Switches, keycaps and build quality<\/h3>\n
Linear switches, which are often branded as \u201cred,\u201d are generally favored by gamers. These give keystrokes a smooth feel from top to bottom, with no tactile \u201cbump\u201d that could make fast, repeated presses less consistent. They usually require little force to actuate, and they tend to be quiet. However, if you prefer the feel and\/or sound of a more tactile or clicky switch, get one of those instead. You might lose some speed in esports-style games, but nothing is more important than your comfort.<\/p>\n
Some gaming keyboards are based on different mechanisms entirely. Optical switches, for instance, use a beam of light to register keystrokes, while Hall effect<\/a> switches use magnets. These often feel <\/em>linear, but they can allow for a more versatile set of gaming-friendly features, such as the ability to set custom actuation points. (You can read more about how this works below.) In general, they\u2019re faster and more durable too. But keyboards with those extra features typically aren\u2019t cheap.<\/p>\n Regardless, you want a frame that doesn\u2019t flex under pressure, keys that don\u2019t wobble and stabilizers that don\u2019t rattle when you hit larger keys like the spacebar. I prefer double-shot PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps over those that use cheaper ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic, as they won\u2019t develop a greasy shine over time and their icons won\u2019t fade. A hot-swappable PCB (printed circuit board) that makes it easy to change switches if the mood arises is ideal, as are dedicated media keys.<\/p>\n For the sake of simplicity, I only considered prebuilt gaming keyboards for this guide, though many of the picks below allow for customization down the line. If you (and your bank account) really want to go wild, check out our guide to building a custom keyboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n If a keyboard has companion software, it should let you program macros and custom key bindings for games without frustration. For convenience, a wired keyboard should connect through a detachable USB-C cable. A good wireless keyboard won\u2019t add serious lag, but only if it uses a USB receiver, not Bluetooth. (It\u2019ll probably cost more as well.) Some gaming keyboards advertise super-high polling rates \u2014 i.e., the speed at which a keyboard reports to a computer \u2014 to reduce latency, but unless your monitor has an especially fast refresh rate, the usual standard of 1,000Hz should be fine. And while nobody needs<\/em> RGB lighting, it\u2019s fun. Consumer tech could use more of that, so the cleaner and more customizable the RGB is, the better.<\/p>\n The best way to evaluate a keyboard is to just\u2026 use it, so that\u2019s what I did. To cover a variety of use cases and design styles, I identified 15 keyboards that have broadly received high marks from professional reviewers and users alike. I then used each of these keyboards as my \u201cdaily driver\u201d for several days. Since I write for a living, this gave me enough time to get a strong sense of each keyboard\u2019s typing experience.<\/p>\n For gaming, I gave special focus to each keyboard\u2019s responsiveness in fast, reaction-based online shooters such as Halo Infinite<\/em>, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive<\/em>, Apex Legends<\/em>, Valorant<\/em> and Overwatch<\/em>, as many would-be gaming keyboard buyers get one in the hopes that it\u2019ll help with that genres in particular. I made sure each keyboard felt comfortable with other types of games, though, including Baldur\u2019s Gate 3<\/em> (a turn-based RPG), Hi-Fi Rush<\/em> (an action game with an emphasis on timing and rhythm), and Forza Horizon 5<\/em> (an arcade racing game). I used the latter to better evaluate the pressure-sensitive features of the analog keyboards I tested.<\/p>\n If a keyboard could be configured with multiple switch types, I got the linear model. Upon receiving each keyboard, I removed several keycaps to ensure none were chipped or broken. I noted whether any keys felt wobbly, whether the case flexes under pressure, whether the texture and finish of the keycaps changes after use and whether larger keys like the spacebar felt particularly rattly or hollow. I typed on each keyboard in quick succession in a quiet room to get a sense of where they ranked in terms of noise. For wireless models, I checked whether the battery drain at 50 percent RGB brightness aligned with a manufacturer\u2019s estimate. I looked to results from sites like Rtings<\/em><\/a> to ensure nothing was out of order with latency. I did my own testing on a 144Hz monitor with my personal rig, which includes a 10th-gen Core i9 CPU and an RTX 3080 GPU.