razer keyboard lcd screen supplier

Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, set a technological benchmark today with the release of its new Razer DeathStalker Ultimate gaming keyboard, featuring Razer"s award-winning Switchblade User Interface (UI).

The Switchblade UI on the Razer DeathStalker Ultimate is the same acclaimed, customizable LCD trackpad and LED keypad combo introduced on the Razer Switchblade concept, which can currently be found in production on the Razer Blade gaming laptop and the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ gaming keyboard. This unique interface transforms gaming keyboard functionality into a customizable control panel with 10 dynamic, adaptive tactile keys that can be used to bind commands, macros, skills and spells for an unparalleled in-game competitive advantage. Each key can display any image by using Razer"s Synapse 2.0 software, offering gamers the smartest keyboard on the market.

The LCD panel below the keys is capable of two modes. The first setting displays critical in-game information, such as damage dealt and heals-per-second on the new Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Battle Logger application, or countdown timers that keep track of in-game events with the Razer Gamer Timer application. This display also allows for intuitive multitasking, running external applications like YouTube and most social media platforms, which allows gamers to stay connected to the world by instantly updating their status for friends and followers to see, all on the LCD panel.

The Razer DeathStalker Ultimate features an anti-ghosting infrastructure of up to 10 keys in game mode. Users may actuate as many keys as they have fingers, and have them all register accurately and swiftly in-game.

Powered by Razer Synapse 2.0, the world"s first cloud-based storage software, the Razer DeathStalker Ultimate automatically saves all of a user"s custom settings and profiles for the gaming keyboard on a cloud server. These settings can then be accessed from any computer, with any Razer DeathStalker Ultimate, to ensure the keyboard is instantly ready for use.

"With the Switchblade UI on the Razer DeathStalker Ultimate, we wanted to offer gamers an enriching and intuitive gaming experience built for total game control," said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, president of Razer USA. "We continue to work closely with independent software vendors to integrate the API of their games on the Switchblade UI, so that you can see more of the game as you play. I"m excited that we are making such cutting-edge technology available to gamers everywhere, and look forward to bringing more game-specific apps."

In addition to the revolutionary Razer DeathStalker Ultimate, Razer also introduced the Razer Deathstalker gaming keyboard. The Razer DeathStalker maintains a standard keyboard layout, replacing the Switchblade UI with a numpad instead. The Razer DeathStalker features the same unique design and features of the Razer DeathStalker Ultimate – a 10-key anti-ghosting infrastructure, chiclet-style keycaps, and Synapse 2.0 support.

COLOGNE (GamesCom 2012) –Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, announced the development of a Software Development Kit (SDK) for the award-winning Switchblade User Interface (UI). Game developers and users of the Razer Blade,Star Wars™:The Old Republic™gaming keyboard, and the newly launched Razer DeathStalker Ultimate will now be able to develop applications with the new Software Development kit.

The Switchblade UI"s 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys and LCD panel allow for two modes that offer a full, vibrant display and a trackpad. Users will be able to utilize the award-winning features of the SwitchBlade UI in creating applications of the developer"s choosing.

With the newly developed SDK, developers can freely create new applications for the Switchblade UI with possibilities ranging from informative guides, mini-maps, inventory slots, and other elevating features, all based in a free and open development model. Interested applicants may submit their inquiries to (SBUI_support@razerzone.com) or visithttp://www.razerzone.com/switchblade-ui/sdkfor a chance to craft out the apps of their choosing.Developers are required to have knowledge of C++ and C Sharp programming.

"With the development of the SDK for the Switchblade UI, we are pleased to offer every game developer the ability to create applications that will enhance their immersive experience for their favorite games," said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, president of Razer USA. "I am eager to see the types of applications that can be made by our passionate and creative fans inside the development community."

How many different products can modern manufacturers incorporate a touch screen? You know, with that question now out in the open air, I’m not sure I want the answer. Touch screens are popping up like mad. I have one on my phone, of course, a digital video recorder, a fan controller for my PC, and now I have one on two different keyboards. If you want more epic gaming products, take a look at our best gaming keyboards list.

The main feature list is nothing particularly noteworthy until you get to the touch screen. The chiclet-style keys are fully programmable, the backlighting is tri-color, and can be customized via Synapse 2.0 software. We have 1000Hz ultra polling with a 1ms response time. A dedicated game mode can be set so you can disable certain keys, which tend to get accidentally pressed while gaming. These include Alt, the Windows key, and others. Also, while in Gaming mode or logged in to Synapse 2.0, users get a 10-key rollover, where 10 keys can be pressed simultaneously, and all are recognized. Yet the features that set the Deathstalker Ultimate apart from the rabble are the aforementioned multi-touch LCD track-panel and the sophisticated 10 dynamic display keys (80Hz response time)

How about “elegance” is that for you? Because this one radiates it like a high fashion GQ model. From the solid, less-modular look to the lowered chiclet-style keys to the 800×600 capacitive multi-touch screen interface. The Razer Deathstalker Ultimate is a showstopper! You can even display your favorite images on the touch screen for a more tailored appeal. These can be pulled right from your computer directories. I should note this feature is untested as I could not get my images to appear on-screen. But that’s a minor crumb from a very rich table.

