razer deathstalker ultimate gaming keyboard with lcd panel free sample

Razer has announced the DeathStalker Ultimate, a gaming keyboard equipped with a 4-inch integrated touchpad that doubles as an auxiliary LCD display. The peripheral was announced at Gamescom 2012, and it"ll cost $249.99 when it ships in September. You"ll likely note that the gaming peripheral bears a striking resemblance to the RazerStar Wars: The Old Republic branded keyboard — the design is identical, and while the DeathStalker lacks a cheery color palette and strips of LED lighting, it bears the same 10 customizable LCD keys and integrated touchpad.

The DeathStalker Ultimate joins a long line of keyboards with integrated LCD displays — the most recent addition beingMad Catz"s Strike 7. But Razer is attempting to build out a selection of touchscreen apps with its Switchblade UI, coupling its ability to display critical character and game data with tools to take screenshots or check email and browse YouTube while you game. We got an early glimpse of the Switchblade UI on a keyboard with the Razer Blade laptop where it proved to be a so-so touchpad, but promised to make for an awesome independent peripheral — it isn"t quite there yet, but putting it on a keyboard remains a step in the right direction. If the $250 price tag doesn"t give you pause, the DeathStalker Ultimate will begin shipping in September. A $79.99 variant is available for the rest of us, but it scraps the auxiliary display in favor of a traditional number pad, and offers fewer backlighting options.

When Razer first announced the Deathstalker Ultimate back in August, it was met with both excitement and skepticism. The keyboard meant gamers looking to try out Razer"s Switchblade UI, (featured in the Razer Blade) wouldn"t have to shell out $2500 to do so. On the other hand, it also meant gamers looking to try out the technology would have to leave their beloved mechanical keys behind.

The folks at Razer were nice enough to send one over to us, and unboxing it felt a little bit like the holidays were coming around early. Like most of Razer"s newer products, the packaging is minimal, opting out of a driver CD for an online download instead. Included in the box was the keyboard, product manual, quick-start guide, two Razer decal stickers and an LCD screen protector for the keyboard"s touchscreen.

The keyboard itself features a very thick braided cable, with two USB 2.0 plugs for power. While the cable is certainly thick enough to handle some abuse, it isn"t thick enough to become an inconvenience. Unlike the company"s mechanical keyboards, the Deathstalker Ultimate comes with a fixed wrist rest. But don"t be fooled by its name, the wrist rest is close enough to the keys that your palms are what really rests on it. The hard, rubberized surface took a little getting used to, but it did provide a bit of comfort after a few hours of gaming.

After plugging the keyboard in, we made our way over to the Synapse 2.0 website to download the software. Having to create an account just to run the program and download drivers is a bit meddlesome, but we can see how saving macros and peripheral settings into the cloud can be beneficial for professional gamers. Once in, the software itself is pretty straightforward. It comes with all of the bells and whistles of macro creation and profile saving, even letting you link specific profiles to certain games.

While the LCD touchscreen and dynamic buttons didn"t exactly improve our overall gaming experience, it didn"t take anything away either. With the customization available in the Synapse software, the dynamic keys can prove to be pretty convenient macro keys. To be honest, we don"t expect many gamers to look at their keyboards while gaming, but running the YouTube app while doing so can be a nice touch. For example, you could watch (or listen to) a walkthrough video without having to tab out of a game. With the DeathStalker Ultimate, millions of cat videos were at our fingertips, literally.

Currently, there"s only a handful of game-specific applications available for the Switchblade UI, but the ones that are there do work and can be convenient. We used the Counterstrike: Global Offensive app, which let us do things like buy defuse kits or switch weapons with the push of a button. The Team Fortress 2 and Battlefield 3 applications provide similar functionality. Of course, using Synapse to create your own macros would allow even more customization.

Clicking away on the Deathstalker Ultimate definitely isn"t as satisfying as on Razer"s mechanical keyboard line, but it isn"t as bad as gaming on a MacBook keyboard either. The keys were responsive enough for all of our gaming needs, there just wasn"t a satisfying tactile response.

The best Razer keyboards can add the brand"s classic flair to your setup, while also offering some of the most comfortable and reliable PC gaming experiences on the market. These decks do carry a brand tax, though - that Razer logo can add some serious heft to your price tag. However, you don"t need to break the bank to secure yourself one of the best. We"re rounding up Razer keyboards that span the full price range right here, so you know you"re getting solid value for money whatever budget you"re working with.

These decks come in all shapes and sizes - from full-sized control panels to stripped back, minimalist decks. We"re rounding up all our favorites right here, ranking planks across the full price range based on their value and performance.

Razer keyboards are regularly considered some of the best gaming keyboards, and there are plenty of reasons for that air of prestige. These decks cover a range of styles, designs, and mechanisms, with excellent response and a premium feel. Even cheaper membrane decks are well known for their durability and price to performance ratio, offering newcomers and budget setup builders a set of luxury feeling keys without breaking the bank.

We"ve had our paws all over some of the best Razer keyboards in the business, and we"ve rounded up our top picks right here. Not only will you find the absolute best of the best here, though, we"ve brought out our favorites across the full price range.

The keys of the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog are designed to mimic the thumbsticks of a controller. Essentially, each key has a variable actuation point - so you can use different levels of pressure in order to produce a different response from the keyboard. That"s a revelation in our books, allowing us to push harder on a key to run faster, or move with greater precision.

The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog does something we"ve never experienced before, and it stands out in any lineup of the best gaming keyboards as a result.Razer Huntsman V2 Analog review

In our testing, this nifty little feature offered up far smoother gameplay in Watch Dogs: Legion and Elite: Dangerous alike. We were cruising around asteroids, and subtly adjusting our flight patterns with the help of that variable actuation rate. It was a real game-changer - once we set it up. There"s a lot of fiddling required to make the switches perform to their full potential. For example, mapping thumbstick controls to WASD in certain games meant the title itself thought we using a full controller. That meant some commands were being automatically mapped to non-existent trigger buttons. Of course, this was fixed by diving back into the Synapse software, but it"s worth noting that this is not a plug and play affair.

Nevertheless, his is a Razer keyboard designed for FPS, racing, and flight-sim fans, with the WASD keys never feeling so in tune with our own gameplay requirements. While we wouldn"t chalk it up as a necessity, it"s certainly difficult to switch back to a regular deck once you"ve got used to it.

