Top Gaming Keyboards for 2025 Unveiled

Choosing the right gaming keyboard goes beyond selecting the best gaming mouse or headset; it largely hinges on your personal preferences. From the keyboard's layout, whether it's tenkeyless or full-sized, to the type of mechanical switches and additional features, everything plays a significant role in your overall experience. These elements are subjective, but understanding how a keyboard performs across various factors is crucial before making a potentially expensive investment. In this guide, I've highlighted the key aspects of my top picks based on personal experience.

Over the years, I've tested numerous keyboards, including the latest releases, ensuring all recommendations stem from firsthand use. I'll delve into the performance of each keyboard's switches in competitive gaming scenarios and the feel of keystrokes during prolonged typing sessions. Not all keyboards are created equal, as their construction significantly influences their feel. Features like Razer's Command Dial or the SteelSeries OLED control panel enhance functionality, though they often depend on software, which is another consideration for those seeking customization. Even keycaps can affect performance, underlining the nuances that make each keyboard unique. My reviews and this guide aim to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

TL;DR: These Are the Best Gaming Keyboards:

Best Overall### SteelSeries Apex Pro (Gen 3)

17See it at Amazon### Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

6See it at Amazon### Redragon K582 Surara

3See it at Amazon### Cherry MX LP 2.1

3See it at Amazon### Logitech G Pro X TKL

4See it at Amazon### Keychron K4

1See it at Amazon### Corsair K100 RGB

2See it at Amazon### Logitech G515 TKL

1See it at Amazon### Pulsar Xboard QS

1See it at Amazon### Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%

2See it at AmazonGiven the variety of keyboard styles, I've categorized my recommendations to highlight different aspects and products from various manufacturers. For instance, while the SteelSeries Apex Pro is my current favorite, each keyboard here excels in specific areas that might better suit your needs. The Cherry MX LP 2.1 stands out as the best compact 60% keyboard due to its low-profile keys and lightweight design. For those seeking a low-profile option, the Logitech G515 TKL offers a slim profile without sacrificing useful features. If you're on a budget, the Redragon K582 Surara provides impressive performance at a competitive price. My fascination with the details of these keyboards drives my top picks for the best gaming keyboards.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (Gen 3) - Photos

11 Images1. SteelSeries Apex Pro (Gen 3)

Best Overall Gaming Keyboard

Best Overall### SteelSeries Apex Pro (Gen 3)

17The SteelSeries Apex Pro is the ideal gaming keyboard, featuring Hall Effect switches, an OLED control panel, and solid construction. It offers connectivity options including 2.4GHz (USB-C dongle), Bluetooth, or wired, with OmniPoint 3.0 Hall Effect switches and a battery life of up to 45 hours. Available in full or tenkeyless layouts, it's praised for its customizable switches, OLED control panel, and sleek design with tasteful RGB lighting. SteelSeries' Apex lineup consistently impresses, and the third-generation Apex Pro is no exception, offering versatility through adjustable actuation points and useful features like Rapid Tap and Rapid Trigger.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro – Photos

25 Images2. Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

Best High-End Gaming Keyboard

### Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

6Razer's flagship keyboard, the BlackWidow V4 Pro, has been upgraded with superior mechanical switches, macro keys, and a customizable Command Dial. It connects via USB wired with an 8000Hz polling rate and uses Razer Orange (tactile), Yellow (linear), or Green (clicky) switches. Its full layout includes macro keys, and the Synapse software enhances its versatility. Despite its bulkier size, the BlackWidow V4 Pro offers top performance and build quality, making it a leading choice among high-end gaming keyboards.

3. Redragon K582 Surara

Best Budget Gaming Keyboard

### Redragon K582 Surara

3The Redragon K582 Surara showcases the advancements in budget-friendly keyboards, offering great performance and build quality at a fraction of the cost of premium brands. It connects via USB wired and uses Professional Red (linear) switches. While its design may be somewhat gaudy, the keyboard performs well, offering durability and a smooth typing experience. At a typical sale price of around $36, it's a compelling choice for budget-conscious gamers.

4. Cherry MX LP 2.1

Best Compact (60%) Gaming Keyboard

### Cherry MX LP 2.1

3The Cherry MX LP 2.1 is a standout in the compact 60% keyboard category, offering a lightweight and low-profile design with Cherry MX Low-Profile Silver (linear, short) switches. It provides up to 60 hours of battery life and connectivity options including 2.4GHz (USB dongle), Bluetooth, and wired. Despite its compact size, it delivers solid performance and portability, making it a great choice for those who value desk space and ease of transport.

