Best Gaming Keyboards in 2023

How do you get to know what keyboard is best for gaming? Simple. Try it out.

In our daily encounters with the various gaming keyboards in the market, we have come to realize that the best are of mechanical nature.

However much of an expense they are, the mechanical keyboards are built to impress the gamer.

We know you may be looking for a keyboard that doubles up as a good typing surface if you type as often as you game.

We are happy to let you know that mechanical keyboards will still work perfectly fine for you.

Besides their firm build, they are designed to last long, respond easily to commands and provide the needed comfort during usage.

We sought out to compile the best gaming keyboards for you so that you have an easy time selecting your ideal kind of keyboard.

How we chose the best gaming keyboard

Several factors led to our unanimous decision of the best gaming keyboards as we are going to see.

It is through their build and features that we selected the mechanical keyboards with the best gaming performance.

• Switch keys

• Mechanical or membrane

• Illumination

• Cordless or wired

• Type of keys

We determined this final list by combining the features that stood out on each keyboard to provide the superior gaming experience for the user.

The five best gaming keyboards

The most important consideration when choosing the Best Gaming Keyboard

The switches

Gamers, you can relate with how important that win is for you and especially that heated moment when you need to be alert to make sure your opponent is defeated.

Your keyboard should be the last thing to disappoint you at such a moment. This is why the selection of a keyboard with the right key switches is essential.

A majority of gaming keyboards come with mechanical switches because of their greater audio quality and tactility. Each and every key is paired with its switch to ensure even distribution of the commands the gamer issues.

These switches also offer better sensitivity to the pounding the gamer puts on the keys meaning better precision and feedback.

There are three types of key switches regardless of the keyboard make. For a linear switch, you can expect consistency and smoothness whenever you press the key.

Tactile switches exhibit an obvious bump during mid travel to the point it needs to hit for the input to be registered.

Clicky switches are more or less the same as tactile switches only accompanied by a click sound that registers the input.

The types of switches are not enough to differentiate as there are further tweaking to match the amount of force a gamer may need to use in striking a key.

The most popular key switches are Cherry made but clones have cropped up to satisfy their ever-increasing demand.

A number of keyboards, however, come fitted with silicone dome switches that have a soft rubber that requires the keystroke to be forced all the way down to reflect the input. They are slow and need a lot of force exerted on them.

Scissor switches are a better version of the silicone domes with a reduced actuation distance and a mechanical plunger to stabilize it and offer uniform typing.

With them, you only have to be careful about not hitting other keys you didn’t intend to.

Other considerations when choosing the best gaming keyboard

Mechanical or membrane

It is a common belief that mechanical keyboards are more expensive than membrane type keyboards.

However, there is much more to this than just the pricing. It is their make and working that really differentiate these two types of keyboards.

A mechanical keyboard is equipped with keyboard switches as we have seen and their functioning is of mechanical nature.

A membrane keyboard possesses two membranes that are plastic, and through which some electric current passes to convey the input as commanded by the user.

Their responsiveness is soft so you will need to apply more force to register the keystroke.

Mechanical keyboards have an upper hand, however, because of their superior functionality, ease of use and reliability. Hence preferred for most gamers.

Illumination

How do you like the keys on your keyboard backlit? Every time you see the Cherry MX switches, they are bound to be followed by a color designation, say Cherry MX brown.

The color signifies a category to which the mechanical switch belongs. It’s not just for the aesthetic nature of the keyboard.

Why is the illumination of the keys important to a gamer?

The colors highlight various aspects such as the actuation distance (how far the key travels once it is pressed), the amount of pressure needed to actuate the commands issued and how much feedback the keys bring out on release.

There are six types of color codes each with its own set of responsiveness. Some are good for both gaming and usual typing work.

However, for strict gamers, you are going to need a keyboard whose activation force is as light as possible with tactility in response.

Cordless or wired

Just like Gaming Mice, connectivity is essential if you are a full-time online gamer. While wired keyboards require plugging into the USB port of the computer, the wireless ones require a tiny receiver plugged in.

The wireless keyboards communicate via Bluetooth or Radio frequency and this means it is susceptible to network interruptions from other wireless devices using the RF ranges.

If fast responsiveness is key to the gamer, it is preferable to pick a wired keyboard because there are no instances of lag, besides them being plug-and-play.

Wireless keyboards are ideal for instances that require gaming from a certain distance and can easily be carried around, unlike the wired that are only limited to the distance the cord can cover.

Wired keyboards tend to be cheaper than wireless keyboards and even better, they do not need the use of batteries as they are charged directly through the USB port.

As a gamer, you know what is best fit for you and you can select according to the specific use.

Type of keys

There are two things to discuss under the type of keys needed for a perfect gaming keyboard; the keys’ programmability and their placement.

These are going to play a good role in determining what kind of keyboard the gamer opts for.

You will need to make several strokes at some point as you game and what not better than to just program a key for the purpose!

Agility is key during gaming and a slight delay could put the gamer at a loss. Macro keys let the gamer program specific keys which offer fast reaction to the command so no moves are missed.

