A good keyboard can enhance your gaming experience and boost productivity, making it an essential component of a computer system. Keyboards add a visual flair to a setup with their RGB lighting and effects, making them a fun centerpiece.
Wireless keyboards have improved over the yearsand are more practical than wired ones as they’re easy to move around and connect to various devices simultaneously. On the other hand, wired ones are cheaper and have better longevity than wireless ones. For gaming, wired mechanical keyboards with linear switches are whatthe pros preferas they offer rapid responses, low latency, and customizable macro keys. Those who are mostly typing, coding, or editing media want quick switching between devices, wireless connectivity, better ergonomics, and a superior typing experience,ergonomic keyboardsand advanced wireless keyboards are a lifesaver. If you don’t need a big and bulky keyboard with all 104 keys, compact versions of keyboards are available with 60%-75% of the layout rather than the full 100%.
Our Picks for the Best Keyboards in 2024
Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed
Logitech G Pro X TKL is a gaming keyboard with a compact tenkeyless design and wireless connectivity. The keyboard comes with tactile, mechanical GX Brown switches, durable PBT keycaps, and Logitech’s proprietary Lightsync RGB lighting technology.
The Logitech G Pro X TKL is a wireless mechanical keyboard that connects via Bluetooth or their proprietary wireless dongle. If you prefer a wired connection, Logitech also includes a USB-C cable in the box. They claim the keyboard can run up to 50 hours on a single charge, which should be taken with a grain of salt. The body is made of plastic except for the front casing, which is metal. This well-constructed keyboard can withstand decent force without flexing much. The keyboard utilizes three types of key switches: GX Brown Tactile switches, which don’t produce annoying clicky sounds when pressed, GX Red Linear switches, which are the quietest among the three with great tactile feedback, and the Blue Clicky switches, which can be obnoxiously loud in quieter office environments.
Doubleshot PBT plastic has been used to make the keycaps, which offer rigidity and a responsive feel while clicking. The keyboard features individual RGB key lighting and is controllable using Logitech’s versatile G HUB software. Backlight effects and brightness can be customized via the said software, which adds vibrancy to the keyboard. It has an impressively low single and multi-key latency, making it ideal for e-sports gaming. Although a competent option in its segment, the keycaps are not hot-swappable which might be a deal-breaker for some. Overall, the Logitech G Pro X TKL keyboard is easily our top recommendation in 2024.
Razer BlackWidow V4 75%
The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is the most customizable Razer mechanical gaming keyboard to date. Enthusiasts can swap out many components of the BlackWidow V4 including its switches and keycaps. By default, this compact keyboard ships with Razer Orange Tactical switches, which allow for smooth typing and producing tactile bumps without an excess of noise. In the 75% form factor, gamers looking to preserve space don’t have to compromise with arrow keys, top-row function keys, and media controls.
Those familiar with Razer keyboards will appreciate the welcome change to the BlackWidow V4 75% mechanical keyboard as it’s finally hot-swappable. It comes with their redesigned Gen 3 Orange tactile switches and a cushioned PCB for enhanced sound dampening. The keyboard’s base is made of plastic while the top plate is made of aluminum, providing a sturdy end product. Razer includes a standard USB-C cable to connect the keyboard, a double-sided key switch puller, and a padded wrist rest that attaches magnetically. The sides of the keyboard feature LED lighting for a subtle underglow and individually lit keys can be customized to display an array of colorful patterns.
The latency on this keyboard is praiseworthy and so is its 8000Hz polling rate, which might be overkill for most situations. Razer has been actively taking feedback from the keyboard modding community, which clearly shows in the BlackWidow V4. Upon dissecting the keyboard, we found two layers of foam, lubed stabilizers, and a tape mod. These eliminate harsh clicky noises and provide a smooth tactile feel during a keystroke. Out-of-the-box, these modifications make the keyboard stand out from the plethora of gaming keyboards. Every adjustment has been well-thought-out and inspired by the keyboard enthusiast community, making the consumer feel heard.
EPOMAKER x Aula F75 Mechanical Keyboard
This is a mechanical gaming keyboard from EPOMAKER, featuring a gasket and a hot-swappable design. The 75% form factor makes this keyboard extremely compact, leaving plenty of room for the mouse. It comes with 5 layers of padding for superior sound absorption and an excellent typing experience.
The Epomaker x Aula F75 Mechanical Keyboard is one of the highly rated custom keyboards out there, and is surprisingly affordable. Although the construction is mostly plastic, the keyboard feels sturdy enough for gaming and typing. It comes with a USB-C charging cable for its 4000mAh battery and can also be connected via Bluetooth and the included 2.4GHz dongle. It comes in 7 colors and 3 types of switches, but the latter are mostly identical to each other. The hot swappable key caps are made of double shot PBT and are comfortable for prolonged use.
Upon opening the keyboard, we can find tons of sound-dampening materials in the form of silicone and foam and users can add a layer of tape underneath the PCB for extra sound absorption. The top right corner houses a combined volume and play/pause knob which lets users switch between office and game modes. The keyboard also features RBG lighting and various lighting modes which can be customized without any proprietary software. Although the keyboard isn’t the easiest to disassemble, most first-time users would be content with the results out-of-the-box.