Aside from that key feature, the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog still packs some considerable power under the hood. Razer"s optical switches mean you"re getting a super fast response, but there"s still a mechanical click feel here as well. Add dedicated media keys and dial, USB passthrough, and a luxurious leatherette magnetic wrist rest, and you"ve got yourself a particularly premium deck with a twist.

The Razer Cynosa V2 manages to feel great under your hands without breaking the bank - which isn"t an easy find in the world of Razer keyboards. Not only is it one of the brand"s best decks for value for money, but it"s one of the cheapest models worth running on the whole market as well. While it holds an MSRP of $59.99 / £59.99, we actually see this model well under $50 / £50 regularly.If you"ve never owned a gaming keyboard before, this is the perfect place to start.Razer Cynosa V2 review

We were still flying across the board with excellent actuation speed and response, which is more than can be said for the majority of budget gaming keyboards. Not only that, but you"re also getting dedicated media controls and a full set of RGB LEDs as well.

The Razer Cynosa line is very similar to the brand"s other budget range - the Ornata. The Cynosa won"t take you past $50, but the Ornata, with its hybrid switches, media dial, and included wrist rest will run you closer to $80. While the Ornata may boast a few more specialized features, then, those looking for a true budget buy will be better suited to the value experience that the Cynosa V2 line offers.

Blackwidow keyboards have been at the top of the mechanical tree for many years, and this latest Elite iteration seems likely to keep it there. With an arsenal of thoughtful features and a more streamlined design than we"ve seen in previous Blackwidow models, the Razer BlackWidow Elite seems to solve some of the line"s early problems. While you are dropping dedicated macro keys, there"s more than enough functionality in here to make up for it - including Razer Hypershift, an additional layer of programmability accessible via a modifier key.There’s no denying the quality of the materials or the construction, and the green switches will delight gamers who prize responsiveness and speed.Razer BlackWidow Elite review

We found the BlackWidow Elite to be taller than other Razer decks, with a high profile design that did become cumbersome during longer testing sessions. However, the concave keycaps kept us in line.

Those keycaps are working hard as well. The clicky green switches in our testing unit were incredibly sensitive, which came in handy for twitch reflex manoeuvres. However, we did find ourselves making several mistakes with unwanted keypresses. That means we"d recommend taking a look at the orange switches if you"re looking for extra precision.

We greatly valued the USB passthrough on here, as well as the addition of a 3.5mm audio jack. We"re often testing the best gaming headsets while we plug away on Razer keyboards, so having somewhere easy to plug that cable in was a godsend.

The Razer BlackWidow Elite still isn"t a budget buy by any means. It doesn"t touch the lofty heights of the Huntsman V2, but still offers enough luxury to put it several large steps ahead of budget models like the Cynosa and Ornata. That makes it the best Razer keyboard for most people - strong value for money that doesn"t load up on expensive features that might not see use from everyday players.

Utilizing a "mecha-membrane" approach to its design, the Razer Oranata V2 blends the two approaches and techs into a glorious combination: it has a mechanical "click" with the feel of membrane switches. As a result, it is very easy to use and proved incredibly responsive in our testing, enhanced further by the low-profile keycaps.This mecha-membrane device combines the the "click" of mechanical decks and the feel of traditional membrane switches.Razer Ornata V2 review

The Ornata V2 feels particularly tactile under the hand, which will benefit those who don"t get on with the longer travel distances of linear mechanical switches. However, you"re still getting a durable set of keys with a satisfying sound here - it really is the best of both worlds. Not only that, but because of that cheaper hybrid design this is also one of the more affordable Razer keyboards out there.

Of course, it"s not as cheap as the Razer Cynosa V2, but you"re still getting plenty of additional features like a media dial and wrist rest to make that extra investment worth it. That said, the budget build does mean you"re picking up ABS keycaps - a smoother, less durable alternative to pricier PBT models. In our testing we did notice some oily shine appearing fairly quickly.

The new Razer Ornata V3 is out in the wild now, but it doesn"t actually offer as full a feature-set as its predecessor. The newer model limits users to ten zones of RGB lighting, rather than the per-key customization available on the V2, and ships with a cheaper plastic wrist rest as well. You"re also dropping the volume wheel on the older device, swapping for two volume buttons instead. If you"re shopping for a Mac or Linux operating system, though, compatibility is improved with the latter device.

There"s no doubt about it - wireless gaming keyboards are pricey. That means you"ll want to make sure you"re getting a good amount of luxury in your deck, especially if you"re spending over $200 / £200. Thankfully, the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro has bags of premium features packed in - all with a durable build quality and some nice to haves in the spec sheet as well.

Not only are you getting one of the nicest media wheels we"ve ever laid hands on with a full deck of premium Razer switches and all the Chroma you can expect from the snakes, but there"s a solid wireless performance here as well. Whether plugged in or tether-free, we were impressed by the speeds on offer here. Gone are the days where wireless decks lag behind their cabled counterparts - the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro absolutely flies.

You"ve got a choice between 2.4GHz and a Bluetooth connection here, but we"d recommend sticking with the 2.4GHz dongle for the best response times. Bluetooth wasn"t exactly a trudge, but things are certainly zippier when directly communicating with that USB attachment.

Razer keyboards are rarely wireless - the brand generally prioritizes other features over an untethered connection. However, of the slim pickings out there, we"d recommend anyone with the budget to do so checks out the BlackWidow V3 Pro first.

The Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro delighted in our testing. It"s been a while since the low profile design has graced the brand"s shelves, but if you"re looking for that quick snap and super crisp optical switch, the latest release is well worth a look. Not only is this one of the best Razer keyboards overall, but we actually found it"s the best specifically for typing - all thanks to those shorter keycaps and streamlined design.

Yes, these are particularly sensitive switches - something we struggled with in the early days of our testing. However, with a little muscle memory we were soon flying across the deck, and started to value such twitch-reflex reactivity in both work and play. Not only is this a solid piece of kit in itself, but the DeathStalker V2 Pro is also one of the few wireless options from Razer. The brand promises a 26 hour battery on full brightness, with 200 hours at no RGB. We found that this rang true during our own use - clocking an average 27 hours per charge with LEDs blaring at full whack.

While there"s no USB passthrough or wrist rest included (a shame at a full $249.99 MSRP), you"re getting a sophisticated piece of kit here, with a lick of luxury on top. From the shorter profile to the sleek Razer branding along the larger bottom bezel, the DeathStalker V2 Pro certainly stands out in a setup. If you"re looking to invest in a low profile Razer keyboard, this is your best option.

