length: 4.94 in
Width: 17.05 in
Height: 1.17 in
Weight: 629 g

Cooler Master has a bunch of flat mechanical keyboards in their arsenal out of which the SK-650 low profile keyboard is an amazing option that fits this list quite aptly. Also, it is one of the most slim mechanical keyboards that you could find out there.

However, the features are quite similar to the one Cooler Master keyboard that we discussed earlier. The keyboard is built out on a brushed aluminum frame with a slim top plate.

Since Cooler Master had to maintain the low profile nature for this keyboard, the use of flat keycaps and low profile switches is the absolute necessity that they have nailed for sure. The flat keycaps are looking quite good on this keyboard and anyone who likes to type a lot would also love to get his/her fingers running on these keycaps for sure.

However, if you don’t like the look of this flat mechanical keyboard, there is an additional set of keycaps available too which you can replace to give it a standard mechanical keyboard look. As you pull out the keycaps, you will find the Cherry MX Low profile RGB Red key switches beneath. And, as we know, these key switches have a pretty low actuation point at around 1.2mm with no switch press sound and linear feedback. So, the typing experience on this keyboard is by far most superior.

But, if you want to game on this keyboard, it will not be a wise choice as N-Key rollover support is not particularly there to help you out. Along with that, these flat keycaps would also not work well for hardcore gamers. On the other hand, in terms of the design aspect, the keyboard has three different Cooler Master signature lighting presets with beautiful gradient effects. But, with the use of dedicated software, you can also customize the RGB lighting the way you want.

In addition, with on-the-fly controls, it is easier to make lighting adjustments, and real-time macro tuning without the need to open any software makes it way more convenient for the users. Moreover, it works using the USB interface, but the cable is detachable so that you can carry it easily without any hassle.

What are Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards?

Most people might be thinking about what we are discussing and What actually are these low profile mechanical keyboards? Typically, the standard mechanical keyboards are quite bulky in nature due to their larger keycaps, larger switches, and everything else. Although we respect the look and feel of the standard keyboards, it is totally down to an individual’s preference.

Most people out there have different likings and want to have a keyboard with a minimalistic design. Despite choosing a bulky keyboard, some people prefer to work with a slimmer keyboard instead, because of its simple and stylish looks. But, until and unless the switches were not re-designed, it was quite difficult to give a slimmer look to any mechanical keyboard.

Also, as low profile mechanical keyboards have a smaller key travel, if you pair the keyboard with the right kind of key switches, you can have the best-personalized experience. However, as compared to a normal mechanical keyboard, these ones are much quieter too. So, if you don’t want your colleagues to be disturbed because of your keyboard’s sound, a low profile keyboard could help you a lot.

However, you will find some of the most slim mechanical keyboards aka low profile mechanical keyboards on this list. The low profile tag is given to these keyboards because they are slim, and have key switches with lesser key travel too. So, the keys do not seem to be popping out of the keyboard too much and stay in disguise.

Some people might even think of these as a membrane keyboard. However, until and unless you start typing, your all misconceptions will vanish as the tactile, clicky, mechanical feel would still be there to serve you, no matter what.

Low Profile Mechanical Switches

If you wonder what are low profile keys? Apart from the various standard mechanical switches, most well-known brands are now designing their switches in a new and smaller form-factor to make them suitable for a slim mechanical keyboard with low profile keycaps as well.

The low profile mechanical switches tend to have a somewhat similar feel just like the standard ones, but the total travel is reduced which also makes the key operation occur much faster and without making much noise. As you know, the standard mechanical switches are so clicky, it only sounds like music to the one who is typing on the keyboard, not to others sitting nearby.

Since Low profile switches are the best in terms of maintaining the quietness and mechanical feel altogether, there are plenty of options that you can choose from since there are so many good switch manufacturers. So, let’s talk about them one by one and see which one you should pick for yourself.

Also read: Tactile Vs Linear Vs Clicky Switches | Which one Suits you Best

1. Kailh Low Profile Switches

Kailh has a pretty good range of mechanical switches, either the standard ones or the low profile mechanical switches. As the Cherry MX switches are the best and have set a benchmark for other brands to cross, Kailh offers a pretty good feel of a Cherry MX switch but for a comparatively lower price. Usually, the low profile mechanical switches from Kailh are also known as Choc keys. In the low profile segment, there are three different kinds of switches that Kailh offers as of now, the red choc keys, the white choc keys, and the brown choc keys.

Although the actuation force for all these three switches is 50g. But, out of all these low profile keys, the which choc keys offer the most clicky feedback, while the brown choc keys are good in offering tactile feedback which is good for the gamers out there. However, the red choc keys are certainly the best since they offer linear travel which has a subtle feel of both the other switches mixed together.

