The Best Keyboards for Work and Play
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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 versus 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. Also, be sure to check out our Best Mechanical Keyboards guide, if you're specifically looking for the traditional clicky-clacky experience.
Updated September 2024: Added the Vulcan II TKL Pro, the Keychron Q1 HE, and new information about Hall effect switches and SOCD features.
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The Best and Brightest
Logitech Pro X TKLLogitech makes some of my favorite keyboards, and the G Pro X TKL (or “tenkeyless,” meaning it lacks a Numpad) is among the best gaming keyboards. It has vibrant RGB LED backlit keys, and 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 all your ports for your various accessories.
The build quality of 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. Each keypress feels like I'm sending tiny thunder down to my game. However, if you prefer something softer, you can choose another switch type. The only thing I dislike is the lack of a Numpad—yes, I'm one of those weirdos who prefers having a Numpad. But for most people, this is the keyboard to beat.
★ Alternative: The Logitech Pro X 60 for $180 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) 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.
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
Best Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q5 ProIf you're familiar with Keychron at all, there's a good chance it's due to keyboards like the Q5 Pro and Q6 Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Both models come in a sturdy, full-metal case which minimizes the keyboard getting bumped and moved around your desk. The Q6 Pro is a full-size layout with a Numpad and everything, while the Q5 Pro slims down just a hair to a 96 percent layout, dropping a few less commonly-used keys like Insert, and tucking the arrow keys just under the Enter key.
Everything on these boards is customizable and repairable, from the hot-swappable switches and replaceable keycaps to remapping every button using QMK/VIA. It's our favorite mechanical keyboard for productivity, but it's also just a generally solid keyboard all around. If you're looking for something a little more specialized, be sure to check out our Best Mechanical Keyboards guide.
- Photograph: Keychron
Best Under $100
Keychron B6 Pro and B1 ProKeychron recently entered the world of ultra-slim flat keyboards with the same kind of scissor-switch keys found in our other recommendations like the Logitech MX Keys S. However, the Keychron B6 Pro is the best budget keyboard I've tested. It feels comfortable to type on, with surprisingly springy keys, and you get up to 1,200 hours of battery on a single charge. If you prefer a smaller keyboard without a Numpad, Keychron also sells a 75 percent variant called the B1 Pro for less.
★ Alternative: The Logitech Pop Keys ($70) (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a vibrant line of wireless keyboards that come in a wide variety of color palettes that are 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 keys are comfortable, and it uses proximity sensors to activate the key backlight when your hands get near so it's easier to see in the dark without 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: Eric Ravenscraft
Best Portable Keyboard
Turtle Beach Vulcan II TKL ProThe Vulcan II Mini was previously one of our top picks, but the Vulcan II TKL Pro improves on it in almost every way. Like the smaller variation, it has two LEDs per key, giving it a better resolution for lighting effects. The new model features Hall effect switches, which should cut down on wear and tear. They're still satisfyingly clicky, and the volume knob has a comfortably grippy texture. I prefer any keyboard with a volume wheel to one without. If you prefer the compact 65% layout and are willing to give up the wheel to get it, you can still buy the original Vulcan II (which is often on sale for a pretty solid discount).
★ Alternative: The Corsair K65 ($160) 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. It was our previous pick for portable keyboard and it's still a solid choice, but we have to give a slight edge to Turtle Beach for the Hall effect switches on the Vulcan II.
- 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, the Mini is compatible with Razer's key cap kits, so you can customize your color scheme.
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- Photograph: Henri Robbins
Best Hall Effect Keyboard
Keychron Q1 HEHall effect switches—so named due to some really fascinating science we explain below—are the hot new tech making their way through keyboards this year. And the Keychron Q1 HE is one of the best boards we've tested that make use of this fancy new tech. You can customize the actuation point to either make keys more sensitive—so you don't have to press them all the way down for keystrokes to register—or less sensitive, to avoid those fat finger moments that can ruin competitive games. Keychron even has rapid-trigger settings that allow you to press a key multiple times without the key having to return fully to its resting position. Even outside the benefits of the Hall effect switches, this is another great mechanical keyboard in line with the kind that Keychron is known for, so it's worth a look even if you don't want to pay that much attention to every aspect of your keys.
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Best for Beginner Customizing
NZXT Function 2The original NZXT Function was a great way for anyone interested in mechanical keyboards to jump in without getting overwhelmed. The follow-up Function 2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) improves on it in almost every way. It upgrades the keys to optical switches and comes with a spare set of switches that have a little more (or a little less) resistance so you can customize specific keys based on your needs. I found this particularly useful for games like Overwatch 2, where I'd like to cut down on those fat finger ultimates that are so embarrassing.
The Function 2 retains many of my favorite features from the first model. It has the same left-side volume roller, super soft keycaps, and convenient buttons along the side of the keyboard. If you're interested in mechanical keyboards, but intimidated by phrases like “actuation force,” this is a great board to get started. And when you're ready to take the plunge into the deep end of the pool, our Best Mechanical Keyboards guide will be waiting for you.
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 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. It's also earned our top marks if you're looking for a mechanical keyboard specifically for gaming. The 75 percent layout is small enough that you can leave plenty of room for your mouse—making those flicks to land a headshot that much easier in competitive games. The 8,000-Hz polling rate also helps cut down on the times that you miss activating an ability by that almost imperceptible fraction of a second.
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 the flexibility to tweak it later without too much commitment.
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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 several 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 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 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.
For (DaVinci Resolve) Video Editors
Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Editor KeyboardIf you're a video editor—and specifically, if you use DaVinci Resolve 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 comes with a free copy of Resolve Studio, which normally costs $300, making this keyboard's $600 price 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, we have a few in this guide you can check out, but we also have a dedicated Best Mechanical Keyboard guide you should peruse.
- 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.
Photograph: Henri RobbinsWhat Are Hall Effect Switches?
The latest keyboard buzzword, explained.If you've been researching keyboards recently, you might've seen the phrase “Hall effect” flying around. This refers to a new type of switch that just started hitting the market in 2024. To simplify to an extent that will probably annoy physicists, Hall effect switches use a magnet to draw an electric current through the circuit without needing to make contact between two points, like most current switches. There are a couple benefits to switches that work this way:
- Lower wear and tear. Since the mechanism inside the switch doesn't require parts to touch each other, there's less chance of the switch wearing down over time. Granted, this is only one way that switches can wear out—the springs underneath the keycaps, for example, are still present—but this can help reduce failure points.
- Customizable actuation points. How far you have to press a key down for the keyboard to register that it's been pressed is referred to as the “actuation point.” And on most keyboards, there's not much room to tweak this. Either a circuit connects or it doesn't. With Hall effect switches, the voltage of the connection can vary based on how far down the key is pressed, meaning on some boards you can adjust the sensitivity of your keys.
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