Don"t let the size of the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog fool you - it"s every bit the equal of its full-size counterparts. That"s because it also features the same excellent Analog Optical switches for adjustable (and variable) actuation and dual-step macro mapping as the full-sized Razer Huntsman V2 above. It"s a delight for typing and as speedy as you would expect from the eSports-focused design, but its main benefits lie in that customization.

Not only can you adjust each key"s behaviour in this way, but you can also set certain keys to act in a manner more similar to a thumbstick. A usual mechanical keyboard switch will register an on or off input, responding with a single command to the computer as a result. However, the Huntsman Mini Analog registers the pressure placed on each switch in as - you guessed it - analog manner, using light-based actuation. That means you can, for example, set your WASD keys to respond with movement speed based on how far you"re pressing the switch.

The smaller footprint means it"s easy to transport as well, making this the ideal choice for tournament use or those who travel a lot. It"s also a good pick if you want to use it on one of the best gaming laptops(opens in new tab), as it doesn"t take up a huge amount of space. If you"re not fussed about those analog switches, though, you can also pick up the Razer Huntsman Mini with standard opto-mechanical clickers underneath as well.

Razer"s Huntsman range of keyboards is rapidly becoming the company"s premier lineup for competitive use. They are currently the only set of keyboards to feature Razer"s excellent opto-mechanical switches to essentially eliminate actuation delay (the time it takes for a key-press to be registered). That means the Razer Huntsman Elite keys register the moment they touch a laser beam.The opto-mechanical switches that are the star of the Huntsman line are some of the best switches I"ve ever had the pleasure of using.Razer Huntsman Elite review

These opto-mechanical switches are the star of the show here, offering up some of the speediest, most responsive switches we"ve seen in a gaming keyboard. We found that the tactile feedback and sound was similar to that of the Cherry MX Blue, but with a 15g lighter actuation force, each press was far easier and stood the test of a longer play session much better as well. Not only that, but you"ll find some solid stabilizers supporting those switches as well - we were particularly impressed with the stability of the overall experience here.

Of course, there are some drawbacks to having all that speed at your fingertips. The Razer Huntsman Elite does lack some of the more peripheral features that sit on other Razer keyboards. There"s no USB or audio passthrough here, and you"re not getting any dedicated macro keys. However, we were grateful for the stripped back approach here, with the features that are included (dedicated media keys and RGB) performing particularly well.

We adopt each Razer keyboard as our own whenever a new model comes our way for review. That means we can make recommendations based on not only hands-on experience, but also the quality of life of a product. We use each Razer keyboard we review for work and play over a considerable amount of time, while also running a series of tests designed to stress a keyboard"s performance through a range of genres.

Because we use these devices every day, we"re always keeping an eye on that form factor and durability as well - watching out for any flexible parts or switch wobble. However, once our initial review is finished we will continue to keep these Razer keyboards in our rotations so that we can determine long-term build quality and update our findings as well.

For more information on how we make our recommendations, take a look at our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. You"ll also find more details on how we test gaming keyboards specifically as well.What is the best Razer keyboard?The best Razer keyboard in our testing is the Razer Huntsman Analog V2. While a premium package, this model packs a huge amount of additional features into its full-sized form factor, while also offering new analog switches. There"s nothing quite like it on the market, so it"s a must-have for gaming keyboard aficionados looking to invest.What is the latest Razer keyboard?The very latest Razer keyboard is the DeathStalker V2 Pro, launched in July 2022. However, you"ll find all the newest releases in each of Razer"s keyboard lines just below.

Cynosa - Razer Cynosa V2 (July, 2020)Are Razer keyboards worth it?Razer keyboards are build for gaming from the ground up. That"s why you"ll usually find some of the fastest switches and heaviest RGB support from these planks. On top of a renowned build quality, the Chroma RGB system is compatible with a massive range of external services.

If you"re planning on buying a keyboard primarily for typing, we"d recommend looking elsewhere - or the best hot-swappable keyboards. The switches and stabilizers often found in Razer"s keyboards are designed for speed over stability. While you"ll find some solid feeling keys at the top of the price range, those who don"t need the additional gaming features can get far superior typing feel for much less cash with other brands.Are Razer keyboards just for gaming?While Razer does offer a massive range of excellent gaming keyboards, the brand also has a solid range for the office as well. The Razer Pro line comprises a keyboard and mouse that does away with some of the more speed-focused features and concentrates on a more subtle aesthetic. However, there are uses for Razer gaming keyboards in a productivity setting as well.

Of course, we"re also rounding up all the bestcheap gaming keyboardscurrently on the market, as well as thebest gaming mousemodels and thebest Razer laptopsto boot.

I personally like logitech. I"ve used 2 logitech keyboards and 2 logitech mice for over 8 years now. I"m currently using a logitech G15 V1, from some time around 7-8 years ago, on my rig, and every part of it works perfectly. The drivers for it have worked flawlessly in Windows XP, Vista, and 7, and it allows me to set up 52 macros across 18 buttons. I can set them to paste text blocks, activate any button on my keyboard in any order and space them with 0.001 of a second precision. I can also bind them to in game functions, such as WoW hotbar slots or borderlands weapon slots. But since I have the V1, there aren"t nearly as many game funtions as the newer versions which only cost around 100$. The LCD display can have many applets installed. I can hook it up to an RSS feed, have it display the time and date, my ram and CPU usage, as well as in game applets like borderlands quest log or WoW stats. It also has a switch allowing me to disable the windows key so I don"t tab out of my game, 2 USB 1.0 ports. a mute button, a volume wheel, a forward, back, paus/play and stop button that works for most multimedia programs automatically, even if it"s running in the background (skip though your itunes library, with the LCD telling you song info, while playing a game at the same time).

The mouse I use, the G9x has similar drivers, it allows me to set up macros (that can do keyboard buttons or functions) to the two side buttons, mouse wheel, mouse wheel click, mouse wheel tap to left and right, and left/right mouse buttons. It can have a total of 5 profiles on it, each with their own macros, 5 customizable DPI settings and a unique colour for the LED display. It comes with a set of weights as well for people who like to have as much precision as possible. I haven"t had any problems with any logitech product.

Thank you for the feedback. I"m afraid we cannot make it move any faster than the current rate. But you can double-click on an item and change the X,Y coordinates manually to a different value to move them faster to a different location on your LCD.