It’s a nuisance for sure, but Synapse 2.0 seems “…better. Stonger. Faster”. In the past, it was plagued with freezing and crashing. There is no sign of that. Bravo Razer! Moreover, it’s intuitive and makes creating and editing macros just as easy as the Smart Technology used by Mad Catz. I did run into a couple of issues. One is mentioned above–the wallpaper problem. The other… The LCD touch screen replaces a traditional Numpad. You can pull up a virtual Numpad, which looks very similar to what you see on your touch screen smartphone when looking at the dial pad. But sometimes, when I hit a series of numbers, only the first digit appears and removes the cursor from whatever field or file I was working in. I have to manually move the mouse cursor back to the file and then punch in the numbers using the garden variety keys found at the top of the keyboard. I’m sure this can be fixed, but currently, it makes the Numpad app quite unreliable.

Again, this is a full capacitive touch screen. It supports gestures such as two-finger scrolling up, down, or sideways. You can also use 3-fingers to single-swipe left and access the game profiles(3-finger swipe right to return), the screenshot app, and a title-specific set of timers. The timers are more fluff. But the game profiles…? There are profiles tailored to Team Fortress 2, Battlefield 3, Counter-Strike: GO, and SWTOR. Choose one of these profiles, and a nice corresponding game title image will appear on the touch screen. For instance, if you select BF3, then you must choose which class you plan to play (Recon, Assault, etc.) right from the touch screen. The 10 display keys then show an image that corresponds to one of the in-game actions. Go prone, switch to your pistol, or specialty item, are but a few of the baked-in options. You can even customize and edit this further. Or go and create a completely different profile. You can also have the display keys show your custom-created button images. It’s kind of neat but not really what I want from a touch screen-on-a-keyboard solution.

I wish there was something here more compelling regarding the apps. Both the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 and Deathstalker fall short of a game-changing killer app. The best each offers is the screenshot dealy on the Deathstalker Ultimate, and the Team Speak integration on the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7. Razer, like Mad Catz, is aware that gamers want more from their screens. So hopefully, we will see more apps in the future.

But I can’t complain a lick about the general keyboard performance. The Deathstalker Ultimate is not a mechanical keyboard by any means. Yet I really like typing on it–a lot!! I thought I preferred the mock-mechanical feel of the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 over the Deathstalker Ultimate. But I can type so much faster on these lowered chiclet-style keys. There is no lag, and everything seems very responsive. The flat keys have a bit more surface area and are easy to reach all around. I have no issues with typing or gaming.

There you have it–a big complicated review for an equally sophisticated product. The Razer Deathstalker Ultimate is an impressive board that needs a bit more time to realize its full potential. Only a couple of apps are majorly useful to gamers. I am confident more sought LCD functions will trickle down eventually. Let’s not forget Razer now has its own GameBooster client that does video capture, among many other things. Theoretically, this could be tacked on to work with the Deathstalker Ultimate multi-touch LCD screen. Until then, you get an obscenely stylish all-black keyboard, a large cache of fun but not particularly useful applications, and general-use performance that is as handsome as the aesthetics.

Bottom Line: The Deathstalker Ultimate is unlike any keyboard we’ve seen thus far. The full capacitive keyboard will turn many heads. Plus, general keyboard performance is excellent. I can easily recommend this one as I know Razer is committed to enhancing the longevity of that touch screen with more gamer-targeted applications.

The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is the best Razer keyboard we"ve tested. This flagship model comes fully loaded with features designed to elevate your gaming experience. The most notable of these features is the proprietary Optical Analog switches. These switches allow you to adjust the pre-travel distance on a per-key basis, giving you control over the sensitivity of your keypresses. The switches also support an "Analog Mode." With this mode enabled, the more pressure you apply to your keypress, the more you move in-game, like a joystick on a gamepad controller. This feature is excellent for racing games, flight simulators, or for having finer movements in FPS games. And with its split millisecond latency, the in-game experience feels very fluid and responsive.

Every key has a stabilizer underneath it, so there"s no wobble whatsoever, which is great as this reduces the chance of accidentally nicking a nearby key and messing up your shot. Plus, the keycaps are double-shot PBT, meaning they won"t get slick over time from the build-up of finger oil. Overall, it"s an incredibly high-performing keyboard right out of the box, sure to satisfy gamers of any skill level.

At its core, the Razer Pro Type Ultra is a gaming keyboard dressed up for an office job. The design has a nice, office-friendly aesthetic, similar to the silver and chrome style of Apple peripherals, with white-only instead of RGB backlighting. But, under the hood lies a gaming powerhouse offering exceptionally low latency that delivers a responsive in-game experience. This versatile unit also comes equipped with three different connection styles, so you can use it wired while it charges, with up to three devices using Bluetooth, or use the specialized USB receiver, which pairs with some other Razer office products. Razer advertises a battery life of over 200 hours when used wirelessly, so it"s sure to last you through the work week and beyond on a fresh charge.

Overall, it feels incredibly comfortable and pleasant to type on since the linear Razer Yellow switches are super light to actuate and have little resistance. Plus, there"s a cushioned wrist rest to support your wrists throughout your day. The keycaps feel great on your fingertips thanks to the soft-touch coating, and this coating adds a bit of extra grip, which is helpful if you"re prone to sweaty hands.

