After Testing 15 Low Profile Keyboards Get this

Thin keyboards are getting released every single month now. And surprisingly, they're actually getting really good. Some of them sound nearly as good as normal mechanical keyboards, but they're lighter and thinner, making them more portable and ergonomic. But first, I want to show you something that I've been obsessed with lately. From today's sponsor, HOTO, and their SnapLock collection. The SnapLock system is the perfect 3-in-1 system with a modular rotary tool, a drill, and a precision screwdriver. More on them later in the video. I've tried out over 15 low-profile keyboards in the past year, and let's just say not all of them are worth it. I moved into an office recently, which means I'm commuting again. Nothing like losing 40 minutes of my life every day just to sit in a different chair. But that also means carrying around a backpack with my laptop in it. And suddenly, I'm judging every keyboard by one brutal standard. Will this give me back pain? Because I get it already. But which one will make the cut for my everyday carry bag? And which ones will get returned? And which ones are actually worth your time? So these are the best low-profile keyboards of 2025. Now, before we get into the best picks, there's one mistake you don't want to make. Buying an outdated low-profile keyboard just because you've seen it recommended a million times. That's like thinking Windows Vista is still the best. But here's the thing. It never was. Boards like the Nuvi Air series, the Keychron low-profile line, or even the Lofree Flow 84 were great when they launched. But the market has caught up. And in many cases, it's blown past them. And that leads me to the next keyboard, which had a surprisingly good typing experience. When I reviewed this recently, I seriously thought this would be one of the best keyboards of the year. If you're planning on going with Mac, then this is the keyboard to consider. The Melgeek O2. It has a Mac aesthetic that's all white and is a Mac first keyboard rather than being a Windows keyboard that also happens to work on Mac. It's also 75%, which makes it compact. And it fits perfectly into my backpack. There's no shine through keycaps. But because the keycaps are so high contrast, using it at night isn't too bad. This keyboard also lacks onboard dongle storage. So you'd be stuck with using your Bluetooth or leaving your 2.4G plugged into your laptop or your hub. It's very similar to the MX Mac Mini, but the sound is so much better. It has a distinct lock with a satisfying bottom out rather than a rattly stiff experience. And this is bouncy and gasket mounted that softens every key press. After using this for a couple of weeks, this keyboard likes to accumulate fingerprints all on the case. And it gets marks easily on the keycaps, which ruins the clean aesthetic. The battery life is almost on par with the Mac Mini, lasting you six months if you turn off the ambient side lights and the backlight as well. A big downside to this keyboard is it is a little more expensive at $129, but right now you can get $20 off during a special sale on their website. It also doesn't have really intuitive software and you have to download it onto your PC if you want to use it. And worst of all, you can't take apart the keyboard without breaking it. I guess it doesn't care about repairability at all, just like Apple, so they're meant for each other. And that might be a deal breaker for me. So we need to find a better option. One that sounds good, is portable, and is repairable. So there is one more keyboard that has really blown me away in this low profile category that would be dumb to not include. It's super lightweight, it's super portable, and it has a full plastic case. And it's a keyboard that's really changed my mind on how good low profiles could even be. And this is the Lofree Flowlite. Don't mistake that for its heavier full aluminum older brother, the Flow 84 or the Flow 100. This is the Flowlite in the 100 key profile. The Flowlite is a mix of thocky and creamy, and it's affordable at $110 for the 75 version. And there's also this version for $120 if you wanted a number pad. Now it does have a small zero, so you have to do some awkward thumb contortion to do data entry without errors. And while I love the scroll wheel on the top right, I hate that they added the extra forehead, which makes it unnecessarily bigger. Like the O2, it has proprietary software that you need to download instead of more universal browser-based software. Like VIA, that's open source and easy to use. But despite being one of the best portable options, it's still not the thinnest that you could go. But quick note, if you're one of those people that love full-size keyboards, and you need a number pad, like a real number pad, not the ones with the small zeros that make you do this, then your options are pretty limited. I've tried the $280 Corsair K100 Air with their ultra thin switches. It feels too much like a laptop, except it's actually mechanical. But due to the high price and the unsatisfying feel, it was a little bit hard to recommend to someone. But there is one brand that dominates as far as different size options go, and that's Keychron. So if you're looking for a full-size low-profile keyboard, then your only good options are the Keychron K5 and K17 keyboards. But there are sacrifices that come with getting Keychron, such as the rattly stabilizers and the low quality ultra thin keycaps. This one actually sounds pretty satisfying, and it has a knob. Now if you do happen to have one of these, that's not a bad thing. These are upgradable with their hot swap sockets, so you can switch to better sounding switches, or even mod them by adding more foam. Real quick, let me show you why I've been obsessed with this SnapLock kit from HOTO, and why I think it's the next big upgrade for your setup. It looks great on your desk, but more importantly, it just feels really satisfying to use. The magnetic modules snap together effortlessly. Everything is compact, easy to grab, and super clicky in the best way. It's way more approachable than traditional power tools, and way less bulky too. The