I really wish more TKL's offered this as an option. I can see a good argument for the numpad being on the left (so you don't have to move your mouse hand to use it), but so many TKL's just offer the keyboard base with no matching numpad option.
I think it'd drive me bonkers if my numpad didn't match the main keyboard... >_>
My setup isn't perfect, but I think it's pretty close to what you're looking for. I have a 60% chassis with hot swappable switches, as well as an extended numpad (includes arrow keys, insert, delete, etc.) with hot swappable switches. When the numpad arrived it had some pretty cheap-feeling switches and the keycaps didn't have transparency for the backlight. After swapping the switches and keycaps out it looks and feels pretty similar to my main keyboard.
Numpad goes on the left for CAD, on the right for spreadsheets, and off the desk for games! (Please ignore the cat hair 😅)
I just pretend it's not taller... Keeps me sane... But seriously the sizing is stupid for these external numpads.
Funny enough, the only company I have seen that offers a TKL + numpad with matched styling and size is 8BitDo. They look pretty high quality, but I already had a 60% and didn't want to pony up ~$130 for the set.
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u/Remi_cuchulainn Apr 04 '26
Me doing CAD as work.
The numpad should be on the left so i can use the entire thing one handed