My favorite keyboards you can actually buy right now(ish.)

Lately we’ve built and used some incredible boards at all price ranges. I wanted to share a list of some fantastic boards that you can buy right now and not have to wait months for it to arrive. As a disclaimer, I am affiliated with and even work for some of these brands and companies. However, I always keep things 100% honest with you guys. If you use any of the links, you’ll be supporting me and allowing me to create more amazing content for you guys, so thank you very much in advance! Now let’s get into it!

KBDFans Agar

This keyboard starts at just $115 and looks simply stunning. The way the blockers curve down on the front presents such a unique shape and aesthetic. The side profile, blockers, and weight all remind me of flowing water, and it makes the board feel so soft to touch and look at.

The mounting style utilizes silicone posts that rest around the case emulating an o-ring mounting style which allows the board to have a nice pop to the sound and a very comfortable typing feel. I paired it with HMX Sugar Rush switches and a mix of GMK Modern Materials base kits for a vibrant sound. There was a touch of resonance in the bottom row, but it didn’t affect the space bar which, for me, wasn’t a deal breaker. I also didn't deem it necessary to install foam. If you shy away from resonance of any sort, adding the case foam will likely cure this completely. This is the only board on the list that isn’t actually available to purchase at the time of writing, but it will be launching in-stock on March 10th. I rated this board a 9/10, and I stand by it. Truly a gorgeous board with massive value.

Neo 60 Cu / Neo 65 Cu

This duo is currently making massive waves in the space. Starting at $165, such a gorgeous design with a brass or copper case bottom is kinda unheard of in the hobby, especially when you consider how voluptuous this boards curves are. This is usually an aspect of manufacturing that typically raises the cost significantly, not to mention when working with a higher cost material such as brass or copper. Both units that I photographed above come in around the $210 price range which is just wild to me. Many people in the hobby, myself included, feel that if this board came out 1-2 years ago, it could have been priced at $300-400 easily. This board is available now for pre-order with delivery within 4 weeks which is not instant but still convenient.

Speaking to the sound and feel, this board uses PCB Gaskets and Isolated Top Mount which provides some great customization when building. This means you can go plateless with a solder PCB if you’d like. The mounting styles provide two routes for the feel and sound. If you use the PCB Gaskets, you can expect a more vibrant sound and a softer typing feel. Isolated Top Mount will grant you a stiffer typing feel with a bit more of a bassy sound signature. Both are great and allow you to really dial things in to your preferences. I rated both of these a 10/10, and I highly recommend them if you’re in the market for either of these layouts.

Omnitype Bauer Lite

I feel it is even more important for me to state that I do work for Omnitype at the beginning of this section, but I do truly believe in what I feel about this board. Starting at just $120, the value for me comes with the customization, clean sound, and understated appearance. This board has been in my rotation since release (and before I used to work for Omnitype), and I first built it with Ghost Dragons and GMK Botanical.

Since then, I’ve received my Dragon Darts and Nekoccino keycaps, and I keep two different styles of this board in my rotation. The first build is the super clacky and plasticky Ghost Dragons on a PC plate, topped with DCX Dragon Darts. The second is a slightly deeper and poppier build with Kailh BCPs on an aluminum plate and topped with KCH Nekoccino. I really like that by changing up the plates, you can really change how this board behaves. Overall this board does have a stiffer typing feel, so if you’re looking for flex, this won’t feel like the softest board you’ve typed on. However, if you’re looking for a lightweight board to bring around on work or travel trips, this may be perfect for you.

The last thing I’d like to touch on is how customizable this board itself is. You can buy extra tops, bumpers, and plates to really build out a super unique combination to fit your setup or your favorite keycap set. I hope that one day Omnitype releases a configurator to allow you to build your dream combination. Fingers. Crossed.

Mode Sonnet / SixtyFive

Mode is a sponsor of mine, but, once again, my opinions about these are 100% my own. I wanted to shine the spotlight on both the Sonnet and SixtyFive because both have been amazing boards to have in my collection. The Sonnet specifically has been in my collection for years now (also before Mode was a sponsor), and I’ve rebuilt this thing probably 50 times since I've gotten it. It’s just such a great board, and with the new implementation of the lattice blocks, it took it to another level for me. I know both of these are priced at a higher premium than the other boards on the list, but I can assure you, they’re still some of my favorites. The biggest thing for me is the timeless design language, full sound, and customizable typing feel.

The Sonnet starts at $295 and the SixtyFive starts at $249. Both are fully customizable in their configurator. I know the SixtyFive is currently available in-stock and the Sonnet will be fully in-stock in April once the shipment arrives. If you wanted either of these, now is a great time to hop on in.

My favorite build config uses the Green Lattice blocks with a Carbon Fiber plate. If you like clack, trust me, this combo slaps.

DR Polygon-7

This unconventional board starts at $119 which, once again, baffles me since its design is so meticulous. It's already on the second in-stock drop since it was so popular when it released for the first time a few months ago.

The little buttons give it a memorable top down view, the side profile features a multilayered take on a box-on-wedge, and the weight is simply gorgeous. Not to mention the sound and feel are top tier due to the PCB gasket mount. This is easily my favorite board Daring Run has produced, and I’m even more excited to see what they do next. I built this with and without foam, and it was amazing both times.

It was the first board on this list that made me realize that this new keyboard era is focused on incredible value while somehow still looking, feeling, and sounding great. It’s like they’re doing what should have been impossible just a few years ago. What a time to love keyboards.

Novelkeys_ Classic-TKL GLO Edition

This is easily one of the most fun boards I’ve built as of late. I really loved the original colors for the Classic-TKL, but once I saw this gorgeous Hot Pink GLO Edition I fell even deeper in love. This retails at just $89 which is insane.

It comes with the silicone internal dampener to help give it some premium feeling heft while also taming some of the plasticky sounds you’d typically get with an ABS case like this. The gasket implementation on this board is also really nice and allows for a flexible feel without the foams. It sounds pretty great as well, leaning more to the deeper tones when using the silicone layer like I did. I also love the massive silicone foot on the bottom. This also helps to clean up any unwanted thudding noises while typing. It’s also light enough to use as a good travel board.

It’s available in so many colors now, and I think it’s a great pickup if you’re on a budget and want a TKL with a ton of value. Great job on this one, Nephlock!

Thanks for taking the time to read through this, I am truly grateful. I hope you have a good rest of your day, and as always, I'll key you later!