9 Best Mechanical Keyboards (2025), Tested and Reviewed

2 months ago 29

Other Good Keyboards

These keyboards are not rather bully capable for the spots above, oregon conscionable don't person standout features. They're inactive worthy a look.

Photograph: Henri Robbins

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% for $300: Razer’s highest-end keyboard does astir everything right, but it’s mode excessively costly (7/10, WIRED Review). The Pro keeps the aforesaid beardown tactile switches and gasket mounting strategy of the archetypal BlackWidow V4 75% and adds wireless connectivity, a caller dial connected the side, and a customizable OLED surface close adjacent to it. These upgrades don't warrant the $110 terms bump, but they’re inactive incredibly well-executed and travel unneurotic to marque an awesome gaming keyboard if you tin find it connected sale.

Lemokey L4 for $214: While Lemokey is meant to beryllium Keychron’s gaming-focused lineup, immoderate of its offerings transcend this class to beryllium fantastic all-around keyboards. The L4 is 1 of them, and for the price, I don’t deliberation you could find a amended keyboard for mundane use. It has wireless connectivity with a 1,000-Hz polling rate, gasket mounting, a afloat aluminum assembly, and customization options with QMK and Keychron’s Launcher app, on with hot-swap sockets for rapidly changing your switches. It looks sleek and stylish, has a heavy and marbly typing sound, and the switches are creaseless and responsive erstwhile typing. The gasket-mount strategy has been improved implicit Keychron’s past offerings with the inclusion of silicone “gasket beans,” and tiny details similar a removable sheet connected the backmost to store the USB dongle marque the idiosyncratic acquisition consciousness incredibly thought-out, adjacent erstwhile compared to Keychron’s different offerings.

Keychron K4 HE for $145: The K4 HE takes everything I emotion astir the K2 HE and makes it bigger. This is an 80% layout keyboard with Hall effect switches, a stylish design, and a rigid construction. While the compact layout of the K2 HE is preferable for gaming successful a choky space, the fig pad connected the K4 HE makes it a overmuch much applicable hybrid enactment successful a work-from-home setup, oregon for anyone who regularly inputs numbers. I highly urge this keyboard, adjacent if the size mightiness marque it little applicable for the mean user.

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 for $220: The Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 (6/10, WIRED Review) boasts immoderate awesome specs and feels bully to benignant on. With a 1,000Hz polling rate, immensely customizable and snappy Omnipoint 3.0 switches, and a compact 60% signifier factor, I liked the Mini adjacent if its terms was a spot absurd. This is simply a bully keyboard if recovered connected sale, but it’s not worthy the MSRP.

McHose X75 V2 for $89: The X75 V2 is simply a coagulated hot-swap keyboard that is responsive and enjoyable to benignant on, but the ample integrative lawsuit yet feels a spot toy-like. The integrative case, gasket-mount system, extended dependable dampening, and Hyacinth switches each lend to a deeper “thocky” typing sound, and typing feels crisp and bouncy without immoderate mushiness. The plan is reminiscent of the Space65 keyboard, making this a large budget-minded alternative. However, the integrative lawsuit feels somewhat flimsy and casual to flex, and disassembly for repairs oregon modifications is not peculiarly casual oregon intuitive. The X75 V2, dissimilar the GX87, tin lone beryllium customized utilizing the company's proprietary McHose HUB software. While it's perfectly functional, I interest proprietary bundle could yet go outdated oregon could driblet enactment for a peripheral successful the future, a occupation that’s avoided wholly erstwhile utilizing an unfastened root strategy similar QMK oregon VIA.

Photograph: Henri Robbins

WobKey Rainy 75 for $139: The WobKey Rainy 75 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is simply a large keyboard for mundane typing. It feels brushed and snappy to benignant on, the switches are smooth, and the gasket-mounting strategy is incredibly satisfying. However, it has a fig of unusual issues and unusual plan choices that enactment it down its competitors. The Rainy 75 is simply a large prime if you privation a refined 75% keyboard, oregon if you privation the ASMR typing dependable you’ve seen connected YouTube oregon Instagram, but different picks connected this database are conscionable a spot much intuitive and little glitchy.

Corsair K70 Core Wireless TKL for $150: As Corsair’s astir premium all-mechanical keyboard, the K70 Core Wireless features a compact tenkeyless layout, creaseless linear switches, and a 1,000-Hz polling rate. It besides has 1 of the best-feeling measurement knobs I’ve tested. While it doesn’t person the Hall effect switches of the Pro model, the K70’s MLX Red v2 switches consciousness amended to benignant on, and the keyboard retains its wireless connectivity. It isn’t the champion TKL keyboard connected this list, adjacent astatine its price, but it’s a coagulated and responsive TKL that’s a large prime if you’re already invested successful the Corsair ecosystem.

