Arming your setup with the greatest gaming keyboard will make a distinction, whether or not you’re into first-person shooters or epic RPG adventures. Positive, you’ll be able to technically get by utilizing WASD keys on any previous keyboard, however your fingers will thanks when you arm them with high-quality mechanical switches and attractive keycaps.
’s peripherals consultants have examined a variety of wi-fi keyboards, mechanical keyboards, wired keyboards, and optical-mechanical keyboards to carry you an inventory of the perfect. It doesn’t matter what your price range or desire is, one can find the correct gaming keyboard to fulfill your wants.
Nice gaming keyboards will pair properly with the greatest gaming mouse, and can in the end assist bolster your desktop expertise. In the event you’re particularly in search of the very best wi-fi mechanical keyboard, fairly than wi-fi or membrane ones, then take a look at that information for a full vary of choices.
Why you’ll be able to belief our recommendation ✔ At , our consultants spend hours testing {hardware} and reviewing video games and VPNs. We share trustworthy, unbiased opinions that can assist you purchase the very best. Discover out how we check.
Greatest gaming keyboards 2024:
Greatest gaming keyboard general
Razer Huntsman V2 specs:
| Variety of keys |
Full-size with 104 keys |
| Switches |
Razer optical |
| Connectivity |
Wired |
| Media keys |
Devoted |
Causes to purchase
- Razer optical switches
- Doubleshot PBT Keycaps
- Extraordinarily comfy wrist relaxation
Causes to keep away from
- Costly
- No USB passthrough
- Mounted USB cable
Razer is aware of a factor or two about keyboards, and the Huntsman V2 is a terrific testomony to that reality. Armed with optical switches, delectable doubleshot PBT keycaps, and refined attractiveness, this board is an ideal ten in our eyes. It even goes above and past by wielding built-in dampening foam, which helps ditch rattling and clattering whereas preserving pleasing ASMR clicks.
The Razer Huntsman V2 is costlier than most, and it’s arguably designed with keyboard fans in thoughts. Nonetheless, it should nonetheless present any gaming PC setup with correct and speedy enter, due to its 8,000Hz polling charge.
That’s going to matter when you’re seeking to improve your abilities in the very best FPS video games, as you’ll be capable to swiftly dip, dive and dodge your approach to security throughout standoffs with out worrying about latency. You possibly can even swap out its keycaps to provide it an aesthetic edge – a characteristic that’ll inject a little bit of persona into your PC gaming house. It’s among the finest quiet gaming keyboards, and when you can afford it, is properly well worth the cash.
Learn the Razer Huntsman V2 evaluate.
Greatest modular gaming keyboard
Mountain Everest Max specs:
| Variety of keys |
Full-size with 104 keys, 4 show keys |
| Switches |
Swappable, Cherry MX, or Mountain pre-installed |
| Connectivity |
Wired |
| Media keys |
Devoted by way of attachment |
Causes to purchase
- Modular
- Scorching-swappable switches
- LCD macro buttons
Causes to keep away from
- Wrist relaxation is a bit skinny
- Collectively dear, however you should buy part-by-part
We’re an enormous fan of modularity, and the Moutain Everest Max absolutely embraces the concept of hot-swappable addons. Whereas many different gaming keyboards on the market characteristic detachable switches, the Everest Max helps a further numpad and media bar, each of which elevate its performance past what you’d anticipate from normal PC peripherals.
In the event you’re a streamer, you’re going to dig the non-obligatory Mountain Everest Max Displaypad, because it primarily features like a Stream Deck alternative. Geared up with LCD keys, we reckon the addon’s macro skills may give Elgato a run for its cash, all whereas taking over much less valuable floor house by being successfully a part of the keyboard’s footprint.
A whole setup will set you again a hefty quantity, however the core keyboard is available in at $150. Not unreasonable contemplating it packs Cherry MX switches and nice construct high quality in addition, and it definitely makes extra of an announcement than most of its premium rivals available on the market.
Learn our Mountain Everest Max evaluate.
