Best gaming keyboard 2018: the best gaming keyboards we’ve tested

We understand that if you already have one of the best gaming PCs, it can be tempting to head to the local big box store and pick up the cheapest keyboard you can find – whatever works, right? Well, after dropping mad stacks on the best computer you could afford, you’re doing yourself and the best PC games a disservice by not using one of the best gaming keyboards.

The best gaming keyboards can actually improve your skills in the best PC games, particularly if you get a mechanical keyboard. So, when you’re out shopping for one of the best gaming keyboards, keep an eye open for the kind of switches it uses. Membrane switches generally aren’t great for gaming, so mechanical switches are perfect. And, you can’t forget about RGB lighting – there’s a certain je ne sais quois about lighting up your gaming area like a Christmas tree – just in time for the holidays.

So, that brings us to our list of the best keyboards for gaming. Even if you only have a little bit of money to spend, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to afford one of the best gaming keyboards. And, if you have cash falling out of your pockets, you can easily pick up a feature-rich keyboard with all the bells and whistles you could hope for. So, let’s dive into the best gaming keyboards on the market today, all of which we have personally tested and reviewed.

Razer Huntsman Elite

With the Huntsman Elite, Razer has taken speed to a whole new level with its optomechanical switches. That sounds like a mouthful, but Razer has managed to take mechanical switches and integrate optical sensors, this allows the Huntsman Elite to take actuation to another level – you simply won’t find a faster keyboard in 2018. But switches aside, it feels great to type on, and it’s covered in more RGB lighting than you can shake a stick at. Sure, it requires two USB cables for power with no passthrough and it costs a small fortune – but with tech like this, it’s absolutely worth it.

Keyboards keep abandoning Cherry MX switches in favor of custom ones, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to stop any time soon – especially if the Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo is any indication. Not only does this keyboard offer switches that have the tactile feedback that gamers demand, but it’s comfortable to type on and won’t wake up the whole neighborhood. When you add in the jaw dropping aesthetics of this gaming keyboard, there’s no denying that this is one of the best gaming keyboards 2018 can offer.

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Razer Black Widow Chroma

One of the biggest problems with Cherry MX Red keys is that while they’re good for gaming, they’re not ideal for typing anything but your Steam credentials. And, that’s where the Logitech G513 and its Romer-G Linear switches steal the show. With its brushed metal finish that, miraculously, is nearly immune to fingerprints, it all adds up to one of the best gaming keyboards on the market in 2018.

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Razer Black Widow Chroma

The Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 is marketed as a keyboard and mouse keyboard, and while the mouse is not exactly great, the keyboard steals the spotlight. Sitting at just under a hundred bucks, the keyboard here, is up there with other, more expensive ‘mem-chanical’ keyboards. The switches here offer a lot of the tactile feedback and deep travel of more traditional mechanical keyboards, and won’t keep your entire house awake while you’re furiously pounding away on it during a intense late-night Overwatch match. The Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 really is one of the best gaming keyboards under $100.

We have seen plenty of wireless gaming mice over the last few years, but not many wireless gaming keyboards. Until now. The Corsair K63 Wireless keyboard takes what made the wired version of the K63, and transfers it into the wireless version – without sacrificing much at all. Packing tight Cherry MX Red switches, full RGB lighting and convenient media controls, the K63 wireless shows us what wireless keyboards can be capable of in 2018.

Following in the footsteps of Kingston’s first HyperX-branded gaming keyboard, namely the HyperX Alloy FPS, the HyperX Alloy Elite tweaks the company’s first winning keyboard to provide only a few subtle changes. For only $10 USD more than its predecessor, you’re getting media keys, a light bar and even a palm rest, all of which were previously absent. They’re also a series of delightful treats, making for a value proposition that shouldn’t be ignored.

Just like the Corsair K70 Rapidfire that came before, the K95 RGB Platinum is a mechanical keyboard that puts gaming above all other things. Rocking 8MB of dedicated memory for storing different profiles, this keyboard certainly has the versatility to get the job done, whatever it may be. It features a beautiful build, as well, with a military-grade aluminum finish that complements Corsair’s fantastic RGB lighting perfectly.

If you’re new to PC gaming, and you want a keyboard that’ll perform admirably without the high price tag that a lot of mechanical keyboards carry, the Razer Cynosa Chroma might be for you. It might not have the tactile clickiness of a higher-end board, but the hybrid mesh switches perform well enough, boasting a 1ms polling rate and 10-key rollover. That’s not to mention the sick RGB lighting.

Accidents happen – it’s just a fact of life, especially when you’re gaming. Luckily, it’s becoming more common for the best gaming keyboards to be able to handle anything you could throw at them, even Mountain Dew. The Corsair K68 RGB takes a fantastic keyboard design with Cherry MX Switches and makes it water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about a sudden soda shower during a frantic play session. And, with its subdued, stylish design and reasonable price tag, it’s easy to recommend the Corsair K68 RGB.

If you’re looking for a gaming keyboard, and you don’t plan on doing much else, the SteelSeries Apex M750 is a great choice. It has fantastic software for customization and gorgeous RGB lighting. It also has a great tactile feel to it and feels extremely robust and durable. The only drawback is that the keyboard is extremely loud and uncomfortable for productivity work.