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The 6 Best Gaming Keyboards of 2025

Updated Feb 12, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Best Gaming Keyboards

Shopping for the best keyboard for gaming can be confusing, but we'll keep it simple. The most important factors to consider are the latency (how responsive a keyboard is), the switch types (the feeling of the keypress and the noise it makes), as well as the overall build quality, comfort, and feel. From there, you can decide if you'd like additional features like RGB backlighting, media controls, or software customization options that help make your board feel just right for you.

Should you trust us? We test each keyboard in the same way, on the same standardized test bench, to produce fair, comparable reviews. We also buy each one ourselves, ensuring complete independence from manufacturers. See just how we test keyboards and judge for yourself.

We've tested over 250 keyboards, and below are our recommendations for the best non-mechanical and best mechanical keyboards for gaming. If you're looking for a keyboard that isn't strictly gaming-focused, check out our recommendations for the best keyboards, the best TKL keyboards, or the best mechanical keyboards. Alternatively, if you're more interested in lighting, see our best RGB keyboards, or if you're on a strict budget, our best budget gaming keyboards.


  1. Best Gaming Keyboard

    For most people, we recommend the NuPhy Field75HE as the best gaming keyboard. Its standout feature is its Hall effect switches that let you adjust the actuation distance (sensitivity) of any key. Its web-based software offers lots of customizations that can give you advantages in certain games—especially FPS and rhythm games—with features like mod tap and rapid trigger. It also boasts an 8000Hz polling rate. It's easy to get caught up in the hype around higher polling rates, but in the NuPhy’s case, it actually helps lower latency and keeps it consistent. While this isn't a difference you'll notice, it's measurable and can affect performance at a very competitive level.

    This keyboard feels impressively well built, with a sturdy plastic chassis, PBT keycaps, multiple layers of acoustic foam, and metal hardware like a knurled volume wheel and carrying handle. You can choose between Gateron Magnetic White or more expensive Magnetic Jade switches; both are lightweight and linear, though the Jades have a slightly shorter total travel distance and a brighter, clacky sound profile many prefer (see a typing comparison on YouTube). You can also fully remap all keys, and NuPhy just added macro support for the eight dedicated macro keys, a feature missing at launch.

    With that glowing praise out of the way, there are downsides. First, the look of this keyboard won't be for everyone or fit into all setups. Second, while it has per-key RGB lighting, the keycaps lack shine-through legends, and the LEDs are south-facing. If these aren't dealbreakers, we recommend this keyboard for gamers of all stripes.

    See our review

  2. Best Gaming Keyboard For Enthusiasts

    The Wooting 80HE is our top recommendation for enthusiasts. A standout in high-end gaming circles, it's sold exclusively through Wooting's website and comes in two case options: PCR plastic or a more premium zinc alloy. Like our top pick, the NuPhy Field75 HE, its defining feature is the Hall-effect switches, which allow for precise per-key actuation adjustments. Like the NuPhy, it also features a gasket mount design, though Wooting’s implementation is notably stiffer, resulting in a less cushioned typing feel. Where the Wooting truly shines, however, is in its slightly better raw performance and consistent 8000Hz polling. Is this difference noticeable in-game? Honestly, no. But for gamers laser-focused on achieving the absolute best performance, the 80HE delivers the lowest measurable latency of any keyboard we’ve tested.

    Performance aside, the Wooting has several other standout advantages. Available as a web-based client or a downloadable local app, Wooting’s software is widely regarded as best-in-class—intuitive, easy to navigate, and packed with advanced features like Rapid Trigger and Mod Tap. Wooting’s strong track record for long-term product support is another highlight, with frequent performance tweaks and new features for older models. On top of that, its four-year warranty—much longer than other manufacturers on this list—further cements the 80HE as an easy recommendation for any enthusiast.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Gaming Keyboard

    The best keyboard for gaming we've tested at the mid-range price point is the Corsair K70 RGB TKL. Along with outstanding gaming performance, it features excellent build quality with a hard plastic chassis, durable PBT keycaps, and ergonomic kickstands that open sideways, so you don’t accidentally collapse them if nudged. Similar to our top pick, the NuPhy Field75 HE, this keyboard supports an 8000Hz polling rate, though with a slightly lower effective update rate of up to 4000Hz. As mentioned, while these polling rate figures make a measurable difference, it isn't one you’ll notice when gaming.

    The main difference from the NuPhy Field75HE is that the K70 uses mechanical switches. You can choose either Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Speed switches. While you can’t adjust the actuation point, both feel light and smooth, with the Speed switches offering a shorter pre-travel distance ideal for reaction-based gaming.

