If you thought gaming keyboards are all RGB lighting, black plastic and high prices, think again.

The five best mechanical keyboards I’ve tested this year:

1.

As a keyboard, the 1% is also pleasant to use.

keyboards arranged in a line, featuring interesting colour schemes, form factors and features

It’s available fromthe Lofree site, as well as resellers such asMechkeys.comandTheWorkAlley.co.uk.

The Q5 is available in quite a few configurations, something that maker Keychron have made their signature.

Beyond the slightly odd (and high for Keychron!)

a loffree 1% mechanical keyboard, with a unique white transparent ‘ice cube’ appearance

pricing, there’s little to complain about with the Q5.

And if you need a keyboard to reenactthat scene from Wanted, this is the one I’d choose.

The keycaps are made from high-quality doubleshot PBT, and come in three complementary green-ish colours.

the keychron q5 mechanical keyboard, looking thick with a useful volume knob in the upper right

Glorious GMMK 2 Modular Mechanical Keyboard

TheGlorious GMMK 2is the most straightforward and easy-to-recommend keyboard on this list.

It’s an awesome time to get into the hobby, so I hope you’ll join me!

a Yunzii Keynovo IF98 mechanical keyboard, with a green layout and sea motifs

a customised glorious modular keyboard, the GMMK 2, with green and blue keycaps and a compact 65% layout

a razer huntsman mini analog keyboard, with a compact and simple black plastic chassis but more interesting analogue switches beneath