Buying Guide
The Best Hot-Swap TKL Gaming Keyboards
We weighed three keyboards on layout and switches, and the C1 Pro costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A hot-swap TKL lets you change switches without soldering. Every pick is a tenkeyless board with hot-swap sockets, ordered from the lowest price.
We ranked these keyboards on layout, switches and connection using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these keyboards ourselves, and where a maker leaves a figure out, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Keychron C1 Pro Wired Mechanical Keyboard
A lower price than the G515 TKL and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Getting QMK and VIA remapping support for the least money.
Our take Check price for Keychron C1 Pro Wired Mechanical Keyboard (opens in a new tab)
Tactile Switches
Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL Wireless Keyboard
Tactile switches.
Best for: Buyers who want tactile switches.
Our take Check price for Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL Wireless Keyboard (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Corsair K70 PRO TKL Wired Keyboard
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with rapid trigger support.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Corsair K70 PRO TKL Wired Keyboard (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A lower price than the G515 TKL and the rest when we checked. | Getting QMK and VIA remapping support for the least money. | Check price for Keychron C1 Pro Wired Mechanical Keyboard (opens in a new tab) |
| Tactile switches. | Buyers who want tactile switches. | Check price for Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL Wireless Keyboard (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with rapid trigger support. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for Corsair K70 PRO TKL Wired Keyboard (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Keychron C1 Pro Wired Mechanical Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The C1 Pro is the most complete typing board here.
Best for
- Getting QMK and VIA remapping support for the least money.
Skip if
- Pass on it if wired onl rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Double-shot PBT keycaps and QMK/VIA support are rare at this price, and the tactile brown switches suit mixed work and play. Full QMK and VIA support lets you remap every key. Its pre-lubed K Pro brown tactile switches need about 50gf to press, and it polls at 1000Hz.
No other pick in this guide offers a TKL (80%) layout; compare the K70 PRO TKL, which has a TKL layout. The C1 Pro needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. It undercut the G515 TKL and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: TKL (80%)
- Switches: Brown tactile
- Connection: Wired
- Polling rate: 1,000Hz
- Keycaps: Double-shot PBT
Pros
- Tenkeyless layout leaves more room for the mouse
- Brown tactile switches
- PBT keycaps resist shine
- QMK and VIA remapping support
Cons
- Wired only
Tactile Switches2 of 3
Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL Wireless Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The G515 TKL is Logitech's most flexible board for its price: three connection modes, PBT keycaps and a slim profile.
Best for
- Buyers who want tactile switches.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: shorter 36-hour battery.
Why we like it
Its 36-hour battery is the trade. Its low-profile GL Brown switches are factory-lubed for a smoother tactile press, and it connects over LIGHTSPEED, Bluetooth or USB. The slim tenkeyless body frees mouse space.
It is rated for up to 36 hours on a charge, and double-shot PBT keycaps resist shine. KEYCONTROL assigns up to 15 functions per key. Use the G515 TKL's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet.
Worth noting too: tenkeyless layout leaves more room for the mouse. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper C1 Pro and the pricier K70 PRO TKL, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: TKL, low-profile
- Switches: Tactile
- Connection: Lightspeed, Bluetooth, wired
- Battery life: 36 hours
- Keycaps: Double-shot PBT
Pros
- Tenkeyless layout leaves more room for the mouse
- Tactile switches
- Dongle, Bluetooth and wired modes
- PBT keycaps resist shine
Cons
- Shorter 36-hour battery
- Costs more than the C1 Pro at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Corsair K70 PRO TKL Wired Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The K70 PRO TKL is Corsair's magnetic tenkeyless board.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: wired only.
Why we like it
MGX switches with rapid trigger and double-shot PBT keycaps suit competitive play. You get a TKL layout here, which sets it apart from the C1 Pro and its a TKL (80%) layout. MGX Hall effect magnetic switches is unique to it among these picks, while the G515 TKL uses tactile switches.
The K70 PRO TKL needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. Adjusting actuation needs the maker's software or web tool on Windows. Worth noting too: tenkeyless layout leaves more room for the mouse. At our last price check it topped the group, with the G515 TKL the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: TKL
- Switches: MGX Hall effect magnetic
- Connection: Wired
- Keycaps: Double-shot PBT
Pros
- Tenkeyless layout leaves more room for the mouse
- Magnetic Hall effect switches
- PBT keycaps resist shine
- Rapid trigger support
Cons
- Wired only
- Costs more than the C1 Pro at the time of writing
How We Chose These Hot-Swap TKL Gaming Keyboards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side three keyboards on layout, switches, connection and keycaps, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the C1 Pro to the K70 PRO TKL, state layout, switches and connection and share Double-shot PBT keycaps.
- Who each pick suits
- The C1 Pro for a lower price than the G515 TKL and the rest when we checked; the G515 TKL for tactile switches; the K70 PRO TKL for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with rapid trigger support.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the C1 Pro (under $50) to the K70 PRO TKL ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a Hot-Swap TKL Gaming Keyboard
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
What to check at home
The C1 Pro needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. Use the G515 TKL's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet.
Extras that separate them
The C1 Pro: QMK and VIA remapping support. The G515 TKL: a slim low-profile build. The K70 PRO TKL: rapid trigger support.
Where your budget lands
Under $50 buys the C1 Pro; $100 to $150 buys the G515 TKL and the K70 PRO TKL at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Getting QMK and VIA remapping support for the least money: the C1 Pro. Buyers who want tactile switches: the G515 TKL. Buyers who want the most complete package: the K70 PRO TKL.
Keycap material lasts longer than lighting
PBT keycaps resist the shine that ABS caps develop. Double-shot legends do not wear off.
How to Choose a Hot-Swap TKL Gaming Keyboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting QMK and VIA remapping support for the least money | C1 Pro | A lower price than the G515 TKL and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want tactile switches | G515 TKL | Tactile switches |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | K70 PRO TKL | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with rapid trigger support |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The C1 Pro, the G515 TKL and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Keyboard | Layout | Switches | Connection | Keycaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 Pro | TKL (80%) | Brown tactile | Wired | Double-shot PBT |
| G515 TKL | TKL, low-profile | Tactile | Lightspeed, Bluetooth, wired | Double-shot PBT |
| K70 PRO TKL | TKL | MGX Hall effect magnetic | Wired | Double-shot PBT |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The C1 Pro was the lowest-priced pick and the K70 PRO TKL the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Keyboards |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | C1 Pro |
| About $100 to $150 | G515 TKL, K70 PRO TKL |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the G515 TKL our Tactile Switches pick?
It earns the label for tactile switches. It suits anyone who wants tactile switches.
Do the C1 Pro and the G515 TKL differ on switches?
The C1 Pro uses brown tactile; the G515 TKL uses tactile; the K70 PRO TKL uses MGX Hall effect magnetic.
Will the K70 PRO TKL work with my setup?
The K70 PRO TKL needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Premium Pick pick.
What extras do the C1 Pro and the G515 TKL include?
The C1 Pro: QMK and VIA remapping support. The G515 TKL: a slim low-profile build. The K70 PRO TKL: rapid trigger support.
Should I pick the C1 Pro or the K70 PRO TKL?
The C1 Pro suits getting QMK and VIA remapping support for the least money; the K70 PRO TKL suits buyers who want the most complete package.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the C1 Pro, chosen for a lower price than the G515 TKL and the rest when we checked. Look at the G515 TKL for tactile switches and the K70 PRO TKL for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with rapid trigger support if those matter more to you.
Check which switch pins the sockets accept.