One of the great things about gaming is the fact there is a rig and peripheral for everyone. Whether you are searching for the best gaming keyboard for the road or a full-sized beauty, rest assured there is an option out there for you.
How to Choose the Best Gaming Keyboard
The first question you’ll want to ask yourself is the same question that comes into play with all gaming peripherals. What types of games do you play?
While a high-end RGB mechanical keyboard is easy on the eyes, you may want to spend more money on a good gaming mouse if you are a casual gamer or play the occasional shooter. If you spend most of your time with MMOs, you will definitely need a trusty keyboard on hand.
Top Picks
[amazon box=”B01MU3R9VM,B0785VW2YD,B07QQB9VCV,B07DHNX18W,B07G2PY7KH,B07SXX7P6D,B07NY9ZT92,B07SVJJCP3,B07B2XDX45,B07JWQDS4G” template=”table”]
Mechanical or Membrane Keyboard?
This one is easy. If you want the best gaming keyboard, pick up one that’s mechanical. This style has individual “switches” that sit under each key. When you hit a key, the switch instantly sends that information to your PC. It’s simple and very effective as it allows you to type quicker and with more accuracy. In gaming, accuracy and responsiveness are crucial.
Keyboards sporting a rubber-dome system are typical and what you’ll generally find with PC bundles. They are cheaper to produce and use rubber domes and switches to create a circuit which sends a signal to your machine. They are quieter and lighter than their mechanical counterparts but don’t offer up as much tactile feedback.
Another significant difference lies in the design itself. Mechanicals keyboard will last considerably longer which make them a worthwhile investment for serious gamers. On the flipside, they cannot deal with liquids the same way a membrane keyboard can which means a split soda will bring your night to an end rather quickly or do serious damage.
If you are already sold on the idea of a membrane keyboard, you can skip this section it’s all about the switches. Cherry switches are by far the most popular brand around, and what you will find in top of the line gaming keyboards. They use a color-coded system which lets you know what to expect from their keys although gamers only need to focus on a few select hues.
- Red – These switches are smooth and responsive with very low resistance. They aren’t as loud as others, and ideal for some gamers although there’s no tactile bump.
- Black – This is another excellent linear switch for gamers and much firmer than the reds. The actuation force is set to 0.60 N whereas it’s 0.45 N on the Red, Browns and speed Silvers.
- Brown – If you prefer a tactile switch that’s similar to the Reds but with more resistance, the Cherry Brown MX switches are well worth a look. They are also the best option for consumers that game and work from their rigs.
- Blue – These have low resistance and are loud switches which give you an audible click. Fans of tactile keys will appreciate the Blues, especially if you’re a chatterer that enjoys in-game conversations or Discord groups.
- Green – The Cherry Red Green switches are similar to the Blue ones but are considered high resistance. This tactile key is popular, but not as prevalent as the Reds or Blues in gaming keyboards.
While there are other colors to consider when it comes to mechanical switches, these are the ones you’re most likely to encounter. Other manufacturers have also copied their system, so look for the Cherry moniker when colors are involved. They are the leader for a reason.
Design
Whether you’re spending $50 bucks or $150 on a gaming keyboard, you want it to look cool. It needs to be comfortable to use as well, but not many gamers want a basic black keyboard when all their friends rock RGB systems. When it comes to the design, the first thing to focus on outside of its overall appearance would be the lighting.
RGB lighting is the most popular option in the gaming world today, and something you will find on all the best gaming keyboards. The differentiating factor lies in the software and how easy it is for you to customize the lighting to suit your needs. Some manufacturers handle this better than others, and shoddy software is not something you want to deal with.
As for the ergonomics, all the best gaming keyboards are built for comfort and speed. Just how comfortable it is for you depends on your style. We can’t help you with your posture, but a good wrist rest will help keep those fingers fresh during gaming sessions that last into the wee hours of the morning.
Wired or Wireless
This is an area that boils down to personal preference although there are a few factors that may sway your decision between a wired or wireless keyboard. The main advantage of wired models is the fact they don’t require batteries and are simply more responsive. You will never need to charge them up or cut a gaming session short when the juice runs out.
Technology has advanced to the point where manufacturers can make “reliable” models although the best wireless keyboard still can’t hold a candle to wired ones. In a nutshell, unless you detest cables or want to go wireless to game on the big screen, we highly recommend getting a wired keyboard for gaming.
