The very best gaming keyboards convey a better feeling of consolation and management to your PC play time, whether or not you’re sinking right into a 100-hour RPG or sweating by way of an internet shooter. They could not at all times really feel as premium for typing as customized mechanical keyboard, however they’re often a pleasant improve over the unusual keyboards sitting across the workplace. To assist anybody seeking to improve, I’ve spent extra time researching gaming keyboards than any particular person fairly ought to, testing dozens of well-reviewed fashions alongside the best way. Whether or not you need one thing mini, analog, wi-fi or simply plain low-cost, these are the perfect I’ve used.
What to search for in a gaming keyboard
To be clear, any keyboard is usually a “gaming keyboard.” In case you play a number of video video games and have by no means sighed to your self, “man, this keyboard is holding me again,” congratulations, you in all probability don’t have to pay additional for a brand new one. Self-proclaimed gaming keyboards typically come at a premium, and whereas the perfect provide high-quality designs, snazzy RGB lighting and some genuinely worthwhile options, none of them provides you with god-like ability, nor will they out of the blue flip dangerous video games into good ones.
Mechanical vs non-mechanical
Now that we’ve touched grass, I did prioritize some options whereas researching this information. First, I largely caught to mechanical keyboards, not laptop-style membrane fashions. They are often loud, however they’re extra sturdy, customizable and broadly satisfying to press — all constructive traits for a product you might use for hours-long gaming periods.
Dimension
Subsequent, I most popular tenkeyless (TKL) or smaller layouts. It’s completely effective to make use of a full-size board in case you actually desire a quantity pad, however a compact mannequin offers you extra space to flick your mouse round. It additionally enables you to maintain your mouse nearer to your physique, which may cut back the strain positioned in your arms and shoulders.
Switches, keycaps and construct high quality
Linear switches, which are sometimes branded as “pink,” are usually favored by avid gamers. These give keystrokes a clean really feel from prime to backside, with no tactile “bump” that would make quick, repeated presses much less constant. They often require little power to actuate, and so they are usually quiet. Nevertheless, in case you want the texture and/or sound of a extra tactile or clicky change, get a type of as an alternative. You may lose some velocity in esports-style video games, however nothing is extra vital than your consolation.
Some gaming keyboards are based mostly on completely different mechanisms fully. Optical switches, as an example, use a beam of sunshine to register keystrokes, whereas Corridor impact switches use magnets. These typically really feel linear, however they permit for a extra versatile set of gaming-friendly options, corresponding to the flexibility to set customized actuation factors, assign a number of instructions to at least one key and repeat key presses quicker. Normally, they’re quicker and extra sturdy too.
This analog-style performance has grow to be the massive pattern within the gaming keyboard market over the previous couple of years. Many of the main keyboard manufacturers now promote a minimum of one mannequin with Corridor impact switches and, based mostly on my testing, it’s simple to see why: Lots of their customizations actually can provide you a extra granular (but nonetheless honest) sense of management, particularly in additional aggressive video games. Consequently, a lot of our picks beneath are constructed with the tech.
Keyboards with these form of options often aren’t low-cost, nevertheless, and so they’re removed from important for many who primarily play single-player video games. A few of their methods have additionally stirred up controversy: One referred to as SOCD (Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Instructions) cleansing means that you can activate two completely different directional keys on the identical time, making it attainable to, amongst different issues, obtain impossibly good strafing in capturing video games. A number of video games corresponding to Counter-Strike 2 have banned the characteristic in consequence, although it may nonetheless be a enjoyable factor to mess around with in video games that don’t contain different folks. SOCD isn’t restricted to magnetic switches both; some mechanical keyboards help it too.
A small handful of latest keyboards have shipped with inductive switches, which promise the adjustable actuation options of Corridor impact keyboards however with higher battery effectivity. We haven’t been in a position to check considered one of these simply but, however we’ll look to take action sooner or later.