While the Razer BlackWidow V3 may be one of Razer"s older models, it"s still one of the best Razer gaming keyboards in their lineup. This wired-only model offers exceptionally low latency that"s perfect for competitive and reaction-based games where every second counts. And, thanks to its incredibly light switches, your keypresses feel very fluid. As a bonus, there"s a volume knob and dedicated media keys along the top of the keyboard, so you can easily control your media directly from the keyboard. The RGB backlighting is great for enthusiasts as it"s bright, and the colors are mixed very well. Plus, you can customize the backlighting on a per-key basis using Synapse 3 to display tons of cool lighting effects.

Though its full size takes up a lot of space on a desk, it"s still a solid choice for a permanent gaming setup. It also has a detachable wrist rest for extra support during those long gaming sessions. You also have the choice to get this keyboard with linear Yellow switches or clicky Green switches, which offer a loud, but satisfying click.

If the premium options are a bit out of your price range, don"t worry, there"s always the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition. Since this is an older version of their flagship Huntsman lineup, it"s available much cheaper than it was at launch, making it the best Razer gaming keyboard you can find for its price point. It uses Razer"s premium Optical switches instead of standard mechanical ones. These feel like a linear mechanical switch, but they use a beam of light to register inputs, meaning they feel much more responsive. They"re also incredibly light to actuate, so you won"t have to press too deeply on your keys to get your shots in.

Razer produces different proprietary switches, meaning you can find a keyboard with your preferred option. They make standard mechanical switches, optical ones, or even hybrid switches, which are rubber dome switches meant to feel like mechanical switches.

The Synapse 3 software isn"t compatible with macOS. Some of their lower-end keyboards don"t have onboard memory, so you can"t customize it on Windows and use those same settings on a Mac.

Razer keyboards are a bit pricey for their quality and aren"t necessarily the best gaming keyboards. A brand like SteelSeries has more features on its models for about the same price.

Compared to Corsair, Razer models tend to use fewer premium materials. Corsair keyboards often have aluminum top plates, PBT keycaps, and Cherry MX switches inside the boards. Razer models tend to have a sleeker aesthetic, with less noise, bells, and whistles. Also, Razer"s higher-end models use optical-mechanical switches, which have an adjustable pre-travel distance feature and a light actuation force. Essentially, you won"t go wrong with a model from either lineup, so it comes down to personal preference and the features you want.

Compared to SteelSeries, Razer offers a much wider range of options and models, with units like the Pro Type Ultra filling the productivity niche. That said, the flagship SteelSeries lineup, the Apex Pro series, is meant to compete with Razer"s flagship Huntsman lineup. Both of these lineups feature boards with an adjustable pre-travel distance feature and multi-input customization, though there are notable differences. The SteelSeries boards have a more consistent and accurate implementation of these features, while the Razer Huntsman Analog boards have an "Analog Mode" that gives you finer control over your in-game movements as the keyboards can emulate joystick controls.

Compared to Logitech, Razer has quite a narrow range of products. Logitech is a major manufacturer of keyboards for both gaming and office use, and their products come in a wide range of switch types, like membrane, scissor, and mechanical, while Razer units use membrane or mechanical switches. Razer does have a leg-up in that they use optical-mechanical switches, which have a greater range of customization over standard mechanical switches. As Razer products are designed for gaming use, they often have better latency, RGB implementation, and customization over Logitech.

Razer makes a good range of wired and wireless models designed mostly for gaming use. Their models are well-built and offer extremely low latency for a responsive in-game performance, but they often don"t have as many extra hardware features to make it worth their premium price tag. As a plus, they make their own in-house switches, which are optimized for gaming, and most of their keyboards come with a variety of switch types, so you can find a configuration that suits your needs right out of the box.

Which are the best mechanical keyboards on the market? That was the question I tried to answer in our feature on whether mechanical keyboards are good for gaming, and how they became popular in the first place. I ended that piece with three keyboard recommendations, but the response to the article made it clear that you wanted to see more recommendations for different use-cases than we considered - particularly full-fat gaming keyboards with features like macro and media keys, programmable RGB lighting and game-state integration or quieter models that can be used in a busy office.

We"ve updated this article as of fall 2022 after testing more than three dozen new keyboards, adding new options for wireless and low profile models, modular keyboards offering deep customisation and high-end premium keyboards with unique features and eye-catching designs. Whether you"re looking for the ultimate gaming keyboard, a surprisingly solid budget offering or just something to code on, we"ve got you covered. Let"s take a look at the ten best mechanical keyboards on the market, all tried and tested by Digital Foundry.

Note: The pictures of each keyboard show either a UK or US layout, but I"ve linked to the appropriate regional layout wherever possible - so don"t worry if you see a keyboard with a different-sized Enter key than what you"re used to!

