The correct machine keyboard tin make a large quality to really you activity aliases play. Whether you’re typing reports, programming pinch analyzable macros aliases spending hours connected a mechanical gaming keyboard, nan correct exemplary tin boost some comfortableness and efficiency. Some group for illustration a compact layout for portability, while others want a full-size QWERTY committee pinch a Numpad for information introduction and spreadsheets.
From wireless options that support your table tidy to wired models built for debased latency, there’s a wide scope of designs, switches and features to take from. In this guide, we’ve tested and rounded up nan champion keyboards for different needs truthful you tin find nan 1 that champion fits your setup.
Table of contents
What to look for successful a keyboard
Best keyboards for 2025
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Logi Bolt USB receiver | Size: Full-size layout | Material: Plastic chassis pinch low-profile scissor switches | Switches: Scissor switches | Hot-swappable: No | Backlight: Yes, smart illumination pinch ambient ray sensors | Software: Logi Options+
Logitech knows really to make a coagulated keyboard, and nan Master bid has been an fantabulous 1 complete nan past fewer years. The MX Keys S is nan latest full-sized version and it combines a low-profile creation pinch comfortable keys and useful customization tools. It looks rather sleek successful black, achromatic aliases graphite, measuring conscionable nether 17 inches successful width and only 0.8 inches precocious disconnected your desk. Its spherically-dished keys cradle your fingertips each clip you press, and while I wouldn’t spell truthful acold to opportunity they wholly prevented maine from putting immoderate typos successful this guide, nan style decidedly helps much than other, flatter keycaps I’ve used.
This is simply a backlit keyboard pinch “smart illumination,” which conscionable intends nan backlight will footwear connected erstwhile your hands attack nan committee and set depending connected nan lighting successful your environment. I person a decent magnitude of earthy ray successful my location agency during regular moving hours, truthful I opted to move nan backlight disconnected — if you do nan same, you tin get up to 5 months of artillery life retired of nan MX Keys S (Logitech estimates 10 days pinch smart illumination on). The keyboard has a built-in USB-C larboard for charging arsenic well.
In summation to nan low-profile creation that still includes a number pad, nan biggest kickers for nan MX Keys S are its wide compatibility and customizable features pinch Logi Options+. This peripheral useful pinch Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux and iPadOS, and it has 3 instrumentality pairing buttons truthful you tin link it to up to 3 devices astatine erstwhile and move betwixt them arsenic necessary. Logi Options+ is free package that galore Logitech accessories use, and for nan MX Keys S, it allows you to customize brightness levels and duration, group smart actions (one-key shortcuts you programme to your liking) and more.
The Master Series besides includes a “mini” version of this keyboard that nixes nan number pad and $10 from nan value tag. I’ve utilized that and bask it arsenic well, but erstwhile you’re only redeeming $10, nan full-sized type feels for illustration a amended value. Can you find cheaper wireless keyboards than either of these? Of course. But Logitech’s expertise successful this abstraction really shines successful nan Master series, and pinch nan MX Keys S successful peculiar arsenic it stands retired arsenic a high-quality wireless keyboard pinch a bunch of other features astatine a decent price. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
Pros
- Good build quality
- Comfortable typing experience
- Logi Options+ provides a ton of customization options
- Works crossed each awesome OSes
Cons
- Not nan cheapest keyboard retired there
- Not a large value quality betwixt nan full-sized type and nan mini exemplary without nan number pad
$120 astatine Amazon
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Logi Bolt USB receiver | Size: Compact (75% layout) | Material: Plastic framework pinch retro-style keycaps | Switches: Mechanical switches | Hot-swappable: No | Backlight: No | Software: Logi Options+
Logitech’s Pop Icon Keys takes a batch of notes from nan Master bid and translates them into a much nosy (and cheaper) package. The $50 keyboard doesn’t see a number pad, but alternatively has a statement connected nan correct broadside that includes 4 buttons that you tin customize utilizing Logi Options+. I person excavation programmed to activate macOS’ ngo control, unfastened nan emoji keyboard and to move page up and down, respectively. But those aren’t nan only buttons you tin customize — 11 of nan apical usability keys tin besides beryllium programmed to your liking arsenic well.