Elecom VK720A for $180: The VK720A’s standout diagnostic is its keycaps: These are specifically shaped for gaming with subtle divots and curves that your fingers tin easy autumn into. While this isn't groundbreaking, I recovered them enjoyable for gaming without being truthful utmost that they sacrificed wide typing usability. Besides this, the VK720A has a coagulated physique quality, with creaseless and quiescent Hall effect switches and well-tuned stabilizers. I besides appreciated that Elecom raised the instrumentality successful the apical near of the keyboard truthful it tin beryllium easy reached adjacent with taller keycaps. The keyboard is 1 of the fewer Hall effect options connected this database with non-Gateron switches. Instead, it uses silenced HE switches from a shaper called Raesha. These person sound-dampening wrong and usage a much modular assembly with smaller springs. I recovered them responsive and accordant successful regular use—they weren’t importantly amended oregon worse than Gateron switches. Elecom’s bundle makes customization elemental and seamless, with settings to set actuation region and representation 2 inputs astatine antithetic distances of keypress. The VK720A besides offers a diagnostic I’ve ne'er seen before: You tin region the spacebar assembly, stabilizer, and all, and regenerate it with a somewhat shorter spacebar accompanied by a Function key. It’s a caller solution that allows for customization without adjusting the stabilizers, truthful I can’t complain. Despite immoderate clever features, a deficiency of wireless connectivity makes it hard to vie with Keychron’s Hall effect keyboards. However, the specialized keycaps, shortened spacebar, and silenced switches inactive marque this a coagulated enactment if wireless connectivity isn’t a priority.

Cherry XTRFY MX 3.1 for $120: Cherry’s latest introduction into the gaming abstraction is simply a full-size, RGB-heavy keyboard that comes banal with its caller MX2A switches and a “noise-dampening structure” meant to trim typing noise. This keyboard is simply a coagulated enactment with a clacky dependable profile, stylish RGB, and a robust metallic chassis. While it’s a spot unsmooth astir the edges compared to immoderate of the different keyboards connected this list, it has a sturdy, no-frills construction, and Cherry’s switches person repeatedly proven themselves to beryllium long-lasting and reliable.

Wooting 60HE+ for $175: Between an archaic mounting method and agelong hold times for delivery, I conscionable can’t urge the 60HE implicit Keychron’s Q1 HE. While I inactive deliberation it’s a fantastic Hall effect keyboard, it conscionable doesn’t person the aforesaid polish and refinement arsenic Keychron’s offering. The 60HE inactive uses a tray-mount strategy that, portion modular, doesn’t dependable oregon consciousness large to benignant on. Along with that, the integrative lawsuit is disappointing astatine the price; it was erstwhile an acceptable trade-off for customizable Hall effect switches, but Keychron offers a full-metal, gasket-mounted keyboard for astir $50 more, and I deliberation the improvements are worthy the wealth unless you similar a 60% layout oregon privation the quality to usage the 60HE’s wide scope of aftermarket cases.

Cherry KC 200 MX for $90: The KC 200 MX is an incredibly elemental and barebones keyboard that doesn’t adhd thing caller oregon region thing necessary. It’s a full-size mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX2A switches, a metallic plate, and hardly thing else. It’s not customizable, it’s not programmable, but I tin accidental for definite that it volition beryllium durable, reliable, and astatine slightest somewhat enjoyable to benignant connected for years to come.

Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional Hybrid Type-S for $300: While the caller Studio has replaced this exemplary arsenic my prime for programmers, this older mentation is inactive large if you privation thing simpler oregon with a unsocial typing feel. The layout is inactive great, and the Topre switches—a benignant of membrane, benignant of mechanical power with a heavy typing dependable and distinct, rounded tactility—are a joyousness to benignant on. Plus, these keyboards person an extended assemblage with aftermarket parts and guides connected however to modify them. The Pro Hybrid Type-S exemplary specifically has extras similar Bluetooth connectivity and silencing rings. It’s besides reprogrammable utilizing HHKB's proprietary app, though there’s not overmuch crushed to modify the existing layout unless you privation a circumstantial macro oregon alteration to the relation layer. It’s incredibly casual to find connected the utilized marketplace for astir fractional the price, making it a overmuch much tenable alternate to the Studio.

Melgeek Made68 for $149: With a much minimal attack to its plan and a stylish white-and-purple colour scheme, the Made68 has a large table beingness that stands retired from the crowd. Plus, in-depth customization of Melgeek’s Gateron-supplied Hall Effect switches means that incredibly granular adjustments tin beryllium made to this keyboard’s typing experience, adjacent down to the actuation region of idiosyncratic keys. The outer quality tin besides beryllium customized, with removable broadside panels and a swappable airy diffuser connected the back. The diffusers are presently disposable successful black, green, and red, with each including caller metallic broadside panels. However, you volition request a screwdriver acceptable to region immoderate of these panels, since an Allen wrench isn’t included with the keyboard. Overall, the Made68 sounds and feels bully to benignant on. The tray equine isn’t perfect for typing feel, but the emblematic issues with typing consistency aren’t arsenic salient present arsenic different akin keyboards. At this price, a somewhat flawed typing acquisition is simply a worthwhile tradeoff for customizable Hall Effect switches and a satisfying typing sound.

