A keyboard could make or break your PC gaming setup. Do not let a nasty one wreck your gaming expertise. A brand new keyboard is a straightforward improve, particularly contemplating the plethora of nice choices beneath $100. We examined tons of budget-friendly keyboards that will help you resolve which one goes to provide the most bang in your buck.
Identical to choosing out a brand new gaming mouse, getting the proper gaming keyboard has loads to do with private desire — from ergonomic design (hey, wrist relaxation) as to if you favor 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 slender your keyboard design preferences, try GameSpot’s glossary of keyboard phrases.
Learn extra: Greatest Gaming Mouse Below $50 for 2023
It is value noting that Aukey, which makes one in every of our high picks, was booted from Amazon final 12 months as a result of it was one in every of a number of distributors reported to have solicited optimistic person critiques for reward playing cards. However since our expertise with the standard and worth of Aukey equipment has been optimistic, we proceed to advocate its {hardware}.
If you happen to’re most snug doing all your workplace work on a membrane keyboard, the Cynosa could be the gaming keyboard for you. It is a membrane keyboard, not mechanical, so the keys are quiet and positively really feel softer than the others right here and a few would possibly discover them mushy. Nonetheless, when you’re wanting to make use of one keyboard for each work and play, it is a fantastic compromise for its $60 checklist value.
Most of the authentic 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 beneath the keyboard so you may maintain your desk slightly tidier.
That is additionally some of the programmable keyboards right here. There are lots of preset lighting results to choose from and you can too create your individual utilizing the Synapse 3.0 software program. There’s additionally Razer’s Hypershift function that permits you to arrange a secondary set of capabilities in your keys which can be accessed with a “shift” key you select. You can too rebind keys and set macros with the software program.
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 when you want additional mousing room whilst you sport. It’s going to additionally slide simply right into a backpack for journey. (It additionally has a detachable braided USB-C cable to assist with that.) The corporate provides a alternative of three mechanical switches, they usually’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 enables you to set the keyboard’s lighting to have completely different results throughout common use and when media is enjoying together with numerous 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 crimson when HP is low or inexperienced while you’re healed. The Fortnite integration will change the keyboard to pink and crimson while you take injury or purple while you add expertise. There are lots of video games accessible and, when you actually prefer to tinker, you may create your individual integrations utilizing the corporate’s open-platform lighting software program.
Nevertheless, the SignalRGB software program enables you to take issues a step additional by increasing the results to your different RGB gaming peripherals. It helps greater than 150 gadgets from Razer, Corsair, HyperX, Logitech, SteelSeries and others. You can too request others that are not supported but.
Additionally, when you choose a full-size keyboard, try the corporate’s second-gen Factor keyboard that has the identical swap choices however it has directional keys and a quantity pad.
Learn our Whirlwind FX Atom assessment.
Even on Logitech’s lower-end fashions such because the G413 backlit gaming keyboard, the corporate would 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 high 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 happen to love to listen to and really feel your keypresses, this in all probability is not the perfect swap for you. There’s only one coloration for the backlight — crimson — however the backlighting is vivid and the important thing font on this full-size keyboard is straightforward to learn. Logitech contains 12 faceted keycaps, which is good 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 Home windows key. Total it is a extra polished mechanical gaming keyboard than the others right here, however it’s additionally pricier.
Discovering a great wi-fi gaming keyboard will be tough. These infants are a rarity as a result of the very last thing you need to do is probably 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 anyway, which whereas comprehensible for the facility financial savings, no keyboard backlighting actually kills the gaming expertise at nighttime. 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 all the things 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 you need to attempt before you purchase when you can.
The $50 G14 is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced mechanical gaming keyboards accessible 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 would not have a quantity pad; try Aukey’s G12 in order for you that function.
Though the case is all plastic, it has the heft of a steel body. Mixed 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 supplying you with three typing angles to select from — one thing you do not at all times discover on pricier keyboards. And whereas its USB cable is hooked up to the physique, Aukey did add routing on the underside so you may ship the cable out to the left, proper or heart.
The corporate’s blue clicky switches are good for each typing and gaming with a tactile bump you may really feel and hear. These switches have a loud click on to them, one thing to remember when you share a workspace). Additionally, 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 may be some key wobble however it’s comparatively minor and general it is a stable typing expertise.
The keycap legends are tough to learn with the backlight off. Nevertheless, with 18 preprogrammed lighting choices to select from and 4 brightness settings, there’s little motive to have the lights off completely whilst you’re working. You possibly can at all times change the keycaps, too, and Aukey features a puller. Software program 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 good place to begin when you’re simply stepping into mechanical keyboards for work or play.