The Pop Icon keycaps person a flimsy indentation to them, though not arsenic melodramatic arsenic those connected nan Master bid keys, and nan typing acquisition is simply a comfortable and quiet 1 overall. While this isn’t billed arsenic a recreation keyboard, it’s mini capable to fresh into a modular activity container aliases backpack, truthful you could return it pinch you without overmuch hassle.
You tin link nan Pop Icon keys to up to 3 devices astatine erstwhile and move betwixt them easily, and nan keyboard supports macOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome, iPadOS, iOS and Android devices. Besides location being nary action for a number pad configuration, arguably nan biggest downside to this keyboard is nan truth that it runs connected 2 AAA batteries. Logitech estimates it will past up to 3 years earlier you request to switch them, truthful possibly that’s a pro for immoderate alternatively than a con. I besides admit that, erstwhile connected to a Mac machine complete Bluetooth, you tin still show nan Pop Icon Keys’ artillery life from nan Bluetooth menu.
This is besides a awesome value for a coagulated wireless keyboard. Logitech itself makes moreover cheaper ones, but nan Pop Icon Keys strikes a bully equilibrium betwixt creation and capabilities astatine this value point. The biggest question, if you take this keyboard, is which colorway you fancy nan astir retired of nan 5 options. — V.P.
Pros
- Cheap!
- Compact creation pinch a debased profile
- Comfortable typing experience
- Programmable keys pinch Logi Options+
- Works crossed each awesome OSes
Cons
- Key recreation could beryllium better
- No number pad
$50 astatine Amazon
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Logi Bolt USB receiver | Size: Full-size pinch integrated numeric keypad | Material: Plastic framework pinch fabric-covered wrist remainder | Switches: Scissor switches | Hot-swappable: No | Backlight: No | Software: Logi Options+
Read our afloat guideline to nan best ergonomic keyboards
The Ergo K860 from Logitech combines 4 adjuvant ergonomic features successful a keyboard that operates overmuch for illustration immoderate modular board. The Alice divided shifts your elbows isolated while keeping your forearms and wrists lined up. The tenting raises nan keys upward successful nan middle, rotating your palms subtly toward 1 another. The optional antagonistic tilt slopes nan bottommost separator supra nan apical separator to support nan backs of your hands straighter. And there’s a thenar remainder built in, which immoderate find much comfortable during agelong typing sessions.
Unlike different much aggressively ergonomic boards, there’s nary learning curve here. Typing connected nan Ergo K860 feels a batch for illustration typing connected a modular group of keys. The debased profile, scissor-switch keys are springy and easy to hit. You moreover get a ten-key number pad, navigation keys and arrow buttons, each of which make it a full-featured and acquainted accessory. You tin programme nan keys pinch Logitech’s software, but this will apt entreaty astir to those who conscionable want a plug-and-play committee for a Mac aliases PC setup. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter
Pros
- Rotated, tented keys make typing comfortable
- An ergonomic committee pinch nary learning curve
- Wirelessly connects quickly to 3 devices
- Hotkeys activity pinch MacOS and Windows
Cons
- Wrist remainder is not removable
- Takes up a batch of space
$150 astatine Amazon
Connectivity: Wired (USB-C) | Size: Split ergonomic layout pinch 52 keys | Material: Plastic lodging | Switches: Kailh Choc low-profile switches (tactile, linear, aliases clicky) | Hot-swappable: Yes | Backlight: No | Software: Oryx and VIA
Read our afloat guideline to nan best ergonomic keyboards
If you’re fresh to make a superior committedness to expanding your ergonomics, I urge nan ZSA Voyager. I usage it each time and, moreover though it’s not ace portable, I brought it pinch maine erstwhile I worked distant from my location agency for a week. But astatine first, it took maine astatine slightest 3 weeks earlier I was comfortable typing connected it. Not only will you request to reprogram nan keys (and retrieve what they do), you’ll request to usage your fingers successful a different measurement than you’re utilized to. For one, your thumbs will do acold much than conscionable deed nan spacebar. They’ll run nan return, shift, power and moreover furniture buttons, depending connected really you programme nan board.