5. Logitech G Pro X TKL

Best Tenkeyless (75%) Gaming Keyboard

### Logitech G Pro X TKL

4The Logitech G Pro X TKL offers everything you want in a tenkeyless keyboard, with excellent mechanical switches and build quality. It supports 2.4GHz (USB dongle), Bluetooth, and wired connectivity, with Logitech Tactile, Clicky, or Linear switches and up to 50 hours of battery life. Its sleek design and additional on-board features, like a volume wheel and media controls, make it a top performer in its category.

6. Keychron K4

Best 96% Layout Gaming Keyboard

### Keychron K4

1The Keychron K4 crunches all the features of a full-size keyboard into a 96% layout, saving space without sacrificing functionality. It uses Gateron Red (linear) switches and offers 2.4GHz (USB dongle), Bluetooth, and wired connectivity, with up to 40 hours of battery life. Its slim frame and minimalist design make it a great choice for those who need a full layout in a smaller footprint.

Corsair K100 RGB Review

14 Images7. Corsair K100 RGB

Best Full-Sized Gaming Keyboard

### Corsair K100 RGB

2The Corsair K100 RGB elevates the full-sized keyboard experience with macro keys, media controls, and optical switches on a beautiful brushed aluminum plate. It connects via USB wired with an 8000Hz polling rate and uses Cherry MX Speed or Corsair OPX Optical switches. Its robust on-board controls and solid build quality, combined with unique keycap textures, make it a premium choice for gamers.

Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL - Photos

10 Images8. Logitech G515 TKL

Best Low-Profile Gaming Keyboard

### Logitech G515 TKL

1The Logitech G515 TKL offers a slim profile with thin keycaps and excellent mechanical switches, making it a standout in the low-profile category. It supports 2.4GHz (USB dongle), Bluetooth, and wired connectivity, with Logitech Tactile switches and up to 50 hours of battery life. Its performance matches that of larger keyboards while maintaining a sleek and compact design.

Pulsar Xboard QS - Photos

15 Images9. Pulsar Xboard QS

Best Wired Gaming Keyboard

### Pulsar Xboard QS

1The Pulsar Xboard QS is impressive for a first-time keyboard from the brand, boasting strong build quality, a pleasing aesthetic, and the Kailh Box Ice Mint 2 (linear) switches. It connects via USB wired and supports simultaneous dual-device connectivity. While pricey at $300, its enthusiast-level features and customization options make it a top choice for those seeking a high-quality wired keyboard.

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% - Photos

13 Images10. Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%

Best Customizable Gaming Keyboard

### Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%

2The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% stands out with its updated Command Dial, swappable parts, and excellent build quality. It offers 2.4GHz (USB dongle), HyperPolling (for 4000Hz polling), and wired connectivity, with Razer Orange (tactile) switches that can be swapped. Its high customization potential, combined with the latest tech in Synapse software, makes it a premium choice for gamers looking to tailor their keyboard.

Gaming Keyboard FAQ

What are the advantages between different mechanical switches?

Selecting the right mechanical switch is crucial for a gaming keyboard. Beyond the traditional Cherry MX switches, manufacturers have developed their own proprietary switches, with brands like Logitech and Razer offering some of the best. Optical and Hall Effect switches, which use light and magnets respectively, offer unique advantages. The main styles of switches are linear, tactile, and clicky. Linear switches provide a smooth keystroke without feedback, while tactile switches offer a bump at the actuation point for better input feel. Clicky switches are louder with a pronounced feedback, ideal for typing but potentially less so for gaming. Key metrics to consider include the actuation point, travel distance, and actuation force, which affect the responsiveness and feel of the keyboard.

Should I go with a TKL, compact, or full-sized keyboard?

Choosing the right keyboard layout depends on your personal needs and preferences. Full-sized keyboards offer all standard keys and additional features but take up more desk space. The 96% layout retains all keys in a more compact form. Tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards sacrifice the number pad for extra desk space, often adding useful features like Razer's Command Dial. Compact 60% keyboards are the smallest, ideal for saving space but requiring key combinations for missing keys, which might not suit all gamers.

Should I go wired or wireless for a gaming keyboard?

While wireless connectivity is more crucial for gaming mice and headsets, it's a nice-to-have feature for keyboards. Most gaming keyboards come in both wired and wireless versions, with the wired option usually being more affordable. Wireless technology has advanced to the point where input latency is negligible, with features like Logitech's Lightspeed and Razer's HyperSpeed ensuring high performance. Higher polling rates are also integrated through wireless dongles, showcasing the progress in wireless peripherals.