It saves desk space, making it ideal for smaller workspaces or for users who prefer a minimalist setup.
The absence of the numeric keypad also brings the mouse closer to the keyboard, reducing the distance the hand needs to travel and thus improving ergonomics.
This setup is particularly beneficial for gamers and those who frequently switch between the keyboard and mouse.
A tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard is used in the same way as a standard keyboard but without the numeric keypad on the right side.
This layout retains all the essential keys, including the function row, arrow keys, and navigation cluster, making it suitable for most typing and gaming tasks.
Users simply type and interact with their computer as they would with a full-sized keyboard, but with a more compact and portable design.
TBK split TKL supports both wired and wireless (Bluetooth) connection, which makes it perfect for both home usage with a PC or portable setup with a laptop, tablet, or even smartphone.
To achieve both types of connectivity, each half has a USB-C port. The left half can be connected to any device using the USB port or using Bluetooth.
The right half will connect wirelessly to the left and can be charged using the USB port.
The keyboard body is thin. Without switches and feet its height is at most 10mm in height, which makes it compact and really comfortable to use.
Unfortunately, to achieve such a low height, some tradeoffs were made in the enclosure design that make assembly a bit tricky.
Talking about switches, the keyboard is hot-swappable and supports the well-known Cherry MX compatible switches.
Feel free to send me your builds and keyboard reviews :)
Huge thanks to:
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Mad Mod Labs, the author of 65% MML KEYBAR
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Joe Scotto, the author of ScottoKeebs, an extensive collection of freely available handwired keyboard and macropad projects.
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Pete Johanson for creating ZMK Firmware and all the contributors that make it better each day.