But nan ergonomic benefits are arsenic significant. The afloat divided committee lets maine unfastened up my arms and chest. On days erstwhile I’m emotion peculiarly tight, I’ll put nan 2 halves a afloat ft apart. Relocating nan return, bid and forward-delete cardinal to nan thumbclusters saves maine from shifting my hands astir nan committee and nan layers usability allows for acold much functionality than a modular keyboard.
That said, it besides adds to nan information of my computer, making it each but intolerable for different group to type pinch nan Voyager. It comes pinch magnetic knobs for nan halfway tenting feature, but I wish it came pinch nan action to assistance nan mediate a small higher. I created other assistance by adding rubber bumpers to nan board, but for nan price, it’d beryllium bully not to person to MacGuyver it. Still, whenever I’m forced to usage a regular keyboard, I consciousness for illustration I'm toiling successful nan typing excavation astatine Sterling Cooper. — A.S.
Pros
- Ergonomic, afloat divided board
- Programmable thumb cluster minimizes manus travel
- Low profile, mechanical keys make typing easy
- Compact size and clever cardinal mapping support your hands successful nan location position
Cons
- Takes a mates weeks to relearn really to type
- Center tenting could beryllium higher
$365 astatine ZSA
Connectivity: 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB-C wired | Size: 75% layout | Material: Aluminum apical lawsuit pinch PC sheet | Switches: Gateron Jupiter switches | Hot-swappable: Yes | Backlight: South-facing RGB LED | Software: QMK/VIA
Read our afloat guideline to nan best mechanical keyboards
The Keychron Q Max series doesn’t travel cheap, but it has conscionable astir everything we want retired of a high-end mechanical keyboard. Its afloat aluminum lawsuit is exceedingly sturdy, hefty and cool to nan touch. While its PBT-coated keycaps are connected nan taller side, they person a beautiful texture and are sculpted successful a measurement that mildly hugs your fingertips. There are aggregate move options available, each of which are hot-swappable, while a double gasket-mount creation wrong nan keyboard gives each property a cushioned yet springy consciousness by default. Combined pinch respective layers of foam, those presses person a delightfully poppy and moreover sound.
We tested nan tenkeyless Q3 Max, but Keychron offers respective different size and layout options arsenic well. Each tin link complete a wireless dongle, Bluetooth aliases USB-C and includes other Windows- and Mac-specific keycaps successful nan box. There are still things to nitpick — there’s a faint spot of rattle to a mates of nan larger keys; you can’t set nan keyboard’s height; and Keychron’s one-year warranty is beautiful short — but if you conscionable want to bargain a mechanical keyboard that delivers a premium acquisition from nan jump, this will get you there. – Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
Pros
- Superb typing consciousness and sound
- Premium aluminum case
- Crisp PBT keycaps
- Hot-swappable
- Reliable wireless performance
- Tons of layout options
- Knob!
Cons
- A spot pricey
- Keycaps aren't shine-through and whitethorn beryllium excessively gangly for some
- Heavy
- Slight rattling pinch immoderate stabilizers
$189+ astatine Keychron
Connectivity: USB-C wired | Size: Tenkeyless (80%) layout | Material: Plastic framework | Switches: Keychron mechanical switches | Hot-swappable: No | Backlight: Red LED | Software: QMK/VIA
Read our afloat guideline to nan best mechanical keyboards
We urge nan Keychron C3 Pro if you want to walk arsenic small arsenic imaginable for a delightful mechanical keyboard. It’s a stellar worth astatine conscionable nether $50, pinch factory-lubricated switches, a gasket mount, aggregate layers of soul foam and different touches we don’t usually spot successful this value range. The stabilizers debar immoderate fierce rattling, and there’s nary of nan pinging sound you get from galore cheaper cases. All of this helps consciousness comfortable for typing, while nan tactile Brown switches successful our trial portion sound pleasantly clacky.
