There's no question the best keyboards are worth having in your home office, even if your main work PC is a laptop. While it's true there are laptops out there that have impressive keyboards, I've rarely found one that can match the quality of a dedicated deck.
When it comes to testing the best boards on the market, our experts put these typing perhiperals through both accuracy and gaming tests. Ideally, you want a deck that's robust enough to support your work and play needs.
My current pick for the best keyboard you can buy is the Keychron V6. In an age where we're increasingly cutting the cord when it comes to tech, the fact a wireless board is the best around at time of writing is some feat. On a budget? Then you won't go far wrong with the brilliant Lemokey X1, which costs a mere $36.
Read on for our my thoughts on the best keyboards you can buy, whatever your situation or price range. Also check out our best gaming keyboards page, most of which can pull double-duty as excellent office models. Our best mechanical keyboards picks can help you find the most satisfying typing experience, too.
The Quick List
The best keyboards you can buy today
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This incredible full-sized mechanical deck is the current overlord of all keyboards. It speaks to the Keychron V6's outstanding quality that it's one of the few only wired boards on this list. Hot-swappable, it feels and sounds sensational to type on.
A superb typing device for both work and play. Thanks to its gasket-mounted design and Kailh Box V2 switches, the MK770 feels phenomenal to type on. The fact it's also hot-swappable means you can also mod it to your heart's content.
Quality keyboard gaming on a dime. For less than $40, Lemokey has managed to serve up a board that feels truly premium. The X1 excels when it comes to both gaming and work, while it also sports customizable backlighting and intuitive software.
Read more below
The G915 is an alluring, supremely thin gaming keyboard. It's also ultra-dependable, with nary a hint of lag or dropped signals. Its low-profile switches and full RGB lighting also ensures the G915 is both comfortable and visually appealing.
A top quality mechanical board that not only looks gorgeous, it has been constructed with a superb level of craft . Excellent typing is guaranteed whether you're gaming or working. We also love its reliable software options.
If you need an awesome board for your Mac, it's hard to beat the Magic Keyboard. This model connects via Bluetooth, though it lacks a numeric keypad for maximum portability. The good news? Crew Cupertino also has a bigger version with a number pad if you prefer.
The Logitech MX Keys S is great for productivity, thanks to its dual-labeled keys and ability to auto-detect operating systems. Its concave keycaps and scissor switches make for a nice typing experience, and Logi Options+ makes it easy to remap keys.
The Keychron K11 Max is a wireless ergonomic keyboard that offers a comfortable typing experience thanks to its Alice layout, plus it’s hot-swappable with a premium construction which make it a winner.
The MX Keys Mini is a productivity weapon. It’s beautiful to type on, lightweight and highly portable. We also appreciate its impressive battery life and the addition of pleasing dual-labeled keycaps that make typing a pleasure.
The best overall keyboard
If you’re after a wired, full-size mechanical keyboard, the Keychron V6 should be your first port of call. It’s built like a tank, using layers of internal insulation that keep the board rigid, as well as dampening the sound for a deep, linear thump. As standard, it comes with lovely doubleshot PBT keycaps that feel wonderful to type on and will stand the test of time (especially versus ABS keycaps).
It has customizable RGB lighting, can be purchased with either red, blue or brown switches, and is fully hot swappable and easy to disassemble, making it a great platform for modding. You can also buy the V6 in a “bare bones” format, without keycaps or switches — the ideal base for a custom build.
Obviously, this is a wired board, so if you want a battery-powered keyboard with wireless connectivity, it won’t be for you. As a full-size, well-insulated keyboard, it’s also quite heavy, but the V6 is really designed to sit at a desk instead of being taken to work. If you find the standard keycaps a little mundane, Keychron offers a range of different keycap sets in spicier colors to customize the board as you like — with all the money you save over rivals, buying extras won’t be a problem.
Read our full Keychron V6 review.
The best mechanical keyboard
The Cooler Master MK770 is one of the best wireless keyboards since it's expressly built for typing comfort.
This board features a gasket-mounted design and Kailh Box V2 switches which contributes to a comfortable typing experience. Even with clicky white Kailh Box V2, the keyboard is surprisingly quiet. But if you want, you can change its switches or mod it since it's hot-swappable.
The keyboard comes in Space Gray or "Macaron." The latter features pastel-like green, pink and yellow pastel keycaps which are quite eye-catching. And since this is a 96% keyboard, it takes up less space on your desk than a full-size keyboard.
The Cooler Master MK770 is a great wireless keyboard for typists and gamers alike.
Read our full Cooler Master MK770 review.
