The keyboard is one of the most important peripherals for any computer. It helps you interface with the system, along with a mouse, and takes hours of daily abuse from your typing. With that in mind, many users prefer a mechanical keyboard with the premium typing feel and reliability that they are known for. These come in different shapes and sizes, with different form factors, switch types, and additional features. With the many options on the market, it can be confusing to know where to start. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite mechanical keyboards as a jumping-off point into the market.
What is the best mechanical keyboard?
Keychron Q1 Pro
Premium through-and-through
The Keychron Q1 Pro is a solidly built, full-metal mechanical keyboard with hot-swap sockets for easy modding, wired and wireless connectivity, and it works with Macs and PCs.
- Mod-friendly
- Has a rotary encoder
- Wired and wireless connectivity
- Expensive
Keychron has a reputation for solidly-built mechanical keyboards with deep customizability, and the Q1 Pro is no exception. This 75% typing beast is CNC'ed from solid slabs of aluminum, so it's got some real heft to stay put no matter how hard your typing style is. It can be purchased as a preassembled, ready-to-go keyboard with a wide choice of switches or as a barebones base kit to add your own switches, keycaps, and other components. The pre-assembled kit can also be customized, as all variants come with hot-swap sockets for putting your choice of switches in.
It's also wireless, with Bluetooth 5.1 for pairing with up to three devices, and a USB-C connection as a fallback and to charge the internal battery. In wired mode, it has a 1,000Hz polling rate for quick responsiveness, and it's compatible with Macs and PCs. Keychron also made it support VIA and QMK, the two most popular open-source firmware packages for mechanical keyboards, so the Q1 Pro has deep customizability.
Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series
If you don't want a numpad
Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series is a mouthful of a name, but this mechanical keyboard is worth considering if all you want is a great typing machine without a numpad. It has several Cherry MX switch options, 8,000Hz polling, and a detachable USB-C connection.
- Durable aluminum frame
- Detachable cable for longevity
- Corsair iCUE RGB control
- No wireless option
- Can be noisy due to the open design
Corsair is another brand that makes some excellent keyboards, and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series is the best tenkeyless (TKL) option. Along with the attractive aesthetic, the K70 RGB TKL Champion Series offers a tournament mode switch, so you know you're looking at a gaming machine. A detachable USB-C cable is a nice addition that allows you to use your own cable and replace it down the road should it become damaged.
Being a Champion Series product, this keyboard was designed for and tested by esports gamers. There's a premium 8,000Hz polling rate, which is far faster than what many other mechanical keyboards offer. Based on a durable aluminum frame, you'll be able to carry this K70 with you to LAN gaming events without issue. The RGB-illuminated keys also create one killer light show for when you're ready to start your session. Other highlights include precision-molded PBT double-shot keycaps, making this one of the better TKL options.
ROYAL KLUDGE RK61
All the frills, none of the cost
The Royal Kludge RK61 is a budget-friendly mechanical keyboard with a choice of mechanical key switches and hot-swappable sockets with five-pin support. It also has 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB-C, and customizable RGB backlighting.
- Hot-swappable sockets for modding
- Three connectivity options
- Incredible value
- No numpad, arrow keys, or F-keys
- Short battery life
It's possible to enjoy decent typing and gaming experiences with a budget-friendly mechanical keyboard, so long as you know which ones to avoid. The Royal Kludge RK61 is one you shouldn't miss. It's a 60% mechanical keyboard that can be purchased with a few different switches pre-installed.
And yes, I said pre-installed. This keyboard may be affordable, but you can hot-swap the switches for aftermarket options. You've got all the RGB lighting you'll ever need, and there's even a wireless option if you'd rather not be tethered to your PC. It does only have 13 hours of battery life when on the lowest backlight setting, but that's okay, as it will charge up when you plug in the USB-C cable to continue using it. Interestingly, this keyboard supports five-pin switches, something that even more expensive mod-friendly keyboards fail to have.
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
For that sweet Chroma glow
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed is a 65% mechanical keyboard with lag-free wireless connectivity, deep customization of macros, key maps, profiles, and Chroma RGB lighting, and a choice of Razer's own key switches.
- Choice of Razer switches
- Lag-free wireless connectivity
- Customizable Chroma RGB
- Expensive if not on sale
- No hot-swap sockets
There's not much to dislike about the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed. It's an incredible piece of kit and is a close contender for our best mechanical keyboard spot. Razer has been making keyboards for a good few years now, and the company knows a thing or two.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed is a super-compact 65% keyboard. Razer offers either its in-house Green or Yellow switches for the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, depending on whether you're after silent typing or gaming with some tactile feedback. Since this is a HyperSpeed keyboard, you can make full use of it without wires, chasing the internal battery using the USB-C port, which doubles up as a tether for using the keyboard without wireless capabilities.