One odd thing discovered with this beta: my external disk temperature item remains on LCD after removing external drive. (shows "temperature N/A C") This item used to disappear after removing drive.

PC enthusiasts expect to pay extra for premium peripherals, and Razer’s new Deathstalker Ultimate ($250) pushes that expectation to the breaking point by including a flashy new touchscreen interface that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen in a gaming keyboard.

The keyboard chassis is light and durable, sporting shallow chiclet-style keys that look great but feel shallow. A rubberized wrist rest along the lower edge attracts dust and crumbs like a vacuum but keeps you comfortable during extended typing sessions. Like most Razer keyboards the DeathStalker Ultimate is fully programmable, and includes five extra macro keys on the left edge, a dedicated on-the-fly macro recording key, and a gaming mode key that functions as a toggle which disables the Windows key (and the Alt+Tab and Alt+F4 key combinations, if you like). Alongside these Razer staples you’ll find a new key sporting the Razer logo, which you can tap to revert the LCD trackpanel and accompanying keys built into the right side of the chassis back to their default interface.

The standout feature of the DeathStalker Ultimate is the Switchblade user interface, ten programmable LED keys and a 4-inch LCD multi-touch trackpanel built into the right side of the keyboard. By default the keys are bound to common tasks like logging into Twitter or launching a calculator app (and they sport equally common-place icons) but you can customize them to do pretty much anything with the Razer Synapse 2.0 device management software.

It’s a really neat gimmick that works surprisingly well without a lot of setup time. The trackpanel works well for basic navigational tasks (selecting and editing files, navigating a web browser, etc.) and works as well as just about any laptop trackpad I’ve tested; the gesture controls are a nice touch that let you pull off tricks like propelling your browser backwards or forwards through your browsing history by swiping three fingers left and right.You will need to download the Razer Synapse software in order to take advantage of the dynamic keys and adaptive screen, though; otherwise, it’s just a fancy trackpanel with a glowing Razer logo.

As of this writing the Razer Synapse driver software is easy to download and frustrating to use. Conceptually, it’s great: download Synapse and create a free Razer account, then customize your peripherals and your settings will be saved to Razer servers automatically, meaning you can take your Razer gear anywhere and simply download Synapse to have access to your custom configuration. In practice, Synapse runs slowly and sports an unintuitive interface. Most frustrating of all, during testing Synapse had a hard time reliably detecting Razer peripherals; while testing the DeathStalker Ultimate I had to install Razer Synapse three times across three different PCs, and each time I had problems convincing the software that I had in fact connected our review keyboard. I was able to solve the problem on all of our test machines by either rebooting the PC or reinstalling the software, but it was always a headache. I’ve never had this problem with Synapse while testing other Razer peripherals, so it may be an issue with the DeathStalker Ultimate; if so, a driver update may have solved the problem by the time you read this.

Once you do register the DeathStalker Ultimate with Synapse the ten dynamic keys transform into the afore-mentioned pre-programmed array of common apps; tapping one will open the linked program on the touchscreen, so if you tap the YouTube key the touchscreen displays a list of popular videos while the ten LED keys morph into shortcuts for common YouTube commands (Search, Watch Later, Account, etc.) The same goes for Twitter, Gmail, and the other pre-programmed apps on the Switchblade home interface; each will run on your keyboard’s LCD trackpanel as though it were a second display, a neat but ultimately fairly useless gimmick. If you use the trackpanel to watch video or listen to music the audio will play through your PC’s primary audio output device, as though you were simply playing media in a separate app on your desktop.

The Switchblade apps were a little buggy during testing; you can scroll through websites on the trackpanel just like you were viewing them on a tablet, dragging your fingers to move and tapping on the LCD screen to make selections, but often the trackpanel would become unresponsive when launching apps. More than once I had an app crash completely, leaving the trackpanel blank (though still functional as an input device) until I unplugged and reconnected the keyboard.

If you play a lot of games on your PC you may appreciate the custom layouts and game-specific functions that can be downloaded from Razer Synapse. These profiles typically assign a bunch of game-specific commands to the dynamic keys (along with gorgeous custom icons) and employ the trackpanel screen as a secondary display for various in-game functions like changing classes, displaying health and energy bars, tracking match statistics, etc. Only a handful of games (Team Fortress 2, Battlefield 3, The Old Republic, etc.) are supported as of this review, but it’s possible that more developers will partner with Razer in the coming months to release downloadable profiles for the DeathStalker Ultimate that utilize the Switchblade interface. Hopefully any future updates will take advantage of the 4-inch LCD display to provide information that can’t already be easily gleaned from playing a game normally; as it stands, I didn’t have a better experience playing games with the DeathStalker (using Team Fortress 2 and The Old Republic profiles where applicable) than without it.

To the contrary, I had a slightly harder time gaming with the DeathStalker Ultimate because my fingers were accustomed to the satisfying tactile feedback of a mechanical keyboard and my eyes were accustomed to looking at my screen, not my keyboard. Having one of the ten dynamic LED keys light up with a custom “Call for Medic” icon when you start playing Team Fortress 2 is great in theory, but in practice you will spend precious extra seconds glancing down at your keyboard to hunt and peck the right key before it becomes second nature. You can save yourself those precious seconds (and a significant chunk of change) by skipping the DeathStalker Ultimate in favor of a mechanical keyboard designed for gaming. Razer themselves offer a number of great options, including my personal favorite, the BlackWidow Ultimate.

Building a beautiful LCD touchscreen and ten programmable LED keys into a gaming keyboard is a neat idea, but in practice the Switchblade interface feels more like a gimmick than a useful feature. Opening apps like Twitter or Facebook on your keyboard instead of your browser is pointless, and the Switchblade’s custom game interfaces are frustrating because you have to look away from the action onscreen to use them. Early adopters and LAN partiers in need of a little extra braggadocio may embrace the Deathstalker Ultimate purely on the promise of being able to check Twitter on their keyboard between bouts of Counter-Strike, andMMORPG players will appreciate the extra screen space and programmable hotkeys afforded by the Switchblade UI; everyone else is better off saving some money and investing in a sturdy mechanical gaming keyboard instead.

Starting with the browser it is, rather obviously, a browser. The LCD keys above change to icons familiar to anyone who can read this review, and the browser is fully functional. If you"re one of the people who"ve adopted the 140 character fun that is Twitter, you can use the Twitter app to keep track on current events, or your friends telling you that it"s snowing. The supplied App is just like it is on your phone of choice.