The best budget keyboard
The Lemokey X1 is a no-brainer if you’re on a budget but crave quality. Priced at just $36, it delivers an awesome performance for both typing and gaming, boasting features typically found in more expensive models. Its body feels premium and robust, and the tactile brown switches we tested offer a delightful typing experience. The keyboard's 1,000Hz polling rate ensures excellent gaming responsiveness, outperforming other budget options like the MageGee Sky87.
The X1 also has red-only backlighting which can be customized via Lemokey Launcher, its intuitive companion software, which can also be used to remap keys, program macros, and more. The keyboard isn’t without its flaws though, as the ABS keycaps feel less than premium and may suffer wear and tear over time. Additionally, it lacks hot-swappable switches which could deter modders. Despite these minor drawbacks, the X1 remains an outstanding choice for anyone seeking a budget-friendly mechanical keyboard with premium features.
Read our full Lemokey X1 review.
The best gaming keyboard
The Logitech G915 is thin and attractive. It's also extremely dependable. Trust us when we say you'll never have to sweat lag or dropped signals when you're typing on this deck. The fact that it's quick and responsive is also a huge bonus.
We're big fans of the G19's low-profile switches and lovely RGB lighting that combine to create a board that's kind on both your fingers and your eyes. Our only reasonably sized nitpick is that Logi's peripheral is pretty pricey. If you can afford it, though, there are very few questions surrounding the sheer quality of the Logitech G915.
Read our full Logitech G915 review.
The best wireless keyboard
The Epomaker DynaTab75 is a standout in the world of mechanical keyboards, offering a blend of aesthetics, premium construction, and versatile functionality that is hard to match. This keyboard’s stunning blue and white colorway — paired with minimalistic RGB lighting — makes it a treat for the eyes. Its build quality is impressive too, featuring layers of sound absorbing foam that enhance the typing experience by reducing metallic pings and other unnecessary noise.
One of its unique selling points is its integrated slot for phones and tablets, which adds a level of convenience for users who multitask or game on smaller devices. The DynaTab75’s typing experience is exceptional, thanks to the comfortable double-shot PBT keycaps and excellent switches (especially the Wisteria tactile switches we tested). It’s great for both typing and casual gaming, performing well in first-person shooters and third-person RPGs alike.
Despite its big footprint and weight, which make it less portable, the DynaTab75 has earned its place on my desk. At $89, and often available for much less, this keyboard offers high-end features and exceptional value, making it a highly recommended choice for anyone in need of a robust and stylish keyboard.
Read our full Epomaker DynaTab75 review.
The best keyboard for Mac
Apple users should start here because this keyboard isn't just designed for their needs, it matches them. The Magic Keyboard is one of the best keyboards because it's a step up from the keyboards in the MacBooks made between 2016 and 2019, and it's pretty similar to the well-reviewed 16-inch MacBook Pro's keyboard — using a reliable scissor-switch mechanism and not the controversial butterfly-switch design.
The Magic Keyboard is one of the smaller keyboards in this set, making it much easier to throw in your bag or use at a small desk. Apple also makes the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad, which has a full number pad if you're OK with the larger size and do a lot of number-crunching. Both models feature a keyboard layout designed for use with Mac, making this one of the best picks on this board. It connects over Bluetooth.
The best Magic Keyboard alternative
Priced at $109, the Logitech MX Keys S is an Apple-esque keyboard that borrows styling cues from the Magic Keyboard, but it’s $20 cheaper. It offers a similar aesthetic with a robust set of features. With dual-labeled keycaps, the keyboard automatically adapts to both macOS and Windows, so it’s designed for versatility. It features scissor switches and concave keycaps, providing a smooth, quiet, and comfortable typing experience. The raised back design eliminates the need for retractable feet, and it’s high enough that you can comfortably type for hours on end. Additionally, the keyboard lasts for up to 10 days with backlighting on, or 5 months with it off.
Despite these strengths, the MX Keys S has some drawbacks. The white LED backlighting is dim, and there’s no onboard dongle storage for the 2.4GHz Bolt receiver, making it easy to misplace. The MX Keys S’ hefty size and weight means it’s best suited for a stationary desk setup.
This is a solid productivity keyboard with a few flaws that you might not expect at this price point. If you can find it on sale, it’s a worthwhile investment for those seeking a reliable and versatile keyboard for their desk.
Read our full Logitech MX Keys S review.
