Leopold produce some of the best mechanical keyboards in the world and have long been a favorite in the gaming community.
Renowned for their high-quality materials, components, and functional designs – the boards just keep on giving – even years down the line from their purchase.
If you have never owned a Leopold before, we aim to fill you in on their most iconic range of models.
Towards the end of this post, you should have a better idea of which size is right for you and know all the little ins and outs.
Who is Leopold?
Leopold is a boutique keyboard manufacturer based near Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 2006, the company focuses on the development (and production) of retail sale keyboards and keyboard related products.
Are Leopold keyboards good?
Due to offering a high quality-build, clean aesthetics, and a great “out of the box” typing experience – Leopold’s are often regarded as some of the best prebuilt mechanical keyboards that money can buy. The company puts a premium on designing a no-frills product that doesn’t compromise functionality.
Compared to other high-end keyboard manufacturers, Leopold pay extensive attention to detail on every aspect of their boards. The company were the first to introduce a sound dampening mat inside the keyboard, and are currently on the forefront of electrostatic capacitive switch technology.
Leopold have built up such a reputation with the quality of their products that many custom keyboard enthusiasts have taken the trip over to Korea to pick up their very own.
You don’t have to go down that route though (it’s much easier to get one online).
What features can you expect from a Leopold Keyboard?
There are several reasons why Leopold keyboards have become so popular.
Sound Dampening Mat (Inside the keyboard)
Leopold are known for their use of sound absorbing materials. A fiber dampening cloth has been inserted inside the body to help reduce some of the noise generated by resonance. Additionally, the space bar has its own felt dampener (between the stabilizer and the switch).
High Quality Key-Caps
Leopold develop and manufacture their own advanced PBT double-shot key-caps. At 1.5mm these are much thicker and more durable than other leading brands on the market. As a result, you can expect little to no warp on any of the larger keys.
Thanks to the double shot process, the legends have a high wear resistance that won’t shine up and can last permanently without being erased. The “PD” letters at the end of the name tag (of some boards) identify that this is the newer version of the keyboard with PBT Double-shot key-caps.
Leopold do offer different key-cap profiles, and indicate this with abbreviations at the ends of their keyboard names e.g. Leopold’s own profile is SS2 – Step Sculpture 2 (a slightly shorter Cherry variation), OE is OEM profile, etc.
N-Key Rollover
N-Key rollover is a common feature among all Leopold keyboards. This detects all keystrokes no matter how many keys are pressed simultaneously. When connecting for the first time, the default value is 6-key. If you need to change it to N-key, this can be done by pressing the FN and Home key.
Variety of Switches
Leopold’s come in a variety of different switch types ranging from Cherry MX’s to a more expensive Topre capacitive switch system.
To indicate which switch is used, the letter at the end of the name of the keyboard refers to the type. e.g. M is for Cherry MX’s, and C is for capacitive (Topre). All of the boards on this post come with Cherry MX switches.
Dip Switch
The Leopold “dip-switch” dial allows you to customize the position of some of the lower modifier keys e.g. the Control, Alt and Caps lock. In addition to this, the forth switch can act as a gaming lock. This simply locks the “Window key” to prevent any unfortunate accidents when gaming.
Flip-out Feet
Leopold’s flip-out feet allow you to conveniently raise the level of your board. It’s worth noting that Leopold feet only have a single kickstand (unlike Ducky keyboards). To prevent the keyboard from skidding, each foot is tipped with a rubber sole.
Components
All Leopold boards come with a micro USB connector, a USB to PS2 adapter, a plastic key cap ring puller, and an additional set of key caps for mixing up your dip switches.
No Macros.
Unfortunately, Leopold’s do not feature on-board Macros. If you wish to create macros then you have to use a third party tool such as Autohotkey.
What is the best Leopold Keyboard?
4. Leopold FC900R
The Leopold FC900R is a high-end mechanical keyboard with an authentic retro look. It has a 104 key layout and there’s very little noticeable branding. This model is available in a wide variety of two-tone color variations including Grey/ Blue, Grey/ Purple, and Grey/ White.
My first proper MK! Leopold FC900R with Browns from r/MechanicalKeyboards
In terms of the build, it has a single plastic casing that wraps around the entire body of the keyboard. The ABS case holds the inner components snug and embeds a steel 1.5mm mounting plate for extra strength. As a result, the keyboard feels extremely rigid and there’s no flex to the board
The Leopold FC900R comes with genuine Cherry MX switches and a similar Cherry style stabilizer. For the keyboard we’ve listed below, there’s a choice of Blues, Browns, and Clear switches. To prevent any rattle, the Cherry style stabilizers come pre-lubed straight out of the factory
The “OEM” letters at the end of the name tag identify that it uses an OEM key-cap profile, which is approx. 2mm higher than a Cherry. This model has the standard black keycaps, however, If you fancy a change you can easily swap them out as they are all the standard size.
The legends use a pure white print color to show a strong contrast with the keys. Unfortunately, the second layer does not have the accents printed on so you will have to memorize the FN key commands to learn where they all are.
