Arming your setup with the finest gaming keyboard will make a distinction, whether or not you’re into first-person shooters or epic RPG adventures. Certain, you’ll be able to technically get through the use of WASD keys on any outdated keyboard, however your fingers will thanks when you arm them with high-quality mechanical switches and attractive keycaps.
PCGamesN’s peripherals specialists have examined a variety of wi-fi keyboards, mechanical keyboards, wired keyboards, and optical-mechanical keyboards to convey you an inventory of the easiest. It doesn’t matter what your finances or desire is, you will see the correct gaming keyboard to fulfill your wants.
Nice gaming keyboards will pair nicely with the finest gaming mouse, and can in the end assist bolster your desktop expertise. If you happen to’re particularly searching for the most effective wi-fi mechanical keyboard, slightly than wi-fi or membrane ones, then try that information for a full vary of choices.
Why you’ll be able to belief our recommendation ✔ At PCGamesN, our specialists spend hours testing {hardware} and reviewing video games and VPNs. We share sincere, unbiased opinions that can assist you purchase the most effective. Discover out how we take a look at.
Greatest gaming keyboards 2024:
Greatest gaming keyboard total
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
- Fastened 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 delicate 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 can 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 trying to improve your abilities in the most effective FPS video games, as you’ll be capable of swiftly dip, dive and dodge your solution to security throughout standoffs with out worrying about latency. You may even swap out its keycaps to offer it an aesthetic edge – a characteristic that’ll inject a little bit of character into your PC gaming area. It’s the most effective quiet gaming keyboards, and when you can afford it, is nicely definitely worth the cash.
Learn the Razer Huntsman V2 overview.
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 through attachment |
Causes to purchase
- Modular
- Scorching-swappable switches
- LCD macro buttons
Causes to keep away from
- Wrist relaxation is a bit skinny
- Collectively expensive, however you should buy part-by-part
We’re a giant fan of modularity, and the Moutain Everest Max totally 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 commonplace PC peripherals.
If you happen to’re a streamer, you’re going to dig the elective Mountain Everest Max Displaypad, because it primarily capabilities like a Stream Deck substitute. Outfitted with LCD keys, we reckon the addon’s macro skills may give Elgato a run for its cash, all whereas taking on much less valuable floor area 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 besides, and it actually makes extra of an announcement than most of its premium rivals available on the market.
Learn our Mountain Everest Max overview.
Greatest finances 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
If you happen to’re strapped for money or searching for 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.
Hardly ever will you discover an RGB membrane keyboard with an MSRP under $40, however Corsair units the usual for the best way to design a finances gaming keyboard and make it nicely definitely worth the buy. Higher nonetheless you’re getting a full-size board right here, so the K55 Core makes no compromises on measurement to attain its worth.
It’s totally supported in iCUE, permitting you to mess around with the RGB zones and create no matter shade sample your coronary heart wishes, and the devoted media keys offer you fast entry to what can generally be slightly awkward operate key shortcuts. The worth Corsair packed into the K55 Core is tough to disregard, even when it received’t compete with the costlier choices on this record.
Learn our Corsair K55 Core overview 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 change selections at level of buy
- Extremely customizable with out costing over the chances
- Unbelievable typing really feel
Causes to keep away from
- Gaming efficiency is nothing spectacular
As keyboard modding turns into extra common, 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. Before everything, we known 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 light-weight really feel, however there’s nonetheless loads of suggestions within the mechanical switches to make sure you don’t undergo from any missclicks. It’s additionally very responsive, however past that, the gaming advantages are mild, because it’s constructed for a unique function and we respect that.
We additionally highlighted the driverless method from Drop, that means you’ll be able to plug the CSTM80 in while not having to obtain any extra software program. Do you have to want to customise the inputs, you’ll be able to obtain software program, however it isn’t required beneath any circumstances.
Learn our Drop CSTM80 overview for extra.
Corsair K70 TKL specs:
Variety of keys |
TKL with 87 keys |
Switches |
Cherry MX Crimson, Silent, or Velocity |
Connectivity |
Wired |
Media keys |
Devoted |
Causes to purchase
- Compact TKL design
- Totally-featured
- Properly-built
Causes to keep away from
- No wrist relaxation
- Costly when not on sale
Not everybody wants a numpad, and the Corsair K70 TKL ditches its right-hand keys whereas retaining all the things that makes the unique mannequin so nice. It wears the identical aluminum shell as its full-sized sibling, wields Cherry MX switches, and gives an 8,000Hz polling charge – a combo that helps the tenkeyless K70 commerce blows with keyboard rivals large and small.
