Best mechanical keyboards to buy for work and gaming
The best mechanical keyboard is one that is designed for typing, rather than anything else. These keyboards emphasize productivity, tactility, and feel. Rather than being flashy or fancy, mechanical keyboards are made to withstand day-to-day keypresses and general typing use.
Interestingly enough, they can also boost your gaming.
Mechanical keyboards come with different key switches that fit a wide range of preferences. What makes the best mechanical board is how well it provides a mechanical switch feel, actuation, and essential features such as macros, media keys, and backlighting.
10 Best Mechanical Keyboards in 2021
Here is our list of the best mechanical keyboards to buy in 2021:
- Logitech G Pro X Keyboard
- Logitech Craft Keyboard
- Razer Huntsman Mini
- Logitech G513 Carbon
- Roccat Vulcan 120/121/122 Aimo
- SteelSeries Apex Pro
- Razer Huntsman Elite
- Logitech G413 Mechanical Keyboard
- Filco Majestouch 2
- Das Keyboard 5QS
Das Keyboard 5QS
Best Mechanical Keyboard for Smart Homes
Price: $199.00
Imagine a keyboard that can talk to your microwave or refrigerator, incredible, right?
The Das Keyboard 5QS is a sturdy and ingeniously made gaming keyboard with flashy features such as an adjustable knob for extra controls and RGB backlighting. This mechanical keyboard can be connected to your smart home devices.
With the help of IFTTT shortcuts, users can train their keyboards to turn down their smart lights, flash a particular key for reminders, or even alert you to a garage door being left open. In our present world, with Wi-Fi-linked juicers and smart mugs for coffee, think of the extra control a functional mechanical keyboard will provide for your devices at home and even at work.
This mechanical keyboard can be used for gaming as its switches are fast, tactile, and responsive. These triple features give the Vulcan 120 and 122 an edge when used during competitive play. It is also loud, and typing with it feels like a click-clack concert.
Filco Majestouch 2
Best Classic Keyboard
Price: $129.00
The Japanese Filco Majestouch was one of the first mechanical keyboards to achieve mass popularity in the United States in the 2000s. It can be used with Cherry MX Blacks, Silent Reds, Blues, Browns, or Blacks.
This mechanical keyboard is weighted, so it stays put during intense typing and writing sessions. Although it has no Numpad, it is still an OG.
Logitech G413 Mechanical Keyboard
Amazon Choice and Best Budget-friendly Mechanical Keyboard
Price: $64.00
Most people don’t have great experiences with buying “low-cost” or “budget” keyboards. However, the Logitech G413 is anything but the usual budget keyboard. This mechanical keyboard is aesthetically pleasing and has a similar build to the higher Logitech models, and it has a subtly designed black chassis and quite impressive Lightsync RGB lighting.
If you search for the best mechanical keyboard under $100, this wired keyboard is a great choice. Also, if you’re new to the mechanical keyboard world or don’t need a fully fitted keyboard, get the Logitech G413.
Razer Huntsman Elite
Best mechanical keyboard for competitive gaming
Price: $159.99
The Huntsman Elite is a durable, lightweight keyboard competitive gamers will have a lot of fun using. This mechanical keyboard doesn’t come with a number pad, which gives you extra space for your mouse-pad and mouse. Furthermore, its switches are set up to deliver impressively fast actuation times.
Imagine every single switch as a hypersensitive nerve ready to send signals at the slightest touch. This is how playing games feel when you use this keyboard. You can also customize your keyboard’s color scheme with the help of Razer’s keycap kits.
This mechanical keyboard is the best mechanical keyboard because, in addition to its swift actuation, it is loud in an auditory-pleasing manner. Every single keystroke gives off a perceptible clack that makes your typing experience feel very thrilling, even if you’re just simply typing a to-do list. However, this keyboard may not be the best choice if you work in an open-layout office or are seated close to a fellow worker.
SteelSeries Apex Pro
Best mechanical keyboard for custom lighting
Price: $163.46
If there’s one thing mechanical keyboards are known for, it is how terrifically satisfying they are to type with and type on. The feeling they give is miles better than regular membrane keyboards.
The switches responsible for this soothing typing experience are wide-ranging. As a result, SteelSeries decided to allow all switches in their Apex Pro Mechanical Keyboards rather than just selecting one.
With its many flashy features, this colorful keyboard functions great for gaming, just like it does for typing. The SteelSeries Apex Pro comes with mechanical switches that can be modified and personalized per key to delivering a typing experience that suits your preference. In addition, the keyboard has a small LED display for volume control, system alerts, and other cool stuff you can find while using SteelSeries software.
