96%-98% Keyboard Recommendations

[5ubsonic]

I'm currently using an old Dell QuietKey full size keyboard, which is fine, but it's a bit too big so I'm looking for something smaller.

I use the numerical keypad all the time so I've been looking at 96% keyboards, which sometimes seem to be called 98%. I think they'd be ideal as they look like they're about three keys narrower than a full size, which is all the extra room I need.

Can anyone recommend a decent ~96% keyboard with a UK ISO layout? Ideally sub-£100. I've found a few options but they are either very expensive or have a US keyboard layout. For example, the EPOMAKER x AULA F99 would be perfect but it only seems to come in a US layout.

How do swappable keys work on keyboards? I don't suppose it's possible to swap the keys on a US layout board for UK keys is it? Will the switches beneath not line up (the larger enter key for example)?

 

[5ubsonic]

I found out that epomaker has been banned from Reddit. Bots and not caring about their customers.

Thanks, that's good to know. I'll avoid them!

You need to look at the maps UK is ISO and US is ansi (?). Basically US has no pound sign and the backslash is ontop of the return which is smaller and the left shift is bigger, pretty sure you cannot swap them.

I've been searching for UK ISO but haven't found a lot in this size. A few no-name keyboards on Aliexpress, a few that get terrible reviews etc. Keychron has a few, some very expensive, a couple sub-£100. Any idea what Keychron are like? What other brands should I be looking at?

I would decide on switch type, linear or tactile and go from there. There may be some nice reductions in the sale. Black Friday was ok.

I'm willing to try anything, but maybe I'd get on best with something similar to a Cherry MX Brown as this seems to be a tactile switch that gets compared to the keys used by the old Dell. Also, I'm willing to wait a bit if there's likely to be sales after Christmas.