Best gaming keyboard 2018: the best gaming keyboards we've tested

If you already have one of the best gaming PCs with one of the best graphics cards, the natural next step is to get one of the best gaming keyboards.

We get it though – it’s tempting to just go to your local big box store and buy a cheap membrane keyboard, especially after dropping so much cash on the best computer you could muster. However, you don’t want to play the best PC games on just any keyboard – trust us. 

Keep in mind, though, that the top gaming keyboards can actually help you get better at playing video games – not to mention that there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about having your desk lit up like a Christmas tree with RGB lighting.

When you go shopping for one of the best gaming keyboards, you should pay special attention to the kind of switches it uses. Membrane switches are typically less than ideal, so the best gaming keyboards will usually feature mechanical ones, as they have deeper travel and more tactile feedback. And, don’t forget RGB lighting – it’s 2018, after all.

That brings us to this list of the 10 top gaming keyboards on the market today. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find something to love here – we here at TechRadar strive to find products that strike a happy balance between price and performance. You can be confident that every gaming keyboard on this list will perform admirably, be reasonably priced and most importantly – look awesome.

With the Huntsman Elite, Razer has taken speed to a whole new level with its optomechanical switches. That sounds like a mouthful, but Razer has managed to take mechanical switches and integrate optical sensors, this allows the Huntsman Elite to take actuation to another level – you simply won’t find a faster keyboard in 2018. But switches aside, it feels great to type on, and it’s covered in more RGB lighting than you can shake a stick at. Sure, it requires two USB cables for power with no passthrough and it costs a small fortune – but with tech like this, it’s absolutely worth it.

Read the full review: Razer Huntsman Elite 

Keyboards abandoning Cherry MX switches in favor of custom ones is kind of the trend in 2018, but none have taken it to the same heights that Roccat does with the Vulcan 120 Aimo. Not only does this keyboard feature switches that have the tactile feedback that gamers require, but it’s comfortable to type on and isn’t too loud. When you add in the jaw-dropping aesthetics of this board, there’s no denying that this is one of the best gaming keyboards 2018 has to offer. 

Read the full review: Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo 

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Razer Black Widow Chroma 

One of our biggest pet peeves with Cherry MX Red keys is that while they’re good for gaming, they’re not great for typing anything but your Steam credentials. And, that’s where the Logitech G513 and its Romer-G Linear switches outshine the rest of the competition. Add in the brushed metal finish that, miraculously, is all but immune to fingerprints, and you have a recipe for one of the best gaming keyboards you can buy today.

Read the full review: Logitech G513 

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Razer Black Widow Chroma 

The Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 is marketed as a keyboard and mouse keyboard, and while the mouse is not exactly great, the keyboard steals the spotlight. Sitting at just under a hundred bucks, the keyboard here, is up there with other, more expensive ‘mem-chanical’ keyboards. The switches here offer a lot of the tactile feedback and deep travel of more traditional mechanical keyboards, and won’t keep your entire house awake while you’re furiously pounding away on it during a intense late-night Overwatch match. The Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 really is one of the best gaming keyboards under $100. 

Read the full review: Cooler Master MasterSet MS120 

We have seen plenty of wireless gaming mice over the last few years, but not many wireless gaming keyboards. Until now. The Corsair K63 Wireless keyboard takes what made the wired version of the K63, and transfers it into the wireless version – without sacrificing much at all. Packing tight Cherry MX Red switches, full RGB lighting and convenient media controls, the K63 wireless shows us what wireless keyboards can be capable of in 2018.

Read the full review: Corsair K63 Wireless 

Following in the footsteps of Kingston’s first HyperX-branded gaming keyboard, namely the HyperX Alloy FPS, the HyperX Alloy Elite tweaks the company’s first winning keyboard to provide only a few subtle changes. For only $10 USD more than its predecessor, you’re getting media keys, a light bar and even a palm rest, all of which were previously absent. They’re also a series of delightful treats, making for a value proposition that shouldn’t be ignored.

Read the full review: HyperX Alloy Elite

Just like the Corsair K70 Rapidfire that came before, the K95 RGB Platinum is a mechanical keyboard that puts gaming above all other things. Rocking 8MB of dedicated memory for storing different profiles, this keyboard certainly has the versatility to get the job done, whatever it may be. It features a beautiful build, as well, with a military-grade aluminum finish that complements Corsair’s fantastic RGB lighting perfectly. 

Read the full review: Corsair K95 RGB Platinum

If you’re new to PC gaming, and you want a keyboard that’ll perform admirably without the high price tag that a lot of mechanical keyboards carry, the Razer Cynosa Chroma might be for you. It might not have the tactile clickiness of a higher-end board, but the hybrid mesh switches perform well enough, boasting a 1ms polling rate and 10-key rollover. That’s not to mention the sick RGB lighting.

Read the full review: Razer Cynosa Chroma 

Accidents happen – it’s just a fact of life, especially when you’re gaming. Luckily, it’s becoming more common for the best gaming keyboards to be able to handle anything you could throw at them, even Mountain Dew. The Corsair K68 RGB takes a fantastic keyboard design with Cherry MX Switches and makes it water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about a sudden soda shower during a frantic play session. And, with its subdued, stylish design and reasonable price tag, it’s easy to recommend the Corsair K68 RGB.

Read the full review: Corsair K68 RGB  

If you’re looking for a gaming keyboard, and you don’t plan on doing much else, the SteelSeries Apex M750 is a great choice. It has fantastic software for customization and gorgeous RGB lighting. It also has a great tactile feel to it and feels extremely robust and durable. The only drawback is that the keyboard is extremely loud and uncomfortable for productivity work. 

Read the full review: SteelSeries Apex M750 

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

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