Greatest price range gaming keyboard
Corsair K55 Core specs:
| Variety of keys |
Full-size with 110 keys |
| Switches |
Rubber dome |
| Connectivity |
Wired |
| Media keys |
Devoted |
Causes to purchase
- Valve for cash
- Easy, clear design
- Supported in iCUE
Causes to keep away from
- Membrane keys
- No gaming particular options
In the event you’re strapped for money or in search of one thing to bridge the hole between two premium gaming keyboards, look no additional than the Corsair K55 Core. The place it lacks in gaming-specific options, it greater than makes up for in construct high quality and worth.
Not often will you discover an RGB membrane keyboard with an MSRP under $40, however Corsair units the usual for learn how to design a price range gaming keyboard and make it properly well worth the buy. Higher nonetheless you’re getting a full-size board right here, so the K55 Core makes no compromises on dimension to realize its worth.
It’s absolutely supported in iCUE, permitting you to mess around with the RGB zones and create no matter coloration sample your coronary heart wishes, and the devoted media keys provide you with fast entry to what can generally be fairly awkward operate key shortcuts. The worth Corsair packed into the K55 Core is tough to disregard, even when it gained’t compete with the costlier choices on this listing.
Learn our Corsair K55 Core evaluate for extra.
Greatest gaming keyboard for modding
Drop CSTM80 specs:
| Variety of keys |
88 keys |
| Switches |
Gateron Brown or Yellow |
| Connectivity |
Wired |
| Media keys |
N/A |
Causes to purchase
- Gateron swap decisions at level of buy
- Extremely customizable with out costing over the percentages
- Unimaginable typing really feel
Causes to keep away from
- Gaming efficiency is nothing spectacular
As keyboard modding turns into extra fashionable, Drop is main the cost together with a couple of different manufacturers like Ducky, in creating merchandise {that a} re easy to customise and make distinctive. At first, we referred to as the Drop CSTM80 one of many prettiest keyboards we’d ever seen, and praised it’s really feel whereas typing.
The gasket mounting supplies a lightweight really feel, however there’s nonetheless loads of suggestions within the mechanical switches to make sure you don’t endure from any missclicks. It’s additionally very responsive, however past that, the gaming advantages are mild, because it’s constructed for a special objective and we respect that.
We additionally highlighted the driverless method from Drop, that means you’ll be able to plug the CSTM80 in with no need to obtain any further software program. Do you have to want to customise the inputs, you’ll be able to obtain software program, however it’s not required underneath any circumstances.
Learn our Drop CSTM80 evaluate for extra.
Greatest compact gaming keyboard
Lofree Move 100 specs:
| Variety of keys |
100 |
| Switches |
Kailh Full POM Switches |
| Connectivity |
Wi-fi (Bluetooth) or Wired (USB-A) |
| Media keys |
None |
Causes to purchase
- Splendidly easy to make use of
- Good and compact
- Stylishly minimalist
Causes to keep away from
- Lacks devoted media keys
- Wired connection not nice
- Awkward CTRL key placement
Not bought a variety of desk house to spare on your gaming keyboard? Nicely, in that case, the Lofree Move 100 could also be simply what you want. It occupies a tiny quantity of house however stays a rugged and sturdy piece of {hardware}.
One small draw back of it being so small is that the CTRL key’s barely awkwardly positioned and I usually find yourself unintentionally urgent it with my palm when typing. I nonetheless love the keyboard, however it’s annoying when it occurs.
One thing that the majority customers will admire is simply how easily this factor works. Writing a sentence on the Lofree Move 100 is like spreading butter with a sizzling knife. You’ll by no means end up having to provide a key a second, more durable press as a result of it didn’t decide it up the primary time, or that the other has occurred and one press registered twice.
The largest flaw might be with the wired connection, which I couldn’t get working correctly. I preserve it plugged in on a regular basis, which retains it charged up, nevertheless it’s linked to my laptop computer by way of Bluetooth, as my system didn’t acknowledge it after I plugged it in. It’s not an enormous drawback, because it nonetheless works simply effective, however an necessary little bit of nuance to take heed to.
All in all, it’s a well-made keyboard that appears pretty much as good because it feels. It could lack devoted media keys for quantity management and so forth, however the keys are hot-swappable (with Kailh Full POM Switches), and I’ve not encountered any latency. In the event you’re after one thing small that you may plug in and play proper out of the field, however which gives some respectable potential for personalization, this may very well be the one.
