The 6 Best Gaming Keyboards of 2025 (2025)

The Best Gaming Keyboards

Best Overall Gaming Keyboard

SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Key Type: Hall Effect | Sizes: Full-Size, TKL

The SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 is undoubtedly the best gaming keyboard overall among those we tested, earning its spot as the Editor's Choice. We love all the modern features packed into this keyboard and we think you'll love them too, especially if you want to explore new ways to up your game. There's a comfortable magnetic palm rest in the package, measuring 17.2 in x 3.2 in to perfectly accommodate any hand size for all-day, stress-free gaming. The keyboard has adjustable magnetic switches like the previous model from 2023, but our tester, Austin Palmer, explained, “I found this one feels more solid and more pleasant to type and play on.” Sensitive hall effect switches can frequently lead to accidental presses for some gamers, but unlike the Wooting 60HE+ and other similar boards, the Apex Pro Gen 3 has an innovative Protection Mode feature that dynamically changes the actuation point of surrounding keys as you type in order to minimize misclicks.

In looking for nitpicks with this linear-switch keyboard, our lead tester commented “I still prefer tactile, but this has a smooth press.” If you're like him and you find that these keys feel too light at the default actuation point of 2.31mm, you can use the accompanying software to adjust this so that each stroke requires a heavier touch. Be aware that we found these settings to be slightly inaccurate to how they translate to the actual board, but this is negligible to all but the most touch-sensitive pro gamers. Alternatively, check out the HyperX Alloy Origins if you want a similarly-performing keyboard that comes with a tactile feel right out of the box. Overall, the Apex Pro Gen 3 is an excellent gaming keyboard for hardcore players who value every advantage, but with such a steep price tag, you might be paying for more than you actually need.

Read more: SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 review

Best Gaming Keyboard for Most Gamers

HyperX Alloy Origins

Key Type: Mechanical | Sizes: Full-Size, TKL, 65%, 60%

What if you don't need the most cutting-edge features but still want to elevate your experience beyond what an entry-level keyboard can provide? That's why our editor's choice for the best gaming keyboard for most gamers is the HyperX Alloy Origins. It has enough RGB customization to rival the likes of the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro that's more than double the price, giving you ample opportunity to express yourself aesthetically. A detachable USB cable makes it more suitable for travel, so you can easily multi-purpose this keyboard for work or school as well as gaming. You can even choose between three different switch types at checkout — we tested the HyperX Aqua tactile switches that give you a nice subtle bump at 0.89mm into a keystroke, but you can also opt for a linear or clicky switch style instead.

Power users will enjoy the fact that you can write and assign macros using the accompanying software, but we found the sentence-based structure of these macros to be unintuitive compared to a typical list-based structure. Another consideration is that this is a somewhat taller keyboard that could really benefit from having a palm rest. It stands at 29mm at its highest point, leading our tester to comment that “it's more work on my arm and hand.” If you want an all-around great keyboard that excels even more and are willing to pay a premium price, consider the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 as well. Nitpicks aside, we remain confident in our assertion that the HyperX Alloy Origins will satisfy any gamer in all but the most peak-intensity scenarios at the highest level of competition.

Read more: HyperX Alloy Origins review

Best Budget Gaming Keyboard

Logitech G213 Prodigy

Key Type: Membrane | Sizes: Full-Size

We greatly respect the Logitech G213 Prodigy for being a budget gaming keyboard that can provide anyone with superior performance. You might even prefer it over the more expensive mechanical keyboards if you're more of a fan of membrane keyboards. It's extremely responsive, with a mere 8-millisecond input delay that's right on par with high-end products like the HyperX Alloy Origins. The G213 is free from chord splitting, too, which means that you won't even experience extensive delay if you try to register several keys at once. It also has a built-in palm rest that adds surprising comfort at this price point. The palm rest is on the smaller side, and our tester commented, “I can feel the dropoff, but it doesn't bother me, despite having hands on the slightly larger side.”