The placement of the keys on a keyboard is also essential depending on the gamer’s right or left handedness. Where your macro keys are situated is also important so you don’t have to think twice about making the right move.

The best gaming keyboard

The #1 pick was the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2.

The Razer Chroma V2 is built for the gamer to win the mission.

Besides the appealing backlighting options, you get to customize the lighting controls as per your personal taste.

From the millions of color options to choose from, you can customize the backlighting as per the game you are playing.

What more freedom would a gamer need? And there is more from this keyboard designed for hardcore gamers.

The V2 keyboard is designed to achieve the actuation distance in the least amount of time possible and with the least effort as well as maximizing the responsiveness of the strokes.

Thanks to their superb award-winning Razer mechanical switches.

This keyboard offers the excellent performance every gamer seeks. It is built to endure as many keystrokes as possible.

This means it is going to serve you for a long time; its durability aspect is impressive.

Gaming demands comfort to be fun and engrossing as it goes on and on over a long time.

The Razer Chroma V2 comes with a wrist rest containing ergonomics that provide the utmost comfort during the gaming experience.

The Chroma V2 supports the gaming devices integration. Peripherals such as the mouse, its mat, and headset are beautifully synchronized to appear on the keyboard so that the perfect gaming effects are felt.

Of course, it comes with the programmable keys that simplify your work. You can get to knock or shoot down your opponent in an instant and achieve your mission. It is fun to see your commands get executed in an instant.

The Razer Chroma V2 has all the favorable qualities that a gamer desires. It passed all our tests and that is why it took the top spot.

The four other gaming keyboards we tested

The following keyboards rivaled our top pick closely with their outstanding features:

Corsair Gaming K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE

The greatest competitor levels require equally fast mechanical keyboards to get the mission done.

The Corsair K70 is amazingly fast and responsive to even light touches.

Topping the precision and wonderful speeds of actuation, they offer durability with the build intended to withstand the long hours of constant gaming.

The K70 comes with an inbuilt powerful software called Corsair Utility Engine(CUE) which provides classy programmable keys and a range of stunning lighting effects.

The USB port is located at a favorable position so the gamer gets to enjoy uninterrupted hours of gaming, with the peripherals intact.

There are multimedia controls that give you the option to make changes to the audio without pausing the game.

The keyboard comes with a wrist rest that is detachable to offer the ease needed during gaming. The rolling over of the keys ensures the gamer makes the right keystrokes every time.

Razer Ornata Chroma

This keyboard is a combination of the mechanical switch and the membrane rubber dome designed to offer a soft touch yet with the proper tactility.

It provides an instantaneous feel for the gamer so that the commands input is executed with immediacy.

For this, each keystroke counts.

The Razer Ornata comes with a keycap shortened to improve actuation time.

The lighting effects that come bundled up in this keyboard provide a stunning gaming experience.

This feature boosts the gaming experience with an interactive sensation between the gamer and the keyboard.

The ergonomic wrist rest just like the rest is there to provide comfort during gaming. You can also get to synchronize your peripheral devices with your keyboard to deliver the best visualization for the gamer. It is also a good budget pick that will not disappoint.

Steel Series Apex M500

This could just be the perfect keyboard in case you are looking for the best budget under £100 gaming keyboard.

Its provision for comfort is admirable and with it, you get to choose whether to turn on the LEDs or leave them off.

Depending on the house lighting, you also get the option to dim or brighten according to your personal preference for proper gaming.

The M500 is designed for professionals who are out to maximize their keyboard efficiency. Besides the brightness adjustment option, it comes with free standing keys with rollover to ensure you press the right key.

The switches retain their sensitivity so that no matter how many times you want to play, you get the same experience.

This is a good pick if you are looking for a good budget pick keyboard. It is built to last and comes with a number of custom picks that you can apply for a better feel. You can get to program your macro keys and enjoy the gaming experience.

Logitech G610

The Logitech G610 comes with an advantage over its predecessors in terms of speed and build.

It provides a high speed and softness in its sound effects.

It comes with Cherry MX Red switches of mechanical nature, yet noiseless and provide for swift command actuation.

Like most of the mechanical key switch keyboards, the G610 ensures you press the right key with a surety of the needed feedback.

Every key light can be customized and adjusted accordingly by the gamer to their comfort.

You also access your media easily and moderate it without having to put the game on hold. The roller has options of jumping to the next media in the playlist and regulating the volume.

The Logitech gaming software provides for personal customization of the games most played and their lighting experiences.

The Logitech G610 gives an incredible gaming experience to the user and is definitely recommendable.

The bottom line

At the end of it all, the choice of the gaming keyboard will depend on the gamer. It is upon you as a gamer to see what best fits your needs and do proper assessment before settling on a keyboard.

There are a variety of options and there is certainly the perfect fit for every users’ needs.

We have provided an overview of the best gaming keyboards gamers could possibly opt for. They are currently the best in the market and offer the best gaming experience.

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