From a smaller TKL to a full-size mechanical keyboard, you'll find the best gaming models we've tested from Logitech, Razer, HyperX and more.
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CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
The best PC gamers know that a solid gaming keyboard is one of the most important tools in their arsenal, but choosing the right one can be an overwhelming and seemingly impossible task. Paired with a great gaming mouse, the keyboard is how you take your gaming to the next level. We've done the work for you, so you don't need to take a risk on a keyboard that might be subpar.
For models that'll have a little less impact on your wallet, check out our picks of the best gaming keyboards under $100. But if you can spend more, you'll get features such as higher-quality switches and general construction, discrete media keys and controls, a wrist rest and more. And if you don't know what a membrane keyboard is or the difference between an optical switch and a mechanical switch, the buying advice section at the bottom will help.
Read more: Best Gaming Keyboard Under $100 for 2024
Just like picking out a new gaming mouse, getting the right gaming keyboard has a lot to do with personal preference (and budget). As for the two authors of this list, Josh likes tactile switches -- ones where you can feel the actuation point -- but doesn't like clicky key switches that make a sound. Lori prefers clicky and tactile because she likes to feel the actuation point and the mechanical sound.
You might also find some keyboards great for gaming but not like them for day-to-day typing. For example, those same Cherry MX Red switches that are great for gaming might be too light for some typists. Linear switches, like Cherry MX Reds, don't have the tactile feedback that a Cherry MX Blue has, but because of their low force and smooth actuation they're preferred for gaming, especially where multiple taps of the same key are necessary. If you have a chance to test out different keyboards to determine your favorite switch type before you buy (such as Cherry MX Brown, Cherry MX Red and others), I highly recommend it. You can check out this glossary of keyboard terms to help narrow your preferences.
So, are you ready to find the best keyboard for your gaming needs? Read on for a closer look at 10 great options.
Bucking the trend, keyboard prices have dropped since the last time we updated this story. But a lot of people would still prefer not to drop $100 or thereabouts on a keyboard, especially if they're klutzy. SteelSeries' entry-level gaming keyboards, the Apex 3 ($45) and its tenkeyless little buddy ($38) trade membrane for mechanical switches, which may put some people off.
But in exchange it's quiet -- more suitable for day-to-day work from home -- and includes features you usually don't find in a budget keyboard, like cable management, six macro keys, 10 lighting zones and media controls. And best of all, for the chronic spillers among us, they're IP32 water-resistant.
If you're picky about feel, you may not be crazy about them. They're a little better than typical membrane switches, but after a while begin to feel a little mushy. And I wouldn't use them for any game that requires quick response, since they require more actuation force than clickys. But for sims and other games that don't require speed but do benefit from the programmability, either is a good choice.
The K100 Air is currently our favorite low-profile gaming keyboard. It's feature-packed, with all the wireless (2.4GHz and three Bluetooth pairing slots) and a dock for the PC/PlayStation-compatible dongle, as well as extra macro keys. Since it only comes with tactile keys it's not great for really fast-response games that benefit more from linear switches; it uses Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile mechanical switches. But it's got a great feel if tactile is your thing and it's pretty well built, which makes it terrific for the workday. Plus, battery life, even with RGB at full blast, is quite good, and if the battery dies you can use it wired while it charges. All of that's wrapped into the thinnest keyboard we've seen thus far.
The obvious downside is the price. It's not overpriced for what you get, but it's still at the high end of the range for keyboards. Read our Corsair K100 Air review.
Tied for favorite low-profile gaming keyboard, the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro wireless model is well suited for people who need a faster response or quieter operating model, since it comes with Razer's optical linear switches (Red) as well as its clicky Purples. It shares a lot of the same advantages of the K100 Air -- full-featured, well designed and multidevice (Bluetooth and 2.4GHz) wireless. It's not as slim, but similarly high priced. Read our Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro review.
Want a compact 65% wireless mechanical keyboard for work and gaming? There aren't that many around (most wireless keyboard options are 60% size without discrete navigation keys) and none that I've found that have Bluetooth and lag-free 2.4GHz wireless like the BlackWidow V3 Min HyperSpeed. That helps justify the higher price and it's also solidly built and is comfortable for typing, and smooth and fast for gaming. You are limited to two key switches -- linear and clicky tactile -- so if you want a tactile switch without the clicky sound, you're out of luck for the moment. Switch choices aside, if you're in search of a great little wireless mechanical gaming keyboard that can also be your daily driver for work, you've found it.
Our current top tenkeyless (or TKL, i.e. no numberpad) gaming keyboard. A step up from the standard G Pro, the Pro X has swappable switches, letting you choose the exact feel you want with Logitech's GX switches available in blue clicky, red linear and brown tactile sets for $50 each. Removing and replacing the switches is simple, making it easy to customize your experience if you've got the money. It's modding made easy.
The Logitech keyboard's overall design doesn't differ much from the G Pro, though, which would be our runner-up pick. It's made for esports, and its small, sturdy build and removable braided cable makes it good for travel. Logitech's G Hub software is straightforward to use so you don't spend a lot of time hunting for settings or control options. Attaching macros to the function keys is painless as well.
A compact TKL version of Corsair's excellent full-size K70 RGB MK.2 gaming keyboard, the K70 RGB TKL is designed for esports but has features any competitive gamer will appreciate. It uses Corsair's Axon processing technology to get a polling rate up to 8,000Hz that virtually eliminates the chance that input lag is going to cost you a victory. At 8,000Hz, it reports keypresses every 0.125 milliseconds and it has a 4,000Hz keyscan rate -- four times faster than competing keyboards -- so it's both detecting and transmitting keystrokes far faster than the average gaming keyboard with a 1,000Hz polling rate.
Corsair used Cherry MX Red mechanical switches, though in some regions it will be offered with MX Speed or Silent switches as well. The regular linear Red switches are fast, smooth and just reliably good. There's per-key RGB backlighting shining through durable double-shot PBT keycaps and Corsair also includes some textured keycaps for gaming. The keyboard's layout is better for travel and it has a removable braided USB-A-to-USB-C cable.
Next to the cable input, you'll find a switch that flips the keyboard into a tournament-ready mode. This makes the backlighting static and disables macro activations so there's no accidental presses while playing. You can still use other keys like the media and volume controls and change profiles, however.
Corsair's iCue software was overhauled recently to make setting up lighting, programming macros and remapping keys more straightforward. While you can create limitless profiles and lighting layers that are accessible when using iCue, you can also store up to 50 individual profiles to the keyboard's onboard memory. Those are accessible without running iCue and even when you're on systems that don't support iCue. You can also store up to 20 lighting layers.
switch remotes If you're looking for a fast, full-featured compact keyboard for FPS and MOBA games, the K70 RGB TKL has you covered.