iKBC CD87 v2 vs TKL
88 facts in comparison
Based on 2,147 Reddit opinions. Close race—TKLTKL edges ahead.
2.1K opinions
TKL leads by 1pts
VS

90%
A
Based on
6,012 Redditors
iKBC CD87 v2
994 opinions
tldr; Cherry MX switches in aluminum case. PBT doubleshot keycaps stock. Simple, no-frills TKL. Budget workhorse.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick

91%
A
Based on
5,470 Redditors
Winner
TKL
~$31.99
1,153 opinions
tldr; Form factor, not a product. Removes numpad for mouse room. Most recommended size for gaming and productivity.
Check prices📝TYP
⭐SWI
🔧BUI
⭐KEY
⚡FEA
16
Points
20
Points
Score by Category
Typing Feel
19%22%
Switches
15%19%
Build Quality
15%20%
Keycaps
13%19%
Features
13%20%
Why is TKL better than iKBC CD87 v2?
- Higher Reddit score (91% vs 90%)
- Better keycaps (19% vs 13%)
- Better features (20% vs 13%)
- More mouse space
- ⌨ Keeps F-row and nav
- Gaming sweet spot
Based on 11,482 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the TKLTKL
Winning by 1 points (91% vs 90%)
Better keycaps
Better features
More mouse space
High confidence (11,482 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 11,482 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
CD87 v2
9.0/10
6,012 mentions
TKL
9.1/10
5,470 mentions
KEYCAPS
CD87 v21.3/10
TKL1.9/10
VALUE
CD87 v22.0/10
TKL2.1/10
TYPING FEEL
CD87 v21.9/10
TKL2.2/10
FEATURES
CD87 v21.3/10
TKL2.0/10
SWITCHES
CD87 v21.5/10
TKL1.9/10
BUILD QUALITY
CD87 v21.5/10
TKL2.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | CD87 v2 | TKL |
|---|---|---|
Keycaps | 13% | 19% |
Value | 20% | 21% |
Typing Feel | 19% | 22% |
Features | 13% | 20% |
Switches | 15% | 19% |
Build Quality | 15% | 20% |
Category Wins
CD87 v2: 0|TKL: 5
Head to Head
CD87 v2: 0|TKL: 5
KeycapsTKL
CD87 v213%
TKL19%
Value
CD87 v220%
TKL21%
Typing FeelTKL
CD87 v219%
TKL22%
FeaturesTKL
CD87 v213%
TKL20%
SwitchesTKL
CD87 v215%
TKL19%
Build QualityTKL
CD87 v215%
TKL20%
CD87 v2
90%
91%
TKL
CD87 v290%
TKL91%
Close race - TKL edges ahead by 1 points
Key Specs
| Spec | iKBC CD87 v2 | TKL |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | — | SteelSeries |
| Manufacturer | — | SteelSeries |
| Color | — | Black |
| Weight | — | 1.4 Pounds |
| Height | — | 1.57 Inches |
Key Highlights
iKBC CD87 v2
🍒 Cherry MX switches
💪 Aluminum top plate
⌨️ TKL layout
📦 Great stock keycaps
TKLWinner
🖱️ More mouse space
⌨️ Keeps F-row and nav
🎮 Gaming sweet spot
🏢 Office-friendly
Topic Battles
CD87 v2: 0|Tied: 0|TKL: 5
📝Typing Feel
TKL winsCD87 v2
19%
TKL
22%
⭐Switches
TKL winsCD87 v2
15%
TKL
19%
🔧Build Quality
TKL winsCD87 v2
15%
TKL
20%
⭐Keycaps
TKL winsCD87 v2
13%
TKL
19%
⚡Features
TKL winsCD87 v2
13%
TKL
20%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for TKL
Best Praise
+52 pts“So I've got 30ish boards. I've been in the mechanical keyboard hobby since 2008/09ish. And for the armchair psychs, I'm financially stable, it's a collection. I treat them as art just as much as tools. Of my boards, I've got about 10 unbuilt, as I like to really take my time building my boards. I create themes and try to build the entire board around said theme. For example, I have a pandemic-themed board. But it's for what was really popular during the time of the pandemic. That board is an R1 Navy Satisfaction 75 with a brass plate, original holy pandas, and GMK Mizu. It captures a time in the hobby that I really enjoyed and puts a smile on my face when I use the board. I've got a Boba Fett-themed board that I build in the color palette of my favorite bounty hunter. I purchased a damaged Geon Frog tkl from a friend, sent it off to cerakote with some GMK Boba Fett caps to color match and let the cerakote company go wild. I threw some Pines switches in and called it a day. That all being said. My boards rotate. Sometimes I'll switch it out weekly, sometimes things get buys and I use the same board for a month. I don't have a built board that I haven't touched this year, though. Even if I use it for just a couple days, I get a chance to remember why I built the board and reminds why I made the decisions for the build. Some frequent flyers on my desk are my NRD Kaze, Mira SE, HHKB (the first board I ever bought as a hobbyist), Safa TKL, Sat75, Prophet, CW88, Caerdroia, one off "Panda Korn", and