I'm looking for a cheap and small keyboard and the Raspberry seems fine but can't find any input (pun not intended) on it, other than Amazon in wich a couple of people stated keys stopped working after relative little time.

I'm open to other recomendations but it has to be smaller than standard size, retro ilumination is a bonus (can't care less about RGB unless it's impossible to turn off) and wireless or wired doesn't matter too much.
I do like "chiclet" type keyboards due the low key stroke but in this case it won't matter too much, what it matters is that is not a expensive keyboard, since will be used in a place with a lot of heavy duty tools and I tend to not be very careful from time to time.

The logitech MK220 seems fine but no retro ilumination is a bum, also a bit on the big-ish side.

I've used the Raspberry Pi keyboard.

Some thoughts:
* It feels like a laptop keyboard, with the way the keys are.
* It doesn't have retro illumination.
* What it does have, however, is a built-in USB hub. In other words, you can connect your USB mouse to the keyboard and expect it to work; this is very handy if your computer is in a spot where the USB ports aren't readily accessible, of if the ports are too close together (like on a Raspberry Pi). It's also nice if you're short on USB ports (like if you have a Raspberry Pi model that has only one USB port, or if using it with a phone).
* It works fine with a Linux desktop, and I think I might have been able to get it to work with an Android phone (provided you have an OTG cable or a C-to-A cable, depending on the phone model).

Thanks a lot for your input, is really helpfull.
Been busy out of home for a while so this issue has been postponed, will look at it in a few weeks.

Really thought the Raspi keyboard had backlight, don't know where the heck I get that idea from, guess have to pass but the USB hub is great though since the computer is not very accessible and routinly have to insert a pen drive to copy some small files (speed don't matter much).

It's kinda hard to find slim keyboards with backlight in smaller sizes, let alone finding one that is not bluetooth and available with Portuguese layout.

I've been contemplating the idea of building my own keyboard for the main desktop pc with low profile switches and keys, so building two shouldn't be too much big of a deal.

It took me too long to realize this thread is about the actual Raspberry Pi keyboard, and not the Raspberry Pi 400. XD

I have a Logitech K235 that came with a mouse, both work with a single Bluetooth dongle. But it's normal sized and I don't really remember how much I payed for it. :( But it shouldn't be too much, as I'm sure I wasn't looking for anything fancy when I got it.

Do it!

It's fun, and you can get exactly the layout you like.

I can wholeheartedly recommend getting your plate cut at Laserboost. *chef's kiss*
Their quality cannot be compared with the cheap cr*p I've gotten from Aliexpress.

Never knew it had a hub, always assumed it was just overpriced. Makes it a great proposition for the pi zero.

Time surely flies. Can't believe it has been a month since my last post here.

For the issue of finding a cheap keyboard, I came across a very nice sale price (20€) on a small standard mechanical keyboard and bought it. It's a 60% type, not exactly my favorite but will have to do for a while, at least until I came across a more suitable solution. Picture below.
The Cooler-Master SK620 was the keyboard I had my eye onto but was hard to find any information about the actual layout. I've later came across a picture of the portuguese layout and kinda regret buying the cheap, "no-name" option since the Cooler-Master is not very expensive (less than 50€).


Thanks for the link on the laser cut service, it seems very good and it's nice they don't mind doing small quantities. I deal with a local company from time to time and it's a major pain in the knee to get them to cut single units used for prototyping. Also, the prices are kinda expensive for lower quantities so I will look at the LaserBoost option, even if the selection of material/thickness is rather limited.

I found a good source on cheap keycaps and switches, I'm exploring options regarding the chassis itself.
On one hand, I have a 3d printer and a ABS printed, hand wired option is probably the most satisfying way to build it, even if the looks are not so clean. I'ts probably the best way to get very low height but lightning may proove dificult.
On other hand there's plenty of online projects for "ready made" parts, regarding the chassis and pcb, wich will make assembly a breeze. But then, the project will feel more puzzle-like than self made.

Thank you everyone for the input.

A bit of a rant to vent some frustrations:

I find astonishing how dificult it is to find decent chiclet keyboards at resonable prices. Sure, portuguese layout (iso) may indeed be a factor but while there are hundreds of flashing, eye sore led backlit mechanical options, a laptop type backlit keyboard is close to non existent?
Most options are bluetooth or simply too expensive.

Am I missing something or you need to have the word "mechanical" in every keyboard in order to sell it? Heck, some of the weirdest example is the Cooler-Master "mem-chanical" MK110 keyboard wich I came acroos while having a look at the model mentioned above. WTF "mem-chanical" even means? (rethorical question)

I really dislike RGB on PC components, with a passion. But besides personal preferences, who da heck think is a good idea to implement PWM at low frequencies on christmas tree keyboards? There is no technical reason whatsoever to implement PWM at sub 200Hz range since it's so hard on the eyes, came across several models on display.

Ufff, feel so much better now.

Like most things in life, it's down to philosophy.

Now, personally I'd suggest something like the Mini M but that's the opposite of a Chiclet keyboard, doesn't come in PG-BR layout, and also costs 150 USD.

There's plenty of non-Christmas tree styled keyboards, but uh, you might have to roll your own for a layout such as PGBR.