Keycaps and construct high quality
No matter change sort, you desire a body that doesn’t flex below strain, keys that don’t wobble and stabilizers that don’t rattle once you hit bigger keys just like the spacebar. I want double-shot PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps over people who use cheaper ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic, as they received’t develop a greasy shine over time and their icons are much less more likely to fade. A hot-swappable PCB (printed circuit board) that makes it simple to vary switches if the temper arises is good, as are devoted media keys.
For the sake of simplicity, I solely thought of prebuilt gaming keyboards for this information, although lots of the picks beneath permit for personalization down the road. In case you (and your checking account) actually need to go wild, take a look at our information to constructing a customized keyboard.
Software program, connectivity and RGB
If a keyboard has companion software program, it ought to allow you to program macros and customized key bindings for video games with out frustration. For comfort, a wired keyboard ought to join by way of a removable USB-C cable. An excellent wi-fi keyboard received’t add severe lag, however provided that it makes use of a USB receiver, not Bluetooth. (It’ll in all probability price extra as nicely.) Some gaming keyboards promote super-high polling charges — i.e., the velocity at which a keyboard stories to a pc — to cut back latency, however until your monitor has an particularly quick refresh fee, the standard normal of 1,000Hz must be effective. And whereas no one wants RGB lighting, it’s enjoyable. Shopper tech might use extra of that, so the cleaner and extra customizable the RGB is, the higher.
How we examined
One of the best ways to guage a keyboard is to only… use it, in order that’s what I did. To cowl a wide range of use circumstances and design kinds, I’ve researched dozens of keyboards over the previous a number of months that’ve broadly obtained excessive marks from skilled reviewers and customers alike. I’ve then used every mannequin I’ve introduced in as my each day driver for a number of days. Since I write for a dwelling, this gave me sufficient time to get a robust sense of every keyboard’s typing expertise.
For gaming, I give particular focus to every keyboard’s responsiveness in quick and/or reaction-based on-line shooters corresponding to Halo Infinite, Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, Valorant, Overwatch 2 and XDefiant, as many would-be gaming keyboard consumers get one within the hopes that it’ll assist with that style particularly. I made positive every keyboard felt snug with different varieties of video games, although, corresponding to Baldur’s Gate 3 (a turn-based RPG), Hello-Fi Rush (an motion recreation with an emphasis on timing and rhythm) and Forza Horizon 5 (an arcade racing recreation). I used the latter to higher consider the pressure-sensitive options of the analog keyboards I examined.
If a keyboard could possibly be configured with a number of change varieties, I bought the linear mannequin. Upon receiving every keyboard, I eliminated a number of keycaps to make sure none have been chipped or damaged. I famous whether or not any keys felt wobbly, whether or not the case flexes below strain, whether or not the feel and end of the keycaps adjustments after use and whether or not bigger keys just like the spacebar felt notably rattly or hole. I typed on every keyboard in fast succession in a quiet room to get a way of the place they ranked when it comes to noise. For wi-fi fashions, I checked whether or not the battery drain at 50 % RGB brightness aligned with a producer’s estimate. I appeared to outcomes from websites like Rtings to make sure nothing was out of order with latency. I did my testing on a 144Hz monitor with my private rig, which features a Tenth-gen Core i9 CPU and an RTX 3080 GPU.
This helped me guarantee every keyboard met a baseline of total high quality, however to reiterate, a lot of this course of is subjective. I can inform you if a keyboard is loud based mostly on how I slam my keys, as an example, however you could have a lighter contact. What my tastes discover “snug,” “pleasing,” and even “helpful,” you might dislike. As I’ve written earlier than, keyboards are like meals or artwork in that approach. So, maintain an open thoughts.
Different gaming keyboards we examined
Notice: The next is a number of noteworthy gaming keyboards we’ve put by way of their paces, not a complete listing of all the things we’ve ever tried.
Wooting 60HE+
You’ll be able to contemplate the Wooting 60HE+ our “1A” decide, because it’s primarily a extra compact model of the 80HE with a 60 % structure. It helps the identical analog gaming options, has the identical four-year guarantee and nonetheless makes use of the nice Wootility software program. It’s additionally $25 cheaper. In case you want a smaller design and don’t want arrow keys, you should purchase it with confidence. Nevertheless, extra folks will discover the 80HE’s bigger structure simpler to make use of on a day-to-day foundation. Its gasket mount, up to date switches and further sound-dampening materials make it extra pleasant-sounding and comfier for typing out of the field. Plus, whereas the 60HE+ can solely relaxation at one fastened angle, the 80HE comes with a number of units of detachable ft.