Roccat Vulcan 120/121/122 Aimo
Best Mechanical Keyboard for Bold Lighting
Price: $159.99
One of the greatest things about owning and using a mechanical keyboard is the experience of seeing the detailed set-up switches work. The design viewpoint behind the Vulcan 120 Aimo and its white-and-aluminum-bodied cousin, the 122 Aimo, make a grand show of mechanical switches.
Both of these keyboards place Roccat’s customized Titan switches on display using small slim keycaps. The loud switches are then brightened up from underneath with beautifully bold and adjustable RGB lighting.
Logitech G513 Carbon
Best Mechanical Keyboard for home office use
Price: $130.74
For a gaming keyboard, the Logitech G513 is remarkably subtle. It comes with sharp, colorful RGB lighting and customized mechanical switches. It is the best mechanical keyboard for users who want a keyboard they can use for everything.
In contrast to most gaming equipment, it isn’t overly flashy, so it blends right into the office space. It is discreet and minimalist in matte black.
Yet, it can offer all the features you would find in a premium-priced mechanical keyboard, such as sturdy keys, a full-sized numerical pad, and customizable lighting (RGB lighting).
Users can easily select which switch the keyboard should have, such as GX Blue Switches, Romer-G Linear, and Romer-G Tactile.
Razer Huntsman Mini
Best compact gaming keyboard
Price: $70.14
The Razer Huntsman Mini is a 60 percent keyboard. A 60% percent keyboard contains 60% of the keys typically found on a standard-sized keyboard for those who don’t know what this is. The arrow keys and numeric pad are both stripped off, and all that’s left on the keyboard are the basics.
The Huntsman Mini is one of the best mechanical keyboards for gaming, and it has as much responsiveness and speed as a standard-sized keyboard while taking up considerably less space on your desk.
This keyboard is a fantastic choice for users who love minimalist equipment that fits neatly into their arranged space. In addition, it is compatible with Razer’s keycap kits, so you modify the color scheme to suit your taste.
Logitech Craft Keyboard
Best Mechanical Keyboard for Productivity
Price: $199.99
The Logitech Craft is the best mechanical keyboard for productivity. It fits right into your workstation regardless of what it looks like. Its body is made of matte-grey and aluminum plastic, while the keycaps are designed in “quiet-island” style. It is also wireless and can last up to a week after one charge.
One of the most prominent features of this mechanical keyboard is called “the Crown.” The crown is a special input dial used on the Logitech Craft. The inbuilt software in the Logitech Craft has dozens of pre-programmed profiles to enhance its use in different applications.
The craft can identify which application is being used and can configure the Crown to react correctly.
With just a touch, you can use the Crown to change functions and access context-defined functions. With a single twist, you can switch between Chrome browser tabs or adjust your music volume.
Logitech G Pro X Keyboard
Best Mechanical Keyboard Overall
Price: $129.99
You might already have a favorite type of switch, but what if you want to try a new kind of switch? Or what if you don’t know what type of mechanical keyboard switch to pick? The Logitech G Pro X offers a solid solution to both problems.
This mechanical keyboard provides key kits that let you customize all the keys on your new keyboard. You can select from three switch types – GX Red Linear (which provides a smooth, quiet satisfying stroke), GX Brown Tactile (which provides a tactile response with soft stroke), and GX Blue Clicky switches (which provides a thick keystroke and sharp click).
Typically, most people use the Blue switches for the W, A, S, and D keys (for movement while playing games), and the Red switches on the other letters to smoothen out the whole typing process. You can also use the brown switches for the shift keys and spacebar to ramp up your typing.
Due to this remarkable capacity for customization, the Logitech G Pro X is one of our all-around favorite mechanical keyboards. Regardless of your preference, it always allows you to set up and enjoy the perfect typing and gaming experience.
Related Articles
What to Look For in a Mechanical Keyboard
When looking for the best mechanical keyboard to buy, you need to pay attention to your personal preference and mostly to the type of switch used and the auditory or tactile feedback it provides.
It is also necessary to take note of the pressure required by the switches to activate. This is known as the “actuation force,” It significantly influences the keyboard functionality and occurrence levels of finger fatigue.
Conclusion
Mechanical keyboards are a great way to enhance your typing experience and improve your gaming experience. These keyboards offer an incredibly satisfying level of feedback while typing or simply pressing down on the keys. So, if you do a lot of gaming or typing, consider getting a mechanical keyboard for functionality and aesthetics.
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