Click the links below to jump right into the category you"re most interested in. We"ve chosen keyboards for programming, gaming, building yourself and much more, so take a look. If you"re not sure, scroll on to browse our full selection of recommendations!Best full-size gaming keyboard: Corsair K95 Platinum XT

When it comes to mechanical keyboards, few can match Corsair"s high-end models for pure depth of features. The £190/$158 full-fat K95 Platinum XT keyboard has super-programmable RGB backlighting and edge lighting that can reflect in-game stats, plus dedicated macro, volume and media controls, a USB port and a plush wrist rest. The actual typing experience hasn"t been forgotten either, with a wide range of switches - including hard-to-find MX Speed options alongside more usual Cherry switches. The keyboard is well-built too, with an aluminium chassis and PBT keycaps that should provide excellent longevity. Of course, everything comes at a cost - and for the K95 Platinum XT, that includes a substantial footprint and a premium price tag.

Thankfully, a cheaper option is also available. The £156/$160 K70 RGB Pro offers its own advantages - namely an 8000Hz polling rate of interest to competitive, high-refresh-rate gamers and a detachable USB-C cable - but comes without the macro keys, USB passthrough and the added RGB lighting strip of the K95 Platinum XT. Given that you still get the same core features like a full-size layout, PBT keycaps and excellent RGB lighting, the K70 RGB Pro is a strong alternative - especially as more price drops are likely to come as the keyboard gets a bit older.Best compact mechanical keyboard: Fnatic Streak 65

The £95/$110 Fnatic Streak 65 is our new favourite compact keyboard, offering all of the functionality you need for competitive games in a small, convenient form factor that gives you plenty of space for your mouse and superior ergonomics. The keyboard uses Fnatic"s own silent, linear and low profile "speed" mechanical switches, allowing extremely rapid key presses and making double-taps easier. The layout is slightly wider than the 60 percent size Razer Huntsman Mini below, but adds dedicated arrow keys and four programmable keys - I think most people will benefit from these inclusions. As well as not taking up much desk space, a 22mm height and 420g weight means that this keyboard will fit in a bag or even the front pocket of a hoodie easily. The compact dimensions and aluminium frame contribute to a very sturdy feel too.

Beyond the form factor, Fnatic have done well to nail the details here as well. The stabilisers on larger keys are pre-lubed for silent and easy operation, the USB-C port is offset to the left to ensure the cable doesn"t interfere with your mouse and the legends on each keycap are inscribed with a legible font that feels more grown-up than those on most gaming keyboards. The switch housings are even transparent and two extra LEDs are embedded beneath the space bar to ensure that the customisable RGB lighting is evenly distributed throughout the board. I particularly liked the inclusion of a "competition mode", which sets to the lighting to dim orange and locks the Windows key.

None of these are dealbreakers, but considered together they represent the only minor forthcomings I have about recommending this narrow keyboard to a wide audience. Altogether, this new tiny Streak is every bit as easy to love as its bigger brothers and certainly among the best gaming keyboards on the market.Best 60% mechanical keyboard: Razer Huntsman Mini

The 60 percent size is a favourite of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, but one that saw remarkably little attention from major gaming brands before 2020. Now, we"ve found enough great examples to dedicate a whole article to the best 60 percent keyboards, but for now let"s focus on one: the £83/$90 Razer Huntsman Mini.

Like other 60 percent boards, there"s no f-key row, no num-pad, no nav cluster and no arrow keys. That results in a beautifully clean keyboard that takes up minimal desk space, while still allowing access to the excised functions via a Function layer. As 60 percent is an aesthetic as much as a practical choice, it"s nice to see Razer offer both black and white colour options for the keyboard"s chassis and keycaps - and a completely standard layout that allows for custom keycap sets to be installed. Similarly, it"s great to see a removable USB-C cable, allowing fans to install custom-made cables to further customise their board.

Of course, the Huntsman Mini doesn"t get a spot on our list just for looking nice. It also feels great to use, with Razer"s individually-stabilised optical switches delivering consistent feedback with minimal key wobble. We tested a unit with soft linear red switches with a 1mm actuation distance and 40g actuation force, but clicky purple switches with a 1.5mm actuation distance and 45g actuation force are also offered. The keycaps themselves are also unusually high quality, made from PBT with shine-through legends, so they feel great and won"t succumb to the shiny patches that can afflict lower-quality ABS keycaps.

As well as these unique switches, the Huntsman Mini also sets itself apart with its Synapse software, which allows you to set intricate custom lighting modes - something impossible on keyboards that can only switch between a few preset effects. You can also synchronise your lighting with other RGB-encrusted Razer peripherals or supported Razer Chroma games, which is a nice bonus.Best wireless keyboard: Logitech G915 TKL

The £143/$210 Logitech G915 TKL is the fusion of two growing trends from the very companies that promulgated them: dependable, low-latency wireless connectivity from Logitech and low-profile, laptop-like mechanical switches from Kailh. The combination is an impressive one, allowing the construction of an ultra-thin keyboard for gaming and typing that feels great to use and looks super clean on your desk - especially in this new compact form factor. There are three low profile switch types offered here right off the bat - clicky, tactile and linear - so you can opt for the amount of tactile and audible feedback that makes sense to you.

The Lightspeed wireless connection worked perfectly in our testing, providing the same wired feel as Logitech"s G Pro Wireless gaming mouse. Battery life was also strong, at around 40 hours with backlighting at max brightness - ten more hours than the full-size G915. (If you turn down the backlight, the G915 TKL manages over a thousand hours!) Bluetooth is also available, which adds more latency but allows the keyboard to work with devices like phones and tablets; it"s possible to switch between Bluetooth and Lightspeed connections with a press of a button which makes it a convenient companion for a smartphone, iPad or laptop without a full-size USB port.