<\/p>\n This helped me ensure each keyboard met a baseline of overall quality, but to reiterate, so much of this process is subjective. I can tell you if a keyboard is loud based on how I slam my keys, for instance, but you may have a lighter touch. What my tastes find \u201ccomfortable,\u201d \u201cpleasing,\u201d or even \u201cuseful,\u201d you may dislike. As I\u2019ve written before<\/a>, keyboards are like food or art in that way. So, keep an open mind.<\/p>\n With most gaming keyboards, claims of \u201cimproving your play\u201d are just marketing fluff. With the Wooting 60HE<\/a>, it\u2019s actually true \u2014 or at least, it can be. The key is its analog Lekker switches<\/a>, which can respond to varying levels of pressure, much like the triggers on a PlayStation or Xbox controller. These use magnetic Hall effect sensors<\/a>, so they have fewer physical contact points that can suffer from wear and tear over time.<\/p>\n This setup enables a few genuinely beneficial features. For one, you can adjust the actuation point of each key anywhere between an ultra-low 0.1mm and 4mm, in 0.1mm steps. With a fast-paced FPS, setting the actuation point low makes the keys more sensitive and thus exceptionally responsive to quick movements. For a turn-based RPG or simply typing, raising that pre-travel distance makes each press more deliberate and less prone to errors. You can also mix and match, making your WASD keys faster to actuate but leaving the rest at a less touchy level.<\/p>\n Another feature, \u201crapid trigger<\/a>,\u201d registers the actuation and reset points of a key press dynamically. This lets you re-actuate a key mid-press, before it has to go all the way back up, so you can repeat inputs faster. It\u2019s a boon for shooting and rhythm games in particular: In a 1v1 shootout in Halo Infinite<\/em>, you can strafe, stop and start with a little more speed and granularity. We\u2019re still talking milliseconds of difference, but sometimes that\u2019s all that separates defeating a foe and leaving them with a sliver of health.<\/p>\n Beyond that, you can tie up to four actions to one key based on how far it\u2019s pressed. For example, you could lightly press a key to pull out a grenade, fully press to throw it, then release to reequip your main weapon. This requires some brain retraining, but it can ultimately lessen the need to contort your fingers to perform a full set of commands.<\/p>\n Because the keys are pressure-sensitive, you can also set them to mimic an Xbox controller. With a racing game Forza Horizon 5<\/em>, the W and S keys could stand in for the LT and RT buttons, while A and D replicate the left joystick. Does this feel as natural as using real joysticks or a good wheel<\/a>? Of course not. But for games that don\u2019t expect you to use a mouse alongside the keyboard, it\u2019s really not as clunky as you\u2019d expect.<\/p>\n That caveat is important: Plenty of games aren\u2019t designed with analog keyboards in mind, so don\u2019t expect the 60HE to replace your gamepad. Owning this won\u2019t magically make you a top-tier player either. When you\u2019re up against other people around your skill level, though, the extra bit of precision these features provide is tangible.<\/p>\n The 60HE isn\u2019t the only keyboard with features along these lines, but it stands out for getting most of the fundamentals right. Its double-shot PBT keycaps feel crisp, its keys are well-spaced and the pre-lubed, linear-style switches are smooth and satisfying to press. (They\u2019re technically hot-swappable too, though the 60HE is only designed to accept Hall effect switches.) It sounds a smidge chattery<\/em>, but it\u2019s still pleasing to the ear and not especially loud. The compact case doesn\u2019t flex or wobble either. The charmingly-named Wootility software makes it easy to remap keys, assign macros, create profiles or adjust the RGB lighting \u2014 and, refreshingly, it\u2019s entirely accessible through the web<\/a>. That per-key backlighting is tidy, and changing profiles right from the keyboard is simple.<\/p>\n That said, there are a few downsides. The case, while sturdy, is largely plastic and only has one incline setting. It doesn\u2019t come with a wrist rest (though you can buy one<\/a> separately for $30), and the 60 percent layout won\u2019t be for everyone. If you want to add dedicated arrow keys and a numpad, get the full-size Wooting Two HE<\/a> instead; just note that you can only buy each model from Wooting, which sells its gear in batches<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t need all the extra features of the Wooting 60HE and just want something a little less pricey, consider the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL<\/a>. There\u2019s no rapid trigger, analog input or custom actuation here \u2014 just a solid, well-built keyboard from a major brand with low latency for gaming.