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The 10 Best Gaming Keyboards (For Every Budget)

Pete McPherson
The 10 Best Gaming Keyboards (For Every Budget)

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Gaming & mechanical keyboards—name a more iconic duo.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably ready to step up your gaming and start clacking & thocking your way to pwning noobs…but there’s just one probably.

There’s an INSANE amount of gaming keyboards to choose from now. 🤯

  • Are they actually all that different???
  • Do you need a MECHANICAL keyboard? (um, yes)
  • Do you NEED to spend $300 on a “good” gaming keyboard (um, no).

This is my review of the best gaming keyboards for 2023 and beyond.

I’m not a company or a pro-level eSports gamer…

I’m just an avid gamer who owns dozens of keyboards and hundreds of switches—and I want to help you find the perfect keyboard that makes you happy and ups your game. 😎

Here are my gaming keyboard picks for 2023:

BUT…

Luckily for us, there are tons of similar keyboards, each with specific features that might be a better fit for you.

Let’s dive in:

Gaming Keyboards: A Quick Buying Guide:

Here’s what to look for while you’re shopping for a gaming keyboard:

Price

You could spend $35 or $750, but there are actually plenty of awesome options in the lower price ranges! The average keyboard on this list will cost around $75-$150. If you’re a beginner, we don’t recommend going high-end until you KNOW what you’re paying for!

Type

Do you want a “normal” keyboard (membrane), or a mechanical keyboard? See below for our thoughts…

Size

Here’s our full guide to keyboard sizes. 99% of gamers will prefer either a 100%, 80%, 75% (TKL), or 60%. You can get more keys & macro keys with larger keyboards, but they take up more space

Brand

If you want one of the “gaming brands” like Corsair, Razer, etc, you’ll pay a bit more just for the brand name, but it’s generally not a deal-breaker

Switches

Here’s our full guide to mechanical keyboard switches. Most gamers prefer a linear switch (like Cherry Reds, etc), since it’s a bit smoother and a TINY bit faster—but tactile switches (brown, etc) can be great for gaming as well. See the bottom of this article for more info on switches.

Wireless

Most of these keyboards are USB-C wired, etc, though there are some great wireless options as well. Which do you need/want?

RGB

I ALWAYS recommend getting a keyboard with RGB backlighting, since you can always turn it off if that’s not your thing. 99% of mechanical keyboards have RGB these days.

Design

Most gaming keyboards are going to be black or dark, with darker keycaps—but there ARE other options depending on what design you like! I personally prefer more colors on my desk ;)

Membrane vs Mechanical Keyboards for Gamers (My Thoughts)

Traditional keyboards (a.k.a membrane or rubber dome keyboards) have a few layers of rubbery gel-like pads underneath the keys – they have a distinct “mushy feeling” when pressed.

They tend to be quieter, cheaper, and “softer” when typing compared to mechanical keyboards.

Mechanical keyboards are simply computer keyboards that make use of physical switches below each key instead of cheap rubber membranes that are common in most standard keyboards.

Mechanical keyboards offer several advantages for gamers (and everybody, actually):

  • They’re more fun (let’s just be honest?)
  • They’re usually more accurate
  • You can customize them for different sound & feel (HUGE!)
  • They’re sturdier and last longer

For gaming, I absolutely recommend sticking with a mechanical keyboard.

The great news?

Although mechanical keyboards ARE more expensive, prices have actually gone DOWN in the past few years!

It’s easier (and cheaper) than ever to customize a keyboard to your liking, and mechanical keyboards are the way to go.

Though there are two membrane keyboards at the bottom of this list as well! ⌨️

The Best Gaming Keyboards:

https://youtu.be/232lGph0dv0

I’ve personally typed on every single one of these keyboards!

I’ve also broken them down into categories so you can find the perfect fit.

Best Overall - Steelseries Apex Pro

The SteelSeries Apex 5 isn’t any “better” than the keyboards listed above, but it DOES have a fancy OLED screen right on the keyboard.

You can customize this little display with GIFs, game info, volume display, discord messages (COOL), and more.

It also comes with a detachable (magnet) wrist rest, and “hybrid” switches (though there are some mechanical options as well, they might cost more).

Conclusion: What’s the Best Gaming Keyboard?

The truth is, there are several amazing gaming keyboards on the market right now, and the one you choose should be based on your prefereces!

  • Best Overall: Corsair K70
  • Best Wireless & Low-Profile: Logitech G915
  • Best Budget: Tecware Phantom
  • Best for Mac: Keychron K2

Just make sure to choose a keyboard with the features you need, and do some research into which switches you should choose (judging the sound and feel).

Happy gaming, keyboard nerds!

Want to see some CURRENT keyboard deals? Read this post.

Gaming Keyboard F.A.Q.s

Which Gaming Keyboard Is Fastest?

The speed of your gaming keyboard will probably come down to which switches you get (optical switches are the fastest, followed closely by speed linear mechanical switches like the Cherry MX Speed Silvers). The fastest gaming keyboard is probably the Corsair K70 or K100, followed closely by the Razer Huntsman (which has optical switches that are lightning fast).

How Much Does a Gaming Keyboard Cost?

The average price of the most popular gaming keyboards is likely around $120, although you can certainly spend a lot more or less. The Tecware Phantom costs only $45, and many Razer, Logitech, and Corsair keyboards also produce budget keyboards under $100 (usually around $75-$90). However, if you’d like fancier features like macro keys, USB pass-through ports, wireless capabilities and a hot-swap PCB, you could pay up to $150-$200.

What are the different types of gaming keyboard?

There are two broad types of gaming keyboards: membrane (“normal”) keyboards and mechanical keyboards, which feature a physical mechanical switch underneath each key. Mechanical keyboards are generally preferred by gamers for their speed, accuracy, and ability to customize.

What is the best gaming keyboard brand?

This will depend on your preference, but there are several large gaming brands that produce quality keyboard for gamers, including Razer, Corsair, Logitech, and SteelSeries. There are several others as well, though these are easily the most popular choices in the gaming community, and these keyboards are easiest to find.

What are the different sizes of gaming keyboards?

Most gaming keyboards fall under three sizes: 100% full-sized, 80% TKL (which does not have a numberpad), and a compact 60% keyboard size (which doesn’t have the numberpad, function row, home cluster, or arrow keys). However, you can also find gaming keyboards in both 75% and 65% sizes, which are a good balance between the larger 100% keyboards and the tiny 60% size.

Can a gaming keyboard be used as a regular keyboard?

Yes, absolutely. A “gaming keyboard” is just a normal keyboard with full functionality, which usually has some extra features that gamers like (such as RGB backlighting, extra macro keys, Antighosting, etc). You can use a gaming keyboard for work or play.

Do Gaming keyboards make noise?

This will depend on the type of gaming keyboard. Many gamers prefer mechanical keyboards (for accuracy, speed, and increased customization), and mechanical keyboards are generally much louder (but this also depends on which switches are underneath the keys). However, membrane keyboards (“normal” keyboards) are generally much software in terms of sound and feel, and don’t make as much noise.