The Best Keyboards for Work and Play
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
The Best and BrightestLogitech Pro X TKLRead more
Best Under $100Logitech Pop KeysRead more
Best for WorkLogitech MX Keys SRead more
.jpg)
Best Small KeyboardRazer Huntsman MiniRead more
There are few things as polarizing as PC keyboards. There are message boards and subreddits filled to the brim with opinions dissecting every aspect and component, mechanical vs. membrane, different switch mechanisms, and the plastic used in the key caps.
There's good reason for that. You probably spend a lot of time on your keyboard, along with a (hopefully) comfortable mouse. You might as well make those hours as pleasant as possible, especially now that so many of us are working from home. Whether you own a great laptop or a game-ready desktop PC, we've tested dozens of keyboards up and down the price spectrum. These are our top picks for gaming, office work, and everything in between.
Updated April 2024: Added Logitech Pro X TKL, Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL, Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro, and Corsair K65 Plus. Removed Logitech Pro X, Logitech G413, Das Keyboard MacTigr, and Vulcan 120/121/122 Almo. We also added some new tips.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
Picking the Right Mechanical Switches
If you want to go with a mechanical keyboard, you'll want to pay attention to your switch choices. There are dozens of kinds, and they all feel a little different. Without touching them yourself, it's tough to know which is right for you. Manufacturers like Logitech and Razer use their proprietary switches, which further complicates things.
No matter who makes them, switches generally come in one of three varieties:
- Clicky switches typically have very little resistance mid-stroke, followed by a sharp click as you press the key all the way down.
- Tactile switches behave similarly but have a less pronounced click after that mid-stroke resistance.
- Linear switches feel smooth, quick, and sensitive—like hair triggers on a game controller.
The Best and Brightest
Logitech Pro X TKLLogitech makes some of my absolute favorite keyboards, and the G Pro X TKL (or “tenkeyless,” meaning it lacks a numpad) is among the best gaming keyboards for most people. It has vibrant RGB LED backlit keys, a choice of clicky, tactile, or linear switches, and it uses Logitech's Lightspeed wireless adapter for competitive gaming-level response time. I love that the adapter lets you pair multiple devices with a single, low-profile USB dongle, so you don't need to use up all your ports for your various accessories.
The build quality on this keyboard is slick and stylish. It's minimal and doesn't take up much space on your desk, and it has a subtle metallic rim around the edge that gives it a little flair that most plain keyboards lack. The volume wheel in the upper right is smooth and easy to reach, and along the top are handy media controls so you can pause your music when you finally get into a game after a long queue.
For my tastes, the more clicky-clacky a keyboard, the better, and the Black Clicky switches have served me well here. Each key press feels like I'm sending tiny thunder down to my game. However, if you prefer something softer, you can choose another switch type when you order your keyboard. The only thing I dislike is the lack of a numpad—yes, I'm one of those weirdos that actually prefers having a numpad. But for most people, this is the keyboard to beat.
★ Alternative: The newly-released Logitech Pro X 60 ($180) has virtually all the benefits of the Pro X TKL in a smaller, more compact package. It keeps the volume wheel, Game mode switch, and Bluetooth/Lightspeed buttons by moving them to the edges of the keyboard, while slimming the whole thing down to a 60 percent layout. You can check out our full review of this model here.
- Photograph: Logitech
Best Under $100
Logitech Pop KeysPart of the appeal of getting into customizing your keyboard is making it a reflection of your personality or just brightening up your office. The Logitech Pop Keys (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a shortcut to that kind of expression. This small, wireless, mechanical keyboard comes in a variety of vibrant color palettes that are absolutely delightful. It also uses Logitech's stellar system for pairing with up to three devices, making it simple to take it between your PC and laptop, or from home to work and back. While it's technically $100, we often see this one on sale for less, so be sure to pick it up when there's a discount.
Best for Work
Logitech MX Keys SFor all the fancy mechanical keyboards I've tested, the Logitech MX Keys S is still my daily driver. It can pair with three devices, making it easy to swap between computers. Its low-profile chiclet style key are comfortable, and it uses proximity sensors to activate the keys' backlight when your hands get near it so that it's easier to find in the dark, without being distracting or wasting battery when you're not using it.