The downside to the built-in palm rest is that it's not detachable. This means you'll be permanently dedicating significant desk space to this hardware — 17.8 in x 8.5 in, to be precise. The sound leaves something to be desired, too, possibly causing distractions while typing or playing. “The key bottoms out quiet, but when it reaches the top it has a hollow rattle noise to it.” The bottom line, though, is that this is an exceptional gaming tool for anyone looking to save some money or simply get into the action without tons of flashy features to worry about. If you're interested in other budget options worth considering, check out the compact MageGee Portable 60%.

Read more: Logitech G213 Prodigy review

Best Gaming Keyboard for Beginner Enthusiasts

Nuphy Field75 HE

Key Type: Hall Effect | Sizes: 75%

The NuPhy Field75 HE comes with many of the most cutting-edge gaming keyboard features but at a price point that makes it suitable for hardcore gamers taking their first steps toward hardware supremacy. We think the stylish layout and Hall Effect switches are super cool, so we recommend this keyboard to anyone who wants to feel like they are gaming in a highly advanced future. It has a default actuation point of just 1.53mm, which is impressive enough for rapid-fire gaming, but you can actually customize this to require an even lighter touch or a heavier one if you prefer. With four extra macro buttons below the spacebar and four more along the left edge, the Field75 HE goes the extra mile when it comes to personalizing your play style. The keys are very quiet, so much so that our lead tester commented, “I don't notice them unless I'm really hammering on them.”

One thing to note is that, despite being a wired gaming keyboard, the cable is on the shorter side at 1.5m. This negates some of the convenience of purchasing a more compact keyboard in the first place, as it limits where and how you can incorporate it into your setup. Another drawback is that the accompanying software for key customization and lighting setup is web-only, which can be less convenient than the downloadable software you get with the likes of the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3. We also recommend checking out the Wooting 60HE+ if you want to explore other compact keyboards with Hall Effect switches. Overall, though, the NuPhy Field75 HE is a highly competent gaming powerhouse that can satisfy anyone who enjoys the 75% style.

Read more: NuPhy Field75 HE review

Best 60% Gaming Keyboard

Wooting 60HE+

Key Type: Hall Effect | Sizes: 60%, 80%, Full-Size

There is a stylish appeal and practical purpose to a super compact keyboard, and the Wooting 60HE+ proves that there can be immense power within such a small package too. It feels great to know that you can carry such capable gear in your backpack — this is the keyboard for you if you want to show up to a LAN party or tournament with confidence. Just like the NuPhy Field75 HE and other magnetic switch keyboards, this one lets you adjust the actuation point up or down from its default of 1.12mm. The keys also feature rapid trigger technology, which resets them before they fully top out, enabling you to enter successive inputs at a lightning-fast rate. This is a high-end keyboard for PC power players, but it's also console-friendly — you can toggle it from an N-key rollover to a more limiting 6-key rollover so that it will be fully compatible with gaming consoles like the PS4.

The Wooting 60HE+ is a premium gaming keyboard, which comes with the expectation that you can easily build and assign macros. While you certainly can do this, it requires a separate software that adds an unnecessary layer of complication to the process. If writing custom macros is a priority for you, we can recommend the HyperX Alloy Origins as a full-sized alternative. It's also worth noting that this keyboard does not come packaged with a palm rest. Wooting offers a proprietary option at an additional cost, but it's comically large compared to the compact keyboard. Our tester commented, “While comfortable to rest on, it is too wide and pushes into my wrist a little bit.” By purchasing a more appropriately sized third-party palm rest, you can have the ideal 60% gaming keyboard experience with the Wooting 60HE+.

Read more: Wooting 60HE+

Best 60% Gaming Keyboard on a Budget

MageGee Portable 60% - Blue Whale Switch

Key Type: Mechanical | Sizes: 60%

The MageGee Portable 60% - Blue Whale Switch is a competent and stylish budget keyboard that measures only 12.2 in x 4.0 in, so you can fit it on practically any desk or in just about any bag. We think you'll appreciate this hot-swappable keyboard for how little it sacrifices despite being so compact and affordable. MageGee offers an impressive array of six different switch options that feature different colors and typing feels for this keyboard. We tested the linear Blue Whale switches, which contributed to our tester's feeling that this “has very easy to press keys” that feel exceptionally light. The operating force is quite low at 39.38 gram force, making it comparable to high-performance products like the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3.