As pinch immoderate fund keyboard, you person to make immoderate sacrifices. It only useful wired, for one, and nan ABS keycaps consciousness slicker and cheaper than nan champion PBT caps. While nan lawsuit doesn’t grounds immoderate superior flexing, it’s still made of plastic. You besides request to salary $10 other to get a version pinch RGB backlighting and hot-swappable switches — nan guidelines exemplary is still a awesome bargain for those looking to get into nan hobby connected nan cheap, but it saddles you pinch a red-only backlight and prevents you from easy popping successful caller switches down nan road. – J.D.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Tremendous typing acquisition for nan money
- Programmable pinch software
- Shine-through keycaps
Cons
- ABS keycaps are a spot slick
- Wired only
- RGB lighting and hot-swappable move costs a small spot extra
$45 astatine Amazon
Connectivity: USB-C wired | Size: 80% layout | Material: Plastic aliases zinc alloy lawsuit options | Switches: Lekker Hall-effect analog switches | Hot-swappable: Yes | Backlight: Per-key RGB pinch customizable LED barroom | Software: Wootility
Read our afloat guideline to nan best gaming keyboards
The Wooting 80HE is our favourite keyboard for gamers acknowledgment to its magnetic Hall effect switches, which tin respond to varying levels of pressure. This lets you customize nan actuation constituent of each individual key, truthful you could make them much delicate during quick-twitch shooting games aliases much deliberate erstwhile you conscionable want to type. Another characteristic called rapid trigger lets you repetition inputs faster, without having to hold for a fixed cardinal to return to a fixed reset point. That tin beryllium a existent boon for, say, strafing backmost and distant much precisely during a 1v1 shootout successful Overwatch. You tin besides necktie aggregate commands to 1 key: In Halo Infinite, for example, you could make it truthful lightly pressing W makes you locomotion much stealthily, while pressing it each nan measurement down makes you tally astatine afloat speed.
Does everyone request each of this? Of people not. Any keyboard tin beryllium a “gaming keyboard,” and thing present will magically make you bully astatine games. But for much hardcore types looking for immoderate other spot of granular control, they tin make a tangible difference.
The 80HE isn’t nan only keyboard to connection this group of tricks, but it stands retired for getting nan remainder of nan package correct arsenic well. Wooting’s Wootility package is best-in-class, making it peculiarly easy to tweak settings and customize nan RGB lighting. You tin prevention aggregate power profiles straight to nan device. And while nan all-plastic lawsuit isn’t nan highest-quality point retired location for $200, nan banal hardware still feels and sounds pleasant, pinch crisp PBT keycaps, soft pre-lubed switches and a pleasingly thocky tone. – J.D.
Pros
- Magnetic switches are profoundly versatile for gaming
- Easy-to-use software
- Sturdily built
- Comfortable for typing and sounds pleasant
Cons
- Wired-only
- A spot expensive
- 80 percent creation is somewhat awkward
- Only disposable to bargain successful batches
$200 astatine Wooting
Connectivity: 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired | Size: Tenkeyless (TKL) layout | Material: Aluminum apical sheet pinch integrative guidelines | Switches: OmniPoint 2.0 adjustable mechanical switches | Hot-swappable: No | Backlight: Per-key RGB | Software: SteelSeries GG
Read our afloat guideline to nan best gaming keyboards
If you want nan Wooting 80HE’s gaming-friendly features successful a wireless keyboard, we for illustration nan SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless (Gen 3). It offers astir of nan aforesaid adjustable actuation and accelerated trigger devices arsenic nan 80HE, positive a “protection mode” that makes it harder to deed adjacent keys by mishap and preset profiles for immoderate celebrated games. The typing acquisition is simply a positive arsenic well, pinch crisp and easy-to-reach PBT keycaps, a sturdy aluminum apical sheet and smooth-feeling switches that are sufficiently muffled. There’s a magnetic wrist remainder successful nan box, and nan full point tin link complete a wireless dongle, Bluetooth aliases USB-C.
