With a simple wire keycap remover, you can remove your current keycaps and press new ones into place, usually for less than the cost of buying a whole new keyboard. The best and easiest way to transform the look of any keyboard is by adding aftermarket keycaps. If you’re not interested in replacing your current keyboard, it’s possible to give your current keys their very own old-school glow-up.

What if I just want retro-themed keycaps and clicky switches? Fujitsu’s Realforce R2 and Happy Hacking Keyboard offer soft electrocapacitive keys, while iQuinix’s F96 and A80 offer unique case and keycaps designs for your desktop.Īnd for the real retro enthusiast, there’s the Unicomp Model M, a faithful recreation of the IBM Model M that’s being made by many of the same people. There are even more options on the pricier end. The Azio Retro Classic and cheaper Azio Retro are excellent options. While expensive, the Qwerkywriter S offers typewriter-style aesthetics and modern features like Bluetooth wireless. If you long for the age of the typewriter, there are plenty of options to choose from there too.

For a little more, the NES-inspired Durgod Fusion can take you right back to childhood in front of the TV. If space is a concern, Epomaker’s CIDOO V65 is another great fit with its all-metal beige case but smaller 65% layout. The Epomaker RT100 takes that style and one-ups it with a gamer-friendly 2.4GHz high-speed wireless dongle and a customizable LCD screen styled after a CRT monitor. Leopold is a classic name in the mechanical keyboard world and it doesn’t get more retro than the FC900RBT. Classic keyboards often have clicky switches but clicking through product options can often reveal different switch choices so you can choose what you actually prefer.įor pure vintage vibes, it’s all about the aesthetic. Pay attention to the layout and connectivity options and make sure to choose an option with the keys and features you regularly use. Like any good tech trend, there are lots of options with plenty of different looks and layouts to choose from. The easiest way to get a great retro keyboard is to buy one ready-made out of the box. What are the best retro keyboards and where can you buy them?

Typewriter keycaps