Other areas to consider
Regardless of your price point, there are a handful of features that should remain high on your shopping list, and the first would be the cable. Ideally, you’ll want one that’s removable or braided USB pass-through is nice to have as well, but both of those features are hit or miss on even the top models.
Something that’s far more common are the feet. You can adjust across the board, but the quality and angles are important. The keys themselves are another area that is frequently overlooked. They should always be sturdy, but some come models with extra keycaps that are colored or textured to give you a competitive edge.
10 Best Gaming Keyboards
Corsair K95 RGB Platinum
The Best Gaming Keyboard for MMORPG
This mechanical marvel comes from Corsair and is built to take a beating. It has a brushed aluminum frame for durability and comes with a detachable dual-sided wrist rest for comfort. The K95 RGB will keep your fingers fresh and is the perfect choice for traveling through the Maelstrom or Black Marsh.
The Corsair K95 RGB has everything you could want from a gaming keyboard. It’s responsive and quick enough for FPS games thanks to Cherry switches which come in either Red or Brown. There are a series of G-keys on one side and a gaming keypad on the other. Multimedia controls reside along the top as does a 19-zone light edge which pairs nicely with the RGB backlighting.
If you’re interested in the K95 RGB, there are several bundles to choose from although none are in the budget class. There are keyboard and mouse combos, and you can choose between Gunmetal or Black for the frame. There is really no weak point with this one aside from the price. It’s one of the more expensive keyboards on the market, but we have an excellent alternative if you find that price tag is too steep.
The Corsair Strafe RGB comes with Cherry Red MX keys and is quiet as they are linear in nature. You’ll also get USB pass-through to go along with a full set of keys and a set of MOBA and FPS keycaps. The Strafe has two variants as well with the RGB LED MK2 and a model with Red backlighting.
Pros:
- Aircraft-Grade aluminum frame
- Cherry MX switches
- 100% anti-ghosting with rollover
- Cue Profiles w/ 8MB storage
- Detachable wrist rest
Cons:
- Steep price tag
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB
Very Durable Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Gamers that have large desks are going to love the HyperX Alloy Elite. It’s one of the bigger keyboards on the scene and one of the best. It is also an ideal choice if you’re looking to go from rubber-domed keys to mechanical ones.
As the name implies, the HyperX Alloy Elite has an RGB lighting system on board. It can reproduce any color you’d like and allows you to store three profiles for gaming on the go. To say its durable would be an understatement with a solid steel frame and a weight of 3.3 pounds. We’re also fans of the keycaps and the Cherry switches that lie beneath.
The HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is one of the company’s flagship keyboards, so you can expect dedicated media keys, USB 2.0 pass-through, and N-Keyroller with anti-ghosting tech. This keyboard is available in three finishes with your choice of MX switches from Cherry in Red, Blue or Brown.
Pros:
- Radiant Light Bar
- Steel frame
- Cherry MX switches
- USB 2.0 pass-through
Cons:
- Size and Price
Logitech G Pro
A Beast in Tournament Play
Logitech pulled out all the stops for the G Pro Keyboard, and it is widely regarded as one of the best gaming keyboards on the market today. It’s built for tournament play and pairs nicely with the company’s G Pro FPS mouse and pad combo as well.
The first thing to note about this keyboard is the size. The Logitech G Pro measures 14.2 x 1.4 x 6, which is compact although it has a nice heft. It’s not going to slide around on the desk, and while it does not have Cherry switches, the Romer-G’s are responsive and similar to the browns. Other standout features to note include a removable braided cord, Game Mode, and an RGB lighting system capable of 16 million colors.
Gamers in need of a tenkeyless board will love this one. While the lack of a numeric pad will turn some away, the trade-off is well worth it if you’re into the tournament scene. It’s fast, portable, and looks great when the lights are on full display.
Pros:
- Game Mode
- Compact Design
- Great Software
- Onboard Profile
Cons:
- No USB pass-through
- Lack of macros
- No palm rest
Razer Huntsman Elite
The Best Gaming Keyboard Money Can Buy
The Razer Huntsman Elite is a high-end keyboard, built for enthusiastic typists and gamers alike, featuring something pompously described by the company as Opto-Mechanical Switches, and a magnetic leatherette wrist rest, along with other goodies such as Multi-Functional Digital Dial & Media Keys, plus Chroma RGB lighting, hybrid on-board memory & cloud storage, which allow you to access your personalized settings regardless of your location. We know, all these features and tech gizmos sound pretty impressive, but let’s take a “deeper” look.
