An expensive PC with the best specs will run games perfectly. However, the gaming experience is incomplete without a good keyboard. Many people take this for granted by buying a cheap keyboard from the local store. Not only does the lighting that the gaming keyboards provide make your setup look even cooler, they can also help you perform better in games and are the preferred choice in competitive online multiplayer games.
If you’re not sure on which keyboard you should get, this list contains few of the best gaming keyboards available. In no particular order, here are the best keyboards of 2018:
Corsair K95 RGB Platinum
The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum keyboard is a mechanical keyboard with plenty of versatility to meet all your needs. It further improves and builds upon the foundation laid down by its predecessor the K95 Vengeance.
This keyboard has new Cherry MX Speed silver switches which have lower actuation point and travel distances as compared to its predecessor. The keyboard is also backlit by up to 16.8 million colors. Some minor aesthetic changes also help elevate its design.
The keyboard has an aluminum finish and also comes with a wrist rest. A couple of buttons are put in place to help in quickly switching between onboard profiles, adjusting the backlighting and disabling the Windows key. There’s also a dedicated row of media controls which has a resemblance to the traditional keycap.
The keyboard’s versatile RGB lighting allows for some great color combination options. A lot of effort has been put into the design and look of this keyboard to make it look premium.
According to the makers, using the keyboard for a substantial amount of time will have no effect on its look and it’ll still look as good as new. However, the premium look also comes with a premium price tag of almost $150. You can purchase it from Amazon here.
PROS: Dedicated media controls, amazing lighting, classy aluminum finish.
CONS: Expensive, no audio jack, awkward software.
Cougar Attack X3 RGB
The Cougar Attack X3 is a fine gaming keyboard especially if you’re looking for real Cherry MX keys which are so hard to find these days. It’s also a great keyboard to have if you’re on a budget as it goes for a fairly cheap price of almost $100. Many full-sized keyboards with Cherry keys start above $100 so this keyboard is quite a steal at its current price.
The keys of this keyboard are the real deal, as mentioned it comes with Cherry keys. Different keys such as volume control keys are placed in convenient positions making a comfortable easy-to-use layout for the users.
However, there are a few small issues such as the placement of the spacebar. The WASD and spacebar keys are the most important keys for any gamer and they must be close to each other for the optimal gaming experience. However, the spacebar is placed in such a way that makes it very hard to have both keys under your grasp. but, as mentioned its just a minor issue, nothing that a bit of practice on this keyboard won’t be able to fix.
The keyboard also has RGB lighting with up to 16.8 million colors. The keyboard also has a durable body with an aluminum finish thus making it one of the best out there. You can purchase it from here.
PROS: Great build quality, RGB lighting.
CONS: No wrist rest, U.S button layout.
Corsair K63 Mechanical Keyboard
This keyboard is the latest addition to Corsair’s arsenal. Announced at CES 2018, this keyboard is a wireless keyboard with no lag issues. It uses Cherry MX Red mechanical keys for the keyboard and can connect to your computer via either Bluetooth or through a dongle.
Corsair claims the keyboard can also protect you from wireless eavesdropping. Also, if you still don’t believe that the keyboard won’t perform as well as a wired keyboard, you can also plug it in via USB. Perhaps the most important feature of this keyboard is the battery life.
According to Corsair, this keyboard can run for 75 hours! That is an insane amount of battery life especially given the fact that the keyboard also has customizable backlighting. If Corsair’s claims are true then this could be a serious contender in the market and you won’t need to worry about running out during an intense match. You can check out the full details about the keyboard here.
Logitech G610
The Logitech G610 is a well-built, simple keyboard (as far as features are concerned) that comes with Cherry MX switches. Cherry MX switches are considered as one of the best options out there for mechanical keyboards and you’d expect nothing less from Logitech to work with nothing but the best. This keyboard is a good option for Cherry enthusiasts who are also on a budget.
This keyboard isn’t one of those stylistic gaming keyboards. It’s minimalistic in design but that doesn’t take away from what it has to offer. All the keys are backlit with a white LED and the keys look perfectly normal when the LEDs are turned off. The keyboard hosts a number of control buttons on the top right such as the mute button and a volume wheel is also present to conveniently adjust volume as per your needs.
A drawback for the keyboard is the lack of a wrist rest and not being able to change the colors of the backlighting. However, you can customize the lighting effects.
The keyboard also allows for disabling certain keys when in a game thus making the gaming experience a more enjoyable one without having to worry about pressing certain keys (such as the Windows key) by accident and ruining your game. The keys are pretty responsive and overall it’s a solid keyboard with an affordable price tag. You can purchase it from here.
PROS: Solid build quality, reliable Cherry MX switches, programmable white lighting.
CONS: No USB or audio ports, doesn’t feel as durable as some other Cherry keyboard options out there.
Logitech G413 Carbon
Logitech’s first affordable mechanical keyboard comes in the form of the G413 Carbon. RGB lights may be one of the defining features of a gaming keyboard, however, it all comes down to performance and design which Logitech focuses on. It has opted against the lighting and a few macro keys for a frameless design and a set of Romer-G switches.
The keyboard is made to last through its solid aluminum-magnesium alloy plate. Although it may look simplistic in design, don’t let it fool you as this keyboard is one to be reckoned with. The Romer-G switches are responses and hardly make any noise. It has an insanely fast actuation point of 1.5mm and the switches are also built to last as they’re rated for 70 million actuations.
The keyboard also comes with 12 different keycaps that you can use to replace the WASD and a few number keys. This, in particular, is a great tool for gamers looking to differentiate keys while they’re gaming.
The keyboard surprisingly doesn’t have any dedicated media buttons which, is odd because almost all Logitech keyboards seem to have those. Although it has a USB pass through, it’s only USB 2.0 which is extremely slow in the age of high data. However, it’s extremely affordable at only $75.99 and one of the best frameless options out there. You can purchase it here.
PROS: Mechanical and silent switches, solid design, good build quality.
CONS: No dedicated media button(s), USB 2.0 pass through.