TOP 5 mechanical keyboards of the middle class

Redragon Fizz is a compact and extravagant pink and white keyboard from Redragon that hit store shelves in the fall of 2022 and has been a top seller in most online stores ever since. Its size is approximately 60% of the size of a regular full-length model. She completely lacks the Numpad and arrows, and the Fn key in combination with other buttons is responsible for multimedia functions, backlighting and can turn the WASD keys into an analogue of the arrows. This approach frees up more space on the desk, and the device itself is easier to carry, while at the same time, when switching from a 100 or 90% class keyboard, the user will need some time to get used to.

Redragon Fizz is based on unnamed red mechanical switches (note: most likely Outemu or Gateron). They have a linear motion, require little effort to press and are distinguished by a distinct click. Thanks to this combination, the "red" mechanics fell in love with fans of shooters and other dynamic genres. Alternatively, you can pay attention to Fizz modifications with brown switches. These are switches with a palpable tactile feedback that emphasizes precision over velocity. In addition to games, they are often chosen for printing.

Otherwise, this is a typical middle-class mechanical keyboard that has flooded the market lately. Strong and squat base does not crawl on the table. Gold-plated USB connector provides better conductivity. Keycaps can be easily removed with a special puller and support hot swapping. And the keyboard itself supports Anti-Ghosting and N-KRO. The only downside of the device is the implementation of RGB lighting : the color combinations are frankly strange, the LEDs are dim, and the special effects are not very beautiful and chaotic. It looks clumsy, as if someone very tired just scattered all the garlands that were in the box on the Christmas tree.

The Logitech G413 TKL SE is a compact TKL modification of the popular gaming mechanics for gamers with versatile brown switches, an all-metal base and Skeleton-class construction. Unlike other compact models, the company's designers removed only the Numpad, leaving the function keys and arrows in their usual place. Another feature of the device was the ascetic appearance. The Swiss designers at Logitech have always been prone to minimalism, but a couple of years ago, most gamers demanded bread and circuses, so Logitech had to satisfy the demands of the market. But not at this time.

The Logitech G413 TKL SE looks rather strict: it has a standard key engraving, keycaps are designed in the style of office keyboards, all elements are painted black, a minimum of decorations. Visually, it is distinguished from the usual office membrane only by the keys protruding above the protective plate (note: the model belongs to the Skeleton format). Unlike other gaming models, it uses monochrome backlighting, which performs its main function - it highlights the keys in the dark. Beautiful effects and synchronization with other devices are not supported. Whether this is good or bad depends on personal preference.

Instead of decor, Logitech engineers focused on the important little things that form the final impression of the device. The body of the keyboard is made of a strong and weighty bar of aircraft-grade aluminium; by the standards of compact keyboards, 650 grams look solid. Keycaps are made using the double molding method of indestructible PBT plastic. The keys are protected against sticking and accidental pressing, simultaneous pressing of 6-KRO is supported. Quiet and high-precision tactile switches are able to handle even the slightest touch. In general, the quality here is top-notch, even if the functionality is somewhat inferior to competitors. Also included is the Logitech G-Hub software for customizing keys, controlling backlighting, creating macros, and syncing with other gadgets from Logitech. For complete happiness, there is not enough interchangeable cable and multimedia keys that would fit without problems on the top right.

The Motospeed BK67 Longhua is a compact keyboard with combo connectivity, 50 million keystroke mechanical switches, controlled RGB backlighting, N-KRO and anti-ghosting. It belongs to the compact class - its dimensions are 35% smaller than the standard full-size keyboard, it does not have a Numpad and F1 - F12 keys, and the function block and arrows on the right are located as closely as possible. On the one hand, the user gets more space on the table and can easily carry the keyboard with him, on the other hand, the “65%” format and its layout take time to get used to.