If you"re one of the billion people who can"t go a moment without reading that your friend has just checked into work, or maybe you fancy a sneaky bit of Farmville, then the Deathstalker has got you covered. One of the most impressive default apps has to be the Youtube one. All of the icons change to useful Youtube features, and it"s easy to scroll through the list.

Yes, before you wonder how useful that is, you can watch your chosen video on the screen. Super-handy if you want a walkthrough of the bit you"re stuck on without having to leave the game.

There"s been quite a few amazing gaming keyboards that hit the streets the last few months, including a couple of low-profile keyboards like the Corsair K100 Air Wireless and a few compact offerings from SteelSeries and Corsair like the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless and the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless.

So, we"ve updated our best gaming keyboards list to accommodate these impressive entries, not just adding them to the list but expanding the list itself from 10 to 13 so you have more to choose from.

The best gaming keyboards will help you get to the top of the leaderboards with their excellent performance and amazing feel. Gaming keyboards are supposed to be designed to improve your gaming experience as well as be faster than other keyboards to offer speedier responses, but there are only a handful of them that can truly deliver.

We"ve been testing the best keyboards for gaming and every other use under the sun, and we are pretty much all dedicated PC gamers, so we know which gaming keyboards are worth your hard earned money and which are better to avoid, no matter what type of gaming you"re into.

Whether you"re looking for a full 104-key keyboard with a numpad and macro buttons, touchbars, and LED displays or the best mini keyboard for gaming with a tiny footprint, there is a gaming keyboard out there that is a perfect fit. Compliment the best gaming PC you can buy this year with an equally hefty deck or something compact if you"ve got a smaller setup. We"ve got you covered and can point you in the right direction.

We"ve even rounded up some of the best gaming keyboard deals around to give you a heads up on where to get the best prices on the gaming keyboard you want. And, if you"re looking to fully kit yourself out, don"t forget to check out our best gaming mouse and best PC gaming headset guides as well.

Combining the latest optical technology and Razer’s analog mechanical key switches, the Razer Huntsman v2 Analog is good enough to get a five-star rating from us. That’s under-selling it.

This gaming keyboard delivers the best typing and gaming experience of any keyboard we’ve tested in the last few months, with extremely satisfying tactile feedback and a wrist rest that’s designed to let you game for longer. It allows actuation point adjustments between 1.5mm to 3.6mm in increments of 0.1mm, which is a blessing for any competitive players. And, it boasts dual-macro ability so you can program two actions on a single keypress across different pressures.

The Roccat Magma isn’t as robust as its pricier counterparts, but when it comes to budget gaming keyboards, there are sacrifices that have to be made. Luckily, it makes up for that in a massive way with surprisingly fast and accurate performance.

During testing, this membrane gaming keyboard delivered an incredibly (and surprisingly) punchy performance, thanks to its fast, accurate keys. We found moving and performing actions were swift and responsive, a boon during intense multiplayer gameplay, while keeping all that button-mashing quiet so you can play all night long without annoying your roommates.

The Corsair K100 Air Wireless might have blown away the likes of the Logitech G915 and Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro in terms of performance and features. It isn"t going to be for those who need something kitted out or want to save money on gaming peripherals, but as a premium option, it certainly gives you a lot of bang for your buck.

It"s not just thinner and better to type on; it"s also a lot faster with that 8,000Hz refresh rate, making it terrific for esports. Feature-wise, it boasts media keys, hotkeys, and dedicated macro buttons, as well as its ability to layer different RGB lighting effects (via the iCue software).

Razer fans" wait is over with the brand"s first low-profile gaming keyboard finally hitting the shelves. Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro, the first in Razer"s low-profile line, muscling its way into this form factor market with impressive specs – including a short travel distance of 2.8mm and short actuation of 1.2mm (if you get the linear optical version). You might say it"s a badder, better version of the beloved Logitech G915.

Although we"re still in the process of testing this keyboard, we"re already impressed by how comfortable it is. True to Razer tradition, it"s also robust and extremely versatile, thanks to its three connectivity options (Bluetooth, USB wired, and 2.4GHz wireless), quick-access buttons to quickly go from one input to the other, and a full-key programmable design.

Asus" untapped wealth of gaming keyboards have proven to be among the best out there, with the Asus ROG Strix Scope showcasing its mechanical prowess without needing all those cheap thrills that rivals offer. This doesn"t have much in terms of superfluous features, but where it counts – the essentials – it delivers.

On test, it proved to be incredibly comfortable, quieter than other mechanical gaming keyboards we"ve tested but just as satisfying to button-mash on. And, it"s performance is impressively responsive.

Optical-mechanical keys are the new mechanical. They"ve got the longevity and speed of optical switches and the satisfying tactile feedback of mechanical keys, making gaming keyboards like the formidable Corsair K100 RGB the best of both worlds.

This kitted-out gaming keyboard is fast, long-lasting, and a pleasure to use. During our tests, its 4,000Hz polling rate, high actuation point and consistent keypresses make it ideal for twitchy gameplay. That blend of gaming performance and quick shortcuts may be enough reason, especially for streamers, to pick it up.

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL might just be the most feature-rich and the most customizable TKL gaming keyboard on the market. However, it"s also a fantastic great-feeling performer that can actually help you win.

Those brand-new switches, the OmniPoint 2.0, are even more impressive, being faster and more durable with 11x quicker response and 10x faster actuation than its predecessor. That"s on top of the adjustable actuation of 0.2mm to 3.8mm as well as its dual actuation, which allows you to program two actuations per key.

Who needs a full-sized keyboard when TKL gaming keyboards such as the Roccat Vulkan TKL Pro exist? This compact gaming keyboard is among the best in performance, comfort, and looks, touting a classy brushed gunmetal finish and floating keys that brilliantly showcase its customizable RGB lighting.

Roccat’s Titan optical switches are not only fast and accurate, but satisfying, quiet and robust as well. During testing, its performance was impeccable. It proved to be very responsive and speedy, and that 1.4mm actuation meant there was no need for fatiguing finger workouts. Gamers with light fingers will appreciate the fact that they don’t have to press all the way down for the keys to register.

For a mini keyboard, the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless sure boasts a ridiculous amount of personalized customizability options. Like many 60% gaming keyboards on the market, it comes at a hefty price. However, there’s a ton of value packed into the package, from its features right down to its performance.

