This awesome retro-style keyboard is now available fully assembled.

You can probably tell at a glance if the Classic-TKL Underscore Edition is your kind of keyboard. Looking for a retro-styled wired keyboard without a number pad? You’re in luck. Not concerned about wireless connectivity? Perfect. Want it ready to use right out of the box? You’ve found your match.

Now, you might think that buying a preassembled keyboard is just the standard way to go. Most people expect a cake when they order one, not a box of cake mix. That’s a fair point for most keyboards, but the Classic-TKL has previously only been available as a DIY kit. Now, you can grab one fully assembled with quality components for less than the cost of building it yourself.

If you’re like me, part of the joy of mechanical keyboards is selecting the right keycaps, switches, and stabilizers, then putting everything together. But if you just want a stylish, retro keyboard that feels and sounds great without the hassle of assembly—or if you were planning to use classic beige keycaps anyway—the Underscore Edition could be just what you need.

The Classic-TKL Underscore Edition is a wired, gasket-mounted tenkeyless mechanical keyboard priced at $189. It features an injection-molded plastic case with a high forehead, reminiscent of the classic Realforce 86U, and a silicone mat on the base for sound dampening. It also includes hot-swap MX switches, full RGB backlighting, and a light bar (both of which can be disabled), and it’s fully programmable via the Via web app.

The Classic-TKL has been available in kit form for a couple of years. I built one and reviewed it in 2024, and I also tested the glow-in-the-dark variant. I really enjoyed them! However, not everyone who wants a stylish retro keyboard is interested in a DIY project. The owner of NovelKeys mentioned that the Underscore Edition is designed to provide something that keyboard enthusiasts can recommend to friends and family. It’s also targeted at professionals who frequent keyboard communities but prefer not to build their own.

The Underscore Edition comes in three colors: clay (a warm beige), boulder (a taupe-ish shade), and lichen (a dusty green). My review unit is clay, but I’d personally opt for the lichen. It includes NovelKeys’ Classic Blue switches, GMK CYL Classic Beige keycaps, a USB A-to-C cable, and preinstalled TypePlus stabilizers.

These are high-quality components. GMK CYL keycaps are considered the gold standard for doubleshot Cherry-profile keycaps, far superior to those that come with many budget keyboards. The lettering is sharp and clear, and the quality is unmatched. While they’re pricey—around $120 if purchased separately—the Classic-TKL includes just the necessary keycaps for the board.

The TypePlus stabilizers are also a solid choice; I’ve installed and tuned a few sets myself, but the factory-tuned ones are even better. There’s no rattle or noise on any of the stabilized keys. The Classic Blue linear switches (also from TypePlus) are smooth and stable, with minimal wobble. They have a 53g actuation force and 63g bottom-out, making them medium-heavy, similar to a lighter version of the Cherry MX Blacks from my first mechanical keyboard back in 2009. They’re not silent, but they’re quieter than you might expect from a keyboard in this color scheme.

I usually steer clear of the “if you like this genre, you’ll like this” type of reviews. However, when it comes to mechanical keyboards, much of the experience boils down to personal preference and taste.

The Classic-TKL Underscore Edition is a well-crafted representation of its type. If you’re after a retro tenkeyless board with linear switches and beige Cherry-profile keycaps, it’s an excellent option.

When viewed as a high-quality preassembled version of an enthusiast DIY keyboard, complete with name-brand parts, it’s also a solid deal. I built the DIY version of this board with the same stabilizers and similarly priced keycaps, and it cost me $276 and took about an hour to assemble (most of which was spent lubing and tuning the stabilizers). The Underscore Edition is priced at $189, which is $100 more than the bare-bones kit. You won’t find keycaps, switches, and stabilizers of this quality for $100 combined.

That said, $189 can get you a lot of keyboard these days, especially if you’re not set on the Classic-TKL’s specific style.

Even within the tenkeyless category, the Evoworks Evo80 is available for $169 and features an aluminum case along with Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless options. The same goes for the $179 Wobkey Crush 80. However, those are different keyboards with their own aesthetics. The 8BitDo Retro 87 is a closer match, offering several classic computing-inspired designs, including Commodore 64 and IBM Model M styles, for around $100. But, no offense to 8BitDo, those look a bit more casual compared to the Classic-TKL.

I personally prefer the Classic-TKL’s plastic chassis over the aluminum of the Evoworks or Wobkey boards. However, I wouldn’t mind if it had wireless capabilities. It would also be nice to have a few extra keycaps included for those who want Mac legends or to reposition the Control key. And while I’m being picky, I’d love the option for MTNU Classic Beige keycaps instead of just CYL, as I prefer MTNU. An electrocapacitive switch option would be a nice addition too, but that might be pushing it.

If you’re looking for the Classic-TKL in a different color or with different switches or keycaps, the kit version and the Glo version are still available. And if you’re in the market for a different keyboard altogether, there are plenty of options out there. The Classic-TKL Underscore Edition excels at what it is.

But I’d still go for the green one.