Learn our full Lofree Move 100 evaluate.
Greatest wi-fi gaming keyboard
Corsair K65 Plus Wi-fi specs:
| Variety of keys |
81 keys – 75% format |
| Switches |
Corsair MLX Pink |
| Connectivity |
Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, Wired |
| Media keys |
Reprogrammable scroll wheel solely |
Causes to purchase
- Extremely customizable
- Lengthy battery life
- Tactile typing really feel
Causes to keep away from
- May be costly to customise
Corsair casually launched among the finest all-around gaming keyboards we’ve seen lately within the K65 Plus Wi-fi. It’s bought one thing for everybody, beginning with fans who like to tinker with switches and keycaps as they’ll discover no limitations stopping full customization.
Out of the field, it could be lacking hardcore gaming options however that doesn’t imply it’s missing in efficiency. The Corsair MLX Pink switches are tremendous responsive and still have a stunning tactile really feel while you hit your typing circulate.
Lastly, it’s wi-fi with as much as three savable Bluetooth profiles and a gradual 2.4GHz connection potential. All that is backed up by a brilliant lengthy batter life, that may be prolonged when you disable the delightfully muted backlighting.
Learn our Corsair K65 Plus Wi-fi evaluate for extra.
Greatest keyboard for each modding and gaming
Razer Blackwidow V4 75% specs:
| Variety of keys |
82 – TKL |
| Switches |
Razer Orange Tactile |
| Connectivity |
Wired |
| Media keys |
Two plus scroll wheel |
Causes to purchase
- Designed for gaming and modding with little compromise
- Straightforward to customise and reassemble
- Responsive gaming efficiency
Causes to keep away from
- May get costly when including switches and keycaps
Modding a keyboard is nice, not solely can it refresh the design, however you’ll be able to isolate points that come up and probably repair them with out having to fret about changing an entire keyboard. The Razer Blackwidow V4 is a superb instance of attempting to enchantment to 2 markets and leaving no options on the reducing room flooring.
We loved our time with the Blackwidow V4 75% massively, praising how easy it was to mess around with and disassemble whereas nonetheless managing to supply responsive gaming efficiency. There was all the time the danger that interesting to 2 hobbies may create a Frankenstein monster of a multitude, however no such final result is current right here.
If you wish to give modding a go however retain the core gaming efficiency, there could also be no higher possibility. We might have appreciated to have extra pre-purchase customization choices, to stop the necessity to buy new switches and keycaps after the very fact, nevertheless it’s a small worth to pay in the long run.
Learn our Razer Blackwidow V4 75% evaluate for extra.
How to decide on the very best gaming keyboards
When in search of the correct keyboard (both amongst these on this listing, or elsewhere) we advocate contemplating all the next factors earlier than making a call:
- Pricing: We perceive that some persons are going to need to decide completely primarily based on what they will afford. If that’s you, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover some respectable high quality gaming-focused keyboards for round $30 (£25) however going a lot decrease than that may carry one too many compromises. Even at that worth, the principle compromise is you’ll need to miss out on mechanical keys. Meaning the keys will are typically not as responsive and never final as lengthy, however that’s why they’re so low cost. At round $50 you will get ‘no-name’ mechanical keyboards that may be respectable however you’ll be taking a look at $70-$80 and better for mechanical boards from recognized manufacturers.
- Gaming keys: Gaming keys had been initially the principle factor that outlined a gaming keyboard. They provide you additional buttons to press to fireplace of macros or different instructions, with needing to reassign different keys. As of late, there’s much less concentrate on them however some individuals nonetheless prize having devoted additional keys.
- Media keys: These are the amount wheels, mute buttons, and play/pause/skip monitor buttons that some keyboards include. You may also discover some keyboards that include screens and multi-function dials. They’re all super-useful options although extra for basic desktop use than precise gaming.
- Mechanical vs membrane: Membrane or rubber dome keyboards are a less expensive type of keyboard that makes use of switches the place the spring and swap contact is shaped by a rubber dome that you just press on. In the meantime, mechanical switches use particular person springs and both metallic contacts or magnetic or optical sensors to inform when the swap is pressed. Membrane keyboards may be very low cost and quiet however don’t really feel as good, lack customization, and don’t final very lengthy. Mechanical keyboards are costlier however final ages and may be custom-made with totally different switches and keycaps.