Kailh White Choc Keys – Clicky sound
Kailh Brown Choc Keys – Tactile, but no sound
Kailh Red Choc Keys – Linear and silent key travel

There are one most anticipated and the latest Kailh Blue Switches as well that comes with a slightly different stem design, and offer a nice click sound while pressing. Because of this nature, even Logitech uses the same switches in their gaming keyboard with the Logitech GL branding.

2. Cherry Low Profile Switches

If you have planned to get yourself a Cherry MX low profile keyboard, certainly you have made the best decision as no other mechanical switches are as good as the Cherry MX switches. Many other brands try to replicate the feel of these switches, but other brands have got it up to the mark yet. Although there are various kinds of standard Cherry MX switches, the low profile category has only two offerings from Cherry MX. There is a red low profile switch and the other one is Cherry MX Speed Silver switch.

The Cherry MX Red switch is recommended for those who like a much smooth key travel with a linear action. Because the size of Cherry MX low profile red switches is almost 35% smaller than a standard switch. It makes it easier for the manufacturers to design a slim mechanical keyboard while keeping the mechanical feel intact. Hence, if typing is what you do most and hate those bumps in the key travel, a cherry MX Red low profile switch will be a perfect choice for you.

Apart from that, the total key travel of these switches is 3.2mm, but with the actuation force of 45g, the operation of the key starts at the key travel of 1.2mm only. Thus, Cherry MX is flaunting about this switch as “Quick-witted, smooth and direct”.

On the other hand, there are Cherry MX Speed Silver switches which are more focussed towards gaming since it is being branded as “fast and direct”. So, the first impression of these switches is quite good since these ones also require 45g actuation force and have a linear action too. However, if you are a gamer and are looking for a low profile mechanical keyboard, the one with a speed silver switch will be the most perfect choice to pick.

Although the actuation force of 45g and total key travel of 3.2mm are as same as the red low profile switches. The operational key travel of these switches is only 1 mm which is even lesser than the cherry MX red low profile switches. Thus, you can easily have an edge over your opponent since your actions will be registered a tad bit quicker..

3. Logitech Low Profile GL Switches

Logitech has chosen to design their own switches for their low profile gaming keyboards instead of borrowing them from any other manufacturers. However, the Logitech low profile GL switches resemble mostly the Kailh switches but have a subtle premium feel in them.

Generally, in the GL category, there are three different kinds of offerings from Logitech which is Linear, Tactile, and Clicky. This is the case where they try to compete with Cherry MX red, brown and blue switches.

GL Brown Switch – Tactile, 1.5mm travel
GL Red Switch – Linear, 1.5mm travel
GL White Switch – Clicky, 1.5mm travel

The GL Brown switch has a pretty good noticeable bump with a nice tactile feel to it, which we believe is certainly good for gamers. Now, since Logitech claims to reduce the overall travel for actuation by 25%, you can guess how fast your actions can get using these switches in the competitive gaming scenarios.

The GL Red switches on the other hand are mostly suitable for scenarios where rapid clicking is necessary, or it is also a good option for typists. Since it has a linear travel, the bump will not waste come in your way of typing and one can easily type faster and more accurately with these switches. In fact, these switches are totally silent so won’t be disturbing for others as well while you are working.

For those who do not want to lose on the clicky and tactile feel, the GL white switch is the perfect choice since it keeps the vibe of the standard clicky mechanical switches alive even in a smaller form-factor like this.

4. Unknown or Proprietary Low Profile Switches

Apart from all the well-known switch brands, there are some other brands that are not highlighted that much. Still, their switch offerings are quite comparable with the industry giants. Since Cherry MX switches are the absolute benchmark to hit for any other brand, most manufacturers like Gateron, Jixian, Outemu have their own series of switches similar to Cherry MX.

Hence, the feel and response from the switches are quite similar to the premium ones, but have a lower price tag too. So, in case you have a budget in mind, you can also go for the laptop with switches from other brands as the experience won’t differ by any large margin.

Conclusion

So, this was all about the low profile gaming keyboards. Since these are the best deals available in the market right now, we have tried our best to include each kind of best low profile mechanical keyboards on this list to make it ideal for every reader to find a good deal. As there are multiple options on the list, each of them is quite unique and falls into a different budget category. That’s why it should not be a challenging task for any of the readers to choose one from the above list.

If you ask us which of the keyboard is the best one, we personally recommend you to choose any cherry MX low profile keyboard option from the list since these are the best switches according to us. Make sure to share your thoughts and leave your suggestions and queries in the comments sections below. We will soon be back with some other interesting deals for you.

10 Best Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards

10 Best Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards

1. Havit Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

2. Alienware AW510K Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard

3. HyperX Alloy FPS Pro Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

4. CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 RAPIDFIRE Low Profile Keyboard

5. Redragon K552 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

6. Redragon K552 60% Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

7. Keychron K2 Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

8. Cooler Master Sk-621 60% Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

9. Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

10. Cooler Master Sk-650 Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

What are Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards?