The most productive gaming keyboard can give you an edge in the most productive PC games. We know this personally after reviewing and testing many of these devices over the years, both for work and play. Gaming keyboards give me the same responsiveness and feel as more productive mechanical keyboards, plus features like RGB lighting, traditional profiles, hot-swappable layouts, and more. They are the ultimate peripheral for serious gamers and writers.
Although gaming keyboards are sometimes more expensive than their desktop counterparts, they are worth every penny if you need it to enhance your gaming experience. Some of our favorite gaming keyboards come with the excellent Keychron K2 HE, ideal for work and play thanks to its sleek magnetic switches. We also like the Lemokey X1, a budget device that offers functionality comparable to more expensive alternatives.
Below are a variety of gaming keyboards that my team and I have tested. This includes cards from the most sensible brands like Logitech, Keychron, Corsair, and more. And once you find the gaming keyboard you love, pair it with the gaming mouse to take your gaming to the next level.
Here’s a quick rundown of the gaming keyboards you can buy right now, based on our tests and reviews.
Keychron transformed its mythical K2 from a traditional productivity board to a gaming monster thanks to the Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. The K2 HE has a list of features commonly seen on high-end gaming cards, including immediate activation, last-touch prioritization, and actuation points. Could this be the most productive SUV of all time?In fact, we think so.
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The Lemokey X1 is quintessential gaming on a dime. For $36, this keyboard offers awesome typing and gaming performance. Its build is akin to a premium keyboard, and you can customize its backlighting via user-friendly software. Though its ABS keycaps feel cheap and the board isn’t hot-swappable, it’s hard to complain given its excellent price.
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The Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL is perfect for gamers who want a smaller keyboard that won’t get in the way of their mouse. This board has an incredible companion app and looks gorgeous to boot thanks to its sleek build and powerful RGB lighting options. This small(er) keyboard is a winner.
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The Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is a wonderful wireless gaming keyboard thanks to its stylish switches, soundproofing, and programmable RGB lighting. It is also hot-swappable for smart measurement. Although we wish it had an aluminum frame and more unique features, its $159 worth of tag is less expensive than the competition.
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If you want something smaller than a TKL, you can’t go wrong with the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini. Its high-quality build and versatile range of per-key customization options are designed for competitive gamers. SteelSeries’ OmniPoint Hall Effect switches also deliver stellar performance. Though pricey, it can give you a competitive edge.
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The Redragon Blue Siren K654 is a gaming keyboard thanks to its 1000Hz polling rate and responsive switches. It has a great design with other shades of blue and has customizable RGB lighting. Best of all, it’s not too expensive. Even if its keys produce an unsightly metallic ping and its software can be capricious, this card’s strengths outweigh its flaws.
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The Field75 HE is NuPhy’s most gaming-oriented board to date. It packs adjustable Hall Effect switches with multiple actuation points, scalable polling up to 8K, solid companion software and assignable custom buttons for your most used functions or binds. It’s wired only though, and isn’t the best value for money compared Keychron’s current stock of HE boards. As with any magnetic board in 2024, your hot swap options are limited, too.
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The finest low-profile gaming keyboard you can buy, the NuPhy Air60 HE packs heaps of performance. Its Gateron Magnetic switches bring adjustable actuation and quad actuation points per keypress. There’s also 8K polling, rapid trigger and last input prioritization. It’s wonderfully built, beautifully styled and reasonably priced, too. In classic NuPhy fashion, it’s also a demon to type on. We struggle to find anything bad to say about this wonderful little gaming keyboard.
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Easily the most productive steel keyboard money can buy right now, the Q1 HE offers plenty of gaming features thanks to its Hall-effect switches. That’s not all, as the Q1 HE offers all the wonderful productivity features you can find on the non-magnetized Keychron Q1. – Expect very smooth typing plus a lot of customization options.
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Tony is a senior staff writer at Tom’s Guide covering everything computing and gaming-related, which naturally includes gaming keyboards. Tony loves these peripherals because of their precision, tactility and aesthetically pleasing design. Whether it’s mowing down monsters in Doom Eternal or writing reviews, Tony couldn’t imagine life without a reliable gaming keyboard at his fingertips.
Our opinion:
The K2 HE is the latest version of Keychron’s legendary K2. Now equipped with Hall Effect magnetic switches, it makes an ideal peripheral for folks who want a board that’s equally reliable for competitive gaming and productivity.
Although they come from a manufacturer generally focused on productivity, the K2 HE’s magnetic switches offer a list of gaming features usually only seen on high-end gaming keyboards like the Corsair K70 Max or the SteelSeries Apex Pro. We’re talking about immediate activation and last-key prioritization, which allows for immediate movement and counterattack in FPS games like Counter-Strike or Valorant. It also features multiple actuation points, meaning that a single keystroke can have multiple inputs in the press cycle.
That said, the K2 HE is still a productivity weapon. Thanks to adjustable actuation points, Gateron magnetic switches are epic to type on, we found they weren’t as comfortable as tactile switches. In testing, we reduced the performance from the default value from 1. 6mm to 3. 2mm and saw keystroke speed and accuracy skyrocket, making this one of the most productive forums for everyone who writes.
Our only complaint in testing was the limited selection of transfers available. This board uses double rail Gateron magnetic transfers and lately there are only 3 types that are compatible with the board. We hope this will be replaced over time, but if you need a lot of transfer picks, it’s best to use a traditional mechanical board.
Despite all the above, the K2 HE doesn’t sacrifice the things that made the K2 great in the first place. It looks great, is hot-swappable and remains relatively affordable at $130, undercutting other premium 75% mechanical boards like the NuPhy Halo75 V2 ($149) and the Lofree Flow84 ($159) while offering heaps more gaming performance.
Read our full Keychron K2 HE review.
Our opinion:
You don’t need to sacrifice quality when buying a budget gaming keyboard and the Lemokey X1 is the best example. Although this board has some issues, we found it to be better than most keyboards at its price.
Currently priced at just $36, the Lemokey X1 offers awesome performance for both typing and gaming, boasting features typically found in more expensive models. Its body feels premium and robust, and the tactile brown switches we tested offer a delightful typing experience. The keyboard’s 1,000Hz polling rate ensures fun gaming responsiveness, outperforming other budget options like the MageGee Sky87.
The X1 also has red-only backlighting which can be customized via Lemokey Launcher, its intuitive companion software, which can also be used to remap keys, program macros, and more. We love that you don’t have to download additional software to customize it, as you do with competitor’s peripherals (we’re looking at you, Asus Armoury Crate). Instead, you can reprogram the board with the VIA web app. This launcher works great, and since it’s browser-based, you don’t have to download anything.
The keyboard without its flaws, as ABS keys feel less than premium and can suffer wear and tear over time. In addition, there is a lack of hot-swappable switches that can deter modders. However, those facets are not entirely prohibitive and make sense given the budgetary nature of this board of directors.
Despite those minor drawbacks, the X1 is still an exceptional selection for anyone looking for a budget mechanical keyboard with premium features. If you’re new to gaming keyboards (or even mechanical keyboards), this is a good introduction.
Read our full Lemokey X1 review.
Our expert review:
The Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL is advertised as a gaming keyboard, but it’s equally viable for productivity. This is due to its discreet mechanical keys and customization options. Its slim and compact TKL design and light weight also make it easy to carry.
Speaking of design, the case has a smooth matte coating while the keycaps have a gorgeous textured finish that feels good to type on. We prefer the G515’s aesthetic over the shiny metallic finish of some other gaming boards. That said, some might find this admittedly plain-ish-looking keyboard boring. But you likely won’t notice thanks to the awesome typing experience the low-profile keys and sound-dampening design delivers.
RGB lighting on gaming keyboards can be hit or miss for some. However, even an RGB skeptic like me has to respect the physically powerful lighting features of the G515. Customizable through the other G Hub app, you can from various preset lighting functions or create your own profiles from scratch. The lighting is rarely overly flashy, which is smart if you plan to use this device in the office.
We’ve played games like Deadlock with the G515 and found that the 1. 3mm key actuation distance is best for Valve’s fast-moving shooter. We were able to temporarily readjust our mid-stride guide without any issues, which is vital in an online game. like this. The use of talents in the game is also perfect thanks to the low reaction time of 1 ms. These facets also make writing on this board fun.
The Logitech G515 is a simple tip for anyone looking for a low-profile TKL keyboard that’s ideal for gaming and productivity. With responsive, low-action switches and easy-to-use keys, you will find this modern keyboard very useful.
Read our full Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL review and view our Logitech promo codes.