- RGB lighting: Is it an important addition, or just a flashy extravagance? That’s so that you can determine however some for of backlighting is beneficial for seeing keys correctly in darker environments. Some cheaper boards have solely zones of lighting whereas others have per-key lighting for highly-programmable mild reveals.
- Wired vs wi-fi: It was once the case that wi-fi know-how wasn’t responsive sufficient for dependable gaming efficiency however today it really works nice. Wi-fi keyboards are costlier, although, and it’s essential cost them as soon as every week. A easy wired board gained’t ever endure a disconnect or want charging, although.
In the event you’re nonetheless left with questions, we’ve answered a couple of keyboard-related FAQs under:
Do I want a gaming keyboard?
The road between a gaming keyboard and only a respectable high quality keyboard has blurred lately. It was once {that a} gaming keyboard was one with additional gaming keys however today it tends to only imply it has RGB lighting. Okay, we exaggerate. Most gaming keyboards are additionally optimized for a speedy response whereas non-gaming fashions may prioritize battery life however depart you hanging with regards to an important in-game second.
Further gaming keys can nonetheless be helpful when you like to fireplace off advanced actions on the contact of a button and don’t need to reprogram different keys. In the meantime, the opposite three essential components to contemplate for gaming are: dimension, key swap really feel, and analog actuation.
In relation to dimension, some individuals simply want bigger keyboards with all the additional options. Nevertheless, many players now want smaller keyboards with out numpads, as these depart extra desk room on your mouse. As for key swap really feel, many players want very light-feeling, linear switches fairly than the heavier, extra feedback-heavy really feel of tactile or clicky switches. Gentle, linear switches may be simpler to press in a lighting-fast response state of affairs.
Lastly, analog switches present the power for keys to operate just like the analog set off of a controller. That alone isn’t tremendous helpful however the identical operate means you’ll be able to assign two set off factors to at least one swap, have a speedy set off mode the place keys can reply tremendous quick, or you’ll be able to modify the peak at which the important thing prompts. The latter is beneficial when you’re somebody that tends to unintentionally press some keys in some gaming eventualities.
What are mechanical switches?
has a complete information on mechanical keyboard switches, which is able to rapidly make you an knowledgeable on all issues clicky, linear, and tactile.
In a nutshell, there are two essential forms of keyboard switches: mechanical and membrane. The latter are cheaper to make so may be discovered on ultra-budget boards, plus they are often very quiet. Nevertheless, they have a tendency to not really feel as responsive or final very lengthy. Mechanical switches supply a extra dependable really feel and response they usually final far longer, plus you’ll be able to swap the keycaps and plenty of boards allow you to swap the switches too as a way to experiment with totally different mechanical switches to search out those you favor – search for the switches being hot-swappable.
Can a gaming keyboard make you sport higher?
It definitely can. Gaming keyboards are likely to prioritize response over different components so are much less more likely to depart you annoyed after an important key faucet produces no consequence (or a delayed consequence) on display. That is notably true with regards to wi-fi gaming keyboards. Keyboards with mechanical switches additionally have a tendency to supply a extra dependable, sooner response than membrane keyboards, although that’s true whether or not the keyboard is a ‘gaming’ one or not. In the meantime, additional gaming keys dome individuals discover are an important addition whereas the programmability of gaming keyboards may also assist to optimize your gaming setup. Lastly, when you do go for an analog mechanical keyboard, these can actually provide help to additional effective tune the precise response of ever key to your wants.
Do I want an costly gaming keyboard?
Want is a subjective phrase. In the event you simply need any gaming keyboard to get going, low cost membrane keyboards will nonetheless be optimized for fast response and have a tendency to have better-feeling keys than actually low cost sub-$20 boards. In relation to mechanical keyboards, the cheaper fashions are inherently extra primary however will nonetheless supply a lot of the core response really feel and reliability of costlier boards. In the event you actually worth full management, although, top-tier boards supply a lot customization and wonderful construct high quality.
If you need extra assist in constructing the right gaming set-up, learn our article on the very best gaming PC. Even an incredible keyboard gained’t make a distinction when you’re utilizing it on a potato that hasn’t even been baked.
