The Best Compact Keyboard in Australia
Find the best compact keyboard for your desk, with picks for everyday typing, portable work and mechanical gaming keyboards across different budgets. Independently recommended models come first, followed by Amazon sales-rank picks ranked for everyday usefulness and value.
On this page
- The best compact keyboards in Australia
- 1. Best for everyday typing: Logitech MX Keys Mini
- 2. Best compact mechanical keyboard for work and gaming: NuPhy Air75 V3
- 3. Best for affordable portable work: Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s
- 4. Best budget mechanical pick with arrow keys: MageGee MKBox
- 5. Best budget mechanical pick with more keys: MageGee MK-Star
- 6. Best budget wireless mechanical pick: Magic-Refiner RK68
- 7. Best for gaming media controls: Corsair K70 CORE TKL RGB
- Compact keyboard buying guide
- How we chose
Your keyboard takes up too much desk space, but buying something smaller shouldn’t make everyday typing harder. Our compact keyboard pick for most people is the Logitech MX Keys Mini, backed by independent recommendations for comfortable, accurate typing and portable productivity.
If you specifically want a compact mechanical keyboard, choose the NuPhy Air75 V3. For a cheaper keyboard to carry between devices, we’d buy the Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s.
The best compact keyboards in Australia
- Best for everyday typing: Logitech MX Keys Mini
- Best compact mechanical keyboard for work and gaming: NuPhy Air75 V3
- Best for affordable portable work: Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s
- Best budget mechanical pick with arrow keys: MageGee MKBox
- Best budget mechanical pick with more keys: MageGee MK-Star
- Best budget wireless mechanical pick: Magic-Refiner RK68
- Best for gaming media controls: Corsair K70 CORE TKL RGB
| Product | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Logitech MX Keys mini Wireless Keyboard (920-010505) | from $119.00 | $119.00 at Amazon |
 | NuPhy Air75 V3 | from $214.00 | $214.00 at Amazon |
 | Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s (920-011753) | from $51.74 | $51.74 at Amazon |
 | MageGee Portable 60% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (MKBox) | from $42.99 | $42.99 at Amazon |
 | MageGee 75% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (MK-Star) | from $42.99 | $42.99 at Amazon |
 | Magic-Refiner RK68 60% Wireless Mechanical Keyboard | from $45.59 | $45.59 at Amazon |
 | CORSAIR K70 CORE TKL RGB Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (CH-911911E-NA) | from $99.00 | $99.00 at Amazon |
1. Best for everyday typing: Logitech MX Keys Mini
If most of your day goes into emails and documents, start with the Logitech MX Keys Mini. We’d spend the extra over the Pebble for its typing-focused design and useful illumination.
TechRadar and Tom’s Guide recommend it for comfortable, accurate typing and portable productivity. That makes it our first choice for someone who wants a smaller everyday work keyboard.
Logitech says the dished keys support comfortable, fluid typing. The backlighting should also make the keyboard easier to use when the room is dim, without having to turn it on manually.
The catch is how much illumination changes the charging schedule. Logitech quotes up to 10 days with lighting, against up to five months with it switched off. Treat those as maker estimates, and choose based on whether you’ll actually use the lights.
Pros
- Independent recommendations support its everyday typing appeal
- Automatic illumination helps when working in dim light
- Rechargeable design avoids buying replacement batteries
Cons
- Costs more than the Pebble Keys 2 K380s
- Logitech’s claimed battery life drops substantially with backlighting enabled
Our verdict: Our take: buy the MX Keys Mini for everyday work if typing comfort and illumination justify spending more. Choose the Pebble instead if keeping the cost down matters most.
2. Best compact mechanical keyboard for work and gaming: NuPhy Air75 V3
You want a mechanical keyboard for both work and games, without giving it most of your desk. The NuPhy Air75 V3 is our recommendation if you’re prepared to pay for flexibility.
RTINGS names it the best low-profile keyboard. Tom’s Guide recommends its comfortable typing, compact layout and versatility for work and gaming.
Its 75% layout is the reason to consider it when desk space is tight. And the choice of Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz or USB-C means you can pick the connection that suits your setup rather than organise your setup around the keyboard.
It’s the dearest pick in this guide. We’d pay that difference for the connection choices and customisation, but not for occasional typing. There’s also a small lighting catch: the original keycaps don’t let the backlight shine through their lettering.