It's additionally price noting that Wooting has introduced an up to date mannequin referred to as the 60HE V2 since our final replace. That one is predicted to reach by the top of 2025, so in case you're not in a rush it could be price holding out for a number of extra months.
Logitech G Professional X TKL Speedy
The Logitech G Professional X TKL Speedy is an efficient magnetic-switch different to the Wooting 80HE in case you should purchase from one of many main keyboard manufacturers. It’s wired-only, nevertheless it appears good, with clear RGB lighting, a built-in quantity curler, devoted media keys and a sturdy metallic prime plate. The anticipated speedy set off and adjustable actuation methods all work effective, and Logitech’s G Hub software program is simpler to get round than most apps from the big-name producers. It could acknowledge once you’ve launched sure video games, as an example, then apply any customized profiles you’ve made for them robotically. It's $10 cheaper than the 80HE as nicely. The place it falls brief is the typing expertise: The default switches are fairly noisy, and bottoming out the keys feels stiffer right here in comparison with our prime picks. If you would like these Wooting-style options and like a clackier sound, nevertheless, it’s an honest purchase.
Logitech G Professional X TKL and G Professional X 60
The wi-fi Logitech G Professional X TKL and G Professional X 60, which use extra conventional mechanical switches, aren’t as scorching. They’re constructed nicely, however they’re too dear to not be hot-swappable or lack the analog options of the 80HE. There isn’t a lot sound-dampening foam in both fashions, too, so neither sounds nice. We like that each include a carrying case, although.
Keychron C3 Professional
The tenkeyless Keychron C3 Professional is the highest price range decide in our mechanical keyboard information, and it stays an amazing stand-in for the G.Ability KM250 RGB if you wish to keep below $50. With its gasket mount design, inner foam and pre-lubed switches, it feels and sounds fuller to press. The bottom model we examined lacks hot-swappable switches and solely has a pink backlight, however Keychron has launched a revised mannequin that addresses that and add full RGB. That mentioned, its ABS keycaps nonetheless really feel cheaper and may develop a shine over time, plus there’s no quantity knob. Some could discover KM250’s smaller measurement extra handy for gaming, too.
A more moderen replace referred to as the C3 Professional 8K does embrace PBT keycaps for $55; we'll goal to check that one sooner or later.
Keychron Q1 HE
The Keychron Q1 HE is kind of an older model of the Lemokey P1 HE with the identical magnetic switches and a equally glorious aluminum chassis. Its double-gasket design, pre-lubed switches and layers of froth make it a pleasure for typing. However its gaming options depend on the identical iffy software program, whereas the inventory keycaps are sculpted in a approach that makes them trickier to press rapidly. These keycaps aren’t shine-through both, and the entire thing is costlier, so there isn’t a lot motive to purchase it over the P1 HE.
Sony Inzone KBD-H75
The Sony Inzone KBD-H75 is one other one which ticks a lot of the containers we’re searching for. Its 75-percent body is compact however not cramped. It appears plain, nevertheless it wouldn’t be misplaced in an workplace. The metallic prime comes off as substantial — although the underside is product of plastic — whereas the PBT keycaps are sturdy, with shine-through lighting. A gasket-mount design and a few high quality stabilizers assist the typing expertise really feel and sound nice. Presses have a pleasant clack, however they’re muted sufficient that they shouldn’t annoy anybody round you. The magnetic Corridor impact switches allow you to customise actuation factors and make the most of a speedy set off mode. Normal latency is great, and Sony’s Inzone Hub isn’t as fussy or obtuse as many companion apps on this market. There’s additionally a quantity knob.
The issue is that each one of this prices $300, and that’s rather a lot for a keyboard with out wi-fi connectivity (or correct macOS help). Aggressive avid gamers could not care about that, however for many others, there are higher values on the market. In case you ever see this one on sale, nevertheless, it’s nicely price a glance, because the inventory typing really feel is a bit nicer than that of the Wooting 80HE.