Some limitations are to be expected at such an appealing price point, but we still would prefer to see better lighting options from this gaming keyboard. It comes with 16 options you can toggle through, each with different animation effects, but there is no manual customization feature nor any option to choose just a single static color. We also noticed that this tiny typer is particularly noisy, driving one of our testers to comment that he “can hear it clearly through my open-back headphones over my game sounds.” Even so, there's no denying the impressive amount of performance and functionality you can extract from this little powerhouse without breaking the bank. If desktop space isn't an issue, consider the larger yet quieter Logitech G213 Prodigy at a similar price point.

Read more: MageGee Portable 60% - Blue Whale Switch review

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How We Tested

To give you practical advice on shopping for gaming keyboards, we bought the top models on the market and rigorously tested them ourselves. We objectively assessed performance, customizability, and the overall experience of using each keyboard by exhaustively analyzing key metrics and putting them to use in actual gameplay scenarios. Our team is made up of real gamers who know what they want from their hardware while playing MMOs, MOBAs, RTS, ARPGs, FPSs, and other genres.

We use specialized testing devices to precisely measure performance metrics so that you can compare each keyboard side-by-side based on clear data. Our force-displacement tester measures the amount of effort it takes to press a key down to one one-hundredth of a gram force and maps out the total travel distance for a key to bottom out and then top back up. We also built a latency response rig that nails down just how fast each keyboard communicates an input down to the millisecond.

To give you a fully comprehensive review, we closely evaluated six rating metrics in total:

• Performance (35% of overall score weighting)

• Comfort (20% weighting)

• Hardware Options 15(% weighting)

• Typing Noise (15% weighting)

• Type Experience (10% weighting)

• Lighting (5% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

Senior Review Analyst Austin Palmer is a passionate gamer who appreciates all-time classics like the Diablo franchise, Portal series, and many others while also staying on top of the newest trends. His dedication to the cutting-edge extends to tech of every flavor, and it shows in his work as a thorough tester for GearLab. Over the last decade, he has tested everything from VR headsets to gaming mice, and certainly has the experience to know what makes a keyboard suitable for both productivity and recreation. Jonathan Sayers, Review Editor, studied computer science at Missouri State University and has a background in IT support. With a backlog that would blow your mind and thousands of hours dedicated to MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV, his obsession with gaming equipped him well with the ability to put into words what our testing process wants to say to casual and hardcore gamers alike.

We spared no effort in measuring every aspect of these keyboards that might affect your gaming experience and desktop setup.

Analysis and Test Results

Our in-depth analysis of gaming keyboards was equal parts play and work. We didn't just purchase this hardware to pass judgment based on raw gaming instinct — we meticulously examined every meaningful metric to the point of excessiveness. Measuring dimensions, deep-diving into customization software, and setting up specialized rigs for gauging latency and operating force were all parts of our no-efforts-spared testing process. We then deliberated carefully to determine how to weigh the testing categories below against each other, all so we could offer buying advice that actually speaks to gamers.

What's the Best Value?

Unless you're a high-end competitor, buying a gaming keyboard is more about fun than productivity. It's hard to put a value on fun, but we consider the best hardware investments to be those that produce high-end practical results at a reasonable cost, even if they have to sacrifice a few bells and whistles to do it. The Logitech G213 Prodigy is a thoroughly impressive budget keyboard that stands up to the best of the best and even includes a built-in palm rest unlike the Corsair K55 Core RGB. The SteelSeries Apex 3 is worth an honorable mention for how its price and overall score stack up to the G213, but it falls notably short when it comes to scan rate and key conflicts.

Minimalists and space-conscious gamers can also find incredible value in the MageGee Portable 60% - Blue Whale Switch, which provides similar quality at an even lower price point, but in a thoroughly compact and stylish design. The most important thing to keep in mind that that gaming is a highly personalized experience, and keyboard manufacturers do a great job of ensuring that you can find something that suits your needs and preferences no matter how high or low your budget may be.

Performance

In the performance category, we evaluate the latency, polling/scan rate, and rollover capabilities of each gaming keyboard. These are the metrics that directly impact how the hardware conveys your inputs to the game, so we weigh performance particularly heavily when comparing products. Choosing a high-performance keyboard can determine who lives or dies in an FPS shootout, an MMO raid, or a MOBA team fight.

Relative Latency Response Time

Latency is one of the core metrics that determines how long it takes for a keyboard input to register in-game. Gaming keyboards should, by definition, always have low latency. Even so, the best performers will beat out the rest by several milliseconds. This may seem like a minuscule amount of time, and it's certainly imperceptible to most gamers, but it can be the difference between life and death when you're facing down an opponent gun-to-gun in a competitive game like Valorant.

Our top performers in this test were the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, Corsair K100 RGB, Logitech G915 X Lightspeed, Nuphy Field75 HE, and Wooting 60HE+, all of which demonstrated single-key latency of just 5 milliseconds or less. These results are so fast that your keyboard is sending information quicker than a real bullet, let alone a virtual bullet in your favorite first-person shooter.

Relative Latency Response Time

The above table shows that the Wooting 60HE+ is almost impossibly fast with a delay of only two milliseconds. Of course, a 6-10ms of latency is still unbelievably fast as well. Our testing showed that the Corsair K55 Core RGB, HyperX Alloy Origins, Logitech G213, Logitech G715, Razer Huntsman Mini, and SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 fall within this range. You really can't go wrong with any of these options, even if you're gearing up for a serious tournament.

Being a solid performer was a prerequisite for entering our testing process in the first place, but even so, there are some gaming keyboards in our lineup that definitely fell short of the rest. The HyperX Alloy Core RGB demonstrated the most latency in the group at 24ms. Keep in mind that this is still fast enough to be beyond most humans' perception, but it's enough of a difference that a better-equipped opponent might eke out the slightest advantage in some extremely niche scenarios.

An important note from our testing is that the latest Hall Effect switches do not necessarily provide superior response times. While it's true that the Wooting 60HE+ was our lowest-latency keyboard, other Hall Effect boards like the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 were slightly outsped by standard mechanical keyboards such as the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed.

Polling Rate & Chord Splitting

Polling rate, scan rate, and chord splitting are additional factors that affect how long it takes for your inputs to register in a game or software. The scan rate refers to how often the keyboard scans for your input, while the polling rate refers to how often the keyboard conveys inputs to the computer. A general rule of thumb is that 1000 Hz is the go-to polling/scan rate for gaming keyboards, but high-end competitors might seek out an 8000 Hz keyboard. Keyboards with a sub-1000Hz scan rate, such as the G.Skill KM250, might underperform in some high-stakes gaming scenarios. Meanwhile, the Nuphy Field75 HE's 8000Hz setting might be excessive unless you need to register many inputs per second.

Measured Polling Rate

Chord splitting, however, is a phenomenon that can undermine an otherwise excellent keyboard. When you press multiple keys at the same time, you expect that the keyboard will register all of them at precisely the same time. When chord splitting is in effect, though, the keyboard will actually “split” each input into a separate packet and send them to the computer one by one. While this happens faster than most people can perceive, it can be enough to compromise high-level gameplay, particularly in a super fast-paced rhythm game stage. Those with cord splitting include the Redragon S101, Nuphy Field75 HE, Logitech G715, Corsair K55 Core, and the Corsair K100.

Key Rollover

Key rollover refers to the maximum number of keys you can press simultaneously without any conflicts occurring. The majority of mechanical gaming keyboards have “N-key” rollover, which means you can press practically any amount of keys at once and they will all perform the intended function without issue. Having a 6-key rollover is considered the bare minimum for gaming, while a 12-key rollover is a practical necessity for most genres to eliminate any key conflicts with confidence. However, with modern hardware advancements, there's little excuse for a gaming keyboard to fall short of the ideal N-key goal.

More than half of the gaming keyboards we tested have N-key rollover. This includes the HyperX Alloy Origins, NuPhy Field75 HE, SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, and Wooting 60HE+, just to name a few. While some boards we tested lacked N-key rollover, most of those still allowed for an acceptable range of key combinations. There were some chief offenders, though. The SteelSeries Apex 3 and Redragon S101 Combo both have very limited rollover specs that are likely to prevent many gamers from combining keys in all the ways they want.

Overall Performance Rating

What our performance tests ultimately showed us was that the best gaming keyboards manage to achieve amazing responsiveness and versatile key rollover without sacrificing polling rate or relying on chord splitting. We were impressed to find that even some of the most affordable options on the market were able to offer pro-level performance.

Some of our favorite award-winners, such as the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 and the NuPhy Field75 HE, showed that they earned their praise through peerless performance. However, though not award winners, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro and Asus Strix Scope II excelled in this metric. The Redragon S101 Combo and SteelSeries Apex 3 were the weakest performers among the boards we tested, but these can still be solid purchases that exceed what a traditional keyboard can bring to your gameplay.

Comfort

We weigh the comfort metric highly for gaming keyboards, second only to raw performance, because we know from our own experience that gamers tend to lock in for hours at a time. Having a comfortable keyboard not only feels nice and helps you maintain optimal hand posture but it also staves off strain and the possibility of actual injuries.

The most significant consideration in our comfort evaluation was whether or not the keyboard came with a palm rest. Not including this vital ergonomic feature is a major detriment to usability, but we did give some credit if the manufacturer at least provides the option to bundle a proprietary palm rest with your purchase for an extra cost. We also gave thought to how the angle of the board and the feeling of the keys contributed to or detracted from a comfortable experience.

Keyboard Angle

As seen in the above table, many gaming keyboards let you choose between three different angles so you can pick the most comfortable one for you. However, our favorites in this category were the SteelSeries Apex 3 and SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, both of which come with an exceptionally comfortable palm rest that attaches magnetically and perfectly supports hands of all sizes. The former is also a very reasonably priced keyboard, showing that manufacturers do not have to reserve the luxury of a palm rest for only their most premium offerings.

In the absence of a palm rest, we look to the keyboard's “profile,” the combination of its shape and height, to judge how comfortable it is. Low-profile keyboards do not have tall keys, making it very easy to reach the entirety of the board without a palm rest. If a gaming keyboard has a low profile, we do not necessarily detract from its comfort score just for lacking a palm rest. Some of our lower-ranked gaming keyboards in the comfort section are the NuPhy Field75 HE, Corsair K55 Core RGB, and G.Skill KM250 RGB, among others, all of which failed to include a palm rest and did little else to compensate for the lack of this essential comfort feature.

Overall Comfort Rating

To complement our practical-use gaming evaluations, we arrived at an overall comfort rating for each gaming keyboard by measuring the dimensions of each product, checking out each angle you can adjust the boards to, and using our force-displacement tester to precisely read the average bottom-out distance of the keys.

At the risk of sounding more repetitive than an all-night level-grinding session in a mediocre RPG, it bears repeating again that we consider a palm rest to be necessary for comfortable using a standard profile keyboard. That's why we rank the SteelSeries gaming keyboards so highly, but you can always bridge the gap by ordering a third-party solution.

Hardware Options

Gamers love options and personalization when it comes to optimizing their play experience. That's why we often spend the better part of an hour fine-tuning camera sensitivity in shooting games or mapping hotkeys in MMOs and MOBAs. We want everything to feel perfect, so it stands to reason that the best gaming keyboards should provide plenty of choice, both before and after purchase.

We took a close look to see if our gaming keyboards come in multiple sizes to accommodate different desktop setups. We checked to see if the manufacturers offer different switch types and keycaps, or if these parts are easily hot-swappable without dismantling the whole keyboard. During this evaluation, we kept in mind that many hardcore gamers are hardware enthusiasts and some are beginner tech tinkerers who might want to try building and reassembling their boards, so we assigned awards accordingly.

Switch Options

Traditionally, gaming keyboards come with one of three basic switch types: linear switches that press down smoothly, tactical switches that provide a slight “bump” of resistance to help you detect actuation, and clicky switches that produce a distinct sound that many gamers find satisfying. Hall effect switches are also gaining popularity. These are linear switches that use magnetic properties to provide a different kind of tactile resistance, and they are often adjustable via accompanying software so you can control where a keystroke's actuation point is. The important thing to keep in mind about switches is that every keyboard has a different tactile bump profile and its own amount of force needed to press the keys.

Available Switch Types

In our evaluations, we considered the amount of switch options the manufacturers provide at checkout. We also scored keyboards higher if they allow for hot-swapping. This is because enthusiasts understandably want as much control over their hardware as possible. At the same time, beginners and midcore gamers might not know what to expect from a keyboard's typing feel just by reading a product description, so they deserve the choice to make changes to their keyboard after purchasing it. If you have a preferred switch type, or if hot-swapping is important to you, you have a few options.

Size & Layouts Offered

It can be a huge benefit to the shopper when a gaming keyboard comes in multiple different sizes. We know how frustrating it is to find the perfect keyboard, only to realize it's too big to fit into your gaming setup or too small to accommodate your preferences. When you go for a smaller model, such as a tenkeyless, 75%, or 60% version, you gain desk space and portability. You might also just feel that the compact design is more sleek, stylish, or aesthetically pleasing. This comes at the cost of missing certain keys and having to use multiple layers to accomplish a function that full-size boards can do with a single press.

Hot Swappable Keys

Tweaking your keyboard components can be a lot like tweaking your character's build in an action RPG — you can take it as it comes and get a fine performance, or you can make it uniquely your own. The benefit of hot-swappable keys is that you can have an on-the-fly choice between clicky, tactile, linear, or magnetic switches. You can also control the material of the keycaps and the overall color scheme of your keyboard. Easy hot-swapability was a major factor when we named the NuPhy Field75 HE as the best gaming keyboard for beginner enthusiasts. It's a great choice for passionate gamers who want to get some hands-on experience with customizing keycaps and switches, as well as dedicated macro buttons, and see how these personalized touches can affect gameplay.

Keycap Swapping

Some of the gaming keyboards we tested provide the ability to swap only the keycaps, not the switches. These include the Corsair K100 RGB, HyperX Alloy Origins, and SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, among others. Being able to only swap the keycaps will have minimal impact on the keyboard's actual performance. It's still a boon, though, as it means your hardware will have more customizability and more longevity because you can simply replace worn-out caps or something with a different feel.

Overall Hardware Options

Ultimately, we evaluated the hardware options primarily based on the number of switch types offered by the keyboard manufacturers. Most gamers will purchase the hardware that best suits their needs out of the box, so we consider hot-swapability to be less of a make-or-break factor. We did weigh size options a bit higher, though, knowing that space considerations are important and that many would-be buyers will be frustrated if their favorite option doesn't come in their preferred layout.

With those testing parameters in mind, our top pick for hardware versatility was the MageGee Portable 60% with its whopping six switch types to choose from at checkout. It's also worth mentioning that we noted whether or not our gaming keyboards included dedicated media buttons. While we didn't factor this into our final scoring, we want to make an honorable mention of the Corsair K100 RGB, HyperX Alloy Core RGB, and Logitech G915 X Lightspeed for having great media control layouts.

Typing Noise

Typing noise is a highly subjective metric, especially in the realm of gaming keyboards. It's impossible to assign a score based on the sound profile because it's based entirely on preference. The individual has to decide if they prefer the sound of clicky, linear, or tactile keys.

Therefore, our typing noise evaluation is based almost completely on the actual volume or perceived loudness of the keyboard. We took notes on how rattly, hollow, or chattery certain boards were. At the same time, we express our passion for the sounds that remind us of gentle rainfall or the satisfying crunch of a candy bar.

In general, a “creamy” sound profile like that of the Nuphy Field75 HE will be quiet and unobtrusive. A “clacky” keyboard like the G.Skill KM250 RGB will be the loudest and most distracting. The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is an example of “thocky” keyboard that falls somewhere in the middle, with a key press that is heavy yet deep and not at all high-pitched.

Typing Experience

Our type experience tests aim to quantify how it feels to play or work using these gaming keyboards. We use a MecMesin force-displacement tester to precisely measure the amount of force it takes to actuate a key and press it all the way down. It also tells us the exact distance to a key's tactile bump and its actuation point, as well as the total travel distance to the bottom and back up. With this data, combined with our practical experiences using each keyboard, we can articulate why some products provide a better-feeling experience than others.

Our testing process produces a graph that illustrates exactly how it feels to type on the tested keyboard. It shows where the “bump” is in a tactile switch, demonstrating the satisfying sensation of actuating the key and carrying the stroke through to the bottom. It also shows how buttery smooth a linear switch can be by demonstrating a keystroke with no resistance, as shown with the Nuphy Field 75 HE.

Side-by-side graph comparison showing the difference between the typing feel of the HyperX Alloy Origins's tactile switches against the Wooting 60HE+'s linear magnetic switches.

We had a negative experience with the gaming keyboards that cut corners on their build quality. Cheap keycap materials tend to be overly smooth to the point of being obstructively slippery. That same cheapness can lead to the keys feeling disappointingly hollow or even wobbly. The spacing between keys can also be an issue — while we praise gaming keyboards for requiring just a light touch, poor spacing can lead to frequent misclicks and typos if the keys actuate under the slightest force.

Force Displacement

The above table compares our tested keyboards based on force displacement metrics. In particular, you can tell how much effort it takes to use a keyboard by considering the gram force needed to press its keys. For reference, one pound of pressure is equal to roughly 453 gram force. Our favorite typing experiences came from the keyboards that felt smooth and linear but with a hint of satisfying resistance, like the Asus ROG Strix and Nuphy Field75 HE. A light press leads to rapid reactions in gaming, and a gentle texture on the keycaps will help prevent slipping or misclicks. A durable feel will also contribute to the experience. When the keys are nice and tight, with little wobble, it gives you the confidence to wield your hardware without restraint, which we particularly noticed with the Wooting 60HE+.

Overall Typing Experience

The overall typing experience of a keyboard relates to its switch feel, sound profile, operating force, and key wobble. A major factor that affects all of these metrics is the keyboard's mounting method. Most gaming keyboards use either a gasket mount or an integrated plate method to secure the PCB plate to the keyboard housing. These methods prioritize stiffness and minimize vibrations, making them suitable for high-level play.

After careful evaluation and practical testing, our favorite typing experiences among gaming keyboards come from the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, Nuphy Field75 HE, and Wooting 60HE+, all of which have short actuation point distances and responsive feels. We were less fond of the Corsair K100 RGB and Logitech G213, which received low scores primarily due to their excessively wobbly keys and the scratchy or rattly sensations that can be felt during keystrokes.

Lighting

Hardware lighting represents a collective desire shared by almost every gamer: The desire to express oneself. As kids, we loved getting an alternately-colored controller that none of our friends had. Now, as adults, we look on with pride at our meticulously-designed gaming setup with color-coordinated lights. Any gaming keyboard worth its salt will appeal to this aesthetic whim.

In the lighting category, we score based on the level of customization possible, how easy the customization is, and how it looks. The colors should be accurate — no white tinting toward blue or orange tinting toward yellow, for example. The top performers in this evaluation will have intuitive lighting software that lets you access the full range of colors and adjust per keyboard zone or per key, rather than limiting you to one option across the entire board.

Corsair takes it seriously when they put “RGB” in a product title. The Corsair K100 RGB and Corsair K55 Core RGB were our highest-ranking keyboards in the lighting category. They both provide exceptional levels of customization with extremely easy-to-use software. You can get deeply meticulous with layering lighting effects, or you can take an even simpler route of toggling through the appealing onboard customization presets with the push of a button.

If versatile lighting is a key criterion for you, our advice is to steer clear of the Redragon S101 Combo, SteelSeries Apex 3, and MageGee Portable 60%. These products have low degrees of customization, either limiting what is possible via software or not providing software compatibility at all.

Overall Lighting Perfomance

Lighting performance is about more than just options and customization. We also tested the brightness of the LEDs on each keyboard, evaluating their visibility in high-light conditions and scoring appropriately based on whether or not the brightness was adjustable. We also made note of whether the LEDs were north-facing or south-facing, though this particular factor is a matter of personal preference.

In addition to the Corsair keyboards we tested, which were peerless in the lighting category, we also gave a high score to the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3. Overall, any gamer with an affection for personalized colorization and flashy effects will not find themselves left in the dark with any of these options.

How to Choose a Gaming Keyboard

When you are shopping for gaming hardware, you likely have two possible goals in your mind: Gaining a competitive advantage or increasing your gameplay enjoyment. Any old keyboard can get the job done, but you're here because you are passionate about making sure you get the most out of your gaming experience.