    This keyboard is part of Corsair’s K70 lineup, featuring mid-range gaming keyboards in various sizes with different features. We recommend the TKL size for its performance and form factor, as it gives you more room for mouse movements. If you prefer a full-size option, the Corsair K70 CORE is usually cheaper. It’s also quieter, thanks to sound-dampening material in the case and spacebar, though it doesn’t match the TKL’s raw performance and has a standard polling rate of 1000Hz. 

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Gaming Keyboard

    If other picks are a bit out of your price range, the Razer Huntsman Mini is our best budget pick. Although it’s an older model, it still stands out for its price-to-performance ratio. Note that we tested this keyboard on an earlier test bench, so some results, particularly latency, aren’t directly comparable to other picks. Check our updated review of the full-size Razer Huntsman for the latest latency measurements, which also apply to the Mini.

    This keyboard feels very sturdy build-wise, even compared to the more premium options on this list. One of its major selling points is its gaming-friendly compact size, which gives your setup a minimal look and leaves plenty of room for sweeping mouse movements. It uses Razer's Optical switches, available in clicky or linear varieties. Although they feel like standard mechanical switches, they use a beam of light to register keystrokes, resulting in an extremely responsive experience. Like other Razer models, it offers all standard software customization features, including macro programming, per-key RGB lighting effects, and onboard storage for custom profiles.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Gaming Keyboard

    Look no further than the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL for a cheaper option. Its TenKeyLess form factor leaves you plenty of space on your desk for sweeping mouse movements. While most options on this list use more mechanical or Hall-effect switches, this keyboard has rubber dome switches. These switches are fairly light to press and very quiet compared to most mechanical switches. This switch type is also more resistant to small spills and debris. However, they have a longer pre-travel distance, making them a bit less responsive.

    This keyboard's latency is higher than on more premium options, so we don't recommend it for high-stakes competitive play, but it's more than suitable for casual gaming in any genre. It also has some extra features that are rare at this price point, including the ability to set macros to any key, dedicated media keys, and a volume wheel. It has RGB lighting, though the keys aren't individually lit, so you only have eight customizable zones. If you'd prefer a more traditional form factor, there's a full-size version of this keyboard, the SteelSeries Apex 3. It's virtually identical apart from its size, but it includes a wrist rest and is typically only a bit more expensive.

    See our review

  6. Best Wireless Gaming Keyboard

    If you're specifically looking for a wireless gaming keyboard, we recommend the Logitech G715. While it doesn't offer adjustable key actuation or support polling rates higher than 1000Hz, it still delivers excellent all-around latency performance. And, unlike the rest of our recommendations on this list, it offers wireless connectivity, giving you more freedom in your setup and reducing desktop clutter without sacrificing performance.

    This keyboard has a playful visual style with a plush, cloud-shaped wrist rest, pastel-colored accents, clear shine-through RGB key legends, and a nice 'underglow' effect from the frosted RGB lighting strip around the unit. Plus, it's a great out-of-the-box unit that doesn't require programming or tweaking any settings to get it to feel just right. Whether you use it wired with the included USB-A to USB-C cable or wirelessly with its USB receiver, it delivers a responsive gaming experience with no noticeable delay. You can get this unit with your choice of Logitech's own GX switches in the usual offerings of linear red, tactile brown, or clicky blue, so you can pick the feel you prefer.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • ASUS ROG Azoth:

    The ASUS ROG Azoth is an outstanding alternative to the NuPhy Field75 HE if you're looking for wireless connectivity. It's a bit more expensive than the NuPhy, and it uses mechanical switches that don't allow you to change actuation settings. However, it has excellent all-around latency performance, a programmable OLED screen, and a hot-swappable PCB.

    See our review
  • SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023):

    The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL uses Hall-effect switches with adjustable actuation, like the NuPhy Field75 HE. It's also a bit less expensive, and it has a programmable OLED screen and shine-through keycaps. Unfortunately, it doesn't perform as well, and both the build quality and typing quality aren't as good.

    See our review
  • DrunkDeer A75:

    The DrunkDeer A75 is a more affordable alternative to the NuPhy Field75 HE that also uses Hall-effect switches, but it has shine-through keycaps and a more straightforward aesthetic. However, it doesn't perform quite as well, its build materials feel cheaper, and the typing experience isn't as premium-feeling overall.

