If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
Your gaming PC is just as good as the peripherals, and the keyboard is probably the most important of all. Not all the processing speed, memory, and upgrades in the world will save you from a bad gaming experience if you are trying to play on a cheap keyboard.
convinced? amazing. Now let’s get to your upgrade to the best gaming keyboard. But what kind should you get? Yes, they are not all the same – not by a long shot. Different sizes, different keys, different sights, sounds, and feelings. Pull up a chair, it’s time for a short primer on Gaming Keyboards 101.
different keys In addition to standard keyboards, there are TKL, 65% and 60% keyboards. TKL stands for tenkeyless. “Ten Keys Less” – get it? There is no numeric pad on the right side of the keyboard. They are also known as 80% keyboards, which indicates the size compared to a standard keyboard. The 65% keyboard also eliminates the row of functions, and the 60% keyboard eliminates the arrow keys, all in the name of saving space and reducing redundant keys not required for gaming. what is the best? It’s all a matter of personal preference.
Membrane keyboards It looks disgusting, doesn’t it? It’s not – Membrane keyboards are switches placed on top of a thin membrane circuit layer, unlike mechanical keyboards, where each key has its own spring-loaded switches. Membrane keyboards are generally more popular, but many hardcore gamers don’t like the “squishy” key feel rather than the crackling sound of a mechanical keyboard. Another advantage of mechanical keyboards? Customizable alternate keys.
RGB lighting Are you playing in a dark room so you can see your screen better? You will need a backlit keyboard. Even better, many of the RGB (red, green, and blue) keyboards are customizable, so you can create your own styles and looks. Many guys swear that this helps with their performance, but there’s no denying that it looks great.
price The price depends on how hard you play. For casual gaming, you can easily get it for under $100 and still have a noticeable upgrade from the keyboard that your PC comes with. But if you’re serious and want professional performance, you can top a few hundred bucks quite easily.
Casual gamers, budget shoppers, and professionals – we’ve got something here for everyone. Here are seven great gaming consoles to consider:
overall better
Corsair K100 RGB Optical Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Courtesy of Amazon
It’s a full-sized, full-featured dynamo for a gaming keyboard, with enough RGB lighting (44 different zones!) to dazzle your eyes forever. This alone does not make it the best option overall. Performance takes care of that. The mechanical key response is clear and quick, and the new iCue control wheel in the upper left corner of the keyboard is useful for adjusting light levels, zooming the screen, scrolling, and more. This can be an everyday solid keyboard when it’s not being used for gaming, which is something many smaller models can’t say. The Corsair K100 usually retails for over $200 (it’s currently on sale on Amazon), but you get what you pay for.
Buy now:
buy it
Second place
HyperX Alloy Elite 2 Full Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Courtesy of Walmart
The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 is a worthy runner-up for the Corsair K100. Like the Corsair, it’s a standard full-size keyboard that works well when you’re not playing, has great RGB lighting, and a USB lane for charging. The lack of wrist rest and coming in with slightly lower quality keys puts it behind a pirate, but we’re mainly arguing at this point because performance is on par with the overall winner.
Buy now:
buy it
more versatile
Mountain Everest Max RGB Mechanical Keyboard
Courtesy of Amazon
Can’t decide if you want a standard or TKL gaming keyboard? Why not both? Mountain Everest Max Mechanical RGB Gaming Keyboard Number Pad is removable, connected via USB-C and held in place by magnets, and can be plugged in on either side of the keyboard, or not at all. The four media keys on top of the numeric keypad are also customizable and can be converted into shortcuts or hotkeys. Also check out the dedicated media panel, which can also be moved to either side of the keyboard. (Do you hear that, lefties?) The baseplate is made of brushed aluminum so it also looks great on your gaming desk.
Buy now:
US$299.99
buy it
best budget
Razer Huntsman Mini 60% Gaming Keyboard
Courtesy of Amazon
If you are space and saving conscious, this is your game. The Razer Huntsman Mini gaming keyboard takes up 60% less space on your gaming desk and less space in your budget. There’s a lot of bang for the buck here, or more appropriately, a lot of clickety-clack from Razer’s Clicky Optical switch. You’ll make the usual sacrifices here as with any keyboard at 60%, most notably the lack of dedicated arrow keys, but this is a gaming keyboard on a big budget.
Buy now:
$29.99
buy it
Best brag
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Rapidfire Mechanical Gaming Keyboard / Elite Capellix Liquid CPU Cooler Pack
We’ll consider budgeting this keyboard even before adding a CPU cooler and offering it as a package. Our favorite feature of the Corsair K70 is the 8MB profile storage capacity which allows you to store up to three profiles without the need for external software. It’s extremely durable, made with an aircraft-grade aluminum frame, and Cherry MX Silent mechanical switches are 30% quieter than others, in case you don’t want your gaming den looking like an old release room. Now add a CPU cooler and suddenly the $300 price tag doesn’t seem so crazy.
Buy now:
buy it
Best Membrane Keyboard
Roccat Magma Silent Membrane Swith PC Gaming Keyboard
Courtesy of Amazon
Once you make yourself stop saying “mag-ma” like Dr. Evil, you will be amazed by the absolute silence of this membrane gaming keyboard. You seem to be pressing the keys and the response time is fast, but you hear nothing. We also love the super low-key look of the Roccat Magma, and most of all Easy-Shift[plus] Technology that allows you to customize compatible keys with a second command with just a keystroke.
Buy now:
$59.95
buy it
coolest look
Camisyn Typewriter Style Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Courtesy of Amazon
Is this the most technologically advanced gaming keyboard you can find? Not by a long shot. Is it for serious players? Mostly not. Is it the coolest thing you’ll see all day? very likely. A fuzzy typewriter-style steampunk gaming keyboard with retro round keys and a cool RGB backlighting system will jump out of the office, and if you’re not trying to get into the Professional Gamers League, you’ll do well in performance terms.
Buy now:
$36.99
buy it
[ad_2]