If you prefer the feel of full-height mechanical switches, the £154/$230 Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is your best bet. It sports a gorgeous full-size layout, a wrist rest, a convenient volume wheel and media keys, a long-lasting battery and your choice of 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth support. Razer"s software is more advanced than Logitech"s, so this might be a better choice if you want to set intricate or game-specific RGB lighting effects. Both clicky/tactile (Razer Green) and linear/silent (Razer Yellow) switch options are available; we used the clicky version in our testing and had a lovely time typing and gaming at maximum volume.Best quiet mechanical keyboard: Epomaker Lite

The $100 Epomaker Lite, aka the Skyloong GK61S Lite is a supremely quiet 60 percent size mechanical keyboard with a stylish look. The soft key feel is down to the keyboard"s unique "shallow gasket" design, which places a 2mm silicone pad between the keyboard"s metal plate and the PCB. This gives every key a soft landing, and together with sound absorbing foam drastically cutting the noise that normally accompanies typing on a mechanical keyboard. I"m a big fan of how this keyboard looks too, with keycaps in retro-inspired yellow or red colourways and a weighty aluminium chassis. The feature list is strong as well, with wired and wireless connectivity, hot-swappable switches and accompanying software for PC and Mac. The Lite has been great fun to use - the muted, raindrop-like sound it produces is brilliant - and it"s so rare to find something unique like this in the keyboard space.

If you can get on with the relatively restrictive 60 percent size layout, then this innovative indie keyboard is well worth a look.Best mechanical keyboard for coding or typing: Drop CTRL

The $149 Drop CTRL is the best-built and most cleanly designed mechanical keyboard for gaming we"ve tested. Available in a compact yet convenient TKL (tenkeyless, aka "no numpad") layout, the CTRL has a minimal footprint, with no extra keys for macros, media controls and the like; these functions are handled by a Fn layer. The keyboard comes in black or grey with six different switch options; I opted for the delightfully light and clicky Kailh Box Whites rather than alternatives from Cherry or Kailh. The switch mounts are hot-swappable, so you can fit any other standard MX-style switches in if you prefer.

The aluminium used on the top and bottom makes the keyboard extremely resistant to deck flex; it feels as well-built as an old IBM Model M but in a much more compact form factor. USB-C is also included, with a non-recessed port that means that pretty much any USB-C data cable can be used. The black and grey PBT keycaps provided with the board look great, and the entirely standard layout means that you can swap them for a set of custom keycaps in the colour or material of your choice without difficulty.

An RGB wave lighting effect is enabled by default, but there are several calmer presets available and you can use Drop"s configurator to make your own custom key layouts and lighting settings. This is a powerful option for advanced users, but lacks the accessibility of software from more prominent keyboard brands.

All things considered, the CTRL is a fantastic keyboard for gaming or programming with a nice clean aesthetic. For something a bit cheaper, more widely accessible and with easier (if more limited) software, consider our previous picks for this category - the HyperX Alloy Origins or Alloy Origins Core.Best value mechanical gaming keyboard: Xtrfy K4 TKL

The £78/$99 Xtrfy K4 TKL is one of the best mechanical keyboards on the market when it comes to gaming, and given its feature set and build quality it"s surprisingly affordable at less than £100. We like its high quality Kailh Red plate-mounted switches for fast-paced FPS games like Counter-Strike and Valorant, which provide a soft and linear feel ideal for quick taps or double-taps. They"re quite comfortable for typing too, with a good amount of feedback despite not having a tactile bump or click like Brown or Blue switches.

The bright RGB backlighting looks great too, especially as you can control all of the effects on the keyboard with no software required. As well as backlighting controls, you can also adjust the volume, access media controls or launch common programs using the Function (Fn) layer.

Xtrfy"s attention to detail is also impressive. For example, rather than using expensive but trendy PBT keycaps that would raise the price, the Swedish company has found a middle ground with thicker-than-normal ABS keycaps that provide more durability and a nicer feel than standard ABS caps. Each stabiliser is oiled to reduce noise, and combined with foam padding in the bottom of the chassis, the K4 TKL is actually reasonably quiet for a mechanical keyboard. The key legends are also neat and tidy, with even the secondary functions clearly visible. These small details are often ignored, so it"s great to see them taken care of here.

