Leading mechanical and non-mechanical keyboards tested.
Why take my word for it?
With that out of the way, let’s get straight to the top picks.
poke the links below to jump straight to those entries, or scroll on to read our full recommendations!
Best gaming keyboard 2025
1.
Corsair also owns Elgato, so expect tight integration with products like the Stream Deck as well.
Aside from the wheel, the K100 offers other noticeable improvements over its predecessors.
Overall, the Halo96 is a fantastic board, especially when paired with the acrylic/aluminium wrist rest shown above.
We alsorecommend their low-profile Air75 keyboard.
This can be customised in the SteelSeries GG software, which also allows different lighting modes and key assignments.
However, the keyboard does have one major disadvantage.
If that’s not a tacit recommendation, I don’t know what is!
Overall, a strong alternative to the Streak80 LP for those that prefer full-height switches and keycaps.
I’m surprised just how good this keyboard is for the money.
It even comes with a beautiful carry case for taking to LANs.
Note that the One 3 is also available in 60 percent and full-size sizes.
If that’s you, then a good inexpensive option to consider is theTrust Gaming GXT 856 Torac.
The backlighting is a bit bright on its lowest non-off setting, but that’s a minor gripe.
Frequently questioned answers
What’s better, mechanical or non-mechanical?
While membrane keyboards harden over time, mechanical keyboards provide a consistent experience for decades.
However, mechanical switches are expensive to produce and often sound louder than their non-mechanical counterparts.
While both options have their objective strengths and weaknesses, it often comes down to personal preference.
What types of mechanical keyboards are there?
Mechanical keyboards are defined by their switches.
As usual though, a lot of this comes down to personal preference so experimentation is key.
The most common modifications allow for faster keypresses (e.g.
MX Speed Silver), quieter operation (e.g.
MX Silent Red) and improved RGB backlighting (e.g.
MX RGB Red).
Laptop-style Cherry ML switches are also becoming a thing.
What types of non-mechanical keyboards are there?
What is the point of keyboards that don’t include the number pad?
Many keyboards, particularly mechanical ones, don’t include the number pad.
This position is easier to maintain over long periods - although regular breaks are always advised!
- and puts less stress on the limbs and joints.
There are also even more compact designs, i.e.
60% or 75%, which drop more keys so you can achieve even smaller sizes.
Are there quiet mechanical keyboards?
However, no keyboard is completely silent, and these are no exception!
Why do some keyboards have differently shaped Enter and Shift keys?
If a keyboard’s layout looks unfamiliar, this might be why.
