Tofu 65 2.0
KBDfans new take on the old classic, multiple different mounting styles (silicon bowl, silicon gasket and top mount) giving you the ability to tune the sound and feel to where you want it to be with the help of the foam kit.
Leopold FC660M
A prebuilt keyboard of the highest quality available. Excellent Leopold keycaps that ARE hard to replace due to the different sized shift keys. Layout is a more open version of the typical 65% keyboards.
Varmillo Miya Pro
Excellent build quality combined with colorful designs make the MIYA PRO one of the most commonly recommended prebuilt mechanical boards. Click the image to go to the Varmillo store to see other color options. The 68 key design often credited to Magicforce68 is also a nice midpoint between a 60% and a TKL.
Keychron K6
Available as hotswap, soldered, and optical hotswap. Has built in bluetooth. Choice in gateron red, brown and blue switches. comes with keycaps.
YC66
The budget king, hotswap with bright RGB options and an acrylic case. Does not come with switches or caps as pictured but switches can be added to order. Great value for the price and good build quality. Now supports QMK! See here:https://wormier-docs.github.io/
*Newer version PCB’s use a different MCU which is not compatible with the QMK guide above.
Womier K66
The Acrylic stack version of the YC66, same PCB but with a different case. Also comes with keycaps and switches. Different case colors also available. Please note that if you buy this board from Banggood it will not be hotswap and will be soldered. Link on image is hotswap version. Now supports QMK! See here:https://wormier-docs.github.io/
*Newer version PCB’s use a different MCU which is not compatible with the QMK guide above.
Keychron Q2
Keychron does Cool Hotswap Gasket Strip Mount Exploded 65 With RGB Plus Knob, but also has a model without a knob. Genuinely will satisfy many of the people new to the hobby. It’s a decent prebuilt, or barebones kit.
Keychron V2
Much cheaper alternative to the Q2 without giving up the nice-to-haves like QMK/VIA, PCB mount stabilizers, and south-facing RGB. To reach the price point it is tray mount with a plastic case and cheaper switches in the prebuilt option.
Bakeneko65 (CannonKeys)
Cannonkeys does it again; cast aluminum 65% Bakeneko proves to be decently satisfactory for many in the hobby. Gummy o-ring gasket mount, FR4 plate, hotswap (ANSI) pcb, VIA support. Some will turn their nose at powder coating/painting the cast aluminum, but many will enjoy and appreciate a step up from the tray mount they were rocking before. For a step up, they now offer a CNC aluminum version at a higher cost. Please join the CannonKeys discord for stock updates.
Finalkey v65
A Gasket Strip Mount Full Aluminium board, with Bluetooth support and VIA compatibility. Includes keycaps and available in various colourways. Also comes in a prebuilt variant in the form of the Cidoo v65, with PBT caps and Haimu EMT V2 recolors (Linear switch). Supports PCB mount stabilisers. Both variants include a PC plate and cable. A great cost effective and entry level option for a full aluminium gasket mounted board.
Parallel Sequence
Derived from the same Bakeneko65 design as the CannonKeys Bakeneko, this case offers a more unique exterior and still a reasonable price. There is no weight and the PCBs are not cross-compatible with the CannonKeys version due to CannonKeys changing the mounting points.
Vortex KBT RE:68
Big forehead. Wireless. Gasket mount with mute silicone pad. Switches face the proper direction. QMK/VIA support advertised. $120ish. Hotswap. FR4 plate. This should tick a lot of boxes for the some of the pickier snobs out there, admit it. If you can wait a couple months, this is a pretty good pre-order option. Even has a sibling that apes the CA66 layout.
Acrylic Stacked 65
Cannonkeys now has a whole lineup of stacked acrylic boards featuring the PCBs from their brutalist line of boards. Some require soldering so be sure to read the store pages carefully. If you are looking to really put in work for your first custom these are the most budget friendly way to do it. I’m going to copy paste this description for all the other sizes so don’t judge.