Razer Joro
The Razer Joro is an honest selection if you would like a transportable scissor-switch keyboard as an alternative of a cumbersome mechanical one. It’s primarily a “gamer” tackle Apple’s Magic Keyboard, with a slick black end, sturdy aluminum prime plate, RGB lighting and SOCD help. The 75-percent structure is tremendous low-profile and weighs simply 0.8 kilos, so it’s extraordinarily travel-friendly. The typing expertise is secure, splendidly quiet and cozy for what it’s — put it in a laptop computer and it’d be a standout. All of it works throughout Home windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
That mentioned, it’ll by no means really feel as soft as mechanical board over prolonged periods. The design is fastened at one flat angle, which some could discover uncomfortable. The ABS keycaps aren’t nice for one thing priced at $140, and whereas there may be 2.4GHz wi-fi help, you could purchase a separate dongle to really use it. In any other case, you’re enjoying over Bluetooth, which provides latency, or a brief USB-C cable. The Joro serves its area of interest nicely sufficient in case you’re at all times on the highway, nevertheless it’s a skip in case you don’t recreation past your desk fairly often.
Razer Huntsman V2 TKL
We beforehand beneficial the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL as a mid-priced decide due to its mild optical switches, crisp PBT keycaps and impressively muffled tone (with the linear-switch mannequin, a minimum of). Its lack of analog options make it a tougher promote nowadays, although, and its keys wobble greater than these on the Keychron V3 Max. It’s not hot-swappable, both. Past that, solely the model with clicky switches — which sound uncomfortably sharp — continues to be in inventory as of this writing.
Razer Huntsman V3 Professional
The Razer Huntsman V3 Professional is a line of wired analog keyboards that is available in 60 %, TKL and full-size choices. They’ve nearly all of the options we like on the Wooting 80HE, however their optical switches are noisier and extra hollow-feeling.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Professional 75%
The BlackWidow V4 Professional 75% is Razer’s top-of-the-line wi-fi keyboard. It’s absolutely hot-swappable, with closely textured PBT keycaps, a strong aluminum prime case and a nifty OLED show. The tactile Razer Orange switches in our check unit constantly really feel tight, the bigger keys don’t actually rattle and the RGB backlight shines by way of superbly. It’s keyboard — nevertheless it's simply not luxurious sufficient to warrant its $300 price ticket, particularly because it lacks any kind of analog-style performance. The inventory switches are a little bit too sharp-sounding for our liking as nicely.
Razer Huntsman Mini
The Razer Huntsman Mini is a effective selection if you would like a 60 % keyboard and don’t want Wooting-style software program methods, with textured PBT keycaps, a sturdy aluminum prime plate and the identical quick optical switches we praised with the Huntsman V2 TKL. The 60HE+ is far more versatile, although, whereas the KM250 RGB is a extra interesting worth.
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi
The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi (phew) is a robust different to the Apex Professional TKL if you wish to go wi-fi. It’s a pleasure to sort on, with very good sound dampening, pre-lubed ROG NX switches, an impressively sturdy case and secure, PBT-coated keys. It’s hot-swappable, its battery life ranking is far greater than the Apex Professional TKL Wi-fi (90 hours with RGB on) and it has a multi-function key that places quantity, media and RGB controls in a single place. At $170 or so, it's often less expensive than our SteelSeries decide as nicely.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t have the speedy set off or customized actuation methods of Corridor impact keyboards just like the Apex Professional TKL Wi-fi or Lemokey P1 HE, and ASUS’s Armoury Crate software program is a little bit of a large number. The Lemokey P1 HE's all-metal design feels higher-end, too. However in case you care about typing expertise greater than additional gaming-friendly options, this one continues to be price trying into.