rotary tool is great for smoothing out 3D prints, the drill is easy to use, and I was blown away by the amount of torque on the precision screwdriver. It really saves the wrist when modding and building keyboards. Check out the SnapLock kit from HOTO, use my code to get 15% off with a special discount link below, and upgrade your workspace with tools that actually make you want to use them. Now if you're looking for something ultra portable to use with a tablet, or you don't really care how your keyboard sounds, then this next option might be best. Instead of weighing more by using mechanical switches, you can opt for a thin membrane keyboard instead. Now I know how crazy this sounds, they're not mechanical switches, what are you talking about? But as I've gotten older, I've seen the error of my ways, and membrane does have a place in the world. I mean, so does instant noodles. I'm not proud of it, but I'll still eat it. Don't eat keyboards, eat food. But membrane keyboards are ultra thin and lightweight, as well as affordable compared to their mechanical counterparts. If this is something you're okay with, then Keychron has some pretty good ones with the B1 and B6 Pro keyboards. This is the B1, it's a little smaller. They're ultra slim, they're all white, which makes it pretty aesthetic for your setup, but keep in mind they don't sound or feel too satisfying to use. But the most important part is that they're super lightweight, and they have a 2.4G connection as well as Bluetooth. And compared to keyboards like the MX Keys, these are half of the price at $40 instead of $100. It's not satisfying though. But before I can answer which one I'll be carrying around with me, we need to check out the heavier keyboards first. Maybe it's worth sacrificing some discomfort in the pursuit of thock and creaminess. Sometimes you might want to have an aluminum keyboard on you because you never know when you're gonna need one. It makes for a great weapon. And if you don't mind the heavier weight, these might be the perfect options. The first keyboard I tried seemed really promising. It's an all-aluminum keyboard, and it's super affordable at $105, which is cheaper than the plastic build. It's also 75% and has tri-mode wireless. And this is the Epomaker Luma 84, a 75% low profile with an all-aluminum frame. It has all of the features of the Flow 84, but at a cheaper price. However, when using the keyboard, it sounded unimpressive and hollow with Gateron low profile switches and Raleigh stabilizers. So for that reason, I didn't think it would be worth buying this one over something like the Flow Lite. Which leads me to my next low profile keyboard launch that I was really excited for. With an all-aluminum build and exploded 75% layout, this keyboard is bigger and heavier than most other options. And this is the Choki ND75LP. Now, if you don't want your fingers all cramped up together when reaching for the function row or the nav keys, this keyboard lets you breathe. It even has a screen for more information like connectivity, time, date, and more. But with a screen comes extra software that you have to download. The deal breaker for me was actually the on-off switch. It's underneath the right shift and you can't get it even with fingernails, even with a pen. Instead, you have to use tweezers. If your keyboard needs surgical tools just to turn on, definitely a red flag. Now, before we jump into my favorite aluminum keyboard, there's a burning question we need to answer. What's the best low profile keyboard for gaming? If you're playing competitive games like Valorant or Overwatch, Hall-Effect or HE keyboards can give you a real edge. They let you customize your actuation as low as 0.1 millimeters. The moment your brain thinks to move, you see the action on the screen. So Newfie's Air 75 HE is the only low profile option with this tech and the magnetic chain switches even sound surprisingly good. But there's a major problem. Multiple users report that the battery swells over time, which makes the keyboard unusable. And while their included USB-C cable might help, I really can't recommend it in good conscience. But if you're serious about gaming, you may need to look beyond low profile. Something like a Wu-Ting 80 or a 60 HE or even Lima Key. But that's not to say some of these all aluminum keyboards can't game either. Most of them do have a thousand hertz polling rates, which is good for most gamers. Then you don't have to sacrifice as much. You can still get a great sounding and feeling keyboard that does it all, including gaming and being low profile. And that's what these next two keyboards are gonna give you. They are all around the best low profile keyboards out right now. And these are the iQuinix Magi65 and MQ80. There's some design differences between them, but the biggest one is that the Magi65 is 65% and the MQ80 is 75%. Both of these have amazing build quality with a creamy and thocky typing experience. So nice. The keycaps are PBT. They're high quality with loom stabilizers. The biggest downside is that they have their on-off switch underneath caps lock and there's no toggle switches at all. So everything is done via key combinations. But after your initial setup, you wouldn't have to mess with it again. But if you can get over that, what you do get is a bouncy typing feel due to the leg gasket mount, which gives you an even typing feel no matter where you press. They both have tri-mode wireless, as do most of the keyboards on this list. And the gold red switches in both keyboards are lightweight with a smooth and creamy bottom out. Very satisfying. They both have VIA, which lets you remap keys and set macros easily with one click without downloading software. So if I had to pick a low profile to use at my desk, it would be the MQ80. Great size, feel, and sound. But honestly, since I'm pretty practical, a keyboard as heavy as this is going to give me back pain and that's not what I want. So the one that hits the perfect middle ground between portability and typing is the Melgeek O2. It's what I'm bringing every day. Thanks for watching. And if you're looking to upgrade your desk setup, check out this video here.