There are few things as polarizing as PC keyboards. There are message boards and subreddits filled to the brim with opinions on the virtues and vices of different switch mechanisms, dissecting every aspect and component right down to the plastic used in the keycaps. There’s good reason for that.
Whether you own a great laptop or game-ready desktop PC, you likely spend more time than ever with your hands on a mouse and keyboard. Might as well make those hours as pleasant as possible. We’ve tested a lot of keyboards; these are our top picks for gaming—and all the other stuff. We hope they’ll make your home row feel a little more like home.
Updated October 2019: We added the SteelSeries Apex Pro as our Best Gaming Keyboard.
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Photograph: Logitech
Best Overall Keyboard
Logitech G513 Carbon
Equipped with custom mechanical switches and crisp, colorful RGB lighting, the G513 is surprisingly subtle for a gaming keyboard. That’s why it’s my favorite keyboard for all-around use. Unlike many gaming devices, it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb in an office environment. It’s quiet and understated when it needs to be—matte black like a stealth bomber.
It achieves all of this without sacrificing any of the features you’d expect from a high-end gaming keyboard, like customizable RGB lighting, durable keys, and a full-size number pad. You can even choose which switches it ships with: Romer-G Tactile, Romer-G Linear, or GX Blue switches. (See our switch explainer below.)
Logitech
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Photograph: Steelseries
Best for Gaming
SteelSeries Apex Pro
Mechanical keyboards are super satisfying to type on. They just feel better than standard membrane keyboards. The mechanical switches responsible for such a tactile typing experience are varied—there are tons of different types out there. Some people swear by MX Brown switches, and others won’t touch anything that doesn’t have Cherry Red switches. Which is really best?
Rather than choose one switch for the Apex Pro keyboard, SteelSeries decided to allow them all. Not only is it a colorful gaming keyboard with lots of bells and whistles, but it features mechanical switches that can be customized per key to give you a typing experience unique to you. Right out of the box it’s a great keyboard, but if you spend some time custom-tuning those switches, it’s unbelievable. You won’t want to type on anything else.
Amazon
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Photograph: Razer
Best for Competitive Gaming
Razer Huntsman Elite
The Huntsman Elite is a lightweight, sturdy instrument built for competitive gaming. It doesn’t have a number pad, which gives you a little more real estate for your mouse and mousepad, and its switches are engineered for remarkably quick actuation times. Think of each one as a hair trigger, poised and ready for the slightest pressure to spring into action. That’s how it feels to play games on the Huntsman Elite.
It’s also pretty loud—in the most satisfying way possible. Each keystroke returns with an audible clack that makes typing feel epic and exciting, even if you’re just writing an email to schedule a dental appointment.
Amazon