To begin with, what’s very interesting about the Huntsman Elite is the hybrid technology which combines classic mechanical switches (every typist’s wet dream) with crazy-fast optical technology, thus making for a typing and fragging monster of a keyboard, if it ever was one. The thing is, Razor used an in-house made optical sensor inside each mechanical switch, with an actuation distance of 1.5 mm, which is 30 percent shorter compared to regular mechanical switches, and has 45 grams of actuation force. So what does it mean in real life, you asked? To make a long story short, this elite keyboard delivers a very satisfying typing experience for avid writers, and it’s also amazing for gamers.
Pros:
- supremely comfy and ideal for prolonged gaming sessions
- typing feels as natural as Whole Foods
- Razer’s proprietary “opto-mechanical” switches are crazy fast and more reliable (each switch lasts for 100 million presses) compared to regular “metal contacts” rated to 50 million
- Chroma RGB perimeter lighting/per key, includes under-glow in the wrist-rest
- premium built quality
- slick looking and rather unique in its niche
- easy to clean with compressed air due to elevated keys
- the Razer Synapse software is pretty good
- finally, we have a Razer gaming keyboard with dedicated media keys (no kidding either)
Cons:
- expensive
HyperX Alloy FPS RGB
Compact yet Powerful Gaming Keyboard
The HyperX Alloy FPS RGB is yet another classical gaming mechanical keyboard, which unlike others arrives in a relatively compact form-factor, and punches way beyond its weight (read price) due to its high-quality Kailh mechanical silver speed switches and software controlled RGB light. We must mention that the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB uses an excellent solid steel frame, and it’s designed as a highly portable and compact gaming keyboard, which would make for the ideal choice for users on the go (to LAN parties, what else); and yes, you’ll definitely love the detachable cable.
This mechanical gaming keyboard is hard to beat considering the price asked, and it makes for an amazing piece of gear (basically an update of the excellent Alloy FPS keyboard launched back in 2016) designed to deliver in all departments: premium look and feel, great gaming/typing experience and a pleasant design in a compact form-factor. Everything is on the up and up with the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB, except the price, which is on the down-low, all things considered.
Pros:
- amazing value for money
- feels solid as a brick, and it’s built like a Sherman tank
- comes with plenty of gaming-centric features
- gorgeous design
- compact form-factor
- steel frame
- Kalih Silver switches are more than decent for gaming
- good and bright RGB lighting
Cons:
- not the best choice for avid typists
- lacks dedicated media keys
KINESIS Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB
Perfect for Competitive Gaming
If you are a competitive gamer or pretty hardcore MMO player and you need a keyboard with a lot of macros, then KINESIS Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB keyboard is a perfect choice for you.
It has a pretty nice split design, which will help you stay sharp and ready for the next headshot at all times because you will be able to move your mouse closer to the keyboard, as proven on various eSports events.
Apart from just improving your sharpness, this keyboard allows you to spread both parts for a maximum of 20 inches and put something else you might need in the middle, such as your microphone or mouse.
This will also allow you to keep your hands in a comfortable position while playing games, thus reducing the stress on your muscles and allowing you to play longer.
Another thing that makes this keyboard great is the option to completely customize all 95 keys according to your needs.
In that regard, there is a SmartSet key, which allows you to quickly change macros, as well as SmartSet app that lets you customize RGB lighting effects and use certain special options.
Pros:
- Excellent split design
- Very comfortable to use
- Fully customizable keys
- Great lighting effects
- Compatible with most operating systems
Cons:
- Pretty expensive
Logitech G915
G915 gaming is definitely one of the best choices if you are looking for a high-quality wireless gaming keyboard.
It has excellent and fast performance and 5 keys, made specifically for creating different macros by using Logitech G Hub.
Along with that comes the GL Clicky Switch feature, which allows you to pick different options, such as GL Clicky, GL Tactile, and GL Linear, all with easily recognizable sound effects.
