Best Gaming Keyboard For 2021: Razer, SteelSeries, Logitech, And More
When it comes to PC gaming, the perfect for your gaming mouse is absolutely a great gaming keyboard. There are few things you use more than plastic keys, and if you were thinking of picking a
best gaming mouse
Where
best gaming headset
was tough, then you're ready for any task with gaming keyboards. Between key switches, mechanical or membrane keyboards and all the extra features that keyboards tend to offer, such as media keys and the RGB lighting, there's a lot to consider. That's why we've tested and narrowed down the best gaming keyboards you can buy in 2021.
Different types of switches will appeal to different people and if you opt for a Cherry MX switch like Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Blue, there are plenty of keyboards worth your time. It can get confusing fast, especially if you can't test these keyboards yourself and really tell the difference with your own fingers. Luckily, it's easy to figure out exactly what you'll get if you understand the terminology.
First, the linear switch keys compared to the tactile keys.
Linear
means there is no physical feedback mechanism to indicate when a keystroke is registered. It's smooth, relatively quiet, and preferred for pressing keys quickly.
Touch
means there is a bump or click to indicate you have reached the actuation point; it's louder, but some prefer to have physical feedback for strikes. It really depends on preference.
Actuation point
is the distance at which a strike is registered; a shorter distance means you don't have to press the key as far, but may result in erroneous entries.
actuation force
is, well, the force required to press the down key. Of course, there are also all the quality of life considerations to take into account, such as media keys, whether you want a row of programmable keys and such.
While Cherry has long been the dominant manufacturer of mechanical switches, some gaming peripheral brands have started making their own proprietary mechanical switches for their keyboards, namely Razer and Logitech. For a brief overview of the most common mx switches, see below:
Cherry MX Red Switches: Linear
Cherry MX Blue Switches: Tactile and Clicky
Cherry MX Brown switches: tactile with a bump
Cherry MX speed switches: linear with a very short actuation point
Romer-G Linear Switches: Linear
Romer- Tactile G Switches: Tactile with a Bump
Razer Yellow Switches: Linear
Razer Orange Switches: Tactile with a Bump
Razer Green Switches: Tactile and Clickable
Steelseries OmniPoint Adjustable Switches: Linear with Adjustable Actuation Point
Quick overview: best gaming keyboard
Best Quiet Mechanical Keyboard:
Logitech G512 / G513
Best RGB lighting:
HyperX Alloy Origins
Best high-end gaming keyboard:
Razer Huntsman Elite
Best Keyless Gaming Keyboard:
Razer Huntsman
Best build quality in a gaming keyboard:
Corsair K68
Best Premium Wireless Keyboard:
Logitech G613
Best high-end keyboard for serious people:
Steelseries Apex Pro
Looking to complete your gaming keyboard and mouse combo, or just want to buy more gaming peripherals? Discover our choices for the
best gaming headset
,
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and the
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Best gaming keyboard: high-end
Razer Huntsman Elite< /p>
The Good
Razer's own switches are some of the best on the market
Solid and sturdy build quality
Excellent media buttons
Comfortable wrist support mat
A low actuation point means a slightly faster input register...
The bad
...but may lead to typos or erroneous entries
The Razer Huntsman Elite is a fantastic full-size mechanical keyboard, thanks to Razer's excellent internal switches, solid build quality, and comfortable wrist support. The Huntsman Elite pairs its mechanical switches with optical sensors that allow for quick inputs, and its keys feel great for both typing and gaming. Optical sensors pick up your input before you've fully pressed the key, which speeds up keystrokes, but is also more likely to create typos if you're not used to them. This is especially true when typing fast, but luckily I didn't notice it much while playing first-person shooters like Rainbow Six Siege and Valorant.
The build quality is also quite impressive. Its heavy and substantial chassis makes it feel like a brick, though its size is compact enough for a full keyboard. It uses the entire surface and features separate, clickable media buttons for pause, play, and skip. They're extremely easy to navigate and tap on thanks to their distinct shape and size, which I found useful for pausing podcasts, YouTube videos, and music while playing games that required more input. 'Warning.