<\/p>\n The best thing about the Huntsman V2 is that it\u2019s unusually quiet, as an internal layer of sound-dampening foam gives it a nice muffled tone with no audible pinging. The linear optical switches<\/a> are light and responsive, but bottoming out doesn\u2019t feel stiff. The double-shot PBT keycaps have an agreeable texture, while the aluminum-coated case doesn\u2019t creak or flex. The per-key RGB lighting shines through the keycaps neatly. Just about every key is macro-programmable, the whole thing connects over a detachable USB-C cable, and it comes with a decent leatherette wrist rest in the box. The latter isn\u2019t magnetic though. And while you can sneeze and find a million complaints about Razer\u2019s Synapse software around the web, I\u2019ve always found it easier to read than many competing apps. (That says more about the state of gaming software than Synapse, but still.) Razer recently promised<\/a> to launch an improved version of the app as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m specifically recommending the model with Razer\u2019s red linear switches; another version uses purple clicky switches, but those sound harsher and have a slightly higher actuation point (1.5mm instead of 1.2mm). There are other nitpicks either way: The PCB isn\u2019t hot-swappable, and the stabilizers on the space bar, backspace and enter keys are a tad more rattly than everything else. The keyboard can technically support up to an 8,000Hz polling rate<\/a>, but that\u2019s mostly a gimmick. Media keys would be nice too.<\/p>\n Razer sells full-size<\/a> and analog versions<\/a> of the Huntsman V2, but those are usually priced too close to the more versatile Wooting 60HE and Two HE to recommend. (Shortly before this guide was published, the company did announce<\/a> a new Huntsman V3 Pro line<\/a> with a more Wooting-esque feature set; we plan to test that soon, though Razer is keeping the V2 models around at a lower price.) At its MSRP of $160, we\u2019d probably skip the Huntsman V2 TKL too, but we\u2019ve often seen it go for $40 to $50 less in recent months. At that price, it\u2019s a better value.<\/p>\n If you aren\u2019t intense about esports-style online play and just want a good mechanical keyboard that also works for gaming, try the Keychron V3<\/a>. For less than $90, it delivers a stable frame, a hot-swappable PCB, soft double-shot PBT keycaps and smooth stabilizers. By default, it comes with Keychron\u2019s K Pro<\/a> Red (linear), Brown (tactile) or Blue (clicky) switches: I used the K Pro Red, which is sufficiently light for everyday gaming and, with the help of some sound-dampening foam, mostly quiet. Each switch comes pre-lubed, which helps keep the out-of-the-box typing experience from feeling or sounding cheap. The keys are comfortably spaced and gently rounded, making it easier to avoid accidental inputs. All of it connects over a removable USB-C cable.<\/p>\n The V3 isn\u2019t as focused on ultra-low latency as a dedicated gaming keyboard, and it doesn\u2019t have any of the special features available with the Wooting 60HE, but it should be responsive enough for all but the most competitive players. A built-in switch lets you swap between Windows and macOS modes, and there are OS-specific keycaps in the box. (It works with Linux too.) You can program the board through the VIA software<\/a>, which may take a second to figure out and isn\u2019t loaded with gaming-specific bonuses, but makes it easy enough to remap keys, create macros or adjust the backlight across OSes. It’s also accessible over the web.<\/p>\n The V3\u2019s keys are individually backlit, and you can adjust its RGB effects right from the board. This looks odd with the default, non-translucent keycaps though. There\u2019s a pair of foldable feet on the back, but this is a high-profile keyboard that doesn\u2019t include a wrist rest, so it\u2019s not the most<\/em> ergonomic setup. The chassis is also made of plastic, so it\u2019s hard to call \u201cpremium.\u201d Nevertheless, this is a comfortable, customizable entry point for those looking to get into mechanical keyboards as a hobby, which makes it a strong value for non-twitchy games.<\/p>\n The V3 is the tenkeyless model in Keychron\u2019s V Series. It strikes a good balance between size and functionality, but Keychron sells similar models<\/a> ranging from 60 percent<\/a> to full-size<\/a>. You can configure them with a programmable volume knob for an extra $10. The V Series is wired-only though. The Keychron K8 Pro<\/a> adds wireless functionality for $99, but only via Bluetooth, which isn\u2019t ideal for steady gaming performance.<\/p>\n If you want to pay as little as possible for an acceptable, honest-to-goodness gaming keyboard, get the G.Skill KM250 RGB<\/a>. For $40, it offers PBT keycaps, hot-swappable switches, per-key RGB backlighting, adjustable feet, a detachable USB-C cable and even a dedicated volume control knob. Its translucent \u201cpudding\u201d keycaps look funky but help show off those RGB effects. The linear Kailh Red<\/a> switches are quick and smooth enough, without the pinging noise that often plagues budget keyboards. Its 65 percent layout doesn\u2019t chew up space, but it still fits in a set of arrow keys. Though there\u2019s no dedicated software for programming the KM250, you can quickly swap through lighting effects right from the device. Avoiding potential bloatware may be better anyway.