best slim keyboard
Keyboards

Best Slim Computer Keyboard

A slim keyboard can be compact or not, but it has a very low height. These peripherals are designed to stay flush on a surface. The flattened design is good for saving space in a travel backpack and keyboard tray. Such a keyboard also looks stylish and complements an up-to-date computer setup.

Some of the best slim computer keyboards in the market are:

  • GMYLE Mini Keyboard – One of the Slimmest Options
  • Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad – Best for Apple Devices
  • Logitech G915 Lightspeed – Best Overall
  • Arteck HB030B – Best Compact Keyboard
  • Microsoft Surface Keyboard – Best Battery Life

A slim keyboard is highly portable, space-saving, and looks stylish. It has small, thin components for easy fitting inside a narrow casing. A well-designed unit should be comfortable to use with good ergonomics, options for elevation, and responsive keys. It should be perfect for all types of tasks, whether you need it for productivity purposes or creative projects.

slim keyboard
A slim keyboard (Source: PikRepo)

GMYLE Mini Keyboard One of the Slimmest Options

Pros

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Compatible with various operating systems
  • Saves desktop space
  • Reasonable price

Cons

  • May slide easily while typing
  • Fail to register off-center hits

It will be hard to find a keyboard slimmer than the GMYLE Mini keyboard. With only 0.4 cm or 0.16 inches of depth, it barely has any elevation from the desk surface. For ergonomic purposes, there is a 1 cm (0.39 inches) stand, giving the keyboard a little incline.

GMYLE Mini is a dome switch keyboard that is good for basic typing and quite convenient for moving around due to the compact and lightweight design.

This keyboard is compatible with Mac, Windows, and several video game consoles. A USB port connectivity is extremely convenient for plug-and-play.

Performance

The keyboard does not have a Numpad but there are Fn and arrow keys, so you won’t face any major issue while typing on this keyboard. There are a total of 78 keys for efficient data input.

GMYLE Mini is one of the best options in the dome switch section. You will have a decent typing experience due to the shorter, lighter, and quieter key actuation than most laptop keyboards. Typing speed is faster than mechanicals because the keys hit the bottom at a short distance.

However, it may sometimes fail to register off-center key hits. For this reason, touch-typing at a fast rate would be difficult because of missing strokes.

Apple Magic Keyboard Best for Apple Devices

Apple Magic keyboard
Magic keyboard from Apple (Source: customcontentsolutions / NeedPix)

Pros

  • Sleek, stylish design
  • Full-size key layout
  • Extra USB-C charge port
  • Bluetooth connectivity

Cons

  • No backlight
  • Bluetooth connections may lag
  • Expensive

Having the same depth (0.16 inches) as GMYLE Mini, this Magic Keyboard is one of the most popular and slimmest options for Apple devices. It has a slight incline which gives it 43-inch of elevation.

This is a full-size keyboard, complete with a Numpad and arrow keys. You can use it for all types of work, from data entry to official work and gaming. There’s no backlight, which saves battery life but makes working in a dim-lighted environment a challenge.

Specially designed for Apple devices, the command and function keys perfectly work with your MacBooks and iPads for controlling various functions such as adjusting brightness, media playback, and more.

The keyboard connects via Bluetooth but pairing up multiple devices can cause it to lag a bit, especially when you connect older and newer devices. However, you can also run it by connecting to the computer through the charging cable. When the battery is about to die, just plug the cable into the PC’s USB slot and finish your work.

Performance

The keys are highly stable, thanks to the scissor mechanism underneath the switches. Low-profile switches shorten the pre-travel distance, causing less fatigue while typing. Keys feel responsive when you click, providing a comfortable and precise typing experience.

The keyboard is overall good for personal use and office work. However, it’s not highly suitable for programming or gaming.

Logitech G915 Lightspeed Best Overall

Pros

  • Looks super stylish
  • Low-profile keys
  • Good for programming and gaming
  • Customizable RGB backlighting

Cons

  • No wrist rest
  • Expensive

Logitech’s G915 Lightspeed is one of the best ultra-thin keyboards. It’s an all-rounder that is good for all types of work besides being highly durable with an aluminum top plate. This particular model is Tenkeyless but a full-size version is also available in both wired and wireless options.

