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Haley Perry is a writer focused on video games and booze. She has spent innumerable hours playing games and tasting spirits. gaming keyboard and mouse mobile
After completing another round of testing, we think the Lemokey P1 HE Wireless is worth considering if you want a wireless keyboard with Hall effect switches.
You can use any old keyboard to play video games on your PC, but a great gaming keyboard can make the difference between digital life and death. The tactility of a keyboard’s switches, its responsiveness to your key presses, and the control schemes it allows you to configure can all help you perform better in multiplayer battles. Plus, you can make games more immersive or just express yourself with a keyboard’s colorful, dynamic lighting, and you can easily disable certain keys to keep them from disrupting the action.
After hundreds of hours of testing and typing, we’ve found gaming keyboards across a range of budgets that offer the best combination of comfort, accuracy, and customizability.
This wireless keyboard has smooth, quiet keys, hot-swappable switches, and a comfortable, compact layout. It also has a convenient rotary knob for adjusting volume, brightness, scroll, and zoom.
This version of the K65 Plus Wireless has Mac-specific keycaps, and it comes in its own unique color schemes. But unlike the PC version, it uses ABS keycaps.
Keychron doesn’t advertise this model as a gaming keyboard, but it provides a great typing experience with most of the features that a good gaming keyboard has for an affordable price.
The K70 Pro TKL comes with plenty of premium features, giving you the ability to adjust keystroke pressure, record two actions to the same key, and control media. But it works only with a wired connection.
This wireless keyboard cleverly incorporates convenient gaming features into its compact design, such as a Game Mode switch and a volume wheel.
The Logitech G915 X TKL has shorter keycaps and sits flatter on a desk than our other picks, which can be easier on your wrists and fingers. It also has a bigger selection of useful media keys.
We focused on tenkeyless and compact layouts because they provide a more ergonomic experience.
Our picks have durable keycaps, stable backplates, and smooth stabilizers.
A great gaming keyboard gives you the freedom to make adjustments to key bindings, RGB effects, and more.
All of our picks register key presses quickly and accurately.
This wireless keyboard has smooth, quiet keys, hot-swappable switches, and a comfortable, compact layout. It also has a convenient rotary knob for adjusting volume, brightness, scroll, and zoom.
This version of the K65 Plus Wireless has Mac-specific keycaps, and it comes in its own unique color schemes. But unlike the PC version, it uses ABS keycaps.
The Corsair K65 Plus Wireless represents the best combination of price, versatility, and quality of any gaming keyboard we’ve tested. It has a comfortable 75% layout with smooth, sturdy keys that feel great to type on, and you can even customize certain features on the fly, such as recording macros (programmable sequences of keystrokes) or adjusting the RGB backlighting, without running Corsair’s software. It also has hot-swappable switches, and it can connect both wired and wirelessly via Bluetooth or USB-A dongle.
Keychron doesn’t advertise this model as a gaming keyboard, but it provides a great typing experience with most of the features that a good gaming keyboard has for an affordable price.
The understated Keychron C3 Pro isn’t labeled as a “gaming keyboard,” but it’s fully programmable, and it offers the best typing experience and build quality for the price. You can record macros and remap keys using Keychron’s browser-based Launcher software, but you can also do simpler things, such as cycling through lighting effects or disabling the Windows key, straight from the keyboard using shortcuts. The C3 Pro is compatible with both Windows and Mac, but it lacks a wireless connection, and this version’s backlight is limited to red only.
The K70 Pro TKL comes with plenty of premium features, giving you the ability to adjust keystroke pressure, record two actions to the same key, and control media. But it works only with a wired connection.
The Corsair K70 Pro TKL offers excellent build quality, a satisfying typing experience, and more customization features than any other keyboard we recommend. With Corsair’s iCUE software, you can record macros, adjust the actuation force (the level of pressure necessary to push each key), and reprogram keys or map two actions to the same key. But it’s pricey for a wired-only keyboard, and depending on the types of games you play, its specialized features could be superfluous.