The best ergonomic keyboard
The Keychron K11 Max is an excellent wireless keyboard for all your ergonomic needs. It’s got a 65% Alice layout which means it’s split and slightly tilted to relieve strain on your wrists. If you aren’t used to a keyboard like this, getting to grips with it might feel like an uphill walk, but it’s worth it. The K11 Max offers a great typing experience and its low-profile keycaps and switches are very comfortable to type on. It’s built really well too, with an aluminum frame plus double-shot oil-resistant PBT keycaps which won’t fade over time.
But the K11 Max’s companion software feels finicky as you can’t use it to change the hue and brightness of the RGB lighting, nor can you remap the metallic knob. Furthermore, while its body is built well, the feet are slightly loose making the board easy to knock and move. There’s also no onboard dongle storage, so keep a close eye on that small 2.4GHz adapter.
If you’re willing to overlook these flaws, the K11 Max is a great keyboard that excels at providing its users with a comfortable typing experience.
Read our full Keychron K11 Max review.
The best portable keyboard
The Logitech MX Keys Mini is as nimble as they come, weighing in at under 18 ounces and 12 inches. This little productivity weapon is designed for fast typing, and boy does it deliver, thanks to its super low profile concave keycaps. It’s built well, features strong battery life and is easy to hook up. What’s more, it comes with dual labeled keycaps for macOS and Windows — a boon for anyone who switches between the two regularly.
All that said, this is a pricey board for what it is. You can get awesome mechanical 75% boards for similar money that offer more features and more customization. It also features a couple of annoying quirks, including Bluetooth keys that completely knock out important macOS functions, and a backlight that turns itself off.
Read our full Logitech MX Keys Mini review.
How to choose the best keyboard for you
There are several factors you should be thinking about when it comes to picking up a new keyboard. The most important ones, in our opinion? Comfort, key type, connectivity, lighting, price and size. Below, we'll help steer you through the most important points that are worth pondering when you're on the verge of buying one of the best keyboards.
- Do you want mechanical or membrane? This is the most important element to consider when it comes to your next keyboard buy in our book. The main difference between mechanical and membrane boards boils down to key travel and noise. The former are much more "clicky" and sound super-satisfying to type on in most keyboards enthusiasts' minds. On the flipside, membrane boards often use silicon keycap switches, meaning they're a better option for users who crave a quiet typing experience.
- Should you go wired or wireless? While wireless seems like the no-brainer winner in this particular face-off, we can hardly try to steer you away from keyboards that require cords when our current number one pick is the wired Keychron V6. If you pair your keyboard with multiple devices or move it around on your desk a lot, wireless is the way to go. Yet if your current keyboard never moves from its spot in your setup, go for the normally unfailing connection reliability of a wired deck.
- What device do you normally connect your keyboard to? This will most likely boil down to whether you're a PC or Mac user. Heck, you may even be the sort of niche person who wants a Bluetooth-compatible keyboard to pair with their tablet or handheld gaming PC. The key thing is to do your research on a board's compatibility beforehand, which is most easily achieved by Googling the specs of the typing peripheral you're eyeing up from the manufacturer's official site.
- What is the right size for your desk? When it comes to comfort, bigger is normally better, meaning folks with a large work area should go for a full-sized keyboard. However, if you're working from home on a small desk, you should consider buying either a 70% or 60% form factor keyboard to work around your space limitations.
- What's your budget? You definitely don't need to break the bank to get your hands on a quality keyboard. As you can see in our picks above, you can get a fantastic device to type on for less than $40! If you're a PC prosumer, though, you may well have the budget and desire to fork out as much as $200 for the cream of the crop when it comes to boards.
- How much do you value RGB? Keyboard lighting is a hugely personal preference. For every PC or Mac user out there that's a fan of glowing RGB, there's almost certainly an equal amount of folks who want no-frills over flash. Of all the big factors that go into purchasing one of the best keyboards, this one should probably be your lowest priority.
How we test keyboards
When it comes to review time, every keyboard our experts get their hands on is put through a battery of tests. Seeing as most regular users are more likely to use a board for work than gaming, one of our first points of call is to determine typing accuracy through 10FastFingers. The higher our score on said site is, the more reliable the keyboard normally proves to be.
Next up, we evaluate how easy a keyboard's software is to use — ideally, you want a simple to engage with app that just works and doesn't try to befuddle you with polling settings. Robust software options are obviously great, yet they should also be easy to grasp for the average user, too.
The last step is to put a keyboard through its paces when it comes to both productivity and gaming — though with general purpose decks, we place more importance on the former work-focused scenarios. The very best keyboards normally perform equally well for both work and gaming. Let's be honest, you really shouldn't need two boards to service your on the clock and off hours. The more versatile a keyboard is, the easier it is to recommend.
Also tested