The K70 TKL avoids cluttering its floor with fancy bells and whistles, nevertheless it does supply a pleasant set of media keys and a nifty quantity curler. That’s to not say it fully forgoes flamboyancy, as its spectacular RGB backlighting provides a surprising splash of shade, and it’ll sync up along with your Corsair PC case and different peripherals utilizing iCue. Nonetheless, showboating isn’t this board’s precedence, with most of its options (fairly rightly) catering to esports efficiency and performance.
Learn our Corsair K70 TKL overview.
Greatest compact gaming keyboard
Mountain Everest 60 specs:
Variety of keys |
Redesigned 60% with 64 keys |
Switches |
Mountain switches |
Connectivity |
Wired |
Media keys |
Built-in |
Causes to purchase
- The smallest keyboard with arrow keys
- Quiet however satisfying typing expertise
- Mountain mechanical switches are satisfying
Mountain saves the day but once more with its modular design, because the Everest 60 is a 60% gaming keyboard with an elective numpad. Naturally, which means when you ever remorse investing in a board with out quantity keys, you’ll be able to treatment the problem by selecting up a nifty attachment, slightly than having to select up a substitute.
The Everest 60 follows within the premium footsteps of the Max, with incredible construct high quality serving to to justify its price ticket. We predict your fingers will agree, as its proprietary switches and silicone layer present every key with a satisfying sound and really feel. Simply understand that the modular numpad will set you again a further $50, and it’s not appropriate with Max mannequin modules.
Learn the Mountain Everest 60 overview.
Greatest wi-fi gaming keyboard
Corsair K65 Plus Wi-fi specs:
Variety of keys |
81 keys – 75% structure |
Switches |
Corsair MLX Crimson |
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 the most effective all-around gaming keyboards we’ve seen in recent times within the K65 Plus Wi-fi. It’s obtained one thing for everybody, beginning with fans who like to tinker with switches and keycaps as they’ll discover no boundaries 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 Crimson switches are tremendous responsive and now have a beautiful tactile really feel while you hit your typing movement.
Lastly, it’s wi-fi with as much as three savable Bluetooth profiles and a gentle 2.4GHz connection doable. All that is backed up by an excellent lengthy batter life, that may be prolonged when you disable the delightfully muted backlighting.
Learn our Corsair K65 Plus Wi-fi overview for extra.
Greatest low-profile gaming keyboard
Razer Deathstalker V2 Professional specs:
Variety of keys |
Full-size with 104 keys |
Switches |
Razer optical switches |
Connectivity |
Wi-fi |
Media keys |
Devoted |
Causes to purchase
- Low-profile
- Nice RGB
- Wi-fi
Causes to keep away from
- Very costly
- Keys might really feel barely rattly
Gaming keyboards are often pretty chunky, however the Razer Deathstalker V2 Professional packs tons of options right into a pleasantly flat package deal. Whereas the unique mannequin makes use of membranes, its successor is kitted out with optical switches and ABS keycaps that one way or the other handle to keep away from standing too tall. The outcome? A beautiful low-profile keyboard that avoids the standard compromises.
The Deathstalker V2 Professional is admittedly expensive, however that doesn’t preserve it from being the most effective low-profile gaming keyboards we’ve used. Dwelling inside its 19.9cm aluminum shell there are acquainted options like Hypersense wi-fi connectivity and the aforementioned optical switches, that means it shares DNA with the likes of the Huntsman and Deathstalker sequence. It additionally seems beautiful, because it makes room for dazzling Chroma RGB backlighting beneath its quick caps.
The Deathstalker V2 Professional is perhaps a gaming keyboard, nevertheless it pulls a low-profile aesthetic that’ll mix in anyplace. We’re not essentially saying you must take this costly peripheral to work, however when you did, it received’t stick out like a sore thumb. The identical goes for when you’ve got a desk in your lounge, and its nifty quantity wheel serves a sensible function for these with a PC media heart offering their TV with leisure.
Learn our Razer Deathstalker V2 Professional overview.