    See our review
  • Wooting 60HE:

    This keyboard is a smaller sibling to the Wooting 80HE and is a great option if you prefer a compact 60% layout. Due to its standard design, it offers more hardware customizability and compatibility with a wide array of aftermarket cases. That said, it doesn't support an 8000Hz polling rate and falls a bit short of the 80HE's total raw performance output.

    See our review
  • Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.]:

    While not specifically marketed as a dedicated gaming keyboard, the Keychron V5 Max boasts remarkably good latency performance, especially given its budget pricing. It's typically more expensive than the Razer Huntsman Mini but offers added wireless connectivity and a more premium-feeling typing experience overall. It has south-facing LEDs, and its keycaps aren't shine-through, so you can't read the key legends in darker rooms.

    See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 12, 2025:

    No change in recommendations. Small text changes for conciseness and clarity.

  2. Dec 18, 2024:

    We've moved the Wooting 60HE from its spot as our 'Best Enthusiast' pick into the Notable Mentions section and replaced it with the new Wooting 80HE. It's more expensive but offers a better overall typing experience, superior build quality, and slightly lower latency performance with support for 8000Hz polling.

  3. Nov 14, 2024:

    We've replaced our former 'Best Gaming Keyboard' pick, the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023), with the NuPhy Field75 HE. It's typically more expensive but offers better build quality, better typing quality, and significantly better raw gaming performance. We've also moved the Logitech G715 into a new category to provide a better spread of price options.

  4. Sep 13, 2024: We've refreshed some of our text in several places and audited all our picks for relevance, pricing, and availability. We aren't making any changes to our lineup with this update.

  5. Jun 19, 2024: We've checked all picks for their ongoing availability and pricing; no changes to our lineup of recommendations at this time.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best non-mechanical and best mechanical keyboards for gaming for most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper product wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no keyboard that is difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to do the work of choosing the best gaming keyboard yourself, here is the list of all our relevant reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no product is perfect for every use, most keyboards are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them. Be sure to know your key switch preferences before choosing.

Comments

  1. Recommendation

Best Gaming Keyboards: Main Discussion

What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.


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    Hello! EVGA Z15 was #1 on this list a few years back but now it’s not even in the list anymore. Was there a specific reason it was taken out?

    Hey Primoo357,

    We removed the EVGA Z15 from our recommendations in December 2022.

    The EVGA Z15 no longer stands out against newer hot-swappable, wired mechanical gaming keyboards in the same price range, particularly in terms of build quality. Most of our current recommendations come with higher-quality PBT keycaps, better acoustic dampening, and pre-lubed switches and stabilizers, among other improvements. Additionally, we’ve seen an increase in reports of long-term build quality issues and occasional connectivity problems with the EVGA Z15, which sometimes require unplugging the keyboard or even rebooting the computer to reconnect.

    Despite these drawbacks, we still think the EVGA Z15 is a good keyboard, especially given its now lower and more stable price point. However, it no longer holds up against the competition enough to keep its place on our list of recommended picks.

    I hope that answers your question. Thanks for reaching out!

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    Hello! EVGA Z15 was #1 on this list a few years back but now it’s not even in the list anymore. Was there a specific reason it was taken out?

  3. Update: No change in recommendations. Small text changes for conciseness and clarity.

    What do you think of these changes? Let us know

    Show More Updates
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    Honestly, I don’t think the Field75 HE deserves the top spot. It’s constantly out of stock and very difficult to get a hold of (especially in the EU). You can find some offers on Ebay but the listings there are usually more expensive than the price of a Wooting 80HE…

    Hi Milkymilkshake, That’s a great point!

    For some extra context, our price and availability recommendations are primarily made from a North American market perspective. That’s not to say we don’t consider other regions, but it can get tricky!

    But you’re right that the NuPhy Field75 HE doesn’t look as compelling for people in the EU at the moment—it’s been harder to find and typically more expensive, especially with shipping. We’ll keep an eye on the situation and may add some extra context to our text with our next update.

    Thanks for reaching out, and best wishes!

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    Honestly, I don’t think the Field75 HE deserves the top spot. It’s constantly out of stock and very difficult to get a hold of (especially in the EU). You can find some offers on Ebay but the listings there are usually more expensive than the price of a Wooting 80HE…

  6. Update: We’ve moved the Wooting 60HE from its spot as our ‘Best Enthusiast’ pick into the Notable Mentions section and replaced it with the new Wooting 80HE. It’s more expensive but offers a better overall typing experience, superior build quality, and slightly lower latency performance with support for 8000Hz polling.

    What do you think of these changes? Let us know

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    Wooting 80HE not in the list? :/