Logitech MX Keys Mini for Mac
The Logitech MX Keys Mini for Mac is a super compact and portable keyboard solution for users who are all about productivity. Relying on a rock-solid Bluetooth connection, the MX Keys Mini can connect to the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, iPads, and other mobile devices, and seamlessly switch between them. The MX Keys Mini also features a remarkable battery life of up to 5 months without backlighting enabled.The Logitech MX Keys Mini is currently heavily discounted at Amazon and makes an excellent gift for Mac or PC users looking for multi-device connectivity.
The Logitech MX Keys Mini is a compact wireless keyboard that is a viable replacement for Apple’s magic keyboard. It’s made of recycled plastic and aluminum, giving it sturdiness and longevity. The keyboard automatically dims the backlight when not used for some time and lights up when it detects hand movements in close proximity. It’s a membrane keyboard with scissor switches that have shallow travel like the Apple Magic keyboard. The Logitech MX Keys Mini is designed for productivity tasks like office use, editing, typing, etc. The keys are silent and offer a pleasant typing experience thanks to the slightly depressed and rounded keys which help avoid typos and accidental presses.
The Logitech Options software allows users to highly customize the keyboard and make it easier to use with multiple devices. You can remap keys, create user profiles, and connect the keyboard with up to 3 devices via Bluetooth or their separately available Logi Bolt USB receiver. Logitech claims the keyboard can last up to 5 months on a single charge, provided the backlight is turned off, which otherwise would only be 10 days. Lastly, the keyboard is compatible with every operating system but certain keys don’t work on certain devices, which is an inconvenience.
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX Keyboard
The ROG Falchion Ace HFX boasts ROG HFX Magnetic Switches that feature a customizable 0.1-4.0 mm actuation range, along with a dedicated Rapid Trigger toggle for the fastest typing response. Five-layer dampening and a silicone gasket mount absorb pinging noises and vibrations to provide superior typing experiences. A multifunction button and interactive touch panel allow for intuitive and effortless actuation point adjustments, and Dual USB-C ports on the left and right rear panel of the keyboard offer flexible connectivity, with a quick-toggle to switch between two PCs.
The ASUS ROG Falchion Ace HFX is a compact 65% gaming keyboard suited for intensive gaming scenarios. It’s their third iteration in the Falchion lineup, featuring their lubed HFX switches, a rapid trigger switch, and touch controls for certain functions like changing the actuation point of the keys. Just like most other premium gaming keyboards, the Falchion Ace HFX is made of high-quality plastic and aluminum whereas the keycaps are made of double-shot PBT. ASUS managed to squeeze in 5 layers of sound-dampening materials inside the keyboard, making it extremely satisfying to type on.
The keyboard offers Speed Tap which gives an unfair competitive advantage in FPS games. In situations when players button mash to strafe side-to-side or back-and-forth, the keyboard intelligently registers the key presses which allows for stable aiming and quick strafing. It also allows users to connect to two PCs via the two USB-C ports on each top corner and toggle between them. The one downside to this keyboard is the limitation ASUS puts into modding the internal components. Although users can swap the switches and keycaps, letting us customize the PCB wasn’t on ASUS’s list. This keyboard serves the purpose of being compact without compromising on gaming and productivity-related functionality.
Logitech Wave Keys
Experience the delights of a wave-shaped keyboard with a cushioned palm rest. The Logitech Wave Keys compact wavy design places the user’s hands, wrists, and forearms in a natural typing position for daylong feel-good. Connect the Wave Keys wireless ergonomic keyboard using Bluetooth or the included Logi Bolt receiver, and switch between a laptop, tablet, or phone with a tap using the Easy-Switch keys. Wave Keys has been developed and tested by The Logi Ergo Lab, and certified ergonomic with the stamp of approval from United States Ergonomics.
The Logitech Wave Keys is an ergonomic keyboard meant to make long and tiring typing sessions more comfortable and enjoyable. The base and top plate are made mostly of plastic yet are sturdy enough to resist flexing. The padded fabric wrist rest adds to the comfort factor, albeit not being replaceable. Like other Logitech keyboards, the Wave Keys can be connected to three separate devices via Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz Logi Bolt dongle.
The keyboard offers an extremely quiet typing experience, perfect for professional environments. With 2 AAA batteries, this keyboard can last up to 36 months, which is truly exceptional. This keyboard isn’t meant to be customized as you cannot swap the keys, switches or alter the backplate. You can, however, customize the macros and shortcuts using the Logi Options+ software and create up to 6 user profiles. This also doesn’t feature any backlight or RGB lighting, which is a drawback. It’s fully compatible with every operating system, including Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, Android, etc.
FAQ
Q: What are the different types of key switches?
Three essential types of key switches are linear, tactile, and clicky.
Q: Which one is better: membrane or mechanical keyboards?
Membrane keyboards have a shorter lifespan of about 5 million key presses than mechanical ones, which have a lifespan of 30 to 70 million. Membrane keyboards don’t produce satisfying feedback when pressed, while mechanical ones have a distinct clicky sound. On the other hand, membrane keyboards are more cost-effective and produce less sound than mechanical ones.
Q: Should I get a wired or wireless keyboard?
Wired keyboards tend to be cheaper than wireless ones and the gap is widened in the long run as wireless keyboards require batteries to run and can add up over time. On the other hand, wireless keyboards are easier to move around than wired ones. In some cases where routing cables is a hassle, wireless keyboards can solve the issue. When it comes to latency and input lag, wired keyboards take the edge ever so slightly over wireless although, the difference might not be noticeable to the untrained eye.