Our opinion:
We’ve been fans of Corsair keyboards for a long time, but we wanted the company to offer a smaller wireless edition of those wonderful peripherals. Our wishes were fulfilled thanks to the incredible Corsair K65 Plus, which is the first 75% keyboard from Corsair. It includes everything we love about corporate keyboards, but in a manageable size.
The Corsair K65 Plus is not only compact and wireless, but it is also completely hot-swappable. Not a fan of the included pre-lubricated Corsair MLX Red linear switches? You can change them for touch screens of your choice. The sound-absorbing design produces quieter keystrokes, which can be helpful if you’re running with other people. And as expected from a gaming keyboard, per-key RGB lets you customize its lighting. Best of all, it is compatible with Windows, Mac, and even the PS5.
Like all Corsair cards, the K65 Plus offers the perfect functionality for gambling and writing. Textured PBT-coated keys and sleek keystrokes allow this device to extend to your fingers. The included transfers are fantastic, but I had an even better time when I swapped them out for Holy Panda X touch transfers, but like I said, you can use just about any 3-pin and 5-pin transfer you want.
However, this image is not perfect. While its polycarbonate chassis is sleek and sturdy, I would have liked an aluminum frame to give it a more premium look and feel. And while I have no challenge with its undeniable design, it is a bit boring. Additionally, I wish the rotary dial had more customization features in the iCue software.
Despite some complaints, the Corsair K65 Plus is my favorite Corsair keyboard so far.
Read our full review of the Corsair K65 Plus.
Our opinion:
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini would possibly lack keys due to its 60% layout, but this card makes up for it with its responsive Hall effect switches. With those switches, you can program up to two consistent actuation problems with the key, doubling the number of keys at your disposal. It is also one of the best tactics for testing Hall effect switches.
The Apex Pro Mini features premium parts such as a high-quality plastic back, durable aluminum top cover, and double-shot PBT keycaps. They all hold up well to continuous use, which is smart: this card costs $179. Fortunately, it’s easy to carry around since it weighs only 1. 34 pounds.
This tiny keyboard delivers a fun gaming experience. That’s due to the 1,000Hz polling rate and 0.7ms response time. The aforementioned Hall Effect switches can have an actuation point down to 0.1mm, which is insanely fast—and useful if you’re playing online. This certainly worked wonders in Valorant, where you have to be quick on your virtual feet to stay ahead of competitors.
For all its virtues, SteelSeries Apex Pro is not perfect. There are minor brightness issues with the RGB lighting and Hall effect switches, ideal for long-lasting typing. The Apex Pro Mini doesn’t offer the smoothest productivity experience, but it strives to factor in with convenient shortcuts for the maximum number of keys used. Offering rugged per-key customization in a small package, the Apex Pro Mini is a wonderful mini gaming keyboard.
Read our full review of the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini.
Our opinion:
Ideal for budget-conscious gamers and typists looking for a high-performance mechanical keyboard, the Redragon Blue Siren K654 is a sub-$100 pick. If you need a keyboard that excels at gaming and productivity without spending a lot of money, it’s worth considering. .
The Blue Siren K654 stands out with its hot-swappable switches, colorful RGB backlighting, and stylish multi-tone blue accents, all for just $69. With a full-size design and responsive performance, it is one of the best mechanical keyboards.
In our tests, the Blue Siren K654 provided impressive gaming effects thanks to its 1000Hz polling rate, which ensures that you won’t experience latency issues even when playing online. Typing is also comfortable and accurate with minimal typos, and feels much closer to more expensive keyboards.
The Blue Siren K654 competes with more expensive keyboards, differentiating itself from high-end models like the Kinesis Freestyle Pro. However, we did detect two flaws in the keyboard: metallic beeps that sound on some keys and questionable software that we were unable to install due to a possible virus threat.
Overall, though, at $69, the Blue Siren K654 offers a cash price for gamers and typists alike, but the noisy keys and uncooperative software may be a deal-breaker for some.
Read our full Redragon Blue Siren K654 review.
Our expert review:
The NuPhy Field75 HE is a solid choice if you want a high-performance gaming keyboard with most of the features of a custom productivity board (plus NuPhy’s characteristically handsome styling). While most of NuPhy’s boards up until now have focused more on productivity and typing, the Field75 HE packs gaming specs to rival the most elite boards on the market.