ASUS ROG Azoth
The ASUS ROG Azoth is sort of a smaller model of the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi with a number of extra fanatic touches, corresponding to a gasket-mounted design — which provides keystrokes a softer really feel — a programmable OLED show and a toolkit for lubing switches within the field. It’s exceptionally well-made by any normal, not simply “for a gaming keyboard.” However its characteristic set nonetheless isn’t as versatile because the Wooting 80HE or SteelSeries Apex Professional TKL Wi-fi, which makes its $275 listing worth a troublesome ask. ASUS not too long ago launched a brand new mannequin referred to as the ROG Azoth X, although that one prices $300 and has a a lot louder aesthetic.
Alienware Professional Wi-fi Gaming Keyboard
The 75 % Alienware Professional Wi-fi Gaming Keyboard is significantly better than its bland title suggests, with high-quality PBT keycaps, clean linear switches (that are hot-swappable), splendidly clear RGB lighting, a gradual wi-fi connection and a inflexible but light-weight design. Nevertheless it's pretty loud, and at $200 there isn’t a lot motive to take it over the Lemokey P1 HE, which has a higher-quality design and extra succesful magnetic switches, or the ASUS Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi, which gives a equally pleasing typing expertise at a barely lower cost. It’s price contemplating in case you see it on sale, although.
NZXT Perform 2 and Perform 2 MiniTKL
The complete-size NZXT Perform 2 and tenkeyless Perform 2 MiniTKL are completely stable midrange choices with quick optical switches and the flexibility to swap between two common actuation factors, however they’re let down by mediocre stabilizers on the bigger keys.
NuPhy Air75 V2
The NuPhy Air75 V2 is a classy wi-fi keyboard with a low-profile design. We've beneficial it in our mechanical keyboard shopping for information, because it's a wonderful selection if you would like one thing that blends the flatter, compact form of a laptop computer keyboard with the extra tactile really feel of mechanical switches. The design isn’t fully ideally suited for gaming, although, because the broad keys could make it a little bit too simple to fat-finger inputs accidentally and the inventory keycaps aren’t shine-through. That is one other one which not too long ago obtained a refresh, although. NuPhy additionally sells a mannequin with Corridor impact switches. We'll goal to check these for a future replace.
Corsair K70 Max
The Corsair K70 Max is one other one with magnetic switches, however attempting to program its extra superior options by way of Corsair’s iCue software program was a ache.
Corsair K70 RGB TKL
The Corsair K70 RGB TKL is an honest if primary midrange mannequin, nevertheless it’s additionally on the noisy aspect in comparison with our prime picks and it’s saddled with middling software program.
Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL
The Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL is one other low-profile mannequin that usually feels snug and well-built, even when it's fully product of plastic. It’s an honest different to the NuPhy Air75 sequence, because it’s a lot quieter with its GL Tactile switches and comes with shine-through keycaps by default. Nevertheless, these switches aren’t hot-swappable, and the board can’t connect with a number of gadgets concurrently over Bluetooth. The low-profile form nonetheless isn’t the perfect for gaming both, plus the inventory keycaps aren’t fairly as grippy as different PBT choices we’ve used.
Current updates
September 2025: We’ve taken a sweep to ensure our picks are nonetheless correct and added testing notes on a pair new keyboards within the Razer Joro and Sony Inzone KBD-H75.
February 2025: We've overhauled this information with new picks: The Wooting 80HE is now our prime advice total, the SteelSeries Apex Professional TKL Wi-fi (Gen 3) is our new "finest wi-fi" possibility and the Lemokey P1 HE slots in as an honorable point out. We've additionally added notes on a number of extra gaming keyboards we've examined since our final replace, together with Logitech's G Professional X TKL Speedy and G515 Lightspeed TKL, Razer's BlackWidow V4 Professional 75% and Alienware's Professional Wi-fi Gaming Keyboard. Lastly, we've made a number of minor updates to our "What to search for in a gaming keyboard" part.
June 2024: We up to date this information with a brand new “conventional mechanical keyboard” decide, the Keychron V3 Max, plus a pair new honorable mentions and extra notes on different gaming keyboards we’ve tried. Notice that we’ve examined — and can proceed to check — a number of different keyboards that aren’t explicitly marketed towards gaming, however we’ll direct you to our normal mechanical keyboard shopping for information for more information on these.
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