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To find the best gaming keyboards you’ll want to determine the features that are right for you and your needs. Regardless of style preferences, we recommend that you look for a keyboard with high-quality switches and with features like N-key rollover and spill-resistant surfaces. If you’re looking for a more portable solution, consider a compact or wireless gaming keyboard. The best wireless gaming keyboard will have trusty mechanical switches and offer a typing experience nearly as ideal as a full-size gaming keyboard. Aesthetics might also factor into your choice if you’re looking for RGB lighting effects or customizable keycaps for your mechanical gaming keyboard.
After analyzing hundreds of reviews amongst a multitude of products with varying price points and features, we’ve found that the Corsair k95 Platinum is our top choice. Keep reading about this and our other top picks to learn more about the best keyboards currently available.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Responsive Cherry MX Speed Silver mechanical switches, plus individual key backlighting and an ergonomic wrist rest offer an excellent overall typing experience, while advanced features such as N-key rollover and anti-ghosting make it great for gaming. Yet, it’s not a very quiet gaming keyboard.
A solid choice for those seeking the best keyboard for typing fast and maintaining comfort when playing for long hours at a stretch, this Corsair K95 RGB Platinum keyboard features a full-size 110-key layout including dedicated media controls and six macro keys. It comes with a detachable leatherette palm rest to reduce fatigue. Cherry MX mechanical switches give satisfying tactile feedback while offering ultra-short 1.2 mm actuation for high-speed complex commands. Although, compare the Corsair K95 to K70 to see which one is actually better.
A great Corsair keyboard for your main workstation, this model is also designed to boost your gaming experience, and it offers full N-key rollover, 100% anti-ghosting, and some lighting effects such as true individual key RGB backlighting. Much like the best keyboard for programming that is also designed to function as a gaming keyboard, given the similar features.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This gaming keyboard features optomechanical switches promising unmatched clicking speed, plus a plush wrist rest and dedicated media controls as well as customizable LED lighting.
A popular choice among gamers, eSports aficionados, and twitch streamers looking for the best keyboard for gaming, the Huntsman Elite has ultra-fast and precise keys thanks to its optical-mechanical mechanism, which claims to preserve satisfying click feedback while shortening the keys’ travel distance to 1.5mm and increasing actuation speed. This combination of quality and speed makes it one of the best keyboards for intense PC games.
It also comes with what many consider the best gaming keyboard software which helps make it easy to program complex macros. It features dedicated media keys and a plush, leatherette magnetic wrist rest to help ward off carpal tunnel. Per-key RGB lighting is standard and the keyboard comes with a claimed 100 million click lifespan. Compare this with the best mechanical keyboard for typing that has a 50 million key press life span, but with the Cherry MX red switches that give a satisfying, tactile click.
Award: BEST COMPACT DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Responsive mechanical switch keys and a highly portable yet comfortable 60 percent layout offer an excellent overall gaming experience, while advanced features such as N-key rollover and anti-ghosting add performance cred.
Unlike the top-rated 75 keyboards, this compact 60% keyboard offers a satisfying typing experience with Gateron mechanical switches, plus the portability and convenience of wireless or wired modes, providing the options of USB-C wired or Bluetooth wireless connectivity. It also has an aesthetic minimalist look that pairs well with most devices. Its small size means it takes up less valuable desk space, giving you more room to move the mouse.
The tactile feedback and programmable features make this a good choice also if you’re looking for the best wireless gaming keyboard. It offers true RGB backlighting, selectable macros and function keys, and a full N-key rollover when used in USB wired mode. Compare this with the best membrane keyboard, to determine the features that are right for you and your typing or gaming needs!
Award: BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This full-sized 104-key gaming keyboard comes with a unique light bar and programmable per-key RGB backlighting, plus a full suite of performance-oriented features like full anti-ghosting and Cherry MX red switches.
With a comfortable, largely familiar layout plus advanced setup software that allows for custom programming of macros and lighting, this HyperX Alloy Elite is a convenient and functional high-end gaming keyboard aimed at PC gaming enthusiasts and dedicated gamers. It uses Cherry MX Red switches that give plenty of tactile feel and fast response.
Ergonomics are good too, thanks to a gently concave layout, linear key travel, and a detachable padded wrist rest. It has dedicated media buttons and programmable function keys, plus virtually unlimited macro support via the included software. N-key rollover and anti-ghosting are standard, as is a USB pass-through. N-key rollover, anti-ghosting, and options of USB-C wired or Bluetooth wireless functionality are also a given in the best wireless keyboard.
Award: BEST ERGONOMICS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This unique and ergonomic split design keyboard features high-performance Cherry MX brown switches, customizable effect lighting, and fully programmable keys that allow for ultra-fast macro commands and N-key rollover.
This split keyboard is designed both to boost ergonomic comfort at work and help with speed and accuracy during eSports tournaments. It’s also convenient for live streaming since it allows for more freedom in placing a camera and/or mic setup. With up to a 17-inch split, it allows you to choose the best gaming mouse position for intense gaming and eSports tournaments. It supports Nkey rollover and full key remapping, and it has RGB lighting with 10 customizable effects modes.
A plug-and-play keyboard for nearly all common operating systems, this is also a great choice if you’re looking for the best keyboard for Mac and Linux gaming applications. It uses Cherry MX Brown switches, which offer low actuation force but just the right amount of rebound to optimize input speed. Compare that to the best quiet keyboard that uses genuine mechanical Cherry MX “Silent” Red switches for a good mix of fast performance and low noise.