And since this is a Razer keyboard, there's plenty of RGB lighting. The company's software package, Razer Synapse, can also be used to customize the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, including macros, key mapping, and profiles.
HyperX Alloy Origins 60
Small but mighty
The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is an affordable 60% form-factor mechanical keyboard with a choice of linear Red or tactile Aqua key switches in a portable package. It has a full aluminum body and a detachable USB-C cable.
- Full aluminum body
- Removable USB-C cable for longevity
- Decent customization software
- No hot-swap sockets
- Only two switch options
When you want to save surface space or fancy something a little different, a 60% mechanical keyboard may be what you require. This kind of keyboard typically removes the numpad, navigational cluster, and F-keys to create a more compact keyboard, and the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is the best option available.
This is an amazing gaming keyboard for the price. When switching from a full-size keyboard, it may take some time to grow accustomed to the smaller size. The Alloy Origins 60 also doesn't have all the high-end premium features we've seen in other keyboards in this collection. Still, it makes good use of an aluminum body and has all the flashy RGB lighting options you'll ever need. Should you be on the hunt for a keyboard that strikes a good balance between performance, value, and aesthetics, you could do much worse than the HyperX Alloy Origins 60.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
For when you need all the keys and then some
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is one of the most feature-rich keyboards you can buy, with macro keys, a rotary encoder, and dedicated media controls. It's also full of Chroma RGB and has a magnetic wrist rest.
- Razer Command Dial is great
- Magnetic wrist rest
- Eight dedicated macro keys
- Expensive
- Wired only
Sometimes, you need more keys and more functionality than a basic keyboard can provide, especially when you're playing video games. That's where the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro comes in, with a full 104/105 key setup and more extras than you can shake a glow stick at. It has eight dedicated macro keys for easily chaining in-game commands, dedicated media keys that can also double as macros, and the Razer Command Dial, which is a customizable rotary encoder for even more functionality.
Our reviewer loved how customizable it was, with the Command Dial powering through gaming actions, while doing double duty in productivity programs like Photoshop. It's got 38 customizable glow zones because it wouldn't be a Razer keyboard without lots of tweakable RGB lighting. You get a choice of tactile, clicky Green switches or smooth, silent Yellow switches, both created by Razer. Both are great for typing or gaming, so it's up to your preferences on noise level and physical feedback.
Logitech G915
Low-profile keys for a laptop feel
The Logitech G915 is a low-profile mechanical keyboard with wireless connectivity for those desktop typists that prefer the feel of a notebook's keyboard. It's got a 30-hour battery life and a choice of three switch types.
- Wireless connectivity with low-lag
- Full-sized keyboard
- Low-profile switches
- Expensive
- No hot-swap sockets
The Logitech G915 is our favorite wireless mechanical keyboard. It's full-sized, including the numpad, all function key rows, and is packed with features. You'll get macro keys, multi-device pairing for easy switching, RGB lighting, and Lightpseed wireless capabilities. Because of the low-profile key switches, you'll be able to use this keyboard without a wrist rest, if preferred.
Because of the low latency wireless connection, the Logitech G915 is also great for gaming. Three Logitech low-profile switches are available when purchasing the keyboard: GL Tactile, GL Linear, or GL Clicky. The internal battery pack can last for up to 30 hours and only takes a few minutes to charge to full.
Kinesis Freestyle Pro
Split for your comfort
The Kinesis Freestyle Pro ergonomic keyboard has a superpower that no other board on this list has: the ability to split in two. That's enough to keep your arms and elbows straight, reducing forearm strain. You can further reduce the strain by tenting the two halves and tilting them away from the center.
- Ergonomic, split keyboard guards against RSI
- Can use one half when gaming for more mouse space
- Handy macro row for common shortcuts
- Expensive
- Might take some getting used to
The Kinesis Freestyle2 USB-C ergonomic keyboard is unlike any other keyboard on this list thanks to its split form factor, with half of the keys on each part. This has several benefits for ergonomics, including having your arms and elbows at a more natural angle and reducing the amount of strain put on the muscles and tendons in your forearms. The keyboard also comes with a tenting kit, which lets you increase the height of one edge. This stops your forearms from rotating, leaving them in a more natural feeling position for typing.