There are three colour schemes available for the K4 TKL: black, white and "retro". We tested the latter, and the off-white, grey and red keycaps provide a unique look that we really dig. If you"re after a well-made keyboard for gaming that doesn"t cost the earth, then the Xtrfy K4 TKL comes highly recommended. A full-size model, simply titled the Xtrfy K4, is also available.Best cheap mechanical keyboard: Redragon K551/K552

The Redragon K551/552 are some of the most popular budget mechanical keyboards available, thanks to their low price, good range of regional layouts and full complement of mechanical switches. The keyboards are available in a variety of switch configurations, from clicky Blues to tactile Browns and soft linear Reds, with the £45/$34 K551 being a full-size board and the £38/$33 K552 being the more compact TKL variant. (The K551-R and 552-R add RGB lighting, rather than single-colour.) Despite its low price, the keyboard feels reasonably well built, with an aluminium frame, plate-mounted switches and decent backlit ABS keycaps. There are few advanced features here; this is just a simple keyboard that delivers a great typing and gaming experience for the money.Best compact keyboard: Keychron K2

The best compact keyboard I"ve tested is the £81/$80 Keychron K2. Originally on Kickstarter, this 84-key mechanical keyboard comes with a choice with Brown, Blue or Red switches and - unusually - both macOS and Windows keycaps in the box. This keyboard has an 80 percent layout, so it misses out the numpad but still has arrow keys on the bottom right, F keys at the top of the keyboard and a single column of navigational keys on the right side. That provides considerable space savings compared to a standard or tenkeyless design, while still keeping the most important keys within easy reach. As you"d hope for such a portable keyboard, the K2 supports both Bluetooth and USB-C connections, so it can be used in both wired and wireless modes with a range of devices.

The Keychron K2 performed excellently in my testing, with a satisfying feel from the Brown Gateron switches, while the aluminium frame looks great and ensures this keyboard can survive quite a bit. This model also comes with full RGB backlighting, including a number of different effects. Given this keyboard"s long feature list and great build quality, it"s a surprise to find that it"s also among the most affordable keyboards in its category. The deluxe model with an aluminium frame and RGB costs $89 plus shipping. Swap the metal frame for plastic to save $10, and chop another tenner off the price by opting for white backlighting instead of RGB.Best mechanical keyboard for Mac: Das Keyboard MacTigr

The Das Keyboard MacTigr is an excellent choice for Macs, with a brilliant typing experience, plenty of nice touches and tank-like build quality... as long as you can look past its $219 list price.

The fact remains that there simply aren"t a lot of dedicated mechanicals for MacOS, which is arguably why the MacTigr exists in the first place. The best way to actually describe the MacTigr is that it"s a "thoughtful" keyboard - Das has put every effort in to make it as functional and as lovely to use as possible. You"ll find a twiddly volume wheel with tactile-feeling multimedia playback buttons, as well as an entire function row to play with, complete with additional keys for things like sending your Mac to sleep or adjusting screen brightness on the fly. Did I also mention you get a pair of USB-C passthrough ports on the back of the board? It seems Das really has thought of everything.

Keeping in with that pleasant user experience theme, it"s also a keyboard that offers a smooth and light keypress with Cherry MX Low Profile Red switches. The MacTigr also comes with full N-Key rollover so you can push down as many keys as you want, which is critical for some game genres and otherwise ensures no key presses go unregistered. The keyboard is also supremely built and should last for decades, which is nice.

And of course, there"s the $219 asking price. This is up there with some of the most expensive and therefore premium mechanicals out there, and it arguably doesn"t seem like you get much outside of the keyboard for that money - especially given the existence of Keychron"s Mac-friendly keyboards such as the K2, our pick as the best compact mechanical keyboard out there. While these keyboards may be better value though, the MacTigr remains the superior choice.Best retro mechanical keyboard: Durgod Fusion

Okay, okay, so this isn"t really a retro keyboard. Instead, it"s a modern keyboard with a retro aesthetic, with colourways and design language that evoke memories of the 80s. The £140/$152 Durgod Fusion is a compact keyboard - a 65 percent, if you want to be specific - with both wired (USB-C) and wireless functionality, accessible via a chunky switch in the upper right. A built-in battery provides up to 40 days of use, thanks to the lack of LEDs on the keyboard, and you have the choice of standard Bluetooth 5 or lower-latency 2.4GHz wireless via a USB dongle hidden under the Durgod logo. That makes it a good choice for a wide range of mobiles, tablets and computers. I did have some issues connecting via the wireless dongle in my testing, but that was solved by a firmware update to the keyboard and shouldn"t affect retail units.

The keycaps are made from durable double-shot PBT, while the switches beneath come in seven different flavours of Cherry MX from clicky Blues and tactile Browns to quiet Silent Reds. The typing experience is generally excellent and the compact layout makes sense - although it may require some mental effort if you"re used to a larger keyboard with F keys or a numpad. The build quality is impressive too, given the reasonable price, but the small frame means that the keyboard is still portable if you want to put it in a backpack or simply carry it into another room.

Another nice 65 percent keyboard with retro sensibilities is the $140 Epomaker B21. This one is covered in knobs, with one on each corner to control your computer"s volume and the keyboard"s lighting brightness, and the F keys have been replaced by media controls, a calculator button, three profiles and a Mac/Windows toggle. I don"t think these are necessary more helpful than F keys, depending on the workload, but they certainly contribute to a unique design. There are round corners and soft colours everywhere here, and if you like the look this Bluetooth and USB-C combo keyboard certainly does the job.Best optical mechanical keyboard: Wooting Two HE

The £158/$182 Wooting Two HE is something special: an analogue mechanical keyboard. That"s an interesting prospect for gaming, as their pressure-sensitive keys allow you to steer into corners or creep around a level with the same fine-grained control you only normally only get with a wheel or controller. You can adjust the actuation point of the keyboard in software too, anywhere from 0.1 to 4.0mm, making a trade-off between speed and control that normally demands switching to an entirely different keyboard with different mechanical switches inside. You can also trigger up to four different effects as a single key is pressed and released - eg selecting a grenade with a light touch, throwing it when you bottom out the key and swapping back to your weapon as the key is released. All of this requires some setup and tweaking, but the result is something special.

