Best gaming keyboards in 2025

Whether you're a fan of FPS titles or the latest cozy game, having one of the best gaming keyboards on your desk is key to a great PC gaming experience.

There are plenty of laptops out there with snappy keyboards, but nothing beats a mechanical gaming keyboard when it comes to performance. This is especially true if you enjoy fast-paced competitive games like esports titles, where the quality of your keyboard can make the difference between winning and losing.

(Of course, the hardware you're gaming on also plays a major role, so remember to check out our guide to the best gaming laptops and the best gaming mice to complete your battlestation.)

I've tested dozens of keyboards, from low-profile travel keyboards to some of the top esports keyboards on the market. So, whether you're looking for the best budget gaming keyboard or a high-performance gaming beast with lightning-fast Hall Effect switches, I've got a great pick to recommend.

This guide covers the top gaming keyboards of the year, hand-selected after hours of testing and hands-on gameplay with titles in a variety of genres.

Stevie Bonifield

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist who loves laptops, gaming gear, and especially keyboards and mice. After reviewing dozens of gaming products for Laptop Mag, Stevie is an expert in the world of peripherals, including gaming keyboards and the top-tier switches it takes to get your next high score.

The Quick List

Best gaming keyboard overall

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The Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is the best overall gaming keyboard. It combines top-notch performance with fantastic design and plenty of features.

The BlackWidow V4 75% sounds and feels great for typing and gaming. That's no surprise since Razer went all-out on sound quality upgrades. It's gasket-mounted and even has a pre-installed tape mod, enhancing each keystroke's acoustics. So, the updated Razer Orange tactile switches sound and feel premium right out of the box.

The BlackWidow V4 75% also features a built-in volume roller and media keys, which are convenient for games and everyday use. It delivered excellent performance in all of our tests, including a variety of games and weeks of daily use. The tactile keys are light and fast yet still feature the tactile feedback many gamers love. Whether you're a casual gamer or an esports athlete, it's hard to go wrong with this one.

Read our full review of the Razer BlackWidow V4 75%.

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Best budget gaming keyboard

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For just $80, the Epomaker x Aula F75 delivers a fantastic gaming and typing experience. It's a step up from more basic mechanical keyboards, laptop keyboards, or membrane keyboards, but it's still reasonably affordable. Whether you're new to gaming or a price-conscious gamer, the Epomaker x Aula F75 will give you the performance you need to dominate the scoreboard without emptying your wallet.

The Epomaker x Aula F75 has smooth, responsive Leobog Reaper linear switches. They're super comfy to type on but also deliver some serious speed during gaming sessions. You can use the Aula F75 wired or wireless with Bluetooth or the 2.4GHz USB dongle.

There are a couple of minor drawbacks to the Epomaker x Aula F75, but nothing that impacts performance. I would have preferred for this keyboard to come with a braided cable instead of rubber, but the wireless connectivity is good. The RGB backlighting is also not fully addressable, but limited to a dozen or so preset modes. However, those are some pretty reasonable compromises considering the price.

See our full Epomaker x Aula F75 review.

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Best esports gaming keyboard

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If you're looking for the best esports keyboard money can buy, the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL should be at the top of your list. It features speedy Hall Effect switches, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. SteelSeries went all out on software features, including a few that could make the difference between winning and losing in competitive gaming.

For example, Protection Mode helps prevent "fat fingering" and accidentally hitting certain keys, like those adjacent to the WASD keys. Similarly, Rapid Tap improves speed and precision by automatically prioritizing the most recent keystroke when two keys are activated at the same time (i.e. holding down a key won't cancel out a later key press). This feature is especially useful in games like PUBG and other shooters where actions like counter-strafing are vital for accurate aim.

Since the Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL uses hall effect switches, you can customize the actuation point in each individual switch. This allows you to optimize specific switches for your playstyle, such as setting a deeper actuation point for action keys and a higher actuation point for movement keys. Plus, you can create custom configuration with different actuation points, Rapid Tap, and Protection Mode settings for different games.