It supports both Mac and Windows layouts, and the keys are tastefully labeled in a way that it's clear no matter which one you're using at the time. Battery life is also fantastic, lasting well over a week with normal use, though it gets quite a bit longer if you disable the backlight.
★ Alternative: We also like the MX Mechanical ($170) for its understated, low-profile design. Like the MX Keys, you can pair it with up to three devices at once and swap with the push of a button. There are even a few convenient extra buttons just above the numpad to launch a calculator or lock your desktop.
- Photograph: Razer
Best Small Keyboard
Razer Huntsman MiniA 60 percent keyboard has 60 percent of the keys normally found on a regular-sized keyboard. The numpad and arrow keys are chopped off, and you're left with the essentials. The Razer Huntsman Mini is my favorite of this size for gaming. It feels every bit as responsive and quick as a full-size keyboard, but it takes up a lot less desk space. There's just something very neat and orderly about it. Plus, like the larger Huntsman Elite ($179), the Mini is compatible with Razer's key cap kits, so you can customize your color scheme.
.jpg)
Best Portable Keyboard
Corsair K65 PlusThis 75 percent keyboard has some of the softest, most comfortable keys of any board I've tested. It's lightweight enough to toss in a bag, but sturdy enough to be your desktop keyboard. It can connect via USB-C, Bluetooth, or a wireless dongle that can be stored in a slot on the rear of the keyboard. A stylish metal volume knob adorns the top-right corner, and every keycap and switch can be swapped out using the included removal tool. If you're looking for a portable small keyboard that still gives you all the bells and whistles of a customizable mechanical, then Corsair's K65 Plus is a hard pick to beat.
- Photograph: NZXT
Best for Beginner Customizing
NZXT FunctionIf you're interested in customizing your mechanical keyboard but aren’t sure where to start, the NZXT Function (8/10, WIRED Recommends) strikes the perfect sweet spot. The company's builder tool lets you pick the kind of switches, key caps, and even cable color for your keyboard, and the company will put it all together for you.
You can leave it at that, but if you want to customize the board further, it will ship with tools to remove and replace every key cap and switch, along with spares of each. The Function also comes with some nice features, like a left-side volume wheel, RGB LEDs (naturally), and software to remap or customize every button with macros to maximize your productivity.
★ Alternative: We're currently testing NZXT's follow-up, the Function 2 ($140). This model uses newer optical switches, has a blazing fast 8000Hz polling rate, and all the same key customization we liked in the first Function. We're still trying it out, but so far it feels like a solid improvement over the original.
Best for Gaming Automation
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKLThe Huntsman V3 Pro TKL is a robust keyboard for those who like to tweak their gaming setup. It uses Razer's analog optical switches, which are satisfyingly clicky. On the top right, there's a media knob that controls the volume, which you can also click to mute. However, it's the buttons around it that are most interesting. To the left, there are two programmable macro keys that you can use to customize different commands for your games (or your work). Below, on the navigation keys, are six profile shortcuts. Hold Fn and press one of them and you can swap between several preset profiles, tailored to specific gaming needs like FPS mode, Racing mode, or High-Sensitivity mode when you need to pull off that hair trigger. All of this can be customized in the Razer Synapse app.
We've tested a lot of keyboards with different customization options, but this one is particularly good for gamers who swap profiles a lot. The keyboard connects using a USB-C cable, included with the device, and it also comes with a magnetic wrist rest.
- Photograph: Razer
A Starter Gamer Keyboard
Razer BlackWidow V4 75%The Razer BlackWidow V4 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a sturdy metal casing, hot-swappable switches, and Razer's robust Synapse software for customizing your keyboard. If you're interested in mechanical keyboards but you're not sure you want to dive head-first down the Reddit rabbit hole of keyboard enthusiasts, this is a great board to start with that gives you flexibility to tweak it later without too much commitment.
- Photograph: Filco
Timeless Classic
Filco Majestouch 2An oldie but a goodie, the Japanese Filco Majestouch was among the earliest of mechanical keyboards to make waves in the US in the 2000s. Product reviewer Matt Jancer has used one without a numpad for six years, with a combination of Cherry MX Browns, Blacks, Reds, Silent Reds, or Blues. Jancer reports that it's weighted to keep it from moving under mad writing sessions, and the typing experience is sublime. It's a classic—if you can find it in stock.
