To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories.
To revisit this article, select My Account, then View saved stories Wired Mechanical Keyboard
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
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 vs. 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.
Updated November 2023: We added Razor Blackwidow V4, MX Keys S, OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro, DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard, the Das Keyboard MacTigr, and Logitech Pop Keys. We also added new tips and suggestions and updated prices throughout.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
If you want to go with a mechanical keyboard, you'll want to pay attention to your switch choices. There are dozens of kinds, and they all feel a little different. Without touching them yourself, it's tough to know which is right for you. Manufacturers like Logitech and Razer use their own proprietary switches, which further complicates things.
No matter who makes them, switches generally come in one of three varieties:
Everyone has a favorite switch type, but you usually have to choose before you get your keyboard. If you decide that you want to try a different switch for more click or more clack? You have to get a whole new keyboard. The Logitech G Pro X solves that problem by offering key kits so you can customize every key, choosing from three switch types: GX Blue Clicky switches (for a crisp click and thicker keystroke), GX Red Linear (for a quieter, smoother, but still satisfying keystroke), or GX Brown Tactile (with a soft stroke and tactile feedback).
Personally, I like Blue and Red switches for different purposes. During testing, I used Blues for my W, A, S, and D keys (for movement in games), and Red switches on other letters for a smooth typing experience. I also tried Brown switches for the space bar and shift keys, just to mix it up. That level of customization makes the G Pro X stand out as the best overall mechanical keyboard. No matter what you prefer, you can create a bespoke typing and gaming experience.
Budget mechanical keyboards used to be the province of random Amazon sellers with all-capped names and were clad in candy-colored plastic. Logitech’s G413 couldn’t be further from that aesthetic. Here, you get the same understated black chassis, the same mechanical switches, and even the same Lightsync RGB lighting that you get on more expensive Logitech models. It’s an excellent pick if you’re not interested in a decked-out gaming keyboard, or you’re just getting started.
A 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 ($179), the Mini is compatible with Razer's key cap kits, so you can customize your color scheme. I like the mercury white with pink key caps.
If you're interested in customizing your mechanical keyboard but aren’t sure where to start, the NZXT Function (8/10, WIRED Recommends) strikes the perfect sweet spot. The company's builder tool lets you pick the kind of switches, key caps, and even cable color for your keyboard, and the company will put it all together for you.
You can leave it at that, but if you want to customize the board further, it will ship with tools to remove and replace every key cap and switch, along with spares of each. The Function also comes with some nice features, like a left-side volume wheel, RGB LEDs (naturally), and software to remap or customize every button with macros to maximize your productivity.
Part of the appeal of getting into customizing your keyboard is making it a reflection of your personality or just brightening up your office. The Logitech Pop Keys (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a shortcut to that kind of expression. This small, wireless, mechanical keyboard comes in a variety of vibrant color palettes that are absolutely 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.
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. 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 flexibility to tweak it later without too much commitment.
Apple has a lot of really nice chiclet-style keyboards, but if you're a fan of old-school mechanical keyboards, then the Das Keyboard MacTigr (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is gonna be for you. It has a dedicated Mac layout, smooth, responsive Cherry MX Red switches, and a particularly luxurious volume knob. It doesn't come with backlighting or any special colors—it's matte black or nothing—but it has dual USB-C ports, which is really nice.
An oldie but a goodie, the Japanese Filco Majestouch was among the earliest of mechanical keyboards to make waves in the US in the 2000s. Product reviewer Matt Jancer has used one without a numpad for six years, with a combination of Cherry MX Browns, Blacks, Reds, Silent Reds, or Blues. Jancer reports that it's weighted to keep it from moving under mad writing sessions, and the typing experience is sublime. It's a classic—if you can find it in stock.
For 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 key are comfortable, and it uses proximity sensors to activate the keys' backlight when your hands get near it so that it's easier to find in the dark, without being distracting or 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.
Some people must have a keyboard with a number pad, whether to do a lot of quick math or to add a lot of time codes or hex values as a designer. The sturdiest we found without breaking out a soldering iron is the Monsgeek M2. For $130, you get a gorgeous and hefty aluminum shell in this hot-swappable 1800 compact layout, so you get a nice numpad on the right.
Associate editor Parker Hall likes that it has three lights milled into the right side between the backspace key and the number-lock key, making it easy to tell whether you've got caps lock on or not. This keyboard is compatible with Akko MDA/SAL profile keycaps, and options for cool caps are plentiful. You can buy switches from Monsgeek with the board or supply your own. Hall's favorites are the Novelkey Kailh Box Pink ($33).
★ Alternative: The GMMK 2 96% is the more affordable competitor, made from high-quality plastic rather than aluminum. It comes with my beloved numpad and also a set of GMMK’s Glorious Panda switches ($25), which are among the best tactile switches I've used. Keycap options from GMMK are plentiful, or you can supply your own. The company's desktop app also allows you to add hotkeys, adjust the LEDs on the board, and set profiles for different tasks.
Mechanical 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.
What’s the point of having a mechanical keyboard if you can’t see those meticulously engineered switches at work, right? That’s the design philosophy behind the Vulcan 120 Aimo and its white- and aluminum-clad cousin, the 122 Aimo. Both put Roccat's custom-built Titan switches on display with thin little key caps. The switches are illuminated from below with delightfully bright and customizable RGB lighting.
Case Fan Designed for gaming, Roccat’s switches feel quick, responsive, and tactile. They help make the Vulcan 120 and 122 precision instruments designed for competitive play. Oh, did we mention the keyboard is incredibly loud? And we mean that in the very best way. It’s clicky, clacky, and so satisfying to type on. Writing this article with it feels like typing up a thunderstorm.