Like the Keychron K2 HE, the Field75 HE features customizable magnetic Hall-effect switches with adjustable actuation factors and four actuation factors, so you can assign four movements to a single key press. That’s two more actuation issues than those found on the Corsair K70 Max and SteelSeries Apex Pro. Magnetic switches also unlock a variety of next-gen features, adding instant wake-up and last-input prioritization (aka “Snap Tap” ).
The Field75 HE also polls up to 8K, the benefits of such high polling rates are negligible, so we don’t recommend purchasing the card on that basis – a 1000Hz card like the Keychron Q1 HE will be best suited. The Field75 HE also has 8 customizable buttons around its casing, which you can assign to in-game links or shortcuts for quick access. Customization of the software is done using the NuPhy launcher, NuPhy. io, which is a pretty decent internet application that gives you a lot of control over the dashboard.
In testing, we loved the Field75 HE but felt that it didn’t offer many real-world benefits over our favorite Hall Effect board, the Keychron K2 HE. The only real difference is 8K polling, which won’t impact your gameplay to any noticeable degree. What’s more, the K2 HE is cheaper than the Field75, is wireless and uses Gateron’s dual-rail Hall Effect switches, which are more stable than the White and Jade switches used in the NuPhy. There’s also the fact, as with all Hall Effect boards right now, that switch choices are quite limited for the time being, as the switch technology is still relatively new.
That said, while it doesn’t offer the same cash price as its competitors, the Field75 HE is still worth it if you’re looking for a gaming keyboard with S-level gaming specs, looks, and a moderate price. .
Read our full NuPhy Field75 HE review.
Our opinion:
The NuPhy Air60 HE is the most productive low-profile gaming keyboard you can buy, so if you want an ultra-lightweight handheld gaming console with elite magnetic features, this is the solution. While it’s ultra-thin and compact, it’s also a 60% minimap, making it ideal for your backpack and a compact or minimal gaming desk setup.
This keyboard features Gateron’s Low Profile magnetic Jade or Jade Pro switches, which are unbelievably good. NuPhy has put Gateron’s magnetic technology to better use than anyone else here, too, extracting as many features and as much control out of these fantastic switches as possible. There’s rapid trigger, last key prioritization (A.K.A ‘Snap Tap’) and 0.1mm actuation. There’s also quad actuation, plus a range of other features including Mod Tap, which performs different actions based on whether you hold or tap a key. Interestingly, this board features two modes called Rapid Shift and Hyper Tap, which can both help with counter strafing like LKP/‘Snap Tap’, although they function differently, meaning they may not get you kicked from games like LKP (for now). It also polls at 8,000Hz, to minimize input lag.
We were impressed with the functionality of this card, especially for its modest value of $139. It also looks shiny and sounds pretty good. We were also surprised by how comfortable the board was to write on, given that it has a board/PCB solidly attached to the top; This is largely due to the firmly suspended Jade Pro switches that help cushion impacts. Thanks to this adjustable performance, the card also performed very well in our writing speed and accuracy tests.
There are a couple of drawbacks. As a 60% board, it can be a bit of a pain for general productivity thanks to the lack of arrow and function keys. That goes for all mini 60% layout boards, though, so is just something to consider before you buy. It’s also wired only, which feels like a missed opportunity on a board that is otherwise so portable. And, at the time of writing at least, low-profile magnetic switches are very new, so there aren’t any aftermarket switches to swap into the board if you want to customize it.
If you need a wireless card or one that can better double productivity, we present the Keychron K2 HE with its 4000 mAh battery and a moderate design of 75%. If you want ultra functionality in a low-profile plate, the Air60 HE is the plate for you.
Read our full NuPhy Air60 HE review.
Our opinion:
Proving that you don’t have to compromise when it comes to your keyboard, the Keychron Q1 HE is an all-metal beast fitted with a Hall effect switch. An upgraded edition of Keychron Q1 Pro and Keychron V1, two of our favorite keyboards, has all the features you can ask for on a traditional platform and is a completely traditional QMK firmware.