The Two HE is a solid keyboards even if you use it entirely digitally, with a clean "floating keys" design, programmable RGB backlighting and a comfortable full-size layout with four extra keys. The use of an advanced Hall Effect sensor also means that key presses should be registered faster than traditional switches, especially when combined with the keyboard"s "tachyon mode" that strips out nonessentials like RGB effects for a lightning-fast response. For more on this special keyboard, check out our full Wooting Two HE review!Best modular keyboard: Mountain Everest Max

The €250 Mountain Everest Max is a modular keyboard in the strictest sense of the word, offering novel customisability and a multi-part design. The centrepiece is a TKL (tenkeyless, ie no numpad) keyboard, to which three additional components can be joined: a numpad with four Stream Deck style LCD keys, a multi-function LCD wheel and media controls piece, and a palm rest. There"s flexibility in the way in which these pieces come together too - the numpad can be positioned to the right as standard or on the left, an alternative that combines easy access to numeric inputs while leaving loads of room to the right of the keyboard for your mouse. The volume wheel part can also be placed on the top left or top right, according to your preference. The smaller pieces connect via USB-C and magnets, and can be freely swapped around in just a couple of seconds. The Everest Max offers all of the components in one box, along with a handful of extra switches (all of the switches here are hot swappable, so you can install your own switch of choice) and magnetically attached discs that angle the keyboard (as an alternative to flip-out feet). You can also get the base model Everest Core, which is just the TKL keyboard, or even the Everest Core Barebones which comes without switches or keycaps at a lower price.

The Everest Max is extremely convincing as a full package, and thanks to its LCD keys and the Base Camp software it can function as a mini Stream Deck alternative for controlling scenes in OBS. I found the software package a little flaky as it"s still under active development, but I didn"t encounter any serious bugs and the possibilities here are powerful indeed - with comprehensive controls for lighting, key binding, macros, the LCD wheel and multiple profiles. The keyboard itself is a pleasure to use too, especially with that left-handed-style layout with the numpad on the left and the multi-function wheel in the upper right. Having quick access to volume controls as well as lighting selections, a clock, PC stats and even an APM (actions per minute) counter is entirely novel and I"d love to see this on more boards in future - it"s much more powerful than the OLED screen on the likes of the SteelSeries Apex Pro, which includes some similar functions but is much clumsier to use and is mostly relegated to showing a custom graphic in my experience.

So: a very interesting keyboard and I"m curious to see how the package develops further over time! I"d love to see more add-ons available that really push the boundaries of what the mechanical keyboard is capable of - and the LCD keys built into on the numpad make this a really canny pick for streamers and content creators already.Best ergonomic keyboard: Ultimate Hacking Keyboard

The $320 Ultimate Hacking Keyboard is a split-design ergonomic keyboard, similar to the Ergodox but with a much smaller footprint and the ability to use it both joined up (for portability) and split apart (for ergonomics and having a mug of tea in the middle). If you"re already used to a 60 percent keyboard for your work, then this split layout should be ergonomically superior while including some useful functions not found on standard compact keyboards like built-in mouse controls, two extra keys below the space bar and easily accessible arrow keys.

Based on my testing, the chief advantages of the UHK over the Ergodox are two-fold: the closer-to-standard layout is easier to learn and the keyboard is more easily programmable, thanks to an excellent UHK Agent software. It is trivial to change layouts on the fly, with the small LED display in the upper left of the keyboard reminding you which layout is active. Windows, Mac and Linux are all well supported, with preset layouts for Qwerty, Colemak and Dvorak.

A wide range of case colours, mechanical switches, key legends and accessories are also available - including click-into-place add-ons like thumb keys, touchpad, trackpoint or trackball. A palm rest is also available, adding more options for tenting, tilting and otherwise positioning the keyboard in an ergonomically optimal way. Sadly, key backlighting is not offered currently, something that is possible with the Ergodox Glow. Regardless, the UHK is a well-designed ergonomic keyboard worth considering for anyone that relies on a keyboard for work.Best mechanical keyboard for laptops: Epomaker NT68

The best mechanical keyboard for laptops we"ve tested is the £102/$91 Epomaker NT68. It"s designed to perfectly cover the keyboards on most 15-inch laptops, immediately upgrading the typing experience to something with bags more tactile feedback, key travel and comfort. The 65 percent size keyboard comes with a stand, which can fold around the keyboard to protect it during travel, prop up the keyboard or prop up a smartphone or tablet. You have the option of USB-C and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, suitable for a wide range of devices including your computer at home. Software is available to change the lighting and other keyboard settings, but most things can be accomplished with Function keys, accessible via a Fn button in the lower left corner between the Ctrl and Win modifiers. Both Mac and Windows are supported, with Mac and Windows keycaps in the box, and the switches are hot-swappable - so you can use a wide range of replacements with different characteristics. I used Epomaker"s own Chocolate Brown switches, and found them pleasantly tactile with a deep "thock" sound when typing. A separate low profile variant of the keyboard is also available, if you prefer. Given the moderate price point and the flexibility of this keyboard, it seems a great value for mobile typists.

