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Shopping for a gaming keyboard that best suits your needs can be confusing, but we’ll keep it simple. The most important factors to consider are the latency (how responsive a keyboard is), switch types (the feeling of the keypress and the noise it makes), and the overall comfort and feel. From there, you can decide if you’d like additional features like RGB backlighting, media controls, or software customization options that help you make your board feel just right for you. Most gamers look for mechanical keyboards as they typically offer lower latency, more features, and better build quality, so our recommendations lean more toward mechanical offerings.
We’ve tested over 215 keyboards, and below are our recommendations for the best non-mechanical and best mechanical keyboards for gaming. If you’re looking for a keyboard that isn’t strictly gaming-focused, check out our recommendations for the best keyboards or the best mechanical keyboards. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a gaming keyboard on a strict budget, check out our recommendations for the best budget gaming keyboards.
Best Gaming Keyboard – SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)
The best gaming keyboard we’ve tested is the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023). Note that this keyboard has been on sale for short periods lately, and you may find it around the same price or possibly even less expensive than our upper mid-range pick below. This keyboard stands out from many gaming keyboards as it allows you to customize how far down you need to press a key before registering a keystroke. You can also set how far they need to travel back up before you can register another keystroke with a Rapid Trigger feature or assign two inputs depending on how far down you press your key. Whether you want a nearly instant actuation point for competitive gaming or a longer pre-travel distance for general typing, you can dial in each key’s performance within a wide range to best suit your play style and the games you play.
This keyboard also includes a detachable wrist rest for added support, a rare feature for keyboards of its size. Speaking of size, if you’re interested in this keyboard but looking for an even more compact version to give you the most room for sweeping mouse movements, check out the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini. Or, if you prefer a version that includes a Numpad, look no further than the full-size SteelSeries Apex Pro. Also, if you prefer wireless keyboards so you don’t have cables cluttering your desk, most Apex Pro boards have wireless versions available.
Best Upper Mid-Range Gaming Keyboard – Logitech G715
The best gaming keyboard we’ve tested is the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023). Note that this keyboard has been on sale for short periods lately, and you may find it around the same price or possibly even less expensive than our upper mid-range pick below. This keyboard stands out from many gaming keyboards as it allows you to customize how far down you need to press a key before registering a keystroke. You can also set how far they need to travel back up before you can register another keystroke with a Rapid Trigger feature or assign two inputs depending on how far down you press your key. Whether you want a nearly instant actuation point for competitive gaming or a longer pre-travel distance for general typing, you can dial in each key’s performance within a wide range to best suit your play style and the games you play.
This keyboard also includes a detachable wrist rest for added support, a rare feature for keyboards of its size. Speaking of size, if you’re interested in this keyboard but looking for an even more compact version to give you the most room for sweeping mouse movements, check out the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini. Or, if you prefer a version that includes a Numpad, look no further than the full-size SteelSeries Apex Pro. Also, if you prefer wireless keyboards so you don’t have cables cluttering your desk, most Apex Pro boards have wireless versions available.
Best Mid-Range Gaming Keyboard – Corsair K70 RGB TKL
At a mid-range price point, we recommend the Corsair K70 RGB TKL. In addition to its outstanding gaming performance, the K70 RGB TKL features excellent build quality with a hard plastic chassis, durable PBT keycaps, and ergonomic kickstands that open sideways, so you don’t accidentally collapse them if you accidentally nudge your board. Performance-wise, this keyboard has a maximum polling rate of 8000Hz, which means your keyboard reports more often to your computer, helping to ensure low and consistent latency performance while gaming.
This feature contributes to this keyboard’s near-millisecond latency and provides a very fluid and responsive in-game experience, especially when combined with the light-to-press Cherry MX switches. You can get this keyboard with either classic Cherry MX Red switches or Cherry MX Speed switches. Both switch types feel very light and smooth, but the Speed switches have an even shorter pre-travel, making them ideal for reaction-based gaming.
This keyboard is part of a larger Corsair K70 lineup that features mid-range gaming keyboards in a range of sizes with different features. We recommend the TKL size here for its performance and form factor, as it gives you more space on the side for mouse movements. If you prefer a more traditional full-size option instead, the Corsair K70 CORE is typically cheaper. It’s also a bit quieter to type on, thanks to the addition of sound-dampening material in the case and spacebar. That said, it doesn’t quite deliver the same raw performance and has a standard polling rate of only 1000Hz. Additionally, its keycaps are made of cheaper-feeling ABS plastic.
Best Budget Gaming Keyboard – Razer Huntsman Mini
If the more expensive options on this list are a bit out of your price range, we recommend the Razer Huntsman Mini as a more budget-friendly model. This board uses Razer’s Optical switches, available in clicky or linear varieties. While these switches feel like standard mechanical switches, they use a beam of light to register keystrokes. Combined with how lightweight these switches are, the result is an extremely responsive feeling experience. Like other Razer options, this keyboard offers all the standard customization features with Razer’s Synapse 3 software, including macro programming, per-key RGB backlighting effects, and onboard storage for custom profiles.
The build quality is also excellent, and it feels very sturdy, even compared to the more premium options on this list. One of its major selling points is its gaming-friendly compact size that takes up very little room on your desk, giving your setup a minimal look and leaving plenty of room for sweeping mouse movements. Unfortunately, this board has a fairly high profile, like most other options here. It doesn’t include a wrist rest, so you may consider buying one separately for the most comfortable gaming experience.