- Photograph: Monsgeek
For Custom Keys With a Numpad
Monsgeek M2Some people must have a keyboard with a number pad, whether to do a lot of quick math or to add a lot of time codes or hex values as a designer. The sturdiest we found without breaking out a soldering iron is the Monsgeek M2. For $130, you get a gorgeous and hefty aluminum shell in this hot-swappable 1800 compact layout, so you get a nice numpad on the right.
Senior editor Parker Hall likes that it has three lights milled into the right side between the backspace key and the number-lock key, making it easy to tell whether you've got caps lock on or not. This keyboard is compatible with Akko MDA/SAL profile keycaps, and options for cool caps are plentiful. You can buy switches from Monsgeek with the board or supply your own. Hall's favorites are the Novelkey Kailh Box Pink ($33).
Customizable Controls in Every Corner
Razer Blackwidow V4 ProThe BlackWidow V4 Pro is one of Razer's top of the line gaming keyboards, and it's practically bursting at the seams with customizable functions. It has five programmable keys on the left side of the board, with three extra programmable buttons along the side of the frame. A control dial on the top left can be used to swap applications, adjust the keyboard's brightness, or scrub back and forth through videos. And the board itself also acts as a USB hub, with an extra USB-C and USB-A port that you can plug other peripherals into.
Most keyboards only offer a few programmable buttons, but this one manages to pack so many extra controls that even I, someone who's been using gaming peripherals to automate my work for years, was impressed at how many options there were.
- Photograph: SteelSeries
Ultra-Customizable Lighting
SteelSeries Apex ProMechanical 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—and 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 similar to the Logitech above, it features mechanical switches that can be customized per key to give you a typing experience unique to you. Plus, it has a little LED display for system alerts, volume, and other fun stuff you can toy with using SteelSeries' included software.
★ Alternative: The Apex 7 TKL ($130) has the same LED display as its sibling but adds ultra-customizable software, specifically for games. It can trigger different lighting conditions based on in-game events—so your R key could flash when you need to reload, for example—for certain titles. You can also customize the functions of every individual key, record custom macros, and input third-party apps like Discord.
For Fans of the Wheel
Corsair K100 RGB Mechanical Gaming KeyboardIn most ways, the Corsair K100 RGB is a fairly standard keyboard, with RGB backlights, a few programmable macro keys, and a volume roller. What sets it apart, however, is the control wheel in the top-left corner. This dial can scrub through media, control the lighting on the keyboard, and control a number of other built-in functions.
The dial can also be customized. In my testing, this could be a little finicky in certain applications—I couldn't get it to properly scrub through the timeline in Premiere Pro, for example—but it's still a handy tool that you rarely get on other boards.
For Stylish Mechanical Keyboard Die-Hards
OnePlus Keyboard 81 ProWhen I reviewed the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) built in collaboration with Keychron, I hated it—but for very specific reasons that others would love it for. It's heavy, which makes it bad for people who shift in their seat a lot, but great for people who sit still and don't want their keyboard wandering. It runs QMK-compatible firmware that lets power users customize the keyboard using the VIA software, adding shortcuts or adjusting the lighting, but it's not particularly user-friendly if you're not used to it. It also comes with tools to swap out keycaps or switches. For power users, it's a fantastic keyboard, but if you want something simple that you don't have to wrestle with too much to get working how you want it, this might not be the one to go with.
- Photograph: Das Keyboard
Smart Home Compatible
Das Keyboard 5QSHave you ever wanted a keyboard that can talk to your refrigerator? If so, you're in luck. The Das Keyboard 5QS is a formidable and well-designed gaming keyboard with all the usual bells and whistles, like RGB lighting and a customizable knob for additional controls.
It can also link up to your smart home devices. Using IFTTT shortcuts, you can train your keyboard to flash a certain key for reminders, dim your smart lights, or even let you know when someone leaves the garage door open. In an age with smart coffee mugs and Wi-Fi–connected juicers, why shouldn’t something as functional as your keyboard give you a little more control over the devices in your life?
For Double the LEDs
Roccat Vulcan IIIf nothing else, Roccat knows how to show off. The Vulcan II Mini has satisfyingly clicky keys on a slim board. But its most notable feature is its Dual LED switches. While most keyboards with RGB LEDs have one light per key, this one has two. This has a very minor practical benefit in that function keys can have a separate indicator for things like when mute is activated. Mostly, though, it just gives you twice the resolution for all those sweet rainbow effects.