Each Huntsman Elite also comes with a padded wrist support that magnetically attaches to the bottom of the keyboard and syncs with its Chroma lighting patterns. It's not the best wrist guard out there, but it does provide adequate support for your wrists while you type and game for long sessions. The Razer Huntsman Elite is one of the best high-end keyboards out there, and if you're looking for a tactile switch gaming keyboard, it's hard to beat.
Switch Types:
Razer Linear Optical Switch, Clicky Optical Switch
Available in Tenkeyless:
Yes
See on Amazon
Best gaming keyboard: high-end
SteelSeries Apex Pro
Good
Adjustable mechanical switches are awesome
Switches are smooth and relatively quiet p>
Very solid and compact construction (ignoring the wrist rest)
Lots of meaningful luxuries that make it feel upscale
Complete customization software
The bad
It is relatively expensive
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is a high-end keyboard that, in addition to looking and feeling the part in every way, sports a pretty innovative feature that currently only exists in perhaps another keyboard: Adjustable Mechanical Switches. That's right - you can adjust the trigger point of each individual key on the master key to suit your preferences, which means you can program them to only activate on a concerted full press (approximately 3.6mm) or the lightest of the keys (a 0.4mm).
Is it useful? It can be! A common example would be if you're a keyboard enthusiast who spends long periods of time both typing and playing PC games, like me. You might prefer a longer, deeper actuation to improve accuracy and reduce drift when typing, and a much lighter actuation to increase response times in action games. SteelSeries Engine software makes it easy to create these profiles (which can be saved onboard the keyboard itself for hardware-side activation) and lets you script automatic profile switching when a particular app becomes active (like Chrome or Apex). Legends, for example).
However, it should be noted that the linear nature of the switches remains the same, and there are no other options if you prefer a clicky or tactile switch. That said, the way the keys respond can still feel like night and day depending on where you are on the actuation scale.
A host of totally unnecessary but luxurious features include a small OLED display and dedicated media playback and the volume control wheel, both of which help navigate the built-in user interface, allowing you to customize every aspect of the keyboard without having to launch the software, although this is certainly not as efficient. The display can easily be customized to display 1-bit, 128x40 pixel gifs, and supports integration with a limited selection of programs like Discord, Dota 2, CS:GO, Mortal Kombat 11, and Tidal (if using Tidal for some reason) to display vital information.
It has a USB connection, cable routing, macro keys, a soft rubber magnetic wrist rest and exposed LED lighting for individual keys. The aluminum construction is incredibly durable, as you'd expect - it features an exposed keycap design and very compact trim, much like the HyperX Alloy Origins (although the lighting isn't quite as vibrant ). Still, the SteelSeries Apex Pro has everything you'd expect from a high-end, high-end keyboard, and the adjustable switches are a significant customization feature (even if it seems like a ridiculous flex).
(Note: The more affordable Steelseries Apex 7 has all the features of the Apex Pro, but comes with more traditional SteelSeries-branded red, blue, or brown switches.)
Switch Type:
OmniPoint Adjustable Mechanical Switches
(Apex 7 available in SteelSeries Red, Blue, or Brown)
Available in Tenkeyless:
Yes
See Steelseries Apex Pro on Amazon
Best Gaming Keyboard: Keyless
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
The Good
Razer's own switches are among the best
Strong build quality with aluminum chassis
Detachable USB-C cable
A low actuation point means a slightly faster input register...
< p>The bad...but may lead to typos or erroneous entries
Keystrokes can be loud, even for a linear switch
There's something new about a compact keyboard without ten keys; they're cute. If you have no use for the numeric keypad and/or want to have a minimalist desktop setup, these are definitely up your alley. If that's what you're into, there are a ton of options, as tenkeyless is hugely popular among the PC gaming crowd, which was born out of the need for a small keyboard during cramped LAN competitions. But which one to choose? The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is an easy choice.
Razer's Huntsman keyboards have a sleek aluminum chassis and an overall no-frills design. The Tournament Edition is specifically the keyless version and it has a long detachable braided USB-C cable, making it easy to grab onto if you need it. It also retains Razer Chroma RGB lighting although the backlighting isn't as bright as other Razer keyboards. What makes these keyboards special are the options you have for mechanical switches. Each of Razer's switches (green, yellow, and orange) are tuned for competitive gaming with short actuation points and precise reset points; they are also always fluid when typing. I've used Razer Yellow primarily with the Huntsman TE, and it's my go-to setup when things get serious.