<\/p>\n Now, this isn\u2019t a miracle. The plastic frame is lightweight and surprisingly sturdy, but you don\u2019t get the level of sound-dampening foam, reinforced stems or pre-lubed springs you\u2019d find in a more premium keyboard. Key presses sound hollower and feel a bit stiffer when you bottom out as a result. Plus, while having PBT keycaps at all in this range is great, they aren\u2019t as pleasingly textured as more expensive options.<\/p>\n But come on, it\u2019s $40. For that price, everything here is beyond functional. And if you ever want to upgrade some of its lesser elements, you can.<\/p>\n If you want a gaming keyboard you can take on the road, or you just despise cable clutter, check out the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless<\/a>. Similar to the Wooting keyboards above, its linear-style switches<\/a> use magnetic Hall effect sensors, which open up a range of legitimately useful gaming features. You can raise or lower the actuation points of individual keys anywhere between 0.1mm and 4mm, enable a rapid trigger<\/a> mode to repeat presses faster and bind multiple commands to one key based on how far it\u2019s pushed. (For example, you could lightly press W to walk, then hold it to run.) There\u2019s no full-on analog mode, and you can \u201conly\u201d assign two actuation-based commands to a key at once, but the Apex Pro TKL still allows for finer control than most wireless options.<\/p>\n The \u201ckeyboard\u201d part of the Apex Pro TKL is satisfactory as well. The double-shot PBT keycaps avoid grime, the aluminum-plated chassis is robust and the per-key RGB looks fine. You can connect over a 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth or a detachable USB-C cable. There\u2019s a set of feet with two incline angles around the back and a magnetic wrist rest in the box. On the front is a volume roller and a mini OLED display, the latter of which lets you check the battery, quickly swap profiles, adjust the actuation, set macros, change backlight brightness and even see info from certain apps<\/a>.<\/p>\n You\u2019d buy this for gaming first and foremost though. The Hall effect switches are comfy, but there\u2019s an audible, mildly sharp click<\/em> to each press. It\u2019s not harsh, but it\u2019s not soothing. The space bar, however, is noticeably louder and more hollow-sounding than everything else. (The switches aren\u2019t hot-swappable either, though that\u2019s to be expected given their unique design.) SteelSeries\u2019 Engine software is also wonkier to navigate than apps like Wootility; I often had to leave it open to ensure my custom actuation profiles weren\u2019t overridden. The battery life, estimated around 40 hours with the wireless dongle, isn\u2019t all that long either.<\/p>\n And at $250, none of this comes cheap. If typing and key feel is your primary concern, we have a better value in our honorable mentions below. But for gaming specifically, the Apex Pro TKL\u2019s feature set gives it a slight edge. SteelSeries makes several other<\/a> Apex Pro keyboards in different form factors, but we\u2019d recommend the Wooting 60HE and Two HE over those unless you must go wireless and prefer a TKL layout.<\/p>\n A low-profile keyboard combines the flatter shape of a laptop keyboard with the more gratifying feel of mechanical switches. Compared to typical mechanical keyboards, low-profile models aren\u2019t as tall, and their switches have a shorter travel distance. This can make it harder to type accurately, but since low-profile switches usually require little force to actuate, they\u2019re almost inherently well-suited for gaming.<\/p>\n If you like this sort of design, get the NuPhy Air75 V2<\/a>. Like the Keychron V3, it\u2019s not outright marketed for gaming, so it\u2019s not as feature-rich as our other picks, but its core experience makes it worthwhile. Latency is low enough for online shooters, and the linear \u201cDaisy<\/a>\u201d switches in my test unit are light and responsive across games. They bottom out quickly, so they can strain your fingers over time, but they\u2019re fast. The keys also sound nice, with a mild clack<\/em> to each press. If you want something more tactile, clicky or even lighter, NuPhy sells the Air75 V2 with several other switch options as well. (NuPhy technically doesn’t pre-configure the device with the Daisy switches, but the “Cowberry” model should feel similar, if a bit faster.) The switches are also hot-swappable, though the market for low-profile keycaps and switches isn\u2019t super extensive.