This wireless keyboard cleverly incorporates convenient gaming features into its compact design, such as a Game Mode switch and a volume wheel.
The Logitech G Pro X 60 has a 60% design, leaving out dedicated arrow keys, media keys, and a function row. But it retains the important things that most people need for gaming, namely comfortably spaced keys that are easy to reach and difficult to press by mistake, full programmability, and three modes of connectivity. And whereas most compact keyboards keep the keys and buttons to a minimum, the Pro X 60 still fits a Game Mode switch, a volume wheel, and two connection-mode buttons into its small frame.
The Logitech G915 X TKL has shorter keycaps and sits flatter on a desk than our other picks, which can be easier on your wrists and fingers. It also has a bigger selection of useful media keys.
The low-profile Logitech G915 X TKL is less than an inch tall, and it’s especially useful if you want to get the precision and tactility of a mechanical keyboard without having to push your fingers down as far—or if you want the flattest angle for your wrists. It has a brushed-metal backplate that looks sleek on a desk, as well as an extra row of buttons with a volume roller and controls for media playback, backlight brightness, and connectivity modes. It also offers a responsive wireless connection via Bluetooth or USB-A receiver, and you can use it in wired mode.
I’m an associate staff writer at Wirecutter covering video games and gaming hardware. In addition to gaming keyboards, I’ve tested gaming mice, gaming laptops, gaming headsets, and more. And between working from home and gaming on my PC, I spend more time using a keyboard than I probably should.
Most people don’t need a gaming keyboard, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy one if you want to. Gaming keyboards are often aimed at competitive players and people who play games that require lots of fast-paced inputs, such as online shooters and MMOs. But for just about anyone playing games, these keyboards can be more convenient to use, more fun to type on, and prettier to look at than your standard office edition.
Many gaming-specific features, such as extra remappable keys and customizable sensitivity settings, are overkill unless you take advantage of them. You can get a great mechanical keyboard for far less money, and even our budget pick isn’t specifically sold as a “gaming keyboard.” But other aspects, such as individual profiles that you can program and save, can make it easy to swap between multiple games where you prefer different control schemes—or even streamline the transition from daily work to game time.
We have picks for both wired and wireless options; most people don’t need to worry about which type is faster and more accurate. Although wired keyboards can technically provide lower latency, you should make your decision based on your budget and other priorities, such as whether you prefer recharging devices or hiding cables. Our top pick is speedy and precise enough to suit a wide range of needs, and it can also work with a wired connection.
Gaming keyboards usually come with more bells and whistles than your everyday workhorse, but most people don’t need to worry about studying the jargon associated with them, and we’ve researched the most important features for you.
In evaluating dozens of keyboards for this guide, we’ve used the following criteria to find the most promising contenders:
We start by evaluating the quality of each keyboard’s case, keycaps, and stabilizers, and we eliminate those that feel uncomfortable to type on or have inferior build quality. We then spend hours using the most promising keyboards for gaming and work, and we evaluate their respective software and customization options. From there, we use the finalists for several more days of constant typing and gaming, and we test any wireless connections on Windows and macOS.
This wireless keyboard has smooth, quiet keys, hot-swappable switches, and a comfortable, compact layout. It also has a convenient rotary knob for adjusting volume, brightness, scroll, and zoom.
This version of the K65 Plus Wireless has Mac-specific keycaps, and it comes in its own unique color schemes. But unlike the PC version, it uses ABS keycaps.
The Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is one of the best gaming keyboards we’ve tested in the past year. It’s smooth and comfortable to type on, it has a convenient rotary knob to control things such as the volume or backlight brightness, and it’s available for both Windows and Mac. It’s hot-swappable, which means you can pull out the keyboard’s switches and snap in new ones to customize the typing feel. It also works wired or wirelessly, and it’s regularly available for much less than other, similarly equipped gaming keyboards.
