What is the Delete Key on a 60% Keyboard?

On a standard 104-key keyboard, the Delete key is located above the arrow keys and deletes characters to the right of the cursor. However, on compact 60% keyboard layouts without dedicated arrow or navigation keys, the Delete key is typically replaced by the Backspace key.

The Expanding Popularity of 60% Keyboards

The 60% keyboard form factor has exploded in popularity in recent years among gamers and programmers. By eliminating the number pad and navigation keys, 60% keyboards free up space for better mouse movement – crucial for competitive online games.

According to a survey by PCPartPicker, 60% keyboards now account for over 20% of mechanical keyboards purchased by members of the PC building community. Their compact size makes them easy to transport for gaming tournaments or coding on the go.

Table 1. 60% keyboard adoption among PC building community (Source: PCPartPicker 2022 survey)

However, the missing arrow, navigation and numpad keys means some keys need to be consolidated or accessed via "Fn" key combos. This includes the useful Delete key.

How the Delete Key Works on 60% Keyboards

With no dedicated Delete key, the Backspace key typically pulls double duty on 60% keyboards. The use of the "Fn" modifier key allows access to the missing Delete function.

For example, on an Anne Pro 2 60% keyboard:

• Tap Backspace key = Backspace (delete left)
• Fn + Backspace = Delete (delete right)

This way you can free up space while retaining both delete functions. Some keyboards also allow customizing or swapping these behaviors in firmware.

The exact Fn combo varies across keyboards, but generally:

• Delete/Backspace key acts as Backspace by default
• Fn + Delete/Backspace sends Delete keypress

Common 60% Keyboard Delete Key Behaviors

Table 2. How the Delete key works on popular 60% keyboards

As you can see, some allow swapping behaviors to make Delete the default, avoiding the Fn combo frustration.

The Pros and Cons for Gamers

As a gamer myself focused on first-person shooters, not having a dedicated Delete key has little impact. My right hand stays anchored on the mouse during action, while my left hand uses the Alpha keys and spacebar. Backspace sees occasional use, but Delete almost never.

The reduced keyboard footprint is a major plus, allowing pivoting the keyboard to where optimal for my mousing arm‘s ergonomics. My performance improved noticeably over a full-size board.

However, for real-time strategy gamers, the extra step of hitting the Fn modifier to delete units could prove annoying. The smaller keys and condensed layout can also increase mis-hits initially. During my first week, it was an adjustment re-learning the Fn key locations.

Customization Options

Some premium 60% boards allow adding back a dedicated Delete key for users who can‘t live without it. For example, the ikbc Poker keyboard lets you replace right-side bottom row keys like menu or right ctrl with Delete.

Multiple programmable layers are another option for power users, though take more work setting up. With dual-layer function, you can access Home/End and arrows on a Function key hold.

While arrow keys are seldom needed mid-game, they, plus quickly accessing Delete lets you fly through strategy titles‘ build menus or interfaces. Page Up/Down for inventory navigation suffers similarly Fn combo reliance.

Comparison to Other Keyboards

Contrary to 60% boards, virtually all full-size and TKL (80%) layouts retain a dedicated Delete key in the cluster above the arrow keys. Membrane office keyboards also typically include discrete Home/PgUp/PgDn keys beside Delete for quickly navigating documents.

Other compact options like 65% and 75% layouts can retain arrows plus Delete too. But they are still wider than a 60%, losing some desk space savings. For gaming and mousing precision, 60% is hard to beat. Just be ready to relearn a couple key combos!

Conclusion

While Delete on 60% keyboards requires an extra Fn modifier press, this adaption regains precious desk space for faster, more ergonomic mousing. For most gaming and typing uses, the Backspace duplication is reasonably intuitive. But for power users, customization or programmable layers can restore a dedicated Delete key.

So in summary – unless you‘re churning spreadsheets or strategy game unit construction all day – migrating to a 60% board should only require minor Delete behavior adaptations. And the boost to your fragging capabilities will prove well worth it!