- Photograph: Logitech
For Creative Automation
Logitech G915 Wireless Mechanical KeyboardThe Logitech G915 is built to be a gaming keyboard, but if you spend a lot of time in Photoshop, Premiere, Cinema 4D, Blender, or any number of other creative applications, it'll be right up your alley. The raised mechanical keys are comfortable and provide satisfying travel without bulking up the board too much. The keys are at slightly higher risk of breaking if you pull on them, though, so don't do that. You can also easily swap between Logitech's Lightspeed wireless connection and Bluetooth, making it simple to switch to your laptop and continue working seamlessly.
The real star of the show is the set of five macro keys on the left side of the board. Along with the Logitech G Hub software, these keys can be programmed with automated actions and custom shortcuts, or even execute scripts. We're big fans of using gaming hardware for productivity, and these bonus keys are perfect for the job. There are enough to give you more options, without turning your daily driver into a tank that overwhelms your entire desk. You can also save even more space if you lop off the numpad with the G915 TKL, but you'll lose the macro keys as well.
For (DaVinci Resolve) Video Editors
Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Editor KeyboardIf you're a video editor—and specifically, if you use DaVinci Resolve as to edit—then this highly specialized keyboard is one of our favorites. It's a full-size QWERTY keyboard, but the keycaps have common Resolve shortcuts printed directly on them. There are a couple of additional collections of buttons to make quick work of assembling video timelines, and a giant dial to scrub through your timeline. Like the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, which we also like, this model also comes with a free copy of Resolve Studio, which normally costs $300, making this keyboard's $600 price tag a lot more palatable for editors.
Illustration: Daniel Megias/Getty ImagesWhat to Look for in a Keyboard
Picking the Right KeyboardThere are so many factors to choose from when picking the right keyboard for your needs that it can get overwhelming. Not everyone has the same needs, and many aspects of a keyboard can seem universally desirable to some while being utterly polarizing to others. To help cut through the noise, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Mechanical, or no? If you like big, clicky keyboards with raised keys that make a statement, mechanical keyboards might be for you. This is also a rabbit hole that many nerds have lost themselves in, so it can be overwhelming to dive into the nuance of all the different styles in this sub-group. If you're more a fan of the flat, chiclet-style keyboards found on more low-profile keyboards (and laptops), you can save yourself a lot of time by skipping the mechanical keyboard rush. On the other hand, if you do want mechanical, there's a whole swath of keyboards you can ignore out of hand.
- Wireless or wired? Wired keyboards have the advantage of never dying and never needing to be charged up. The disadvantages are, well, obvious. If you need a wireless keyboard to take with you to the office and back home, or just want more flexibility on your desk, then make sure to check a keyboard's battery life, what kind of batteries it uses (rechargeable is usually better), and what kind of system it uses for recharging.
- Wireless connectivity options. Some wireless keyboards use a USB dongle to connect to your PC or laptop, which often have more reliable signal strength, while others use Bluetooth to connect to a wider range of devices. Bluetooth keyboards in general are pretty great these days, so it's not a huge sacrifice, but pay attention to how you need to connect the keyboard to your devices when making a purchase.
- Number of device connections. Similarly, some wireless keyboards can remember multiple devices they connect to and swap between them with the press of a button. If you have a desktop, a laptop, and a work computer you want to use one keyboard with, it's a good idea to check how many devices your keyboard can remember when making your choice.
- Polling rate. This refers to how often per second your computer receives a signal from your keyboard. Most keyboards already approach 1,000 Hz (or once every millisecond), which is faster than most people ever need. However, if you play a lot of fast-paced competitive games online, having a higher polling rate (commonly approaching 8, 000 Hz, or 8 checks every millisecond) can reduce the time between when you press a key and when the game registers it. Which, when you're dodging headshots, can mean the difference between life and virtual death.
Save up to $58 Off TurboTax Online
20% Off All H&R Block 2024 Tax Software | H&R Block Coupon
Up to $20 off at Instacart in 2024
1st Order: 25% Off DoorDash Promo Code ($15 minimum)
$10 off $100 purchase at Finish Line w/ coupon code
Groupon coupon: Extra 25% off sitewide