It feels smooth to type on, and it sounds quiet. The K65 Plus Wireless is the smoothest and quietest keyboard we recommend. It feels slightly tactile but lacks the typewriter sensation and deep key travel that some high-profile mechanical keyboards offer—which makes this keyboard ideal if that clacking sound (or feel) annoys you. All of the keys are stable and comfortably spaced, and it’s easy to type quickly and jump from one key to another with precision.
It has a multi-control rotary knob. The knob in the upper-right corner controls the system volume by default. You can’t reprogram it to carry out custom commands, but you can set it to adjust the brightness of the backlight, scroll up and down, or zoom on a page either in Corsair’s iCUE software or straight from the keyboard using shortcuts.
You can use it with a wired or wireless connection. The K65 Plus Wireless can work in wired mode with a USB-C cable, or you can use it wirelessly via Bluetooth or USB-A receiver. A small cavity on the top of the keyboard can store the dongle when you aren’t using it, and you’ll also find a switch that toggles between the connection modes. But some of the features, such as customizing per-key lighting, are limited in wireless mode, and you can’t save profiles that you configure in the software to the onboard memory.
The keyboard doesn’t require software for you to use its shortcuts and features. If you’d rather skip the software hassle, you can still do things like record macros, cycle through RGB effects, or enable Game Mode straight from the keyboard. By default, the function and navigation keys can also quickly toggle certain settings, and they’re clearly labeled to help you find them right away. The user manual is also available online, if you ever need a refresher.
The Windows version is fully compatible with macOS. Although you can opt for the Mac-specific K65 Plus Wireless, both versions of the keyboard have a mode switch at the top that swaps the default function commands for each operating system on the fly. The keycap legends on the Windows version are also labeled with both Mac and Windows commands. And you can always buy Mac-specific keycaps from a third party later on, if you like.
Customization isn’t fully supported in wireless mode. If you plug the K65 Plus Wireless directly into your computer, you can customize the RGB lighting for each key. However, this option disappears in the iCUE software if you switch to a wireless connection—you can assign preset lighting and effects to only one zone across the keyboard. And profiles you make while the keyboard is in wired mode can’t be stored to the onboard memory; there’s no way to know this based on Corsair’s advertising, but the company confirmed these limitations with us.
It doesn’t have shine-through backlighting. The K65 Plus Wireless shines light only around its keycaps, rather than through the key legends. In the dark, seeing the keys on this keyboard is harder than on our other picks.
Keychron doesn’t advertise this model as a gaming keyboard, but it provides a great typing experience with most of the features that a good gaming keyboard has for an affordable price.
The Keychron C3 Pro is the best mechanical keyboard you can get for under $50. It doesn’t have the flashiest design, and it lacks wireless connectivity and RGB lighting. But it’s satisfying and tactile to type on, and you can still program macros, remap keys, and otherwise customize it to function like any other gaming keyboard.
It offers great build quality, especially for the price. The Keychron C3 Pro has a sturdy case that doesn’t flex under pressure, and its strong stabilizers don’t rattle when you press any of the keys. For this guide, we tested it with Keychron’s Brown mechanical switches, which felt tactile without sounding too loud. If you want something even quieter, it’s also available with Red linear switches.
It’s fully programmable. Using the Launcher app in a web browser, you can record macros, remap keys, or customize lighting effects by zone. You can also create “layers” to map multiple functions to the same key, and you can swap between your layers quickly when you want to switch games or tasks.
You can easily disable the Windows key. The C3 Pro has no distinct Game Mode button, but to prevent the pesky Windows key from pulling up the Start menu when you’re in the middle of a game, you can lock it quickly with Fn + Win. The Windows key also has a lock symbol to make remembering this shortcut even easier.
It can switch between layouts for Windows and Mac. The key legends on the C3 Pro are labeled with both Mac and Windows commands, and you can switch between the two layouts with Fn + Caps Lock. While all of our picks can technically work with Mac systems, this keyboard makes the transition less confusing thanks to its dual-labeled keycaps.