Pros
- Independent recommendations cover both typing and work-and-gaming versatility
- Multiple connection methods accommodate different setups
- Remappable keys and a programmable knob let you customise controls
Cons
- The most expensive keyboard in this guide
- Backlighting doesn’t shine through the original keycap lettering
Our verdict: Buy the Air75 V3 if you want a compact mechanical keyboard you can customise for work and gaming. Its extra cost is harder to justify if you only need a straightforward typing keyboard.
3. Best for affordable portable work: Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s
Moving between a laptop and other devices is annoying enough without carrying a bulky keyboard. The Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s is the sensible lower-cost choice for that routine.
Windows Central recommends it for affordable portable productivity, with quiet low-profile keys, reliable wireless connectivity and a compact design.
Pairing with three devices is useful when the keyboard needs to serve more than one screen. Logitech’s laptop-like key design also makes this a more relevant choice for that kind of work than a keyboard bought primarily for mechanical switches.
It costs less than half as much as the MX Keys Mini at our check. We’d choose it for portable work on a budget, provided your devices support Bluetooth. Its listed connection is Bluetooth, so don’t buy it expecting a USB or receiver connection.
Pros
- Lower-cost route to independently recommended portable typing
- Three-device pairing suits switching between screens
- Lightweight design is easier to carry
Cons
- Bluetooth connection won’t suit a setup that needs USB or a receiver
- Customising Fn shortcuts requires Logi Options+
Our verdict: We’d buy the Pebble for affordable work across several Bluetooth devices. Spend more on the MX Keys Mini if illuminated keys are part of your buying decision.
4. Best budget mechanical pick with arrow keys: MageGee MKBox
If you want to try a smaller mechanical keyboard without spending much, the MageGee MKBox keeps separate arrow keys in its 68-key layout. That’s useful if you want a compact board but don’t want navigation to become awkward.
It was ranked number 3 in PC Gaming Keyboards on Amazon Australia when we checked. We found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check, so its inclusion rests on sales rank and the listed features.
The MKBox and MK-Star are the joint-cheapest picks here. We’d choose the MKBox when keeping the key count down matters more than having the MK-Star’s 87-key layout. MageGee describes its red switches as linear, without a tactile bump; skip it if that bump is what you want from a mechanical keyboard.
The wired connection is the other catch. If removing the keyboard cable is part of your plan, choose the RK68 instead.
Pros
- Low price makes it an affordable mechanical purchase
- Separate arrow keys preserve convenient navigation
- Detachable cable makes packing it away easier
Cons
- Wired connection limits placement compared with a wireless keyboard
- Linear switches won’t suit buyers who want tactile feedback
Our verdict: Choose the MKBox for a cheap, compact mechanical keyboard that keeps separate arrows. Its sales rank earns it consideration, but we’d favour the independently recommended picks if your budget allows.
5. Best budget mechanical pick with more keys: MageGee MK-Star
A smaller keyboard isn’t much help if it removes keys you use every day. The MageGee MK-Star gives you an 87-key layout for the same checked price as the 68-key MKBox.
The MK-Star was ranked number 12 in Keyboards on Amazon Australia when we checked. We’ve included it for its Amazon sales rank and listed features; we found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check.
Our take is straightforward: choose this over the MKBox if you prefer having more keys available. The objection is the cable, which makes it a less useful choice if you want to move the keyboard around a wireless setup.
Pros
- More keys than the MKBox without a higher checked price
- Multimedia keys put media functions within reach
- Adjustable feet let you change the typing angle
Cons
- USB connection leaves a cable on the desk
- Red switches lack the tactile bump some buyers prefer
Our verdict: The MK-Star is our budget choice when access to more keys matters more than a smaller key count. Choose the MKBox if you specifically want its 68-key arrangement.
6. Best budget wireless mechanical pick: Magic-Refiner RK68
If a cable is the reason you’re replacing your keyboard, the Magic-Refiner RK68 offers wireless mechanical typing for slightly more than the two MageGee picks. The catch is easy to spot: there’s no backlighting.
It was ranked number 43 in Keyboards on Amazon Australia when we checked. We found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check, so we recommend considering it for its sales rank, low price and wireless features.