With a depth of just under one inch, the G915 looks incredibly stylish because of the dark palette and synchronized RGB lighting. Having a handful of features, this next-generation keyboard is compatible with both Windows and macOS.

The top row of the keyboard has several media keys and indicator lights. A small roller on the right side comes in handy for various onboard media controls. With the G HUB software, it’s possible to personalize the lighting of each key or produce custom animations out of a whopping 16.8 million colors. A nice touch is the onboard memory that remembers all of your settings.

Connected wirelessly via a USB dongle, the keyboard provides uninterrupted service no matter which device you’ve paired it up with. Only three hours of charge can make it run up to 40 hours. However, you can use it when the battery is down as it’s fully functional when plugged in via the USB charging cable.

Performance

The low-profile GL Tactile switches are incredibly responsive and offer nice feedback at the actuation point. It comes with two other key variants: GL Clicky and GL Linear. Despite not having a wrist pad, typing on this keyboard is not fatiguing. However, the low actuation point can increase typos.

The keyboard is great for both gaming and programming. There are some dedicated macro keys that you can reprogram to assign functions convenient for your work. A great plus is the onboard memory that can store up to 15 macros.

Gamers will definitely love this keyboard because of its assigned media controls, macro keys, and customizable RGB backlighting.

Arteck HB030B Best Compact Keyboard

Pros

  • Compatible with all OS types
  • Supports various devices
  • Travel-friendly
  • 7-Color backlighting
  • Bluetooth connectivity

Cons

  • Keys are a little cramped

If you want not only a slim but also a super compact keyboard, nothing can beat the Arteck HB030B. With only 9.7 inches of length and 0.24 inches of depth, it will easily fit into your backpack and laptop bags.

Via Bluetooth connectivity, the unit connects with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, including laptops and mobile gadgets. Another great feature is its compatibility with all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It could be your keyboard on-the-go, which is great for writing an email, chatting with clients, or other tasks when you are traveling.

Despite being a tiny and inexpensive keyboard, Arteck HB030B has backlighting. Also, you can control the lighting with two brightness levels and seven different colors. Now, there’s no need to stop your work in low-light or dark conditions.

For a small keyboard, six-month battery life is quite impressive. However, to get that long-lasting service, you will need to turn off the backlight and use it for only two hours a day.

Performance

Mimicking the outline of a laptop keyboard, Arteck HB030B is quite user-friendly. It has a full set of alphanumeric keys along with a row of function keys.

Several indicators on the right-top corner indicate battery life, charging status, Caps Lock, and Bluetooth on/off.

The keyboard sits completely flat on a surface. Plus, it’s too compact to be paired up with a wrist pad, so ergonomics could be a little off. Due to the cramped key placement, people with bigger hands will find it a little difficult to type. However, the keys are bouncy and provide a mechanical-like thump and bounce.

Microsoft Surface Keyboard Best Battery Life

Pros

  • Stylish full-size keyboard
  • Sturdy build quality
  • Impressive 12-month battery life
  • Bluetooth connectivity

Cons

  • No backlight
  • No supporting software
  • Expensive

If you want a highly stylish, quite slim, and versatile full-size keyboard, Microsoft Surface is the one. With only 0.76 inches of depth, the keyboard is quite lightweight despite having a strong housing.

Having a super-fast Bluetooth 4.0 support, the keyboard connects to Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android devices.

One great feature is the excellent battery life. A pair of AAAs last for up to 12 months. You will need to replace the old batteries but such a long battery life for a wireless keyboard is quite impressive.

The keyboard has decent ergonomics despite not having a wrist rest. It’s low-profile but the battery compartment provides an nonadjustable incline.

Performance

Typing on Microsoft Surface is quite comfortable due to its low-profile build. Besides, the scissor switches have decent tactile feedback and they last up to 500,000 clicks.

The keyboard’s gaming and programming performances are mediocre. There are no macro keys or software support, which are crucial for MMO (massively multiplayer online) games. There is no backlight support either for those who like to work or play in a dark room.

Eli Civil

A software engineer, entrepreneur, and keyboard enthusiast. I spend my time click-clacking on keyboards. About Eli Civil

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