In terms of gaming keyboards, the greatest ones have it all: style, comfort, and, of course, a pleasant clickity clack sound.
For a gaming keyboard to be the best it must be both responsive and reliable as well as be covered in RGB lighting You’ll use your gaming keyboard more often than any other accessory, so it’s important to get it correctly.
There are so many alternatives for gaming keyboards that it may be difficult to know which one is best suited for your needs and tastes. As far as keyboard switches go, there are so many to choose from that it’s enough to make anybody cringe. If you want to make a better educated choice on mechanical keyboard switches, you should read up on them.
A 60 percent board, often known as a tenkeyless (TKL) board, may save up valuable work space. However, a full-sized keyboard packed with media controls will make you feel as if you’re piloting a high-tech space station. When it comes to keyboards, we can help you figure out which one is best for you.
We’ve put together a list of the best gaming keyboards for a wide range of gamers, so you should be covered. There’s a colour for everyone, whether you like Cherry Red or Razer Green. All of these gaming keyboards have been thoroughly tested by us at home and at work. We’ve also tried out some of the finest affordable gaming keyboards.
Corsair K100 RGB Optical
The Corsair K100 RGB is the finest choice for those who are willing to go the additional mile and upgrade to the very best of the best. This is a big keyboard, so be prepared to clear some space on your desk before you try to nest it. But in terms of features, the K100 RGB has everything. RGB lighting, a metal volume dial, and dedicated media controls are just some of the features you’ll find on the Media Hub. This keyboard has a lot of RGB lighting, to say the least.
When we tested the keyboard, we noticed that the key responses were outstanding, the key spread was enough for most hand sizes, the key clicks were gratifying, and the keys themselves were beautifully dimpled for resting your fingers between presses. Despite the obviousness of this, it indicates that the K100 RGB has nailed the fundamentals, as well as the frills, and that’s why it tops the list.
Mountain Everest Max
The Mountain Everest Max gaming keyboard is virtually everything to everyone. Since the moment it landed on my desk, it’s been one of my favourite designs. The numpad on a full-size keyboard isn’t something I use every day, but it does come in useful from time to time. During gaming, I only want a TKL board that can bring my mouse and keyboard closer together, allowing me to spread my rodent about on the desktop.
You can have your TKL cake and eat it, too, thanks to the Everest Max. Use the digits on your numeric keypad. Whatever. It’s possible to connect the magnetically attaching numpad module to either side of the mechanical TKL board and switch it out in a matter of seconds.
Also included is a magnetic wrist rest, a media module with distinct controls, and an LCD screen in the $270 (£230) full package.
When it comes to keyboard enthusiasts, this is a board that lets you to remove and change switches at any time. As an alternative, you can choose to build your own custom keyboard from the ground up, starting with your preferred switches and keycaps.
Its exorbitant price and the early immaturity of the configuration software were my main concerns with the Everest Max. That’s all worked out now, and I’m still using my sample on a daily basis since it’s just what I need for both gaming and work.
G.Skill KM360
Even if gaming keyboards costing $200 or more are popular right now, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any good mechanical switch boards for less. Many of these lower-cost choices use switches from different manufacturers, but the G.Skill KM360 uses the legendary Cherry MX Red linear switch right out of the box.
The single-color choice may disappoint those who insist on a rainbow-lit gaming board, but wow, the white LEDs on this G.Skill board are some of the brightest I’ve ever seen. If I kept the KM360 on its brightest setting all day, it would damage my retina and render it unusable.
This TKL board is simple, yet it performs what it is supposed to do quite well. In addition to being sturdy and well-made, it also has a nice appearance. However, I’m willing to overlook the lack of a wrist rest or media controls in favour of the device’s affordability.
Logitech G915 Lightspeed
The Logitech G915 is an excellent wireless keyboard if you’re looking for one. Logitech’s G915 mechanical keyboard costs $250 (£210), which is a little more than the typical price for wired mechanical keyboards with comparable capabilities. A somewhat cheaper version of the full-size TKL is available, but not so much that we would suggest it over the standard model.
A brush aluminum-plated board is what you receive for your considerable monetary outlay. The top right-hand corner of the keyboard has some sophisticated media controls, including a beautiful volume wheel, and there are a few macro buttons along the left side of the keyboard. The Logitech G software allows you to customise them for each individual app or game.
GL key switches, created by Kailh, are hidden behind the snazzy appearance. Our recommendation is for the clicky option if you really want to create a fuss.
It’s one of the most svelte boards on the market today, yet it still manages to cram a lot of features into a small package. For better or worse, the wired Cherry MX 10.0 beats it there.
Keychron K2 (Version 2)
Wireless gaming keyboards have never been more affordable than with the Keychron K2. Just $69 gets you a decent-sized gaming keyboard with Bluetooth capability and Gateron mechanical switches.
The overall build quality is good, and the three-device connection makes it easy to transfer between devices or places over the course of the working day. Having said that, the switches aren’t the finest, but they’re still fairly good at this price, and it may seem like a cheap keyboard at times.
In the grand scheme of things, this keyboard is a terrific option, particularly if you work from home and use many computers. Not to mention the Keychron K2’s wireless capabilities, which are the cherry on top of an already spectacular cake.
Wooting Two HE
Analog action is one of the Wooting Two HE’s secrets. To put it another way, instead of just sending a basic “on” or “off” signal to your PC, the keyboard will measure the whole range of the key’s motion when you press it. Red Dead Redemption 2, Grand Theft Auto V, and Mass Effect are just a few examples of games that make frequent use of a combination of analogue and digital controls.
In the analogue era of gaming keyboards, Wooting was one of the pioneers, and it continues to reign supreme. Using magnets and the Hall effect, the Wooting Two HE achieves very precise analogue movement on every key. There are a plethora of creative methods to take use of the analogue capabilities provided by each key on the keyboard.
Those looking for an analogue gaming keyboard with a tonne of customization options should check out the Wooting Two HE.
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB
The HyperX Alloy Elite is a very simple-looking keyboard with 16.9 million colour options, but it still has all the functions you’d expect from a high-quality gaming keyboard. Cherry MX Brown, Blue, and Red are all available. Aside from the absence of a dedicated macro column, its affordable pricing and high-quality construction make up for this shortcoming.
There are no unchecked boxes in the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB’s feature list. Detachable wrist rest and full RGB lights are included as well as dedicated media controls. In order to make it seem even better, it comes with an additional set of silver keycaps for the WASD and the first four number keys. Because the board has complete N-key rollover functionality, pressing keys won’t be an issue.
Although the new HyperX Alloy Elite 2 keyboard has been released with some beautiful ABS pudding keycaps, it is now exclusively available on HyperX’s website. It’s beautiful, but you’re unable to use the wrist rest, so it’s a win-win situation.
Razer Cynosa Chroma
Even if you like mechanical membrane keys, the Razer Cynosa is the best option for you if you want a complete membrane typing/gaming experience. As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing wrong with folks who want a pure membrane switch, and that’s good.
In my experience, the Cynosa’s low-profile membrane keys provide the nicest feel, and the keyboard retails for $60, making it one of the most cheap gaming keyboards available (well, past a certain threshold of quality). The absence of a dedicated wrist rest or media controls, as seen on other gaming boards, is offset by the presence of Razer’s rich RGB illumination, which can be customised by key or by zone.
Compared to other membrane keyboards I’ve tried, this is a decent, no-frills, attractive keyboard. The Cynosa may be upgraded to a more powerful model. Even still, the only major upgrade for an additional $20 is under-glow RGB, so unless you’re very interested in a ‘ground effects’ bundle, I suggest saving your money and purchasing the standard model.
