Laptops with Backlit Keyboard: Which One Is For You?

If you’re here, chances are you’re also on the hunt for a laptop with backlit keyboards for several reasons- or maybe you just enjoy the aesthetic of a keyboard that glows in the dark.

My mission here is to help you decide which backlit keyboard laptop will be the best for you! Just to give you a heads up, I made sure to choose keyboards for professional, casual, and gaming purposes!

You’ll find what you need here, I promise!

Ready?

Quick Overview: The Best Laptops with Backlit Keyboard

Before we dive into the specs and features, I’ll list down the notable brands for a quick overview:

• Best Overall (for non-gamers): Dell XPS 9570
• Best Overall (for gamers): Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop
• Best Value: Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
• Best Budget: Acer Aspire 5
• Apple Macbook Pro
• HP Envy 17

I have to admit though, with the surge of laptops with backlit keyboards out in the market, it was a bit harder to determine which ones are the best of the best.

But with my own reviews, these are the keyboard laptops that impressed me the most!

Deeper Reviews: Best Laptops With Backlit Keyboards

This section will help you identify the best features and the downsides of these keyboard laptops.

Though I don’t usually choose 2 winners, I think it’s only fair to separate our best picks between a professional laptop and a gaming laptop – since other than the keyboards – the uses, cost, and specs of these two vary a bit.

Best Overall (For Professionals): Dell XPS 9570 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050

If you’re a professional looking for a backlit keyboard laptop for office work, the Dell XPS 9570 has the specs you need for your productivity needs.

And if you’re a professional who also loves playing games, you’ll be happy to know that this laptop will be a suitable choice for you.

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Laptop Features

Here are the basic features of the Dell XPS 9570 that you might want to check out.

• Processor: 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8300H
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15.6-Inch FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge anti-glare, Non-Touch IPS 100% RGB 400-Nits Display
• Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 3.0 | 2 x USB 3.0 with power Share | 1 x headset jack | 1 x SD card reader
• RAM: 8GB
• Travel Distance: 1.3mm
• Storage: 256 GB
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
• Weight: 4.5 lbs

Benefits Worth Mentioning

So now that all the technical features are listed down, what now? I’ll also explain to you the benefits that you’ll get, of course:

• Also good for gaming (2-in-1!)
• Compact and lightweight
• The screen has a full HD quality
• Has good images and graphics
• Advanced intel core processor means faster performance
• Convenient ports – no more additional extensions needed
• The battery life is more than decent for office use

Drawbacks to Consider

But some downsides might not be suitable for you:

• Webcam placement is at the bottom (which is an older design we don’t particularly enjoy)
• A bit pricey if you’ll only use it as an office laptop

My Overall Thoughts

Some may disagree with the price range of the Dell XPS 9570 as an office laptop, but in my experience, one of its winning points is the advanced intel core processor which makes working with software like Microsoft Office so much faster.

And of course, the reason it bags the winning title is something that a gamer can’t look away from.

That’s right – the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 inclusion makes it a competitive contender for gaming laptops as well.

Because it performs well in two ways, the price is already a good deal!

I also love the advanced integrations they did for the screen, which gives users a good Intel HD graphics experience without hurting the eyes too much.

Best Overall (For Gamers): Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop

Now, I also understand a gamer needs a more specific laptop PC with a higher intel core, better graphics card, and more typing distance.

The Razer Blade 15 will satisfy all of those gaming needs while still falling under the reasonable price range, which is why we’re also crowning it as an overall winner – especially among gaming laptops.

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Laptop Features

Here are the basic features of the Razer Blade 15 that you might want to check out.

• Processor: 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H 6 core processor (with 2.6GHz/4.5GHz)
• Operating System: Windows 10
• Screen: 15.6″ FHD 240Hz matte display
• Ports: Wireless 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, MiniDP, USB 3.1 Gen 2
• RAM: 16GB RAM
• Travel Distance: 1.7mm
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Battery Life: 5 hours and 14 mins
• Others: Chroma RGB Lighting, Thunderbolt 3, facial unlock feature

Benefits Worth Mentioning

So now that all the technical features are listed down, what now? I’ll also explain to you the benefits that you’ll get, of course:

• Futuristic design – from looks to functionality
• Has a cooling feature to help with intense usage
• Upgraded features are fit for advanced gaming
• HD webcam, which is a plus for laptops
• Full HD graphics
• HDMI port inclusion is a big plus
• High built-in memory space
• Travel distance is suitable for gaming
• The backlit keyboard is colorful with more RGB choices

Drawbacks to Consider

But some downsides might not be suitable for you:

• Shorter battery life due to full HD features
• The charger is bulky and heavy
• Heavier in general

My Overall Thoughts

If you notice, almost all of the features are a big upgrade from the Dell XPS 9570 one. This is mainly because it’s built to be one of the best gaming laptops out there.