Of course, no amount of customizable ergonomics would make a difference if the typing experience wasn’t up to grade. Gladly, the Freestyle Pro uses Cherry MX Brown tactile switches or Cherry MX Silent Red linear switches. Those are both favorites of typists and perfect for the office. The keyboard also has a handy double row of macros on the left side, with preprogrammed common keyboard shortcuts like copy, cut, and paste.
Razer BlackWidow V4 75
A quieter typing experience
The Razer BlackWidow V4 is a 75% compact form factor keyboard with factory-lubed Razer orange tactile switches for a quieter, smoother typing experience. The stabilizers are also pre-lubed, and it has two layers of sound-dampening foam and fire-resistant tape under the PCB to reduce high-frequency noises.
- Pre-lubed switches and stabilizers
- Hotswappable switch sockets for 3- or 5-pin switches
- Chroma RGB per-key lighting
- Expensive
- No numpad
The Razer BlackWidow V4 is a 75% compact mechanical keyboard, with some of the most common keyboard modifications already done to it. The Razer orange tactile mechanical switches, as are the stabilizers, are factory-lubed with GPL 205g0, one of the favorite lubes of enthusiasts. These are put into hotswappable sockets that have support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches, opening the door to literally thousands of switch types to choose from.
The entire construction is designed for a premium typing feel and sound. The switch plate is made from FR4, which is strong while providing a bouncy feel to reduce fatigue. The back of the PCB is covered in fire-resistant tape, which soaks up high-frequency sounds so the deep, resonant frequencies of your typing shine. To further enhance the sound, two layers of sound-dampening foam reduce reverberation, so you only hear keystrokes, not their echoes.
You also get 8,000MHz polling for reducing the likelihood of missing keystrokes, Razer Chroma RGB in both underglow and per-key, media keys with a multi-function roller, and a plush leatherette wrist-rest that magnetically attaches to the bottom of the keyboard.
Logitech MX Mechanical
It's a productivity beast
The Logitech MX Mechanical is a low-profile mechanical keyboard from arguably the class leader in computer peripherals. It features Bluetooth, Logi Bolt 2.4GHz wireless or USB-C connectivity, and a full complement of keys for functions and number wrangling.
- Low-profile design for comfort
- Three switch options
- Long battery life
- Boring design
- No hotswappable sockets
The MX Mechanical from Logitech is a low-profile, high-quality mechanical keyboard with shorter switches that feel closer to the scissor switches used in notebook keyboards than full-height mechanical switches. That might be a bonus to you if you already like the typing experience on your notebook. It comes in 104-key full-size or 75% mini sizes, losing the numpad in the process. It has white LED backlighting, which has power-saving sensors that only enable the lighting when it detects your hands are close enough to start typing.
It comes with a Logi Bolt receiver for 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and it also has Bluetooth. USB-C is also used to recharge the internal battery. Logitech says it can run for 15 days on one charge with the backlight on and a staggering 10 months without the LED glow. You can customize some of the keys with the Logi Options software, but there is no way to save these customizations to the keyboard, so you have to keep the software installed.
The best mechanical keyboard to buy is a matter of preference
The mechanical keyboard market is buzzing right now, with smaller companies innovating and pushing the established players to adjust and improve. With all the options available today, you'll be able to find one to your liking. And if you can't find one single keyboard configuration to your taste, getting a keyboard with hot-swap sockets means you'll be able to choose your favorite type of key switches from the thousands on the market.
The Keychron Q1 Pro is a great option to consider mainly because it's an absolute joy to use and can be modded. It also has wireless connectivity options for multi-device usage or banishing unsightly cables. It also has hot-swap sockets, so you can choose your favorite switches.
Keychron Q1 Pro
Premium through-and-through
The Keychron Q1 Pro is a solidly built, full-metal mechanical keyboard with hot-swap sockets for easy modding, wired and wireless connectivity, and it works with Macs and PCs.
Those leaning towards a small keyboard can check out the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, which I think is one of the best 60% keyboards out there. For a quality mechanical keyboard typing experience without spending too much cash, the Royal Kludge RK61 is my recommendation. It has premium features like hot-swap sockets and wireless connectivity for a price that's hard to believe.
The good thing about many of these keyboards is that you can customize them — either while purchasing before checkout or manually by yourself after you get them. You can truly fine-tune your experience by adding different types of switches and styles of keycaps. We recommend checking out our beginner's guide to mechanical keyboards to learn more. If you're after something more affordable, check out our guide on the best budget mechanical keyboards.
Alternatively, you can also join our XDA Computing Forums to discuss anything and everything related to computing, including mechanical keyboards.