<\/p>\n The board itself is impressively slim, so you don\u2019t have to contort your wrists to type comfortably. It’s a 75 percent model, so it saves space yet squeezes in arrow keys and a full Fn row. (The layout can feel a little overstuffed, but I\u2019d rather have more dedicated keys than fewer.) While the chassis will flex a tiny bit if you push down hard, the keys are stable, the stabilizers don\u2019t rattle and the fold-out feet are firm. The wide, double-shot PBT keycaps give ample room for each press. Plus, it all looks kind of cute. There\u2019s per-key RGB as well, but the default keycaps aren\u2019t shine-through, so the effect looks clumsy \u2014 plus it\u2019ll drain the battery faster.<\/p>\n On a related note, this is another wireless model, one that can connect over a USB dongle, Bluetooth or a removable USB-C cable. I did notice a few connection hiccups using the dongle when I had a wireless mouse paired at the same time, but for non-gaming tasks, the option is nice to have. The device works with Windows, macOS and Linux, with system-specific keys in the box and a switch on the top for swapping between the first two platforms. Regardless of OS, it uses the VIA software for remapping keys, assigning macros and the like, just like the Keychron V3. (As of this writing, you may need to do a little extra setup<\/a> to get VIA to recognize the keyboard, but not much.) With the backlight off, NuPhy says it can last up to 220 hours; with it on, that drops between 35 and 57 hours.<\/p>\n The Air75 V2 is a new keyboard from a smaller company, so it may take a little longer than usual to ship. NuPhy said my review model was part of its first mass production batch \u2014 hence the switch and software quirks \u2014 so it could make slight tweaks in the future. Still, this is largely an iteration of a keyboard we already liked<\/a>, so we can recommend it confidently.<\/p>\n The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless<\/a> (phew) is a close second to the Apex Pro series if you must go without a cable. It\u2019s a joy to type on, with superb sound dampening, pre-lubed ROG NX<\/a> switches, an impressively sturdy case and stable, PBT-coated keys. It\u2019s hot-swappable, its battery life rating is much higher than the Apex Pro TKL Wireless (90 hours with RGB on) and it has a multi-function key that puts volume, media and RGB controls in one place. At $180, it\u2019s also $70 cheaper than our SteelSeries pick. That said, it doesn\u2019t have the rapid trigger or custom actuation tricks of a Hall effect model like the Apex Pro TKL Wireless, and ROG\u2019s Armoury Crate software is a bit of a mess. But if you care about typing experience more than extra gaming-friendly features, it\u2019s excellent.<\/p>\n The ASUS ROG Azoth<\/a>, meanwhile, is like a smaller version of the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless with a few more enthusiast touches, such as a gasket-mounted design \u2014 which gives keystrokes a softer feel \u2014 a programmable OLED display and a toolkit for lubing switches in the box. It\u2019s exceptionally well-made by any standard, not just \u201cfor a gaming keyboard.\u201d But its feature set still isn\u2019t as flexible as the Wooting 60HE or SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless, which makes its $250 price tag a tough ask.<\/p>\n The Razer Huntsman Mini<\/a> is a solid, no-frills option if you want a more affordable 60 percent gaming keyboard. It often retails for less than $100, but its textured PBT keycaps and aluminum top plate keep it from feeling too cheap, and it uses the same fast optical switches we praised with the Huntsman V2 TKL. Again, I would opt for Razer\u2019s red linear switches, as the purple clicky ones sound distractingly sharp.<\/p>\n The Corsair K70 RGB TKL<\/a> is a worthy alternative to the Huntsman V2 TKL if you see it on sale. It covers most of the essentials, with dedicated media controls and the option to use Corsair\u2019s optical-mechanical switches or various Cherry MX models. It’s noisier than the Razer keyboard, however, and its iCue software is more of a pain to navigate.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Engadget at https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/best-gaming-keyboard-140019954.html?src=rss
The best gaming keyboards can make you feel in total control when playing a competitive first-person shooter (FPS) or bring you a greater sense of luxury when taking in a solo adventure. They\u2019re not half-bad for typing either. To help … Continue reading Software, connectivity and RGB<\/h3>\n
How we tested<\/h2>\n
Best gaming keyboard overall: Wooting 60HE<\/h2>\n
\nRunner up: Razer Huntsman V2 TKL<\/h2>\n
\nA good traditional mechanical keyboard: Keychron V3<\/h2>\n
\nBest budget gaming keyboard: G.Skill KM250 RGB<\/h2>\n
\nBest wireless gaming keyboard: SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless<\/h2>\n
\nBest low-profile option: NuPhy Air75 V2<\/h2>\n
\nHonorable mentions<\/h2>\n
\nASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless<\/h3>\n
ASUS ROG Azoth<\/h3>\n
\nRazer Huntsman Mini<\/h3>\n
\nCorsair K70 RGB TKL<\/h3>\n
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\nSource: Engadget – The best gaming keyboards of 2023<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"