Bluetooth and a receiver give you two ways to connect. But you’ll need to supply two AAA batteries, and the unlit keys make it a poor fit if illumination is essential at your desk.
Pros
- Wireless connection removes the keyboard cable from your desk
- USB-A and USB-C receiver support accommodates different ports
- Hot-swappable switches allow switch replacement
Cons
- No backlighting for reading keys in dim conditions
- Requires separately purchased AAA batteries
Our verdict: Buy the RK68 if low-cost wireless mechanical typing is your priority. Skip it if you want rechargeable power or illuminated keys.
7. Best for gaming media controls: Corsair K70 CORE TKL RGB
If you want more mouse room and convenient volume control in a gaming setup, consider the Corsair K70 CORE TKL RGB. We’d choose it for those controls rather than pay extra merely for lighting.
It was ranked number 58 in PC Gaming Keyboards on Amazon Australia when we checked. We found no independent owner rating at the retailers we check.
Corsair says the tenkeyless footprint leaves more space for mouse movements. The rotary dial gives you direct volume control, while Corsair says the foam layers and lubricated stabilisers temper unwanted typing noise. Those are useful reasons to consider it, though the noise claim remains the maker’s.
It costs more than either MageGee. We’d only pay that difference if the media controls and sound-dampening design matter to you. For straightforward budget mechanical typing, the MK-Star is the cheaper recommendation.
Pros
- Tenkeyless design leaves room for mouse movement
- Rotary dial makes volume adjustment convenient
- Programmable media button lets you customise a control
Cons
- Higher checked price than both MageGee picks
- Media customisation requires iCUE
Our verdict: Choose the Corsair if its dial, media button and sound-dampening design address what bothers you about your current setup. Otherwise, we’d save money with a MageGee or spend more on the independently recommended NuPhy.
Compact keyboard buying guide
If you’re short of desk space, check the keys before the percentage
Start with the keys you use every day. A compact layout is a poor purchase if it makes regular shortcuts inconvenient.
The MKBox and RK68 list separate arrow keys within their 68-key layouts. The MK-Star provides 87 keys, while the Air75 V3 uses a 75% layout. Look at the actual arrangement before ordering; a percentage label alone doesn’t tell you where your familiar keys will be.
If you move between devices, choose the connection first
Check what your devices can connect to before deciding on switches or lighting. The Pebble suits Bluetooth setups, while the NuPhy gives you Bluetooth, a receiver-based connection and USB-C.
For a keyboard that stays at one computer, the wired MageGee models avoid paying for wireless features you may never use.
If you want a compact mechanical keyboard, decide on feel
The listed red switches in the MageGee and Magic-Refiner picks are linear, without a tactile bump. Don’t buy one expecting that distinct feedback.
If your main goal is laptop-like work typing, the Pebble is the more relevant recommendation. Mechanical switches aren’t a requirement for a useful compact keyboard.
If you work in dim light, look beyond coloured backlighting
Lighting and readable lettering aren’t always the same thing. NuPhy states that the Air75 V3’s original keycaps are non-shine-through, while the RK68 has no backlight.
The MX Keys Mini’s automatic illumination is a reason to spend more if you regularly work with the room lights low.
If you’re buying for games, check simultaneous key support
The MageGee listings specify full anti-ghosting across their keys, which is relevant when pressing several keys together. Don’t assume every compact keyboard has the same support.
We’d choose the NuPhy for a work-and-gaming purchase with independent recommendations behind it, and consider the MageGee models when keeping the price down is the priority.
If comfort is the goal, avoid promises a layout can’t make
A smaller keyboard can solve a space problem. It doesn’t establish that a particular model will resolve discomfort.
Check the layout, key style and available angle adjustments against how you like to sit and type. If you regularly use a number pad, make sure removing it won’t create another problem.
Before ordering, check warranty and returns terms
Amazon Australia is the only retailer shown as stocking any of these seven picks in the supplied data. Check the warranty coverage and returns terms for the offer you choose before buying.
How we chose
These reviews use owner-rating checks, maker specifications, independent recommendations, and price and stock checks. No independent owner ratings were available from the retailers we check for these seven picks, so independently recommended products come first; the remaining picks are selected using Amazon Australia best-seller ranks and their listed features. Within those groups, we prioritised everyday usefulness and value. Every pick was in stock at Amazon Australia when checked.