Although backlighting is a feature on different versions of the FC900R, this is not available on the keyboard below. The only LED’s you can find are above the Numpad (to indicate the Num lock, Caps lock, and Scroll lock).
Overall, if you’re searching for a rock-solid, full-size keyboard that won’t let you down, then look no further than the Leopold FC900R.
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3. Leopold FC750R
The Leopold FC750R is the Tenkeyless model of the FC900R. This board is practically the same as the full-size version but without the additional Numpad.
If you’re looking to sway away from the bulk of a full-size board, then the TKL is your next best option. Besides missing out on the Numpad, the layout loses the Leopold logo in the top right corner, however, we do actually prefer this more minimalistic look.
Just got my first “real” mechanical keyboard – Leopold FC750R PD w/ Cherry MX Blacks from r/MechanicalKeyboards
At 362mm, the length of the frame is approx. 78mm less than the full-size FC900R. In a similar design, it has a single plastic case that wraps around the entire length of the body. Inside is the same steel plate and dampening mat that’s bound to impress you in terms of quality.
Just as you would expect for the Leopold FC750R, it comes with Cherry MX switches and a similar Cherry style stabilizer for a comfortable and tactile feeling.
The model below uses an OEM key-cap profile, which is approx. 2mm higher than a Cherry original. As you can see, the caps an attractive Grey/ Blue color palette that really does look beautiful. Moreover, all of the key-caps on the F750R are the same standard size.
To show more contrast with the key-caps, the legends have a dark grey print to help you differentiate the letters. If you play a lot of WASD games that require constant use in that area, you’ll be glad to know that they use the same PBT double-shot process that will never wear out.
Just like the full-model, this is an excellent board with a vintage look and feel. It’s certain to stick with you for a very long time.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2. Leopold FC660M
The FC660M is the smallest keyboard by Leopold, and perhaps the most versatile. It has a compact 66 key layout but still manages to include a full set of Arrows, in addition to the Insert and Delete key. The desk-friendly size frees up space for the mouse making it more suitable for gamers.
Leopold, the ordinary yet reliable choice (FC660PD Ash Yellow with Silent Red). Been using it for 3 weeks now and a happy programmer! from r/MechanicalKeyboards
Dedicated arrow keys are a must for most people, and the twin cluster of navigation keys are a nice little touch to reduce some of the compromise. If you wish to change either of the navigation keys or swap them around, this can easily be done using a third-party software.
What we like most about the layout of this board is that the “FN” keys are located conveniently next to the arrow keys to make navigation a breeze with one hand. Furthermore, By pressing the FN key, you can access all of the function keys through the number row, and the “Del/ Ins keys will multiply into four.
In terms of the build, the FC660M offers the same exceptional quality that you would find on any Leopold keyboard. There’s no flex to the case, and considering the size, the board has a decent amount of weight to it. No creaks, rattles, or pings can be heard straight out of the box.
The FC660M has Cherry MX switches and PBT double-shot keycaps just like you would expect. If you’re an enthusiast who’s looking to swap out the keys, then one thing you do need to be aware of is that the FC660 right shift is a 2.25u (the same as the left) and it also has a 1u Windows key.
The board we’ve linked below is the updated version of the Leopold FC660M. It follows the same design as the older model, however, there are some differences. As you can see, it features a sleek new set of “ash-yellow” keys that contrast with the case for a very slight pop.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
1. Leopold FC980M
The FC980M is one of the most popular keyboards by Leopold. As you can see, it adopts a Cherry 1800 layout, which features the navigation keys, a Numpad, and no dedicated cluster of home keys. Essentially, this makes it a full-size keyboard but with the form factor of a TKL.
Leopold FC980M with hot-swap sockets & ‘DSA Granite’ keycaps from r/MechanicalKeyboards
To accommodate the dedicated cluster of arrow keys, the navigation cluster is removed and some of the bottom row keys have also shrunk. Most of the bottom row use nonstandard sizes (1.25, 1, 1.25, 6.25, 1, 1, and 1.25), and there’s also a shorter 1.75u right shift that squeezes in next to the arrows.
By pressing the FN modifier, the strip of four navigation keys above the Numpad will turn into eight, and you can activate four more on the arrows. In addition to this, the Numpad second layer (print screen, scroll lock, and pause break) has also moved across to the I, O, and P keys.
Although this layout might seem a bit different at first, you will no doubt come to love it in time. It makes no compromise on missing out on any of the essential keys and has quite a sophisticated arrangement. Not only does the layout look great but it also performs it as well.
For the build, you get the same premium standard that you would find with all other Leopold products. A rigid ABS plastic case wraps around the body and this is supported by an internal 1.5mm thick steel mounting plate inside.
All in all, it’s a fantastic keyboard at a very reasonable price. It’s ideal for those who require a full-size, space-saving layout with the Numpad.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
This model is available in a variety of color variations including: Black, Grey/ Blue, Ash/ Yellow, and more!
Image Sources: http://global.leopold.co.kr
We hope you found this post useful on the best Leopold Keyboard.
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