my Tengu. Most of my boards have some sort of linear in them, ones that were built as typing boards tend to have light tactiles. Most of my sets are GMK, I like cherry profile and I embrace the shine. For upcoming purchases, it really depends on what I find. The most recent purchase was the AKB Caerdroia. I loved the two tone design, large weight unique weight, and the inclusion of USB ports on a daughter board. At the time of purchase, I was working in a private office and loved being able to throw a USB drive or a mouse adapter in it. I'm working from home now, and I still love it for its design and practicality. I tend to like to have unique switches in all my boards, with the exceptions being some staples like Zealios v1 and v2, Holy Pandas, and the variety of Cherry MX Blacks (vints, retools, and hyperglides). I tend to gravitate towards 60%s and TKLs, I don't really like 65s at all, they feel unbalanced to me. I've standardized my layout on my boards. I like tsangan with split right shift and split backspace. So much that I do it on my TKLs which some see as sacrilegious. At the end of the day, I build what I like and what I think looks cool. I like to give keyboards as gifts to my friends and loved ones. I think they are super cool in that regard. I have a toddler who has a custom that I built because it reminds me of her. As far as grails, there might be two out there. One is the Bacca70 designed by Chewwy. I really like that it takes a 60% an”
r/mechanicalkeyboards
ViewNo negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for iKBC CD87 v2
Best Praise
+87 pts“Happy New Year! We are giving away a [KEI V2 65% / Silver / EC PCB!](https://mekibo.com/collections/in-stock-keyboards/products/monokei-kei-v2?variant=46661749014816) Congratulations u/SafeAtShore/!!! Happy New Year everyone! [MEKIBO](https://mekibo.com/) is a US-based mechanical keyboard vendor. We were founded in 2017 and have been one of the stops for the community with a variety of keysets, switches and keyboards. **We are running 10% off sitewide for Holidays! No code needed.** **OR subscribe and get 15% with code XMAS15!** [Check out the website for more!](https://mekibo.com/) **Offers will end by end of day, Dec. 31st.** To enter this giveaway, please reply with your favorite anime character\~! Rules: * You will need to REPLY with your answer by Tues, Dec 31st @ 2PM PACIFIC TIME. We will announce and contact the winner by Jan 2nd! * We will update this post with the winners and DM you so keep that open ;). * Open to everyone in the world and we will take care of shipping costs. However, we will not be responsible for applicable import taxes (if any).”
r/mechanicalkeyboards
ViewNo negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
iKBC CD87 v2
TKL
📈Historical Price Data
TKL
TKL
All-time low: $20(2025-04)
Which is Better?
Too Close to Call
Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (91% vs 90%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.
Why TKL
- Better Features (20% vs 13%)
Why CD87 v2
- 🍒 Cherry MX switches
- 💪 Aluminum top plate
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
19%Positive
Positive
19%Neutral
79%Negative
2%Based on 5,470 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
15%Positive
Positive
15%Neutral
83%Negative
2%Based on 6,012 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, TKL or iKBC CD87 v2?
Based on 11,482 Reddit comments, TKL has a slight edge with 91% positive sentiment vs iKBC CD87 v2's 90%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy TKL or iKBC CD87 v2?
Both have similar approval ratings (91% vs 90%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about TKL?
Reddit users highlight: More mouse space. Keeps F-row and nav. Gaming sweet spot. With 5,470 mentions and 91% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about iKBC CD87 v2?
Reddit users highlight: Cherry MX switches. Aluminum top plate. TKL layout. With 6,012 mentions and 90% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 11,482 Reddit comments: 5,470 about TKL and 6,012 about iKBC CD87 v2. Data was sourced from Mechanical Keyboards community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
2,147 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 3/8/2026