Award: BEST FOR OFFICE USE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This full-size gaming keyboard features the durable and high-performance Romer G mechanical switches, plus a full number pad, function keys, and programmable macro support, and it has a more low-key and professional aesthetic than most gaming keyboards, making it a great dual-purpose machine for work and gaming.
This keyboard has a clean, simple, and functional design that makes it well-suited for work and office use as well as gaming. While it lacks the stylized aesthetic of some competitors, it’s one of the gaming keyboards that work just as well in the office and won’t distract from productivity during work tasks. It doesn’t have RGB backlighting or shiny metallic keycaps, for example, but it does have a full set of function keys, a number pad, and a 26-key rollover.
This mechanical keyboard has quiet yet responsive Romer G switches that offer great tactile feedback and excellent durability, with a rated lifetime of 70 million keystrokes. A Logitech software suite allows for upgrades and easy setup, but it is Windows only. This is why you may need the best chiclet keyboard that works with multiple operating systems including Windows, Chrome OS, Linux, and Mac OS.
Award: BEST TENKEYLESS DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: This compact gaming keyboard has good ergonomics and a specially-designed extra-wide L-ctrl key for FPS gaming, letting it pack most of the functionality of a full-sized keyboard in a form factor with its smaller tenkeyless footprint.
This compact mechanical keyboard is notable for packing much of the functionality of a full-sized gaming keyboard into a more compact form that frees up desk space for larger mouse movements. It also has a strategically-enlarged L-ctrl key for intense gaming. It features media buttons and programmable function keys as well.
Other gaming keyboard-worthy features include 100% anti-ghosting and on-the-fly macro recording. Cherry MX Brown switches ensure tactile responsiveness and fast performance for hair-trigger FPS games. Why not compare this to the best typewriter keyboard that comes equipped with high-performance Cherry MX switches and fully programmable keys.
Award: BEST CUSTOMIZABLE DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: This high-end gaming keyboard features adjustable actuation mechanical switches, an OLED smart display, and an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy chassis for outstanding durability.
If you’re looking for the best mechanical keyboard for gaming, and you enjoy tinkering and fine-tuning your devices, this highly customizable model is definitely worth a look. It boasts ultra-fast magnetic switches that offer up to five times quicker actuation than a regular keyboard. In addition, the keypress actuation point is adjustable, allowing you to fine-tune this keyboard for ideal tactile bounce and feedback.
Comparable to the best mechanical gaming keyboards, this model offers RGB lighting with up to 16.8 million colors and adjustable brightness. It features a USB passthrough and comes with a sturdy USB cable included. It also has a magnetic wrist rest that adds comfort for long work or gaming sessions. And if you’re looking for the most comfortable ergonomic keyboard for programming, editing, writing, or coding, the best ergonomic keyboard is a stand-out choice.
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: This full-size gaming keyboard has a full number pad and ergonomically shaped gaming-grade keys that provide fast keypress performance and a short-stroke with a fixed actuation point. It also offers a spill-resistant design and an 80-million keystroke rating, helping cement the value proposition.
This top Razer keyboard is a worthwhile, durable option if you’re looking for the best gaming keyboard under $100 or even if you’re looking for a general-purpose keyboard with decent water resistance and long-lasting switches. A spill-resistant surface and built-in, fixed USB cable adds to its durability. You’ll have to look elsewhere, however, if you’re looking for the best wireless gaming keyboard since this model lacks a wireless option. While it’s got great features, it won’t be a great gaming keypad.
It has programmable macro keys with easy remapping courtesy of Razer Hypershift software, an anti-ghosting feature, and a 10-key rollover, while RGB lighting with adjustable brightness helps make it easier to see. And in case you may also require a keyboard that allows you to easily switch the mainboard, we recommend the best hot-swappable keyboard.
Award: BEST MEDIA CONTROLS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This Roccat Vulcan mechanical gaming keyboard boasts tactile mechanical switches, and RGB lighting with adjustable color and brightness, and it stands out with its sophisticated mixer-style dedicated media controls.
With its Titan mechanical switches and half-weight keycaps said to boost response time by 30% compared to other mechanical keyboards, this Roccat Vulcan Aimo gaming keyboard is clearly designed with performance in mind. Durability is a strong point as well, with an aluminum frame top plate and dust-proof keys. The lighting is programmable with per-key RGB illumination and semi-translucent keycaps.
Along with its standard 104-key layout, this gaming keyboard features dedicated media buttons with its own illumination and a programmable volume knob. It also has Nkey rollover and full anti-ghosting for a fast, uninterrupted typing experience. Those are important features for graphic design work, and we recommend trying them out on the best keyboard for designers.
To pick the best gaming keyboards on the market, we looked for mechanical keyboards with high-performance features geared toward serious gamers and tournament players. We only included keyboards with an anti-ghosting feature, minimal input lag, and responsive, tactile switches like Cherry MX brown or blues. A rated lifetime of at least 10 million keystrokes was also a must.
In terms of the visuals, we gave bonus points for RGB backlighting and interchangeable keycaps for a custom look. We also took into consideration cool retro 1980s keyboard-inspired designs. We looked for customizability with the option for programming shortcuts and function keys.
For wired keyboards, we looked for those that came with a sturdy braided cable and we considered a USB pass-through to be a nice bonus. Also important was high-quality construction with splash resistance and durable printed keycaps. A steel or aluminum frame was also taken into consideration.