Avoid These Keyboards

HiGround Opal Base 65

Photograph: Henri Robbins; Getty Images

Not each keyboard volition beryllium a winner. Here are a fewer I don't deliberation are worthy the price.

HiGround Opal Base 65 for $120: In my investigating (5/10, WIRED Review), I recovered the Opal Base 65 fell down the contention successful astir each way. With a tray-mount assembly, clunky software, and a single-piece integrative case, I can’t find immoderate crushed to prime this keyboard implicit thing else.

Satechi SM1 for $100: I don’t consciousness compelled oregon inspired by this keyboard by immoderate means, and erstwhile you’re spending $100 oregon much connected a keyboard, it should beryllium inspiring, oregon astatine the precise slightest enjoyable to use. The SM1’s typing acquisition is underwhelming adjacent by the standards of a low-profile keyboard. It sounds hollow to benignant on, has a shallow and scratchy keypress, and the physique prime doesn’t consciousness coagulated astatine all. Despite being mechanical, I would comparison the idiosyncratic acquisition to a laptop’s built-in keyboard successful presumption of operation and typing satisfaction. Combining this with the deficiency of immoderate customization bundle (meaning a wholly fixed layout) and the usage of proprietary tactile switches with nary hot-swap capability, the Satechi SM1 is an underwhelming keyboard each around, particularly erstwhile compared to standard-height mechanical keyboards successful the aforesaid terms range.

Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II for $219: This keyboard aims high, but yet misses. The Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II (4/10, WIRED Review) has incredibly precocious RGB lighting that tin beryllium programmed to show propulsion notifications, upwind forecasts, oregon adjacent banal marketplace changes, but I recovered the excessive simplicity of this to marque it astir useless unless you spent a batch of clip memorizing what antithetic colors corresponded to. Past that, this keyboard felt incredibly dated: The assembly, typing feel, and aesthetics each felt similar a keyboard from the 2010s successful the worst ways.

Chillkey ND75 LP for $105: On paper, this low-profile keyboard hits each the marks for a premium typing-focused keyboard: Full-POM switches, gasket mounting, an aluminum case, screwless metallic assembly, and a surface successful the bottommost close corner. It adjacent comes with other parts for repairs and a acceptable of screws to person the keyboard to a top-mount (which is simply a clever inclusion that I would similar to spot done connected much keyboards). However, the archetypal portion I was sent had a fewer salient issues close retired of the box. Wireless connectivity was inconsistent, and much importantly, the keyboard would perpetually get stuck repeating keys erstwhile typing. I fixed this by disconnecting and reconnecting each the interior cables, but it inactive raised questions astir the keyboard’s physique quality. I was besides sent a “revised” portion from Chilkey that did not person these issues, but the internals appeared identical. I’m besides not definite however I consciousness astir the request to region a keycap to power betwixt wired and wireless modes, but I admit the cleaner exterior arsenic a result.

Corsair K70 Pro TKL for $180: While the K70 Pro’s Hall effect switches consciousness large to benignant on, Corsair lone enactment HE switches successful the halfway clump of keys. The relation row, navigation cluster, and different keys not recovered successful the halfway of the keyboard usage Corsair’s MLX Red mechanical switches. This, positive a deficiency of wireless connectivity, makes this keyboard (5/10, WIRED Review) look similar a fund mentation alternatively of its champion of the best, particularly erstwhile compared to likewise priced HE keyboards from brands similar Keychron, which person afloat sum of Hall effect switches.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL for $250: At astir $70 supra the K70 Core TKL, you would expect SteelSeries’ Apex Pro TKL to usage wholly Hall effect switches successful this keyboard. Instead, the Apex Pro TKL inactive has a substance of Hall effect and mechanical switches: The halfway clump is HE, and the extracurricular keys are each mechanical. If you’re buying from SteelSeries, get the Apex Pro Mini instead: You’ll prevention $20, get backmost immoderate table space, and person the aforesaid fig of Hall effect switches.

KSI Wombat Willow for $145: I wanted to similar this keyboard, arsenic it has everything I should like: a unsocial layout, a metallic case, PBT keycaps, and Gateron switches. But it conscionable doesn’t enactment that well. The typing sounds hollow and rattly, the typing angles are either wholly level oregon astir flat, and for immoderate reason, each clip I alteration Caps Lock, it automatically types “20 02 00” (and aft performing a mill reset, it types “01 06 07” instead). I couldn’t find immoderate mode to hole this utilizing KSI’s WB Pouch software. However, it does bash immoderate clever things: The fig pad is placed truthful that the main keyboard’s Enter cardinal tin beryllium pressed with your thumb during use, and the 2 rows of Function keys consolidate a batch of keys vertically to prevention connected horizontal space. I privation the assembly and polish matched up to this keyboard’s large imaginativeness due to the fact that the thought itself is fantastic.

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