When it comes to looks, G915 doesn’t disappoint. It is made of aluminum alloy, which is used for aircraft, making this gaming keyboard very pretty and durable, while also keeping it thin.
Apart from that, there is pretty good-looking RGB lighting that is can be synchronized to almost everything and fully customized to your wishes, with around 16.8M colors.
As for battery life, it is pretty solid. The battery can last up to 30 hours of constant gaming, without having to recharge.
To alert you before it’s too late, there is an LED warning that blinks when battery life drops down to 15%. The battery takes about 3 hours to fully charge.
Pros:
- Fast and comfortable
- Comes with additional gaming keys
- Bluetooth support
- Good battery life
- Durable design
Cons:
- Not really practical for general use outside gaming
SteelSeries Apex Pro
Extremely Comfortable Gaming Keyboard
Steel Series Apex Pro comes with completely adjustable Omni Point switches, which gives you the room to customize the actuation distance, ranging from merely 0.4mm to a maximum of 3.6mm.
To help you do that, Apex Pro offers OLED Smart Display, which will show you everything you can do, as well as some additional information from your current game, Discord server or even Spotify.
Another thing that makes this gaming keyboard a very good choice for gamers, is that it is very durable and stable since it is made of top-notch aluminum material, the same one that is used for aircraft.
That, along with customizable RGB lighting with over 16.8M colors, makes Apex Pro very beautiful and practical to use, even in the dark.
To make sure you are comfortable, it features a magnetic wrist rest of excellent quality, allowing you to play your favorite games longer.
Pros:
- Allows you to completely customize switches
- Comes with OLED Display
- Pretty stable and durable
- Beautiful looks
- Very comfortable to use
Cons:
- Low-quality keys
Logitech G513 RGB
A Beast in Tournament Play
Next in line, we have a keyboard coming from the crowned-king of gamers worldwide, and we’re talking about the Logitech G513 RGB mechanical keyboard, which makes for an excellent piece of gaming gear that offers amazing performance in a sleek metal chassis with a comfy wrist rest. It’s worth mentioning that the G513 boasts Romer-G Tactile Key switches and fully customizable full-spectrum color lighting per key plus LIGHTSYNC game-driven lighting colors and effects. The Romer-G key switches are advertised to be 25 percent faster in terms of feedback and actuation speed compared to “normie” gear, while the G513’s aluminum alloy top case confers this keyboard a discrete premium look and feel, not to mention durability and resistance to wear and tear.
Pros:
- super-fast 1 ms report rate makes the G513 ideal for gaming pros
- comes with state of the art LIGHTSYNC RGB technology
- high-end choice of materials include a memory foam palm rest for supreme comfort and aircraft grade aluminum alloy for top case
- solidly built, proper gaming design
- crazy fast and quiet in-house made Romer-G mechanical switches (arguably better than industry’s golden standard Cherry MX Red)
- relatively compact for a full-size keyboard makes it ideal for LAN parties and the like
- very good value for money
- Logitech Gaming Software is great
Cons:
- no discrete media keys
ROCCAT Vulcan 100
Very Durable Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The Roccat Vulcan 100 is yet another mechanical gaming keyboard with cool RGB lightning (each key separately lit) and high-quality proprietary Titan switches. If you’re a gaming aficionado, you already know that Roccat rarely fails to impress its customers when it comes to gaming gear, and the same stands true for their Vulcan 100 keyboard, that comes with all the bells and whistles one would expect in the current year, to quote a classic meme.
To give you the short version of the story (you’ll get the TLDR in the Amazon package after you buy this bad boy) , the Vulcan 100 features Roccat’s awesome Aimo LED Per-Key Lighting, the company’s in house made Titan switches, which are claimed to be 20 percent faster compared to any of their direct competitors (a bold claim by the way), everything packed in a premium metal chassis. The design is peculiar to say the least, as half the keyboard looks like it’s missing in action, but this weird feature makes it incredibly easy to clean up, which is awesome.
Pros:
- high-end metal chassis, unique design, impeccable build quality
- stunning aesthetics (more like a love it or hate it thing actually, but we love it)
- excellent Roccat-made mechanical switches (1.8mm actuation point)
- great for both gaming and typing
- very easy to clean up
- brilliant lighting
Cons:
- no media keys
- lacks USB bypass port
- finicky software