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
- Simple to customise and reassemble
- Responsive gaming efficiency
Causes to keep away from
- Might 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 doubtlessly repair them with out having to fret about changing an entire keyboard. The Razer Blackwidow V4 is a good instance of making an attempt to enchantment to 2 markets and leaving no options on the slicing 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 at all times the danger that interesting to 2 hobbies may create a Frankenstein monster of a large number, 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 favored to have extra pre-purchase customization choices, to forestall the necessity to buy new switches and keycaps after the very fact, nevertheless it’s a small value to pay in the long run.
Learn our Razer Blackwidow V4 75% overview for extra.
How to decide on the most effective gaming keyboards
When searching for the correct keyboard (both amongst these on this record, or elsewhere) we advocate contemplating all the next factors earlier than making a choice:
- Pricing: We perceive that some persons are going to need to decide solely based mostly on what they’ll afford. If that’s you, we advocate not going under round $30 (£25). If you happen to do, you’ll doubtlessly end up paying extra in the long term when it finally ends up being an inferior product that wants changing.
- Media keys: These could make it a lot simpler to regulate quantity ranges on the fly and may do loads to reinforce your gaming expertise when you’re enjoying one thing the place one minute all the things is lifeless silent, and the subsequent it’s stuffed with motion. When enjoying on-line, it could actually assist to decrease the amount throughout key moments when it’s good to hear your teammates too, so media keys are undoubtedly helpful.
- Mechanical vs membrane: If you happen to purchase a mechanical keyboard, you’ll have an especially satisfying clicking sound while you press a key, and also you’ll have the information that you simply’ve obtained a high-quality piece of {hardware} that can final a very long time. A membrane, in the meantime, shouldn’t be fairly so sturdy, however is designed for quiet operation and received’t make anyplace close to as a lot noise. You may also discover hybrid choices that aren’t actually mechanical, however really feel loads nearer to it.
- RGB lighting: Is it a necessary addition, or just a flashy extravagance? We will actually perceive eager to have RGB lights in your keyboard, however we will additionally perceive not wanting the additional expense. At all times verify whether or not the lights are current, to what extent they’re coated and appropriate with different units.
- Wired vs wi-fi: A wired keyboard will present higher ranges of precision, however may also imply that it’s good to issue extra wires into your setup. In the meantime, a wi-fi selection will create much less muddle, however received’t be fairly as exact, and would require you to maintain an in depth eye on the battery ranges (particularly when enjoying on-line).
If you happen to’re nonetheless left with questions, we’ve answered a couple of keyboard-related FAQs under:
Do I want a gaming keyboard?
In contrast to typical peripherals, gaming keyboards supply quite a lot of options that can assist enhance your efficiency in-game. From mechanical switches that enhance responsiveness to programmable macro buttons, keyboards designed for gaming can provide the edge in quite a lot of PC genres, like MMOs and aggressive shooters.
What are mechanical switches?
PCGamesN has a complete information on mechanical keyboard switches, which is able to shortly make you an skilled on all issues clicky, linear, and tactile.
In a nutshell, there are two primary kinds of keyboard switches: mechanical and membrane. The latter has some worth in typing when you just like the squishy rubber dome really feel, however you’ll need the quicker response instances of mechanical switches when making an attempt to get one up in your enemies in-game.
Can a gaming keyboard make you sport higher?
It actually can. Along with sturdiness (that’ll cease you getting tripped up by dodgy keys) they supply a degree of precision not seen in commonplace keyboards (particularly when you get a mechanical one). What number of video games have you ever misplaced resulting from enter lag? What number of instances have you ever been positive you pressed a button, however nothing occurred in-game? You may remove these issues with a gaming keyboard, guaranteeing you’re in full management.
Do I want an costly gaming keyboard?
That is dependent upon your intentions. Would you like one thing for basic use, when gaming casually at house? In that case, a finances gaming keyboard shall be completely high-quality. The identical is true for lots of players. Nonetheless, when you’re extra aggressive, play loads on-line, take pleasure in speed-running, or something like that, then you definately’ll need all the advantages that the costlier choices present.
If you would like extra assist in constructing the proper gaming set-up, learn our article on the most effective gaming PC. Even a tremendous keyboard received’t make a distinction when you’re utilizing it on a potato that hasn’t even been baked.