Our main issues pinch nan Apex Pro impact SteelSeries’ GG app. So overmuch of nan acquisition pinch these analog-style keyboards comes down to software, and GG is simply a spot little refined than Wootility crossed nan board. At $270, nan Apex Pro is decidedly connected nan higher extremity of nan value spectrum, too. Still, nan app is easy capable to grok complete clip — particularly compared to different gaming models we’ve utilized — and nan committee arsenic a full gets overmuch much correct than wrong. – J.D.
Pros
- Fast and profoundly versatile magnetic switches
- Useful OLED display
- Pleasant typing experience
- Multiple relationship modes
Cons
- Pricey
- Software isn't ever intuitive
- Battery life could beryllium better
$280 astatine Amazon
What to look for successful a keyboard
Design
Size
The first point you’ll want to see erstwhile it comes to your adjacent machine keyboard’s creation is size. There are a number of different keyboard layouts to take from, but nan astir communal are full-sized, tenkeyless and those smaller than tenkeyless.
Full-sized keyboards, aliases 100 percent, see a usability statement astatine nan apical and a complete numpad pinch arrow keys connected nan correct side, on pinch each of nan remainder of nan alphanumeric keys you’d expect connected a modular QWERTY layout. Tenkeyless, aliases 80 percent, removes nan number pad but keeps nan arrow keys and nan usability row, reducing nan wide width measurement of nan committee by a decent amount. Compact keyboards support things ultra elemental by including only nan alphanumeric keys and modifiers for illustration Alt, Shift, Ctrl and others and they travel successful different sizes for illustration 60 percent, 65 percent and more. These are nan astir celebrated sizes retired there, but you tin find plentifulness of different designs that see different mixes of keys on pinch nan modular letters and numbers each should have.
Aside from size, location are 2 different large categories that you could usage to specify a keyboard: ergonomic and mechanical. Ergonomic keyboards are designed with, you guessed it, amended ergonomics successful mind, taking into relationship wherever you should position your fingers, hands and forearms to support due posture. Separately, mechanical keyboards usage mechanical switches (of which location are galore types) that disagree greatly from nan membrane aliases scissor-switch keyboards you’ll find dominating astir wired and wireless options wide disposable today. We person guides to nan champion ergonomic keyboards and champion mechanical keyboards, but we’ll summarize what you request to cognize astir some here.
Ergonomic keyboards
If you woody pinch discomfort from moving astatine a machine each day, ergonomic keyboards tin help. These specially designed boards re-orient nan keys, allowing you to clasp your elbows farther isolated and support a straighter statement from your forearms to hands. Some group find this subtle alteration much comfortable.
Ergonomic keyboards typically autumn into 2 categories: Alice and divided keyboards. The erstwhile is simply a azygous portion pinch an A-shaped spread successful nan halfway of nan keys. Split models travel successful 2 abstracted pieces which you tin put arsenic you for illustration connected your desk. Additional ergonomic features for illustration tenting and antagonistic tilt tin make typing consciousness moreover much comfortable, and are often disposable connected some Alice and divided boards. Tenting raises nan mediate of nan keys up truthful your hands return connected much of a “handshake” position. Negative tilting lowers nan apical of nan keyboard to support your wrists angled downward alternatively of backmost towards your forearms.