From the intel core processing to the sleek design to the travel distance and graphics card, it’s the type of HD laptop that you just know will excel in terms of performance.

And since I’m talking about backlit keyboard laptops, this one by Razer Blade 15 has the coolest RGB lights. It’s highly comparable to an actual gaming PC for a far lower price.

Another thing I’m really excited about is its cooling hardware. Since it’s expected for you to challenge the Razer Blade 15 and use it intensely, they’ve already installed an innovative cooling system so your laptop won’t give up on you!

But with the level of performance it exerts, it’s reasonable to expect that it will be bulkier and heavier, and the battery will drain faster than non-gaming laptops.

Best Value: Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop

I have another futuristic and advanced-performing gaming laptop, but this time more on the expensive side.

But still, once you see the specs of the Acer Predator Helios 300, you’ll understand why I’ve crowned it as the best value laptop on this list.

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Laptop Features

If you’re already impressed by the intel core processor of the first two, you’ll be amazed by what this laptop can offer you.

• Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 5.0 GHz)
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS display (144Hz Refresh Rate, 3ms Overdrive Response Time, 300nit Brightness & 72% NTSC)
• Ports: Wireless 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, MiniDP, USB 3.1 Gen 2
• RAM and Storage: 16 GB DDR4 2933MHz Dual-Channel Memory, 512GB NVMe SSD
• Battery Life: 7 hours and 27 mins
• Others: Bluetooth connectivity, 4-Zone RGB Backlit Keyboard, Aeroblade fan, 1 available Hard Drive Bay

Benefits Worth Mentioning

These are the benefits of this HD notebook that we’re excited to share:

• The Bluetooth connectivity means you can enjoy the wireless connection
• All-around laptop (for gaming specifically, but also good for working and coding)
• Smooth screen and display – graphics are full-blown!
• A lot of ports (USB to HDMI)
• Works fast with wifi (online games, here you come!)
• The backlit keyboard is top-notch. By far, it’s the best on this list.

Drawbacks to Consider

As great as it sounds, though, some drawbacks may affect your decision:

• Expensive
• No Thunderbolt 3
• The Aeroblades fan does a good job of cooling, but it can be noisy

My Overall Thoughts

Among all of the laptops on this list, we have to give it to the Acer Predator Helios 300 for wow-ing us with the specs it has to offer.

It didn’t surprise me that it’s on the expensive side, but this is the main reason as to why it’s not the best overall.

Still, in comparison with the rest of the laptops, you can’t deny the promising features and benefits that come with it – that’s why I chose it as the laptop with the best value.

I do think, though, you can achieve similar performance with slightly lower specs but for a likewise lower price. If you’re not a gamer, you might not even maximize all of the advanced features.

But yes, for heavy gamers and coders – you might find the high processor of this one to be useful and a good investment for your work and games!

Best Budget: Acer Aspire 5

For a lot of us who just need a trustworthy laptop with functional backlit keyboards for working, we don’t really need all of the expensive and techy advancements.

Acer Aspire 5 understands that and is here to show you what it can provide you without hurting your pockets. We’re proud to present to your best budget pick!

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Laptop Features

Here are the basic features the Acer Aspire 5 has:

• Processor: Core i5-1135G7 Processor – up to 4.20 GHz, quad-core processor, 8 threads, 8 MB Intel Smart Cache
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Widescreen LED-backlit Display | Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 3.0 | 2 x USB 3.0 with power Share | 1 x headset jack | 1 x SD card reader
• RAM and Storage: 8GB DDR4 Memory (Expandable to 20GB) and 256GB NVMe SSD
• Ports: 1 – USB 3.2 (Type-C) Gen 1 port (up to 5 Gbps); 2 – USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port (one with Power-off Charging); 1 – USB 2.0 Port; 1 – HDMI Port with HDCP support
• Battery Life: 8.5 hours
• Others: Fingerprint reader, numeric keypad, Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6, AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics unit