The more you use the Q1 HE, the more you’ll realize how tough it is. Hall effect switches can be set separately and you can set the point at which a keystroke registers to as little as 0. 2mm; If this turns out to be a big deal for gaming, it is. case. You’ll notice a huge improvement in games that require immediate reaction times. If that’s not enough, the keyboard offers 4 actuation issues (as opposed to just two issues on gaming forums like Corsair K70 Max and SteelSeries Apex Pro), and it also supports quick release, allowing keystrokes to be recorded without releasing the key entirely. – the latter is a game-changer for games that require immediate and successive keystrokes.
The only drawback is the price — for $80 cheaper, you can get your hands on our favorite gaming keyboard, the Keychron K2 HE. These are very similar boards, both equipped with the same features but in slightly different layouts and with different case materials. If the metal case of the Q1 HE isn’t a big draw for you then it’s hard not to recommend the K2 HE instead. With that being said, fans of the full metal design can grab the Q1 HE for not much more than your average metal Keychron keyboard, at just over $200.
Read our complete Keychron Q1 HE review.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro features premium construction, reactive RGB lighting, and detailed companion software. Its gaming performance is its greatest strength, with Hall Effect magnetic switches that let you adjust the actuation points of most keys, plus an OLED screen to customize the keyboard on the fly. If you can overlook the subpar wrist rest, the 43 keys whose actuation you can’t adjust, and be satisfied with the 1,000Hz polling rate this could be the board for you.
For the low price of $64, you can get your hands on a 75% keyboard that will not disappoint with its performance or design. With some cheap but responsive Linear Outemu Red switches and some fantastic RGB backlighting, this wireless keyboard thrives at gaming, while the wealth of functionality shortcuts means you can use it equally well for work.
Already on a budget for a wonderful gaming and productivity keyboard?Then the Lemokey X5 is made for you. For just $49, you get a premium build, the perfect performance for gaming and writing, and other major web-based software to customize the board to your liking. In fact, it has some minor flaws, but nothing to stop you from enjoying the X5.
The Hexgears Immersion A3 TKL is a low-profile keyboard for productivity, thanks to the super-quiet Kailh linear switches. Its 1,000Hz polling rate is also suitable for casual gaming, and its solid construction and traditional RGB and TFT demos make it exciting to use. It is not without its peculiarities, as the keys are fingerprint magnets and traditional profiles cannot be replaced by keyboard shortcuts.
There are three things to consider when looking to find the most productive gaming keyboard for your setup: design, features, and price. However, the three are interconnected: keyboards with more complex designs and more complicated features charge more. Simpler keyboards are cheaper. There are no specific tricks here.
The first thing you’ll want to determine is whether you want a full-size or TKL (tenkeyless) keyboard. This is a pretty simple decision: Full-size keyboards have separate number pads on the right, while tenkeyless models don’t. If you do a ton of productivity work, a numpad is worthwhile; if not, you can forgo it and save a few bucks.
During this time, you’ll also want to think about what type of transfers you want. If you buy a mechanical model. Cherry MX is sometimes the benchmark. The most common Cherry transfer types are red, which is quiet and linear, brown, which is quiet and tactile, and blue, which is loud and tactile. Other transfer brands regularly offer similar styles, the color code may be different.
Some features cost more than others. RGB lighting can add a few dozen dollars to the value of a gaming keyboard, and wireless connectivity can make a device even more expensive. While I prefer wireless keyboards to minimize the number of cables on my desk, it stood out. Our keyboards fit perfectly, especially since keyboards are (typically) desktop devices.
To achieve the most productive gaming keyboard, we put every card we review through a series of tests. The first and most important test is to play a lot of games and see how well the keyboard holds. I often like to test at least one FPS. RTS, RPG, and MMO, all of them, as those are the genres that get the most benefit from a smart keyboard (you can usually get away with a controller for ultimate action/adventure titles).
After that, we take a deep dive into a keyboard’s software suite, evaluating how easy (or difficult) it is to reprogram keys, set up macros, adjust lighting and create profiles for games. Particularly intuitive software gets high marks; convoluted software can lose some points, even if it’s very robust otherwise.
Finally, we made sure to use a keyboard for productivity for at least two to 3 days. Most musicians don’t change keyboards; What they use for gaming, they will also want to use for painting and computing in general. The more effective a keyboard is for tasks, the higher its recommendation.
Tony is a computer editor at Tom’s Guide and covers laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. In his spare time, Tony enjoys reading comic books, betting on video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy activities include attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to bars in New York with friends and painting buddies. His work has been featured in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and independent gaming sites.
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