With that, our recommendations come to an end. Of course, even if we chose 200 keyboards we"d still not scratch the surface of the many options available - so if we didn"t cover your favourite keyboard, it"s nothing personal. If you think we"ve missed a good option though, feel free to get in touch with me @wsjudd.

I hope you"ve found this article useful, and I look forward to the feedback. If you haven"t read it before, I"d also encourage you to check out our feature on how - and why - mechanical keyboards become popular in the first place.

The Logitech G915 is built to be a gaming keyboard, but if you spend a lot of time in Photoshop, Premiere, Cinema 4D, Blender, or any number of other creative applications, then it"ll be right up your alley. The raised mechanical keys are comfortable and provide satisfying travel without bulking up the board too much. The keys are at slightly higher risk of breaking if you pull on them, though, so don"t do that. You can also easily swap between Logitech"s Lightspeed wireless connection and Bluetooth, making it simple to switch to your laptop and continue working seamlessly.

You’ve tried RGB keyboards, but how about a keyboard with a built-in screen? Finalmouse just teased the Centerpiece, a mechanical monster that hides a screen behind its transparent keys. The screen is powered by a dedicated CPU and GPU, and it plays custom animations through Unreal Engine 5.

This is, frankly speaking, one of the most ridiculous ideas we’ve ever seen. But at just $350, the Centerpiece is sure to attain some level of popularity. Plus, it seems like a pretty effective keyboard, packing custom “autolubed linear” switches made in collaboration with Gateron. (These switches are based on Gateron’s Black Ink linear switch. The typing sound is similar to “soft marble raindrops,” whatever that means.)

It’s hard to see the keycaps in Finalmouse’s teaser video. But from what we can tell, this keyboard uses a 65% layout—it appears to lack a function row and numpad. The keycaps appear to be a bit flat, with legends printed on the shaft of each key, facing the user. If you can’t type without looking at your keyboard, you should probably skip this product.

Anyway, we’re not sure what kind of screen is beneath this keyboard (maybe it’s LCD, maybe it’s OLED). But Finalmouse says that it can save up to three video skins at a time. Each skin is processed locally, without using your computer’s resources (and the whole thing runs on a single USB-C cable). Interestingly, some skins are interactive—pressing on a certain key may trigger an animation, such as a wave of water or an explosion.

New video skins are available on “The Freethinker Portal,” which is a really awkward name for a mechanical keyboard app. Most of the skins appear to cost money, and interestingly, creators can sell their custom skins through the “Freethinker Portal.”

Because this keyboard uses transparent keys (which are backed by a bright screen), I assume that any dust, crumbs, or grease will stick out like a sore thumb. I’m also worried about repairability; how are you supposed to fix a keyboard that contains a display, a CPU, and a GPU?

The Centerpiece launches in early 2023 for $350. Customers also have the option to order this keyboard with Hall Effect switches, which provide an analog input method with customizable actuation. If you want a taste of Finalmouse today, check out the company’s boutique gaming mice.

I"m considering the possibility of my friend (although he"s being kind of a d♥♥♥ lately & hard to get a hold of) modding the screen from my G19s (the one that is wearing out & I"m attempting to replace) into an external USB case so that the screen can still be used, if not the keyboard itself; the only reason I even considered this was because he"s been known to put backlit, high-definition screens into old handheld game systems, so he"s pretty smart when it comes to this, but it might require leaving the entire board for the keyboard in one piece (if anything, I suppose I could keep the old keyboard connected to the computer for the screen only & use another keyboard that isn"t having the sticking problems)... Of course I still have to use old software/drivers regardless, seeing as Logitech still can"t seem to fix the issue... And just FYI, the G19 also has the capability to play videos (even online videos & live streams) & picture shows on it, however I"ve never used it for that purpose (it was always used for informational purposes in my case). There were a number of functions that were also available, however I didn"t particularly want those running while running games or streams of those games, using more processing power/bandwidth than is necessary.

The best gaming keyboard does more than produce satisfying clickety-clacks. The right keyboard can supercharge your fingertips as you type out your next great Tweet or that sassy email to your colleague that probably should have stayed in drafts. What makes the best gaming keyboard special is its response, features, and price.

Not all gaming keyboards are created equal and there are tons of different features you need to consider when shopping for one. Do you want media controls or volume wheels? What kind of keycaps do you like? Oh, and we haven"t even gotten to keyboard switches yet. Thankfully, we have a handle glossary at the bottom of the page that"ll explain the most common keyboard terms. However, you should 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 the keyboard size. The option of a 60% gaming keyboard or going tenkeyless (TKL) will give you more room for larger mouse swipes if you play competitive games online while also clearing up some desk real estate as well. A full-sized keyboard is more likely to come packed with more bells and whistles like media controls and cool little LED displays.

Below we put together a list of the best gaming keyboards for every kind of PC gamer. We have tested them vigorously in our home and work life; our Alan"s key presses alone are tough enough to check a board"s integrity. 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.

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.

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"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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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, th