On test, we found that its battery life of up to 200 hours, depending on the connection, is comparable to Razer’s BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed, and its performance is excellent, proving it can keep up with fast-paced shooters like Doom Eternal. Not that it"s surprising, considering its 8,000Hz polling rate.

The G915 TKL lives up to its name, delivering the speed you need for epic gaming while keeping things cable-free. With a 1,000Hz polling rate and 1.5 mm actuation distance, it can keep up with its wired setup.

Customizable actuation points and dual actuation aren"t something you"ll find on most gaming keyboards. Except for SteelSeries" Apex Pro line. One of the newest addition is its Mini Wireless, which boasts both those unique and epic features in a compact, albeit expensive, form factor.

The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless" gaming performance is truly impressive. Its adjustable actuation (3.8 to 0.2) really worked impeccably during our tests, as did the dual actuation feature – its per-key ability to have two actions at different actuation points. And, while they may seem like overkill, we found them to be incredibly useful and convenient.

Even if you"re getting one of the best gaming keyboards, it can be hard to swallow a high price tag on a gaming keyboard, and it gets even harder when it"s as small as the Razer Huntsman V2 TKL. But, what you"re missing in extra features that a full-sized keyboard might offer, you gain in reliability and speed.

The Razer Huntsman V2 TKL takes the second-generation Razer Optical switches that makes all of its keyboards so good, and puts it into an easy-to-carry package. And, we found it to be a dream to game on, especially with that incredibly fast performance and the fact that its keys are very customizable.

HyperX’s contender, for example, the Alloy Origins 60, is the best option if you’re looking for a mini keyboard that’s affordable yet extremely reliable. Some corners are cut, yes. At the same time, you’re getting a premium build and excellent performance so it’s still worth every penny.

When it comes to design and build, the keyboard body is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum while the keycaps are made of durable PBT material. Plus, the RGB lighting is well implemented and there"s plenty of key customizations to make it truly yours. All that without charging you a premium makes this a budget-friendly choice to gamers who want to switch to a mini keyboard.Do gaming keyboards make a difference?Yes, gaming keyboards make a difference! The best gaming keyboards are not only designed to have a fast reaction time, but they are engineered with gaming comfort in mind. Some keyboards have extended wrist rests so you can game for longer and without extra strain on your wrists. If you plan on gaming for hours at a time, you need a comfortable keyboard to accommodate your hands.

Whether you enjoy narrative-driven single-player games or competitive online games, using the best gaming keyboard will make a difference in your gaming experience. The best PC games will benefit from being played with a gaming keyboard and you’ll have a more enjoyable time doing so.

If you want to make the switch to the best gaming keyboard, check out our list below. We’re no stranger to gaming keyboards, having tested many over the years, and will help you find the one that best suits your gaming needs and setup. Plus, we’ve got a price comparison tool to help you find the best keyboard deal available.Which keyboard is best for gaming?This really depends on what kind of gaming you want to use your gaming keyboard for.

If you are an MMO player, the best gaming keyboards are going to have plenty of options for macro recording and even different profiles for different games.

If you"re a competitive esports player, you"ll want a keyboard that is extremely responsive, and one that has 2.4GHz wireless connectivity rather than Bluetooth, or even a wired connection for the best responsiveness.

The best gaming keyboard is more than a dull plank of keys. For one, most of the best keyboards come plastered in RGB LEDs, so they"re anything but dull. There"s more to a great gaming keyboard than flashing lights, however, and the real key to success is excellent response. Most of the time that"s mechanical, but hey we"re in the camp that there are sometimes when a well-made membrane might be the best option on a budget.

Gaming keyboard preferences vary wildly and the number of options can be overwhelming. Media controls, volume wheels, keycaps, macro keys, and the actual switches used are just some of the things you need to consider. And keyboard switches come in such a cornucopia of colors and types that it"s enough to make the layman cry. Read up on the best mechanical keyboard switches(opens in new tab) if you"re feeling like a deep dive, but it basically boils down to three types: linear, clicky, and tactile.

The other thing to consider is keyboard size. The option of a 60% gaming keyboard or going tenkeyless (TKL) will help you reclaim precious desk space, whereas a full-sized keyboard is more likely to come packed with media controls akin to a high-tech space station. If you"re not caught up with the keyboard types, we can help determine what keyboard style is right for you(opens in new tab), too.

Below we"ve compiled a list of the best gaming keyboards for every kind of gamer, whether you"re a Cherry Red or a Razer Green person. These are all gaming keyboards each of us has tested vigorously, in our home and work life; our Alan"s key presses alone are violent enough to check a board"s integrity, for sure. And we"ve also tested out the best cheap gaming keyboards(opens in new tab) for anyone on a budget looking for further options than those budget boards listed below.

The Wooting Two HE looks decent, but it doesn"t appear all too different from the mechanical gaming keyboards we"ve come to know. In fact, it"s a little more boring than most in appearance, with some nowadays taking "extra" to a whole new level.

Wooting helped usher in the analog age of gaming keyboards, and it"s still ruling the roost with every new keyboard it designs. The latest, the Wooting Two HE, uses magnets and the Hall effect to achieve what is an incredibly accurate analog movement across every key on the keyboard. And because every key is analog, you can use the analog functionality to your advantage in heaps of interesting ways.

The Wooting Two HE differs from the Wooting One and Wooting Two in how it measures analogue input, however. Where the older Wooting boards relied on optical Flaretech switches, the newer HE board uses the Lekker switch, made by Wooting with popular switch maker Gateron, and relies on the Hall effect (hence Wooting Two "HE") to achieve analogue input.

Of all the peripheral-specific applications out there, and boy are there a lot of them, I don"t mind the Wootility one bit, either. It"s simple, well put together, and has only improved since I last used it. It puts some other larger manufacturers to shame with how easy and smart-looking it is, in fact.If you want heaps of customisability, this is the gaming keyboard for you.

The keyboard is solid, well-built, and comes with a two-year warranty. If a switch breaks, you can swap it out, as the board itself is hot-swappable. That"s one benefit of there not really being all that many mechanical moving parts with a magnetic Lekker switch, and another is that there"s less to break in the first place.

The Wooting Two HE is analog at its very best, and if you want heaps of customisability, this is the gaming keyboard for you. There"s also the superb Wooting HE60(opens in new tab), which we"re big fans of but it is admittedly not for everyone due to its compact size.