See our full SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL review.

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Best full-size gaming keyboard

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More and more new gaming keyboards are TKL or smaller, making full-size gems rare. Luckily, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is one of the best gaming keyboards out there and it's full size, making it a top pick for MMO and MOBA players or anyone who needs space for macros. This pricey but premium battle station has all the keys you need, including the number pad.

The BlackWidow V4 Pro comes in a sleek matte black chassis that's equipped with a slew of extra knobs and media keys for controlling volume, playback, and any other functions you want to assign to them. All of the bonus keys, including the knob and textured roller, are addressable through Razer Synapse, adding room for even more macros. Razer Synapse is also where you can customize the BlackWidow V4 Pro's addressable RGB backlighting.

To sweeten the deal even more, the BlackWidow V4 Pro includes a comfy faux leather wrist rest right out of the box. It also has a bit of texture, which is excellent for those who get sweaty palms during gaming sessions.

See our full Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro review.

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Best compact gaming keyboard

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Competitive gaming requires a keyboard with fast, consistent switches and a reliable, low-latency connection. The Endgame Gear KB65HE provides both and in a chassis that's small enough to travel with or comfortably fit on any desk.

This compact gaming keyboard puts performance first with incredibly fast Gateron KS-37B Hall Effect switches. These magnetic hall effect switches eliminate the mechanical friction you'd get in normal switches, allowing for faster, smoother keystrokes. You can even customize the actuation point of the switches to fit your unique playstyle.

The 65% size makes the KB65HE easy to angle on your desk to maximize ergonomics for the WASD keys. The full-aluminum case ensures the KB65HE won't move around on your desk during gameplay. It also means this little keyboard is durable enough to handle traveling to gaming competitions, so you can always have your favorite gear with you.

This is easily one of the best gaming keyboards for travel and a top pick for competitive gamers, whether you're a pro or a casual Overwatch player looking to upgrade your gear.

See our full Endgame Gear KB65HE review.

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Best optical gaming keyboard

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Razer's Huntsman series is tough to beat when it comes to optical switches. Their latest model, the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL, is a slick, featured-packed powerhouse.

Optical switches aren't for everyone, but they can offer a serious bump in performance, which is the case with the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL. One beneficial feature of the optical switches on this keyboard is the ability to customize the actuation point, much like on a Hall Effect keyboard. The pre-set Rapid Trigger mode is also great for quickly setting the actuation point to maximize keystroke speed.

The Huntsman V3 Pro TKL includes a volume wheel and media buttons to adjust your audio during games easily. As a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, it's compact enough to easily angle on your desk while retaining the crucial function and media keys.

Read our full review of the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL.

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How to choose one of the best gaming keyboards

This list includes some of the best gaming keyboards you can buy, but you might still wonder how to choose the right one. Every gamer has a different price, playstyle, and favorite genre, so prioritizing one or two features can help narrow your search.

If you want to spend less than $100 on a new gaming keyboard, go for the Epomaker x Aula F75. There's no shame in trying to save money on gaming gear, and this keyboard will provide top-notch performance similar to much more expensive options. Plus, it comes in some fun color options.

For most gamers with a budget of $100 or more, the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% is the best choice. It strikes the right balance of speed, build quality, and size to fit any playstyle or genre.

However, some gaming genres with unique demands call for specially equipped gaming keyboards. First, if you're a fan of MMOs and MOBAs or other games that need a lot of macro keys, go for the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro. This full-size keyboard is decked out with all the keys and knobs you could want.

Likewise, competitive gamers who like esports titles or other fast-paced games should go for either the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 TKL, Endgame Gear KB65HE, or the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL. These keyboards use specialty switches that minimize friction to maximize actuation speed. They're all similarly priced, so it comes down to the size and type of switches you prefer (magnetic or optical).

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