Keychron’s software is the most basic among our picks. Keychron’s web-based Launcher app is simple enough to navigate to remap and program keys, but it’s less comprehensive than the software for our other picks. Unlike the software from Logitech or Corsair, Launcher doesn’t allow you to link custom profiles to specific apps or games, and creating macros requires more steps and manual inputs—as opposed to the shortcuts you can quickly click and assign in something like Logitech G Hub.
It has only red backlighting. This version of the C3 Pro comes with only red backlighting, but it does offer a handful of effects (such as breathing and strobing) that you can cycle through with a shortcut. Keychron now also makes a hot-swappable version of this keyboard with RGB backlighting, but we haven’t tested that model for this guide yet.
The ABS keycaps will wear out sooner. All of our other picks have PBT keycaps—but for the price, the ABS keycaps on the C3 Pro are acceptable. They’re prone to developing a greasier feel and a shinier surface over time, but the keyboard comes with a keycap puller, and you can replace them with something nicer down the line if you like.
The K70 Pro TKL comes with plenty of premium features, giving you the ability to adjust keystroke pressure, record two actions to the same key, and control media. But it works only with a wired connection.
If you want to fine-tune your gameplay, the Corsair K70 Pro TKL is packed with customizable features to help you make it feel tailor-made to you. Compared with our top pick, this keyboard feels higher-quality and more tactile to type on, and it adds a multifunction knob, a dedicated Game Mode key, and a media button in the upper-right corner. But it works only with a wired connection, and our top pick is a better value for the money if you don’t plan on customizing this keyboard to its full potential.
You can set the key-travel distance to match your preference. In Corsair’s iCUE software, you can adjust to your liking how hard you need to press the keys. If you type with a heavier hand or want every input to be precise and intentional, for example, you can set the sensitivity all the way up to 4.0 mm. Conversely, you can program it as low as 0.1 mm—an ultrasensitive distance that registers the slightest movements.
All of the keys are fully programmable, and most of them can accommodate binding two actions to the same key. The keys in the center of the keyboard (excluding the function row, arrows, and navigation keys) are all configurable to carry out two different commands depending on how hard you press the key. For example, you can set the spacebar to make your character jump with a hard press or crouch with a lighter tap, or whatever other actions you want. These different presses take some practice to pull off in-game, but the feature is especially useful in fast-paced settings where you don’t have much time to bounce around your keyboard. Condensing inputs into a smaller area is also a clever solution for people who can’t stretch their fingers across distant keys easily.
It supports rapid trigger actuation. Rapid trigger actuation allows you to press the same key in swift succession, without the need to release it all the way up to reset a command. This feature may be excessive for some people, but it can be beneficial in games that require button mashing, and you can assign it to most individual keys.
The included wrist rest is comfortable and stays put. Many of the keyboards we’ve tested come with wrist rests in the box, but those pieces are not always comfortable, and many of them slide around on their own accord. The wrist rest that Corsair includes with the K70 Pro TKL is wide enough to fit your whole palm with a little room to spare, and the cushion is firm yet supportive. It attaches to the keyboard magnetically, which keeps it from detaching when you nudge or move the keyboard.
It doesn’t offer wireless connectivity. The Corsair K70 Pro TKL is a bit pricey for a wired keyboard. If you hate cables, we recommend our top pick, the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless, which is excellent but less customizable.
You can use it with Mac computers, but you’re stuck with Windows keycaps. This keyboard is compatible with macOS, and so is the Corsair iCUE software. But Corsair doesn’t sell Mac-specific keycaps or offer this keyboard in a Mac layout.
This wireless keyboard cleverly incorporates convenient gaming features into its compact design, such as a Game Mode switch and a volume wheel.
If you believe that good things come in small packages, the compact Logitech G Pro X 60 could be for you. This wireless keyboard measures less than a foot wide, but it manages to pack in a number of handy features that are great for gaming. It has an inconspicuous Game Mode switch and volume wheel, as well as customizable RGB lighting, and it’s comfortable and satisfying to type on.