Answer me this: why the hell has everyone been sticking the Numpad on the right-hand side of their gaming keyboards? The new Mountain Everest Max gaming keyboard means I can instead jam it onto the left-hand side, and that makes a whole lot more sense to me. It gives me all the benefits of a TKL keyboard design, but with the utility of a full-size board. And that also means this is now my new favorite slab. Especially in its fresh hot-pink trim. Gotta love those RGB LEDs.

You probably haven"t heard of Mountain(opens in new tab), a fresh-faced upstart in the cutthroat world of PC peripherals. After all, it"s maybe not the most memorable of names for a keyboard and mouse manufacturer, but then it doesn"t also have the offensive overtones of other PC gaming race-related nomenclatures.

That comparison is important though because the Mountain Everest is a gaming keyboard aiming to take on the big boys, and most especially at the enthusiast level in which Glorious has been making a name for itself. Crafting completely modular gaming keyboards, which can house any hot-swappable mechanical switches you can buy, is something Glorious has been doing for years, bringing once-niche custom keyboard fun into the mainstream.I"m still using my sample on a day-to-day basis as it totally suits how I game and work on my PC.

I"ve reviewed a whole lot of keyboards in my time as a tech journo, and I always know when I"ve found a good one because it doesn"t get unplugged the instant I hit publish on the review and dropped atop the heap of discarded peripherals that now fills my house.

And the Mountain Everest Max is going to remain on my desktop for the foreseeable future. I"m probably going to play around with the keycaps (G.Skill"s recent Crystal Crown pudding caps(opens in new tab)) have a strange draw to me) and I might even hook out the switches in the Logitech G Pro TKL keyboard for my 16-month-old son uses to emulate his dear ol" dad.

I"ve had not a single issue with the Everest software either, not in use anyway, and I"ve been messing around with it a whole lot, from adding in new images and program-launching buttons, to customising the media dock with my own gurning DOOM face.

That said, updating the app and the Everest"s firmware fills me with dread. The last Base Camp update failed for no given reason, and the latest firmware update has been sat at 100 percent for the past two hours. That"s been ironed out now for the most part, and I"m still using my sample on a day-to-day basis as it totally suits how I game and work on my PC.

While you might not have heard of Mountain(opens in new tab), a fresh-faced upstart in the cutthroat world of PC peripherals—it"s maybe not the most memorable of names for a keyboard and mouse manufacturer—we"ve been impressed with the products it"s produced so far. The Everest Max is just as excellent, too.

There is a trend towards $200+ gaming keyboards in the market at the moment, but that doesn"t mean there aren"t quality mechanical switch boards available at a more reasonable price. Often you"ll find these more budget oriented options offering cheap switches from other manufacturers, but the G.Skill KM360 comes featuring the classic Cherry MX Red linear switch out of the gate and doesn"t cost a bomb.

To pick up legit Cherry switches you could run up quite a bill with the largest, most fully-featured gaming keyboards. The G.Skill does away with that, though. It"s simple, mechanical, great for gaming and work, and still offers backlighting for better visibility in darker rooms.This TKL board is basic, but what it does, it does very well.

If you can"t cope without your gaming board being lit up like a rainbow then you may be disappointed with the single-colour option, but damn, the white LEDs on this G.Skill board are the brightest I"ve ever seen. Normally I like to keep at max brightness all day long, but the KM360 would burn out my retina if I did.

If you"ve got your heart set on a wireless keyboard, then the Logitech G915 is a great example of the genre. It"s not a peripheral we believe requires wireless functionality; we much prefer a wireless gaming mouse(opens in new tab) or wireless gaming headset(opens in new tab). But there are a few moments when a wireless keyboard is helpful, like gaming on the couch or if you regularly move your keyboard between devices and locations.There"s a reason that I use this keyboard most days when I"m working from home.

You"ll be required to spend that little bit more for wireless functionality than what we tend to see for wired mechanical keyboards with similar features—the Logitech G915 is $250 (£210). There"s a slightly cheaper TKL version, but not so much so that we"d instantly recommend it over the full-size model.

What you get for that significant cash investment is a sleek and sturdy board plated in brushed aluminum. There are some smart media controls in the upper right-hand corner of the board, including a volume wheel that feels great to twizzle, and there"s a handful of macro keys down the left side of the keyboard. These can be programmed to whatever you see fit on a per-app or per-game basis within the Logitech G software.

Macro functionality has been shifted to a secondary program of the Function keys, can be flipped via the Logitech G gaming software in order to prioritise macro functionality in which case the Fn key will revert F1-12 back to the original input.

It packs in all this without a massive overall footprint, too, coming in as one of the sleeker boards of the lot today. The wired Cherry MX 10.0 has it beat there, though, for better or worse.

Yet there"s a reason that I use this keyboard most days when I"m working from home. It feels great to type on over the course of an entire day, and its low-profile standing takes some of the strain off my wrists. I don"t feel the need for a wristrest when I"m leaning my wrists on the desk, either.

The Keychron K2 redefines affordability for wireless gaming keyboards. It"s marked itself out, in the eyes of generalists, as a marvelous entry-level keyboard that can act as a gateway into the wider world of mechanicals. Starting out at just $69, you get a decent-sized gaming keyboard with great wireless functionality and Gateron mechanical switches for your money.

Its design is simple with grey ABS keycaps and a slightly more compact 84 key layout that only skimps out on the numpad and offers a slightly squashed nav cluster. Whilst I’ve previously argued that 60% compact keyboards may be the way to go if you’re a space-savin" gamer, the Keychron K2’s 75% offering may just make me rethink that decision.The Keychron K2 redefines affordability for wireless gaming keyboards.

You"re also looking at decent overall build quality, and the triple device connectivity definitely makes short work of switching devices or locations through the working day. With that said though, sometimes it can feel like a cheap keyboard—the switches aren"t the best around, but they"re pretty impressive nonetheless at this price.

And with the battery at a 4000mAh capacity, the K2 can go the distance with or without backlighting. You’ll get 68 hours with full lighting and 240 hours without, meaning you can go weeks without touching the charging cable—that"s USB Type-C in case you were wondering.

All in all though, if you’re looking for an entry-level mechanical keyboard, this is a good choice, especially if you’re working from home and using multiple devices. That"s not even considering its wireless capability, which really feels like the icing on the cake of the already impressive Keychron K2.