As for the design of the Motospeed BK6, it's the typical Skeleton class mechanics that have dominated the gaming peripheral market in recent years. The base is made of plastic, a metal plate is hidden inside to make it heavier and give stability. The keys rise above the body, the keycaps have a small recess for the fingers. Instead of the traditional black color, the body of the device was painted in red or yellow. In combination with multi-colored interchangeable keys, the user can arm himself with the principle “I am an artist, this is how I see it” and customize the appearance of the keyboard to suit your needs. Plus, there is a surprisingly smart RGB lighting with 10 modes of operation on board.

Motospeed BK67 Longhua supports two connection modes - using a USB cable or using a wireless Bluetooth receiver. Wireless mode supports three simultaneous connections, the range is 10 meters, the maximum operating time is 10 hours. With a wired connection (note: USB C is used), the built-in battery immediately goes into charging mode, which is quite convenient. FN+E/R/T keyboard shortcuts are provided to quickly switch between connected devices. In proprietary software, you can assign macro keyboard shortcuts. In general, Motospeed turned out to be a surprisingly successful mechanical keyboard, which enjoys well-deserved attention from users. The only reason to throw a stone at her garden is the ringing springs on the stabilizer near the Space key.

Hator quickly and successfully jumped into the gaming peripherals market, offering gamers relatively inexpensive and high-quality mice with keyboards without branding and advertising at esports tournaments. One of the main hits of the company was the inexpensive Rockfall mechanical keyboard, which was replaced in 2022 by the new Skyfall model. We got our hands on a Skyfall PRO modification - a miniature mechanic costing less than $100 with red Kailh switches, NKRO support, anti-ghosting and controllable RGB lighting.

The Hator Skyfall TKL PRO is a compact TKL-class tournament model with a militarized key layout and no full Numpad. Judging by the overall quality of the Skyfall TKL PRO, one gets the impression that this time Hator focused not on the middle price segment, but on demanding gamers with extensive experience using mechanical keyboards. A metal plate is built into the base, which gives the device stability. Between the plate and the board is a dense layer of silicone for better sound insulation. The thick braided cable can be detached and replaced if necessary. Not only the keys, but also the side panels are equipped with RGB backlighting. Well, it should be noted that there are many color options for the case, in our opinion, yellow, mint and purple are an excellent alternative to classic black and white.

Kailh Box Red switches are not much different from other red switches in terms of physics: the keys are pressed clearly and evenly, the actuation point occurs in the middle of the stroke with a smooth softened blow at the end. The stabilizers of the large buttons are well lubricated, do not warp or rattle when pressed. The hot-swappable keycaps are double-molded and the characters are laser engraved. The clicking sound is also quite pleasant and not too loud, although this is already a matter of taste. The keyboard is equally pleasant and cut with friends in Titanfall 2, and typing. Although this is a debatable issue, since many users prefer brown switches for printing.

HyperX has pretty famously entered the computer peripheral market, pushing Razer, Logitech and other big players. Alloy's extremely successful line of advanced and relatively inexpensive mechanical keyboards helps keep its piece of the company's pie. This time, the compact model HyperX Alloy Origins 60 came to our tests with excellent mechanical switches of its own production, many advantages and almost complete absence of disadvantages.

The base of Alloy Origins 60 is a massive slab of aircraft-grade aluminium. Keycaps are made using the double casting method, the engraving is applied using a laser, so the keys quite claim to be immortal. Soft-touch mechanical switches with medium travel and a subtle tactile response are on par with Cherry's. The sound of pressing does not hit the ears, and the stabilizers on the large keys do not rattle. Claimed switch life is 80 million clicks.

It's not for nothing that HyperX boasts that it was created by gamers for gamers. Additional advantages of the model include a detachable cable, rich lighting effects, convenient configuration software, high build quality, NKRO support with Anti-Ghosting and comfortable legs with three tilt options. Judging by the test impressions, Alloy Origins 60 is equally suitable for both games and for working with text, taking up a minimum of space on the table and leaving it for the mouse and other peripherals. At the same time, you need to get used to its size. In particular, the arrows and the Numpad are completely absent here, and multimedia functions are available through key combinations.