The compact design looks and feels tidy. The 60% layout of the Logitech G Pro X 60 corrals all of the most important keys into a tiny footprint, but they’re still spaced well enough for you to type on them accurately. The compact size allows your mouse to travel more and rest closer to your keyboard, which can reduce strain on your shoulders, neck, and back. It also makes this keyboard look particularly neat on a desk, and the black, white, and pink color options should complement most spaces nicely.
You can assign multiple commands to a single key. You can reprogram all of the keys on the Pro X 60 in the Logitech G Hub software, and you can make the most of this keyboard’s small size by creating multiple layers that assign different functions to the same keys. For example, you can program the Shift key to activate a second set of commands on the WASD keys when you hold it down, which allows you to keep your hand in one place when you need to take quick actions.
It has a Game Mode switch and a volume wheel. If you were to look at this keyboard from above, you’d never notice the Game Mode switch or volume wheel on the sides of the chassis. You can toggle the Game Mode switch to disable the Windows key, and you can customize it in Logitech’s software to lock other keys when activated as well. In addition, two buttons on the top of the keyboard let you swap back and forth between the Bluetooth and dongle connections.
You might be able to free up a USB port. If you’re strapped for USB space on your computer, this keyboard responds quickly enough in Bluetooth mode for daily use and casual gaming. The USB-A Lightspeed adapter that comes with the Pro X 60 can also pair both the keyboard and a supported mouse to the same receiver, including the runner-up pick in our gaming mouse guide.
It’s the most portable keyboard we recommend. The Pro X 60 comes with a slim carrying case that has space for both the keyboard and a USB cable, and the bottom of the keyboard has a built-in slot to hold the wireless receiver. It’s easy to pack up and take on the go, and none of our other picks come with a carrying case.
You can’t remap the Fn key. Like all 60% keyboards, the Pro X 60 lacks a dedicated function row, navigation keys, and arrow keys, which means you’ll rely heavily on the Fn key to carry out various commands. But Logitech confirmed that you can’t remap it to any other key, which can be frustrating if you'd prefer to move it closer to your left hand—or anywhere else you might find easier to reach.
The tall keys could be hard on your wrists, and Logitech doesn’t offer a wrist rest. Although the angle of the keyboard is adjustable, the taller keys on the Pro X 60 could still force your wrist into a harsh position, even when the keyboard’s legs are folded flat—and Logitech doesn’t currently offer a wrist rest that matches the Pro X 60’s size. I didn’t experience any discomfort while using this keyboard, but if you have issues with wrist pain, you may want to consider the low-profile Logitech G915 X TKL instead.
It doesn’t include Mac keycaps. Both the keyboard and Logitech’s G Hub software will work just fine on Mac computers, but the Pro X 60 doesn’t come with interchangeable Mac-appropriate keycaps. If you want a wireless keyboard that is more Apple-friendly, we recommend the Mac version of our top pick.
The Logitech G915 X TKL has shorter keycaps and sits flatter on a desk than our other picks, which can be easier on your wrists and fingers. It also has a bigger selection of useful media keys.
The Logitech G915 X TKL has the shortest keycaps of our picks, and it’s ideal if you want the feel of a mechanical keyboard without as much key travel. Low-profile keys can be less fatiguing for your fingers if you have a lighter touch, and the layout’s flatter design might be easier on your wrists than those that force you to type at a steeper angle. This keyboard looks sleek and high-end, and we especially like the extra row of buttons, which includes a volume roller, media-playback controls, and a Game Mode key.
It feels great to type on. Compared with the previous iteration of the Logitech G915, which we dismissed for having rattly stabilizers and brittle ABS keycaps, this version is far more stable and smooth to type on. The keys on the G915 X TKL travel a full millimeter less than those of our other picks, which can feel less fatiguing when you type for extended periods. This keyboard also sits less than an inch high in its flattest position, omitting the need for a wrist rest, but you can adjust the angle by unfolding the legs underneath.