Ducky has one helluva reputation in the mechanical gaming keyboard world. Even in an age of dazzling keyboards plastered in flashing lights, it"s kept up its no nonsense design philosophy (which it calls "Quack Mechanics"—no joke). But even dear ol" Ducky is also leaning into the weird and wonderful a little more; the Ducky One 3 Fuji is prime example of a more stylised and vibrant Ducky at its best.

Look no further than the One 3"s wonderfully colourful design for proof. This is Ducky"s latest flagship keyboard and it comes in many different colours and styles, but this one is called Fuji. Every key you see in my images of the One 3 is included in the standard Fuji design, which makes it feel like I"ve received a keyboard with a custom keycap set pre-installed.

There are also four DIP switches that offer a couple of hard-coded shortcuts for various keyboard modes, however, I couldn"t get them to work. I tried unplugging and waiting a little while before trying again, but couldn"t get them to do anything at all.

That aside, the One 3 is build like a tank and there"s absolutely no flex to it whatsoever. Perhaps it wouldn"t love a drop from a high place, but I don"t dare to try it with this gorgeous review unit.

You have a wide choice of Cherry MX switches to choose from with the Ducky, depending on where you buy it from. I opted for Cherry MX Speed Silver switches, which are some of Cherry"s finest for gaming. They offer a smooth press with only 1.2mm of travel before actuation and a total distance of 3.4mm. The swift actuation helps with the sort of snappy response I want while gaming, while the linear press without a tactile bump or click makes for moderately low-noise operation.

Plenty of gaming keyboards are hot-swappable nowadays, but this particular inclusion with the Ducky One 3 really feels like a win overall. You do have to forgo RGB lighting, or backlighting of any sort, with the Ducky. But honestly I don"t mind that. The One 3 looks absolutely stunning and it"s a dream to type on. Plus it"s a bit cheaper than some other flagship boards of this high standard today.

Let me start by saying that while I was impressed by Corsair"s previous offering, the K95 RGB Platinum, I struggled with the price. Struggled. No matter how good it is, $200 is a lot for any keyboard. It really was a good keyboard, taking the top spot in our best gaming keyboard guide for the last few years. That"s a brief bit of context for the K100, which costs even more than its predecessor. At $230, it is 15 percent pricier, but will you get the 15 percent more out of it? Possibly. Possibly even more.

The fundamental core of the K100 is very much like the K95, with the same premium quality throughout, the same overall design, the same macro keys down the left-hand side, the same metal roll in the top right corner, and the same media keys just below it, and the same double-shot keycaps. USB passthrough is easy to access and you get a comfortable wrist rest that snaps on magnetically just like before.

The K100 also has more of that lovely RGB lighting that Corsair knows we love so much. In total there are now 44 zones for you to throw light out of (it spills out of the sides as well as out of the back too). And having rippling, wavy patterns play off your keyboard can be every bit as distracting as you can imagine.The K100 RGB nails the basics, as well as including the fancy extras, though it"ll cost you.

As for the switches themselves, they are Corsair"s new OPX optical-Mechanical switches. It"s worth noting from the outset that the OPX switches are still digital units, not the variable analog type that can be found in the likes of the Wooting keyboards, which can detect how far down the key is pressed and respond by turning harder (for example).

These switches feel great for typing, with a 1mm actuation point and 45g actuation force, bottoming out at 3.2mm. If those figures don"t mean much to you, they"re very sensitive. I found myself watching my fingers in games as I turned left and right without realizing I"d actually started pushing down on the keys. This is a sensitive keyboard and needs to be treated as such. After a week of use though, it feels incredible to work and play with.

At the backend you have Corsair Axon Hyper-Processing Technology doing the grunt work of actually keeping the keyboard up and running. This new engine supports a native polling rate of 4,000Hz, although the benefit of this isn"t obvious, and by default, it is set at the more standard 1,000Hz anyway.

When it comes to software, Corsair Axon Hyper-Processing Technology supports a native polling rate of 4,000Hz, though it"s set to 1,000Hz by default. You can even use the little iCue wheel on the top of the board to play around with the lighting.

If even mecha-membrane keys don"t suit you, and you demand a full membrane typing/gaming experience for whatever reason (no judgement here), the Razer Cynosa is the deck for you. I know there are people out there who prefer the soft embrace of a pure membrane switch, and that"s fine—each to their own.The Cynosa has some of the best feeling, low profile membrane keys I"ve ever tested.

The Cynosa has some of the best feeling, low profile membrane keys I"ve ever tested, and at a retail price of $60, it is one of the most affordable gaming keyboards out there (well, past a certain threshold of quality). While it may lack some of the features several gaming boards pack in, stuff like a dedicated wrist rest or media controls, it does boast Razer"s extensive RGB lighting, which can be programmed on a per-key basis or applied by zones.

Compared to a lot of membrane boards out there, the Cynosa Chroma is still pretty barebones, but coming from Razer you can bet it"s heaps cooler than those ones you used to type on at school.

It"s a solid, no-frills, nice-looking keyboard that"s the best membrane option of a huge range that I"ve tested. There is a step-up version of the Cynosa available. Still, for $20 extra, the only real addition is under-glow RGB, so unless that kind of "ground effects" package is massively appealing to you, I recommend you save your cash and invest in the base model.

Why you can trust PC GamerOur expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.What is the big deal with mechanical switches?We can talk for hours about the feel of mechanical switches versus membrane switches, but ultimately that"s a personal choice. What makes mechanical switches objectively superior, however, is their far extended life span. They can take far more punishment and keep responding long after a membrane switch has collapsed in on itself.What is the most important thing to look for in a mechanical gaming keyboard?The switch type(opens in new tab) is arguably the most important choice to make when picking your new gaming keyboard. Cherry mechanical switches are the most common and most recognizable, but there are a host of alternatives on offer, as well a bunch of upmarket, specialist switches to choose from.Are dedicated media controls a deal-breaker?Only you can make that call, but we would suggest that at least having the option to toggle the top row between function and media controls would be our choice. Having a discrete volume wheel can be super useful, however.What size of keyboard do I need?Keyboard size(opens in new tab) is absolutely a defining factor. Full-sized keyboards tend to offer the most features and a Numpad, but if you don"t have space, then all of those extras you paid for will be useless. Tenkeyless boards (the ones with no number pad) and compact keyboards can be a great option, too, if you don"t care about all the extra bells and whistles or you don"t have any use for alt codes (how barbaric!).

Membrane KeyboardA keyboard on which all the keycaps are mounted on a membrane sheath; when a key is pressed, a ru