We want to help you choose the right gaming keyboard for you by breaking the process down into three simple steps: Choosing a keyboard type, deciding on your ideal layout, and knowing which features are your must-haves.

Keyboard Type

Mechanical keyboards are known for their tactile feedback and durability. They are preferred by most gamers for their precision and responsiveness. This is the recommended type of keyboard for gamers who are ready to invest a bit more cash into their hardware. When you purchase a mechanical keyboard, you will also have to choose which switch type appeals most to you:

• Linear (e.g., Cherry MX Red): Smooth and fast, ideal for fast-paced games

• Tactile (e.g., Cherry MX Brown): Provides a noticeable bump for feedback

• Clicky (e.g., Cherry MX Blue): Tactile feedback with an audible click

There are also Hall Effect switches, like those built into the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, that are similar to linear switches but use magnetic properties to allow for slight resistance and adjustable actuation points. Many gamers consider these the optimal choice for high-end play, but they come with a higher price to match.

Membrane keyboards are another basic type. They are quieter and less expensive than mechanical keyboards, but also less responsive and more prone to breaking. Some membrane keyboards can be great budget options, and there are even those that demonstrate performance on the same level as certain high-end mechanical keyboards. Some manufacturers even produce hybrid or semi-mechanical keyboards. These are worth considering if you have conducted extensive research and are adamant about the exact features you know you want.

Layout and Size

A full-sized keyboard includes all the standard keys: alphanumeric keys, function keys, and the entire number pad. MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and simulation games like Flight Simulator sometimes demand full-sized boards because players stand to benefit greatly from the extra hotkey options provided by the number pad. It's also worth considering this style if you plan to use your gaming keyboard for work, spreadsheet management, or other productivity tasks.

Tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards are, as the name implies, options that have most of the standard keys minus the numpad. This is a slightly more compact design that saves precious desk space. FPS players may value TKL boards because they typically do not use the numpad, but need as much room as possible for large, uninhibited mouse movements. There are also arguments that the TKL design is more ergonomic and reduces the strain of long play sessions.

There are even smaller layouts worth considering in the form of 75%, 65%, and even 60% keyboards. These are ultra-compact designs that sacrifice non-essential keys in exchange for portability or a neat, minimalist aesthetic. Consider one of these options if you tend to travel with your gaming setup, if you attend old-school LAN parties, or if you simply have very limited desk space. It's important to make sure you don't need the extra keys, though — for example, MOBAs like League of Legends often require few hotkeys compared to MMOs, enabling you to maintain a sleek setup.

Features to Consider

Depending on your preferences for aesthetics, comfort, and game genres, certain additional features can make all the difference in your purchase decision. Consider these common gaming keyboard features and think about how you would rank them in terms of priority:

• RGB Lighting: Customizable lighting adds aesthetic appeal and helps with visibility

• Programmable Keys: Useful for macros in competitive gaming or productivity tasks

• Anti-Ghosting & N-Key Rollover: Ensures multiple key presses are registered correctly

• Wrist Rest: Reduces strain during long gaming sessions

The highest-scoring product from our gaming keyboard tests, the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, excels in regard to all of these features. Such excellence comes at a more premium cost, though, and most gamers will value one or two of these factors significantly above the others. If you can confidently assert that there are features you won't use in your gaming experience, you can find a perfectly accommodating keyboard for a much lower price.

Conclusion

In the process of testing gaming keyboards, we meticulously evaluated performance, comfort, hardware options, the volume and profile of typing noise, the various factors that affect typing performance, and the depth of lighting customization. Gamers naturally expect their hardware to perform at a higher standard than typical office equipment, so we pushed these gaming keyboards to their limits and exhaustively measured every relevant metric, from input latency to operating force. We put the numbers where our mouths are to show that we have confidence in our recommendations and to give you confidence in our testing process as well. Our intention is to help you find the best keyboard that meets your needs while staying within your budget.

If you need a mouse to complete your gaming setup, check out our gaming mouse review. For more generalized use, head on over to our reviews for the best wireless keyboard, wrist rest, and the top wireless mice from our testing.