The measurement nan keys are arranged connected nan keyboard whitethorn make typing easier arsenic well. Traditionally, keyboards are staggered, pinch 1 statement of letters somewhat offset from nan statement beneath it. Columnar keyboards put nan keys successful a grid of rows and columns. This style takes a small getting utilized to, but immoderate group find it allows them to type faster. You tin besides make nan keys of immoderate keyboards do much than conscionable nutrient letters. Programmable boards fto you representation shortcuts and different functions, including macros, which whitethorn support you from reaching for nan rodent rather truthful often, redeeming you clip and perchance strain arsenic well.
Mechanical keyboards
Mechanical keyboards person blown up successful fame arsenic much group person been thrust into creating their ain workspaces astatine home. It’s easy to spot why: Compared to a accepted membrane keyboard, a bully mechanical committee is much durable, much satisfying to property and, astir importantly, infinitely much customizable. The champion of them usually travel pinch a value premium, but moreover immoderate cheaper models fto you “hot-swap” betwixt keycaps, switches and different materials, letting you tinker pinch different typing sensations and sound profiles until you find a operation that champion expresses your preferences.
Do you want each property to consciousness heavy and afloat aliases accelerated and light? Do you request them to sound large and clacky aliases almost totally muffled? Do you for illustration your keycaps to look subdued and professional, stuffed pinch RGB lights aliases written successful an Elvish language from The Lord of nan Rings for immoderate reason? With nan correct caller keyboard, it’s each up to you — nan only things really holding you backmost are your imagination and your wallet.
We person a dedicated buying guideline that digs deeper into nan cardinal aspects to see erstwhile buying a mechanical gaming keyboard, truthful we promote you to look astatine that for a afloat rundown. To support things high-level, nan astir influential portion of your acquisition is your keyboard’s move type. These small mechanisms slot underneath nan keycaps and mostly person nan biggest effect connected really your keyboard feels and sounds arsenic you type away.
You tin broadly abstracted mechanical switches into 3 buckets: linear, tactile and clicky. Linear switches consciousness soft each nan measurement down; they’re often celebrated pinch gamers since they thin to beryllium ray and accelerated to actuate. Tactile switches create a tangible “bump” sensation partway done a press; galore group who walk each time typing for illustration them because they intelligibly corroborate each property without (always) being each that loud. Clicky switches are functionally akin to tactiles but make an audible “click” sound to lucifer nan bump; your coworkers whitethorn dislike them, but others emotion nan full-throated consciousness of feedback they provide. To beryllium clear, conscionable because 2 switches autumn wrong nan aforesaid bucket doesn’t mean they consciousness aliases sound precisely nan same. The only measurement to fig retired which move useful champion for you is to do your investigation and, preferably, effort immoderate retired for yourself.
Other keyboards person a mechanical-style consciousness but are built connected different mechanisms entirely. The basking caller inclination successful gaming-focused keyboards, for example, is Hall effect switches, which usage mini magnets to registry keystrokes and fto you customize nan sensitivity of each press. Optical switches, meanwhile, connection akin functionality by replacing nan beingness interaction constituent of a emblematic mechanical move pinch a beam of infrared light. More recently, we’ve seen a couple keyboards motorboat pinch inductive switches, which tin activity for illustration magnetic switches but use inductive coils successful nan keyboard’s printed circuit committee (PCB) to cater to each switches collectively and don’t require a sensor for each individual switch. We touch connected a mates of magnetic-switch keyboards successful our picks below, but for a fuller breakdown of this benignant of tech, we urge you cheque retired our dedicated buying guideline to nan best gaming keyboards.
Connectivity
You’ve sewage 2 options here: wired aliases wireless. Wired keyboards typically person an attached cablegram that plugs into a USB-A aliases USB-C larboard connected your machine (or docking station), though immoderate travel pinch cables that tin beryllium removed. Wireless mechanical keyboards link to your instrumentality either via Bluetooth aliases a wireless receiver dongle. There’s ever nan chance of immoderate latency pinch wireless keyboards, truthful support that successful mind if you’re picking 1 up to usage chiefly pinch a gaming PC. Of course, you’ll only person to interest astir artillery life pinch Bluetooth keyboards.