The extra buttons on the top row are convenient. The row includes media-playback keys, a smooth volume roller, and a Game Mode key that automatically disables the Windows key or any others you assign. It also has a key to quickly adjust the brightness of the backlighting, a battery-life indicator, and two buttons to switch between the Bluetooth and USB-dongle connections.
The Logitech G Hub software is full of customizable options, and it’s easy to use. Among our picks, this keyboard’s supplementary software is the simplest to use and the most comprehensive. If you don’t have much experience recording macros, or if you’re not sure how to make use of them quite yet, Logitech G Hub’s macro creator makes experimentation especially easy.
The RGB backlighting enables fun tricks. You can customize each individual key with different colors and effects to your liking, or you can use Logitech Lightsync—built into the G Hub software—to set the keyboard to match the colors on your screen or sync to audio in real time. If you have peripherals from Logitech or other brands, you can also sync them together for a more immersive experience with Windows Dynamic Lighting.
It uses Logitech’s Lightspeed adapter, which can pair two compatible devices to the same receiver. Just as with our compact pick, the included USB-A dongle can pair this keyboard and a compatible mouse, including some of the models we recommend in our gaming mouse guide. That’s convenient if you want to free up some port space on your computer, but the G915 X TKL is also responsive enough in Bluetooth mode for productivity and casual gaming.
The stabilizer keys are more wobbly than those of our top picks. If build quality is your primary concern, note that the keys on the G915 X TKL rattle more than those found on our top picks. But we didn’t find this keyboard bothersome in any way during our testing, and we don’t anticipate that most people would have any issues while typing.
It’s fully compatible with Mac computers, but it comes with only Windows keycaps. Like most gaming keyboards, the G915 X TKL favors Windows users. You can use this keyboard—and Logitech’s software—on Mac computers, but you’re stuck with the default Windows keycaps.
If you want a wireless keyboard with Hall Effect switches: Just like our upgrade pick, the Lemokey P1 HE Wireless has magnetic switches that allow you to fine-tune the keystroke pressure and enable rapid trigger actuation. But it also adds wireless connectivity via Bluetooth or USB-A receiver, and it has a better build quality than any of our picks. It has a solid metal case and excellent stabilizers, and its compact 75% layout feels buttery smooth to type on. However, you can only disable the Windows key by holding Win+Fn for about five seconds, and you may have to hold down Fn+4 to pair the keyboard initially with its wireless receiver—neither of which are explained in the user manual. And currently, the P1 HE is only sold through Lemokey’s and Keychron’s websites, which will add a $20 shipping fee (and because the P1 HE is currently only shipping directly from China, it could be subject to additional import taxes).
If you’ve ever been on a Zoom call where you can hear someone speaking before you can see their lips moving, you’ve experienced the practical effects of latency. The term refers to the time it takes for a signal from a device to travel and register to an output such as a monitor, TV, or headset. Latency issues are frustrating, especially when a delayed button press or audio cue affects your success in a video game. Though it is important to have gear that registers inputs quickly and accurately, most people don’t need to get wrapped up in the hysteria of today’s latency race.
Here are some components that affect latency in gaming keyboards:
Increasingly, gaming peripherals are coming out with ultra-high polling rates or lightning-fast switch actuation, but unless you play games competitively, you don’t need to seek out gear with the most extreme specs available. Some keyboards now offer has a whopping 8,000 Hz polling rate, but even experts don’t notice a major difference in polling rates above 1,000 Hz—our minimum speed for this guide’s test group. Additionally, higher polling rates deplete the device’s battery faster, and they require more processing power, which can lead to reduced frame rates in CPU-bound games.
It used to be common advice to avoid wireless gaming keyboards because they produced higher latency than those with wired connections did. But wireless keyboards have come a long way, and the majority of people wouldn’t notice a difference in the response times between a good wireless keyboard and a wired one. We still don’t recommend gaming peripherals that connect only through Bluetooth, because compared with the experience on a USB-dongle connection, the lag over Bluetooth can be observable.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL Wired has stabilizers that feel springy and hollow, and the key legends are extremely dim and difficult to see with the lighting off.