Benefits Worth Mentioning

These are the benefits of the Acer laptop with a backlit keyboard:

• Affordable
• Features are complete (ports, intel, etc.)
• Good battery life
• It’s competent enough for a lower price than most laptops

Drawbacks to Consider

There are just some cons that you might want to take note of:

• Don’t expect the graphics to be as HD (though they’re also not bad at all!)
• The backlit keyboards are not as bright as those of the gaming PCs
• Large key travel distance (harder to type for some)
• Intense usage is not encouraged

My Overall Thoughts

For less than a thousand bucks, the Acer Aspire 5 is already an overachiever. Just imagine the fingerprint reader, full HD display, good RAM, and all of the hi-tech features for the price!

Working on office software such as Microsoft Office doesn’t require an intel core processor that’s as advanced as those gaming laptops – the Core i5 of this laptop is already a great pick.

We also want to mention the AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics unit of this laptop. Though I mentioned to not expect high graphics, I don’t mean they’re bad.

In fact, they’re good. It’s the type of display you’d want for productivity and office works!

But of course, if you’re expecting the backlit keyboard to be as colorful and bright as a gaming laptop, then you might find yourself disappointed.

The backlit keyboard of this one is straightforward – lights behind your keys. It serves the purpose!

Apple Macbook Pro 15-inch

From a budget-friendly laptop, I’d like to jump a bit again and answer the expectant Mac users.

I know, I know – most of these laptops are powered by Windows. So for our Apple users, here’s the latest Apple Macbook Pro for your laptop with a backlit keyboard choice.

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Laptop Features

Here are the features of the Apple Macbook Pro 15-inch:

• Processor: 9th-generation 8-Core Intel Core i9 Processor
• Operating System: Mac OS
• Screen: Brilliant Retina Display with True Tone technology; 15 inches LED
• RAM and Storage: Radeon Pro 560x Graphics with 4GB of video Memory and Ultrafast SSD
• Ports: Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
• Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
• Others: 802.11AC Wi-Fi, Force Touch trackpad, AMD Radeon Pro 560x Graphics

Benefits Worth Mentioning

Take a look at the benefits I particularly appreciate:

• Mac OS is known to be smooth and efficient
• Low key travel distance (comfortable keyboard for typing)
• Very modern with advanced features (touch ID and touch bar)
• Good graphics card

Drawbacks to Consider

I can’t deny there are some drawbacks, though:

• Limited ports (you’ll likely need an extension for HDMI, hard drive, and media card reader ports which is an additional cost)
• Expensive
• Backlit keyboards are just lights – not customizable, no special RGB backlit

My Overall Thoughts

When it comes to gadgets, laptops, and computers, Apple is capable of giving us a different experience from Microsoft and Windows ones.

This isn’t to say which one’s better or worse – of course, we all have our preferences and different usages.

As some of us are Macbook users, we can testify that the intel processor of the Mac OS is so much smoother in terms of doing normal work.

But as for gaming, it’s admittedly not your best option. You can skip the Macbook Pro (or any Macbook, for that matter) if you’re expecting to use it for heavy gaming.

Take note, though, this is the latest Macbook Pro with an Intel processor. But it’s not the latest as far as Apple Macbooks are concerned – there’s a new one out right now that runs with their M1 chip.

We still have to find out if it’s worthy to include in this list, but as of now, I think the Macbook Pro is the best-backlit keyboard laptop released by Apple!

HP Envy 17

We also need a touch screen representative, of course!

The HP Envy 17 is like a 2-in-1 tablet with a keyboard laptop, so I think the price is in a justifiable range.

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Laptop Features

Here are the basic features of the HP Envy 17:

• Processor: 11th Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1165G7 Processor, Quad-Core, up to 4.7 GHz base with Intel(R) Turbo Boost Technology
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home
• Screen: Integrated Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe graphics, state-of-the-art security features, and an expansive 17″ display
• Touch Screen Display: 17.3-inch diagonal Full HD (1920 x 1080), multitouch-enabled, IPS, edge-to-edge glass; 83% screen to body ratio
• RAM and Storage: 128 GB SATA 3 M.2 solid-state drive for the operating system and traditional 1 TB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive
• Ports: Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
• Battery Life: Up to 8 hours (mixed usage), up to 9 hours and 45 minutes (video playback), up to 7 hours and 45 minutes (wireless streaming); 0 to 50% charge in 45 minutes with HP Fast Charge
• Security: State-of-the-art security features include Camera Kill Switch and integrated fingerprint reader

Benefits Worth Mentioning

I’m admittedly excited with the benefits of this one:

• Best for working and studying (multi-tasking friendly)
• It’s like getting a keyboard tablet and a laptop in one
• Touch screen – need we say more?!
• Large screen and keyboard
• Has an optical drive (a.k.a a DVD port)

Drawbacks to Consider

But there are some downsides:

• Not as compact (can be heavy for a laptop)
• The cooling fan is loud

My Overall Thoughts

It’s simple, really.

