If you’re gaming on a PC, you know that the difference between a standard keyboard and a gaming/mechanical keyboard is night and day. Gaming keyboards are better for speed, precision and feedback, and they offer more durability, to name just a few of the benefits. Getting a gaming keyboard is a big decision that will directly impact your games so to help you make your choice. Here are some of the best gaming keyboards around.
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Best Gaming Keyboards on Amazon
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How to pick the best gaming keyboard for you
- Consider membrane vs. mechanical – Of course, gaming is a vague term and different games require different things from your keyboard. If you’re a casual gamer and/or you’re playing games which don’t require speed and precision from your keyboard, then perhaps a membrane keyboard is a good option. These are quieter and have flatter keys, more similar to something you’d find on a laptop. If you’re playing a competitive game where speed and precision matter though, without a doubt a mechanical keyboard is the best option. They use spring and lever-based mechanisms which are incredibly responsive and precise. These are the noisy keyboard you can hear streamers use sometimes.
- Consider layout – Just like regular keyboards, gaming keyboards come in different layouts. In general, they’ll range from 88 keys to 101 keys, with the main difference being the number pad that sometimes sits on the right. Think about what you’ll need and buy accordingly.
- Consider design – Many gaming keyboards have a black base with LED designs that can light up all different kinds of colors. This is great if you want some variety but for some, it can be distracting. If so, a more plain design is best.
1. Redragon K552 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Amazon
Top Pick
This K552 keyboard by Redragon is a mechanical keyboard that is backlit with rainbow LEDs that have more than a dozen different lighting effects and different levels of brightness. It has an ergonomic design and is made from high quality, durable metal. The keys are not only plate mounted, but feature red switches, which means that the keys require less force to press and they don’t make a lot of noise despite being responsive. Overall, this is a great alternative to a premium. If you don’t know your way around a keyboard as well as avid gamers, then keep in mind that some people have complained about the font on the keys being unnecessarily hard to read.
Pros:
- Backlit
- Ergonomic
- Durable metal design
- Don’t make a lot of noise
Cons:
- Font is hard to read
2. Razer Cynosa V2 Gaming Keyboard
Amazon
Best Quality
You don’t have to know a lot about gaming to know that Razer is a respected brand in the industry. This Cynosa V2 gaming keyboard has backlit gaming keys. There are also dedicated media keys which allow you to rewind, forward, pause, play and mute videos. This keyboard also features the number pad, if that’s a preference of yours. While it’s not waterproof per se, it is spill resistant, so it can handle you spilling some of your drink on it here and there. The keyboard is membrane feels sturdy and doesn’t make a lot of noise, even if you’re pressing the keys quickly and with force. Keep in mind that you’ll lose some competitive edge at the highest level without using a mechanical keyboard.
Pros:
- Backlit keys
- Spill resistant
- Sturdy feel
Cons:
- Not as precise as mechanical
3. Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum Wired Keyboard
Amazon
Best Comfort
This mechanical keyboard from Logitech is their G910 Orion Spectrum and it’s one of the fastest keyboards they’ve ever produced. Many professional gamers prefer keyboard with a Romer-G switch and that’s exactly what this keyboard offers. With this switch, you get a quiet but precise performance and a great, discernible response from each key with every press. There are also nine customisable, programmable keys which can perform complex actions with one press. There are also dedicated media controls and a palm rest. Unfortunately, there’s no USB passthrough and the cord can be too short for some.
Pros:
- Great switch
- Programmable keys
- Dedicated media controls
- Palm rest
Cons:
- No USB passthrough
- Cord can be too short
4. Snpurdiri Wired Gaming Keyboard
Amazon
Snpurdiri’s wired gaming keyboard is a great choice because it comes in a wide variety of designs. As well as the black and white edition pictured above, you can get it in red and black, pink and more. On top of the color of the keyboard itself, all of the options are backlit, so this is great if standing out is your thing. The keyboard has a very compact design, which makes it great if you don’t have a lot of desk space or if you need to travel with it. It might be too small for some others though, so only go for this if you specifically need a smaller design. Keep in mind that the keyboard requires you to use the function key in combination with a lot of other keys to make things work, so if you think that’ll take getting used to, you might want to avoid this.
Pros:
- Great designs
- Compact
Cons:
- Can be too small for some
- Function key needs to be used a lot
5. EVGA
Amazon
Also Consider
Last up is this gaming keyboard by EVGA which is their Z12. It’s capable of withstanding accidental spills, which means you can have a drink while gaming without worrying. There are five dedicated and programmable keys and dedicated multimedia keys which go the extra mile in making it easy for you to pause, play, forward, rewind and mute shows. In terms of speed, this keyboard has a 4000Hz polling rate, which means it sends data to your PC incredibly fast, making it perfect for competitive gaming. There is a wrist rest included, but keep in mind that it can be a little hard and you might want to opt for a foam rest instead.
Pros:
- Withstands accidental spills
- Programmable keys and multimedia keys
- Very high polling rate
Cons:
- Included wrist rest colud be more comfortable
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