I went numpad-free on my keyboard — and I have 5 good reasons why I don’t regret it

I type all day, every day. So, for a comfortable working session, I need two things: an ergonomic chair (my Steelcase Series 1 does a fabulous job) and a keyboard that feels effortless to type on. My full-sized mechanical keyboard handled long typing sessions well enough, but having to reach far to the right to access my mouse constantly broke my flow.

After some deliberation, I dropped the numpad and a bunch of other keys, settling on a 75% compact keyboard—the Logitech MX Keys Mini. Yes, mechanical keyboards feel great, but I wanted something low-profile for better ergonomics and portability.

For extended typing sessions, the scissor switches on the MX Mini are far more comfortable than Logi’s mechanical version. After four years of extensive use, I don’t regret dropping the numpad once. In fact, I’ll never buy a keyboard with a numpad again.

A 75% is the most practical size

Reduces the distance between the keyboard and the mouse

My primary complaint with my full-sized mechanical keyboard was that it pushed my mouse too far to the right. I don’t have much use for the numpad, and I had to move all the way to the right to reach my mouse and do this back and forth probably a hundred times every day.

With a full-sized keyboard, the main typing area shifts left, which forces your mouse farther to the right. So this is more than a simple keyboard layout issue. This extends your arm outward at an awkward angle, which is one of the common reasons for shoulder and forearm discomfort. Needless to say, it never felt right. I needed to adjust my wrist placement constantly despite using this layout for several years, and I never got used to it.

A 75% keyboard, on the other hand, is the perfect size. It brings my mouse closer to the keyboard, meaning less reaching, less wrist deviation, and less shoulder movement without compromising on useful keys. I still have most of the navigation keys, arrow keys, a dedicated number row, and the function key row.

Keyboards come in many form factors, starting from the standard 100% with 104 keys, all the way down to 40% keyboards with only 44 keys. A 40% keyboard exists, but anything below 65% involves too many compromises for anyone with a keyboard-heavy workflow.

A 75% keyboard is extremely portable

Fits in my backpack and sits on my ‘laptop’

I have an ideal work-from-home setup, but sometimes I prefer to work from a shared workspace. Other times, I just take my laptop to the porch or work from the living room. In doing all that, I still need my keyboard, and the Logi MX Keys Mini simply does it right.

When I’m working from a shared co-working space, I travel at least a couple of hours every day on a motorbike with the keyboard in my backpack. A 75% keyboard fits easily in my backpack, which can only take a 14″ laptop, and it’s lightweight enough that I don’t think twice before hauling it to work every day.

But when I’m working from my living room on my laptop, I still prefer to use my MX Mini since my laptop’s keyboard isn’t nearly as comfortable. A 75% keyboard is just the perfect size to sit on top of my laptop’s keyboard and is lightweight enough that the added weight doesn’t make it uncomfortable to use for an hour or two.

It still has all the keys I need

A dedicated row of function and number keys, and arrow keys

Despite the compact size, a 75% keyboard doesn’t compromise on the essential keys I need. For instance, my keyboard still has the beloved arrow keys that I use to navigate between lines without reaching for my mouse. While the arrow keys are a bit smaller than on full-sized keyboards, it’s easy to get used to them.

I used the numpad mostly to punch in my login PIN, OTPs, and, more recently, to authenticate passkey access. On a 75% keyboard, I still have a dedicated row of number keys, and they’re just as useful as my numpad was. It’s also more intuitive to reach for the top row without taking my fingers off the main keyboard.

Then we have the function keys. The top row on the MX Mini works as both quick actions (to adjust brightness, change tracker, mute, screenshot, and volume control) as well as the conventional F1-F12 keys. These function keys have an interesting history—though honestly, I can do without them since my keyboard only works in Bluetooth mode. That said, since they also double as quick action keys, I’m glad they’re there.

A 75% keyboard is better for gaming

Gives more space to flick your mouse without hitting your keyboard

I know a Logi MX Mini is not a gaming keyboard by any definition. But I’m not an avid gamer, nor do I have the hours to grind. I occasionally play first-person shooters (Valorant and COD) on my PC, and the MX Mini with a Bolt receiver works decently without any noticeable latency.

But it’s not about the Mini’s capability as a gaming keyboard, but again about the size. A 75% frees up more space for your mouse, and you can flick it at any angle without hitting your keyboard. Yes, a 65% keyboard might work better for a gaming setup, but then you’d be compromising on the F-row and quick access to customizable media control keys.

Small keyboards look better

Their minimal appearance is aesthetically pleasing

Practicality aside, smaller keyboards just look better on a desk. A 65% keyboard might still be the cleanest layout out there, but a 75% doesn’t fall behind in looks, and it keeps all the keys I actually rely on every day. The compact size also frees up a surprising amount of space around my setup. I get more room to move my mouse, more space on the pad, and the desk doesn’t feel cramped after I place everything where I want it.

Because of the smaller footprint, a 75% keyboard is also easier to handle. Without the numpad taking up space, it’s lighter, less bulky, and much easier to slide aside when I need the desk for something else. It fits better on small tables, it travels more easily, and it doesn’t take over the workspace the way a full-sized board does.

A 75% keyboard offers a great balance between form and functionality

If you’re a touch typist like I am, you’ll appreciate the balance that a 75% keyboard offers. It’s less harsh on your wrist and shoulder while retaining all the necessary keys you need for daily functioning.

Smaller keyboards are also extremely portable and can work as an extension of your laptop keyboard. Granted, I don’t have much use for a numpad, but even if I ever need one, I’ll opt for a standalone numpad that goes on the left-hand side rather than buy one integrated into the keyboard.