A keyboard could make or break your PC gaming setup. Don’t let a foul one spoil your gaming expertise. A brand new keyboard is a straightforward improve, particularly contemplating the plethora of nice choices underneath $100. We examined tons of budget-friendly keyboards that can assist you determine which one goes to provide the most bang in your buck.
Just like choosing out a brand new gaming mouse, getting the best gaming keyboard has lots to do with private choice — from ergonomic design (hi there, wrist relaxation) as to whether you like RGB lighting, mechanical keys, tactile suggestions, programmable keys, devoted media keys or so many different options that we won’t even start to checklist them. To assist slim your keyboard design preferences, take a look at GameSpot’s glossary of keyboard phrases.
Read extra: Best Gaming Mouse Under $50 for 2023
It’s value noting that Aukey, which makes one in every of our prime picks, was booted from Amazon final yr as a result of it was one in every of a number of distributors reported to have solicited constructive consumer critiques for reward playing cards. But since our expertise with the standard and worth of Aukey equipment has been constructive, we proceed to suggest its {hardware}.
If you are most snug doing all your workplace work on a membrane keyboard, the Cynosa may be the gaming keyboard for you. It’s a membrane keyboard, not mechanical, so the keys are quiet and positively really feel softer than the others right here and a few may discover them mushy. Still, if you happen to’re wanting to make use of one keyboard for each work and play, this can be a tremendous compromise for its $60 checklist value.
Many of the unique Cynosa’s options carry over, together with per-key RGB lighting — a rarity at this finish of the market — and sturdy spill-resistant design. What’s new is a set of media keys added to the higher proper nook. Razer additionally added cable routing underneath the keyboard so you possibly can preserve your desk a bit tidier.
This can be probably the most programmable keyboards right here. There are a whole lot of preset lighting results to choose from and you can even create your individual utilizing the Synapse 3.0 software program. There’s additionally Razer’s Hypershift characteristic that allows you to arrange a secondary set of capabilities in your keys which are accessed with a “shift” key you select. You may also rebind keys and set macros with the software program.
You’re receiving value alerts for WhirlwindFX Atom 60% Gaming Keyboard: Interactive and Customizable Lighting – Immersive, Reactive RGB Experience (Blue Clicky)
Whirlwind FX’s Atom 60% mechanical gaming keyboard is not too completely different from different equally sized choices. The compact construct is an area saver, nice if you happen to want additional mousing room whilst you sport. It’ll additionally slide simply right into a backpack for journey. (It additionally has a detachable braided USB-C cable to assist with that.) The firm affords a alternative of three mechanical switches, and so they’re all brilliantly lit with RGB LEDs.
The Atom’s backlighting, or extra particularly the software program that controls them, is the place this little keyboard stands out. The factor is, you do not even want the keyboard to make use of the software program.
The SignalRGB app permits you to set the keyboard’s lighting to have completely different results throughout common use and when media is enjoying together with varied video games. The app has a library of sport integrations to select from. I examined the Battlefield V integration, for instance, and it does issues like flip the keyboard lights purple when HP is low or inexperienced once you’re healed. The Fortnite integration will change the keyboard to pink and purple once you take harm or purple once you add expertise. There are a whole lot of video games out there and, if you happen to actually prefer to tinker, you possibly can create your individual integrations utilizing the corporate’s open-platform lighting software program.
However, the SignalRGB software program permits you to take issues a step additional by increasing the consequences to your different RGB gaming peripherals. It helps greater than 150 units from Razer, Corsair, HyperX, Logitech, SteelSeries and others. You may also request others that are not supported but.
Also, if you happen to want a full-size keyboard, take a look at the corporate’s second-gen Element keyboard that has the identical swap choices but it surely has directional keys and a quantity pad.
You’re receiving value alerts for Logitech G413 Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Carbon)
Even on Logitech’s lower-end fashions such because the G413 backlit gaming keyboard, the corporate does not low-cost out on construct high quality and elements. It makes use of the identical Romer-G Tactile switches discovered on its extra feature-filled fashions and has the identical slim, easy and sturdy keyboard design with brushed aluminum-magnesium alloy prime case. It has a braided USB cable with a USB passthrough port on the again proper and channels beneath for mouse and headset cable administration.
The tactile key swap is comparatively quiet with no click on when actuated, only a refined bump and a brief actuation. If you like to listen to and really feel your keypresses, this most likely is not the perfect swap for you. There’s only one shade for the backlight — purple — however the backlighting is vibrant and the important thing font on this full-size keyboard is straightforward to learn. Logitech contains 12 faceted keycaps, which is sweet however we did not really feel a lot distinction.
The G413 is programmable with Logitech’s G Hub software program, letting you arrange macros and customized capabilities on the F1-F12 buttons and there is a sport mode that shuts off the Windows key. Overall it is a extra polished mechanical gaming keyboard than the others right here, but it surely’s additionally pricier.
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You’re receiving value alerts for Logitech G613 Wireless Gaming Keyboard
Finding wi-fi gaming keyboard may be troublesome. These infants are a rarity as a result of the very last thing you wish to do is doubtlessly introduce lag into your efficiency. The G613’s Lightspeed wi-fi performs in addition to wired and its battery life is stellar at as much as 18 months on two AA-size batteries. That mentioned, the keyboard has no backlight in any respect, which whereas comprehensible for the facility financial savings, no keyboard backlighting actually kills the gaming expertise in the dead of night. You do get six programmable buttons down the left aspect, in order that’s one thing.
The G613 makes use of the identical Romer-G Tactile mechanical switches because the G413, so every part I mentioned about that one applies right here. I occur to love the texture of this swap for gaming and typing, although I used to be within the minority for our testing. This wi-fi keyboard is unquestionably one it’s best to strive before you purchase if you happen to can.
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The $50 G14 is likely one of the most inexpensive mechanical gaming keyboards out there and Aukey has stepped up its sport with the construct high quality and software program with out growing costs. This TKL keyboard is chunky however nonetheless saves desk area because it does not have a quantity pad; take a look at Aukey’s G12 if you’d like that characteristic.
Although the case is all plastic, it has the heft of a metallic body. Combined with the nonslip pads on the underside, this keyboard will not slide round whilst you’re gaming. Plus, there are two units of flip-out ft on the again providing you with three typing angles to select from — one thing you do not all the time discover on pricier keyboards. And whereas its USB cable is connected to the physique, Aukey did add routing on the underside so you possibly can ship the cable out to the left, proper or heart.
The firm’s blue clicky switches are good for each typing and gaming with a tactile bump you possibly can really feel and hear. These switches have a loud click on to them, one thing to bear in mind if you happen to share a workspace). Also, there isn’t any pinging from the swap springs, in contrast to the slimmer full-size G12 keyboard, so all you actually hear is their click on. There is a few key wobble but it surely’s comparatively minor and total it is a stable typing expertise.
The keycap legends are troublesome to learn with the backlight off. However, with 18 preprogrammed lighting choices to select from and 4 brightness settings, there’s little purpose to have the lights off fully whilst you’re working. You can all the time substitute the keycaps, too, and Aukey features a puller. Software for the keyboard can be utilized to create your individual per-key RGB lighting, arrange key macros or change key assignments and save a number of profiles. The G14 is a superb place to begin if you happen to’re simply moving into mechanical keyboards for work or play.