The quick response and short actuation point can also lead to more errant inputs, primarily resting your hand on the keys; it is something to be taken into account. And the Huntsman is not designed for the courtesy of others around you, as full strikes can be very loud. If neither is a major concern then it would be hard to ignore the Razer Huntsman.
Types of switches:
Razer Orange, Green or Yellow
Available
not
in Tenkeyless:
Yes
See on Amazon
Best Gaming Keyboard: Wireless
Logitech G613
Good
Long battery life (AA required)
Fast input response that matches that of wired keyboards p>
Affordable, especially considering the few options available
Romer-G tactile switches work well
The Bad
Not the prettiest keyboard
The plastic wrist rest is attached which makes it a bit bulky overall
Wireless mechanical keyboards are hard to find because there are so few options available. That's not the only reason we recommend the Logitech G613, though. Input latency is top of mind, but that's largely been addressed as seen with wireless gaming mice, and Logitech is adapting its "Lightspeed" technology found in its mice for the G613. It's also a fantastic budget gaming keyboard.
The G613 is a full-size keyboard in every sense of the word. It has a built-in plastic wrist rest, convenient but not detachable. There are six programmable macro keys on the left side of the keyboard and a suite of media controls on the top right as well. More importantly, the G613 is among the great mechanical keyboards because of its quick response and precise mechanical switches. It only comes with Romer-G tactile switches, which isn't too bad since they provide all the benefits of a mechanical switch, like smooth and consistent keystrokes.
While you'll need to stock up on AA batteries, the G613 is quite efficient, lasting up to 18 months according to Logitech - it's so efficient we're not even talking hours anymore. And only once have I had to change the batteries since I used it as my main keyboard for work in 2017. It would be pretty annoying to swap batteries for a keyboard every few months, so that's the key. One of the reasons the battery life lasts so long is that one common feature has been left out: backlit keys. The keys are painted a crisp white which improves visibility, but of course that's not the same as a good backlight.
Considering its feature set and the fact that it's one of the few wireless mechanical keyboards on the market, the Logitech G613 is quite affordable, especially when it's on sale. The prospect of a wireless gaming keyboard might not be as appealing as a wireless mouse (you're not constantly moving a keyboard and dragging a cord after all), but those who want to cut the cord without sacrificing keyboard quality have a great option here.
Types of switches:
Romer-G Touch
Available in Tenkeyless:
Nope
See Logitech G613 on Amazon
Best gaming keyboard: Build quality
Corsair K68
Good
Strong, water-resistant construction
Dedicated media keys are handy
Smooth keystrokes with multiple options for Cherry MX switches (for RGB models)
The Bad
None to be honest
The Corsair K68 is a solid and versatile keyboard - solid, of course, because it can take a beating. It's touted as the mechanical keyboard that will withstand the dangers that can come with someone's desk, like spilled liquids. As well as being water resistant, it's housed in a thick, sturdy chassis. While Corsair's product page shows the keyboard is showerproof, we tested it ourselves in our K68 review - it turns out it can take showers. There's a protective membrane under the keys and protects the mechanical switches from damage, and any liquid it absorbs is channeled away from the board.
These are a few of the K68-specific perks, but it's a top gamer set. We've only used it with the Cherry MX Red switches, and as expected, they work brilliantly, delivering smooth and responsive keystrokes. However, you have a few options when it comes to K68 models. There's a cheaper version that only comes with red LED backlighting and red switches, but you'll have to shell out a few extra bucks to get the RGB backlit version that also lets you choose between Cherry MX Red switches, Blue or Speed. Both models feature large media control buttons on the top right, and they come with a detachable wrist rest with rubber texture.
There's nothing bad to say about the K68, really. You can't go wrong if you're looking for a great mechanical keyboard, especially if you're accident-prone or just want to make sure your investment doesn't get destroyed so easily. It's also a budget gaming keyboard, especially if you can find it on sale.
Types of switches:
Cherry MX Red, Blue or Speed
Available in Tenkeyless:
Nope
See at Best Buy
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