The keycaps on the Logitech G Pro X TKL Rapid feel cheap and brittle, the plastic case flexes easily under pressure, and the spacebar makes a strange clicking sound.
We experienced a ton of missed keystrokes on the Luminkey Magger 68 HE, even when we set the polling rate to 8,000 Hz. And none of the function commands are labeled on the keycaps, so you have to commit all of its media and function shortcuts to memory.
The NZXT Function Elite MiniTKL is pricey for a wired keyboard, it has wobbly stabilizers, and its spacebar feels especially hollow when pressed.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% was our previous top pick, but it has only wired connectivity, and many owners have reported double-typing issues.
The Endgame Gear KB65HE offers magnetic switches with adjustable actuation, but its software is underwhelming and compatible only with Windows computers.
Typing on the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro isn’t satisfying at all and feels like using a membrane keyboard. And for $230—the price at this writing—it should include PBT keycaps.
The MSI Forge GK100 costs $25, and it comes bundled with a mouse. But you absolutely get what you pay for: The keyboard has membrane switches, wobbly keys, and an extremely rattly spacebar. The mouse is also much lower in quality than the budget gaming mouse we recommend.
The full-size HyperX Alloy Rise has especially rattly keys and wobbly stabilizers, and its software is available only for Windows.
The Logitech G Pro has wobbly stabilizer keys and dark keycap legends that are hard to see.
We also dismissed the Logitech G413 TKL SE, Razer Huntsman V2 TKL, and SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL after testing them for our mechanical keyboards guide.
The Keychron Q1 HE has excellent build quality, but its tall height felt tough on the wrists, and it doesn’t include adjustable legs or a wrist rest. It’s also not as convenient for gaming as our picks because you have to program your own Game Mode and profile-switching shortcuts, and its browser-based software doesn’t allow you to create different app-specific profiles.
The stabilizers on the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL Wireless feel springy and hollow, and the key legends are extremely dim and difficult to see with the lighting off.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless (2023) used to be a pick in this guide, but after a few months of using the keyboard, we were no longer able to power it on—and many owners have reported the same issue. It’s also expensive, and it felt cheaper in quality than our top picks.
We experienced a tremendous amount of ghosting and key spamming on the Ducky One X Mini. The plastic case is also weak, and the stabilizer keys are wobbly.
The plastic case on the Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL Wireless is so weak and flexible that you could probably bend it in half if you tried hard enough.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has solid stabilizer keys, and in our tests it felt great to type on. But it’s expensive, and when we used the keyboard with the OLED display and multi-zone lighting on, we had to charge it every other day.
Although the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless is well-built, it costs $230 at this writing, and its software is incompatible with macOS.
The keys on the Lemokey P1 Pro are spaced too close together, it has a fixed angle that can be tough on your wrists if you prefer a flatter layout, and it doesn’t come with a wrist rest.
The Asus ROG Strix Scope RX TKL Wireless Deluxe felt smooth and stable to type on, but its keycaps aren’t replaceable, it’s compatible only with Windows, and the keys traveled so quickly in our tests that making typing mistakes was exceptionally easy.
We dismissed the Logitech G915 TKL, G713, and G715 because they had rattly stabilizers, brittle keycaps, or weak build quality.
Typing on the Alienware Pro Wireless without making mistakes was especially difficult, and its keys felt rattly, hollow, and cheap.
We dismissed the Asus ROG Claymore II after testing it for our mechanical keyboards guide.
This article was edited by Arthur Gies and Caitlin McGarry.
Haley Perry is an associate staff writer at Wirecutter covering video games and technology. She used to review video games full-time, and she’s also a big fan of mezcal. If you get enough in her, she may just admit that she still plays The Sims ... a lot.
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