For students or office workers who need a tablet-like laptop for a more convenient working device, the HP Envy 17 will be a solid option that will last you a long time.

Laptops With Backlit Keyboard Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs] [Q&A]

I hope my list gives you an idea about which laptops with backlit keyboard suit you best.

But to help you further, I’ll answer some of the FAQs we’ve encountered surrounding this topic.

What’s RAM? Should I Care About It?

You’ve probably seen the term “RAM” multiple times, so yes, it’s an important feature to care about.

RAM is short for random access memory, which is the short-term memory of your laptop or PC that’s in charge of all the active apps and activities happening.

You need a larger RAM to ensure that your laptop will work fast even without the help of an external hard drive or USB – since it’s not all the time that you have access to these things.

Can I Install A Backlit Keyboard On My Laptop?

While you can always swap your ordinary PC keyboard to a backlit keyboard, it’s a different story when it comes to laptop keyboards.

Since the keyboards of laptops are already integrated into the device, it can be harder (or borderline impossible) to install a backlit keyboard separately – as that would mean opening up the entire thing.

It’s a lot easier to buy laptops with backlit keyboards!

Take a look at the laptops on this list, as they already come with a backlit keyboard plus all the other good features you’d want from a laptop device.

Does a Backlit Keyboard Drain Your Battery?

The honest answer is yes.

Since a backlit keyboard uses light, it also means requiring extra power from your battery.

Think of it as your screen brightness – the higher it is, the more draining it is for your batteries.

Which Is The Cheapest Laptop With a Backlit Keyboard?

The best budget laptop with a backlit keyboard is the Acer Aspire 5 for around $600-700.

But there are a lot of other laptops with a backlit keyboard that has even lower price ranges. Of course, don’t expect the quality and performance to be at par with pricier ones.

Here are some backlit keyboard laptops to add to your list:

What’s the Use of a Backlit Keyboard Laptop? Do I Really Need It Over an Ordinary Keyboard?

For some of us who have worked with Chromebooks or laptops without a backlit keyboard feature, it can be confusing as to why there’s a sudden demand for them.

You don’t really need a backlit keyboard per se, since a laptop works perfectly fine with just a normal keyboard, but it’s definitely a helpful feature to have that increases comfort, efficiency, and productivity.

But for people who:

• Work through late nights
• Experience emergency or no-electricity days
• Are gamers

A backlit keyboard can be a lifesaver for them.

For instance…

1. Since online classes and working from home is now a common setup, working until late at night has become a norm.
2. Others who share rooms with family members or who like working in the dark can also benefit from backlit keyboards.
3. Another instance is if you need to accomplish an important task and you encountered a power outage, trust us, you will thank whoever invented laptops with backlit keyboards!
4. And of course, the demand for a backlit keyboard surged with gamers who pull all-nighters and play games in the dark. A backlit keyboard helps you press the right keys during games.
5. And not just that, the customizable RGB backlit keyboards do look cool with your entire PC build. Wanting to have that same vibe on your laptop is a given!

Best Laptop With Backlit Keyboard Summary [TL;DR]

Here’s a summary section for you.

I still encourage you to read through the entire article since we thoroughly reviewed each backlit keyboard laptop!

• Best Overall (for non-gamers): Dell XPS 9570
• Best Overall (for gamers): Razer Blade 15 Gaming Laptop
• Best Value: Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop
• Best Budget: Acer Aspire 5
• Apple Macbook Pro
• HP Envy 17

I chose the keyboard winners based on various factors.

Other than the backlit keyboard feature which they all have, I also went into their specs and prices and considered them all.

Conclusion

I hope I was able to help find the best laptop with backlit keyboard features for you!

There are so many options in the market that it could be overwhelming to choose one, but always remember that the best one will be the laptop and keyboard type that fits your budget and needs.