If you are thinking about choosing a gaming keyboard, we have prepared a small summary of your options for you. These are still expanding in the gaming area, even if the technological shift is not so fast anymore. Companies have already standardized their mechanical switches, some also offer optical or hall switches, but only in higher price categories.
Prices
In principle, you have a choice between cheaper brands of gaming keyboards, which cost around 40-60 euros even with mechanical switches, or more expensive ones, which cost around 100-200 euros. The offer also includes the most expensive models around 200 euros, which offer something extra. Be it special switches, wireless connection, or other bonus functions.
Switch
As for the switches themselves, you have a choice of switches with response, linear and tapping, plus various sub-versions. Each company has its own color coding, but basically red is linear, brown responsive and blue tapping. A different type suits everyone. Personally, I prefer linear and as quiet as possible. These keys are mostly mechanical systems that close the contact, but there are also optical switches and switches based on the hall effect. These are used for analog response, where you can usually set the distance at which the key should be turned on or off.
Another division is high profile, i.e. high keys, which are standard, or low profile, which resemble laptop keyboards, are lower and may suit some better.
Hotswap is also a nice feature of the keyboards, i.e. easy exchange of switches. If one of your keys breaks, you don’t have to deal with the whole keyboard, you just take it out with the switch and replace it. Spare switches are often included in the package, but you can also order them or exchange them from a switch you don’t use.
Size
Keyboards are further divided into full keyboards, i.e. with a numpad, then TKL (tenkeyless) for those who want smaller keyboards, and finally miniaturized versions, 75% and 60%. 75% of keyboards still have arrows, but pushed to the other keys, and 60% are completely without arrows. It just depends on you what suits you better. However, these smallest ones are not ideal for gaming, since you don’t have all the keys that the game could use.
Washer
Personally, a very important part is the pad under the wrists. It is very convenient to keep your wrists flat when typing or gaming for a long time. It is ideal if the pad is made of soft memory foam. Pads can also be purchased and you don’t need them for thin keyboards, but it’s always better to have one. Razer, Corsair and Asus have the most comfortable pads.
Cable or Wireless
You can choose between a wired and wireless keyboard. Since the keyboard is mostly in place, gamers don’t necessarily look for it, but if you prefer freedom and a cable-free desk, you can also go that direction.
Localization and media keys
Finally, there’s one more thing that players don’t really care about, but it might bother someone, and that’s keyboard localization. Usually, gaming keyboards only have an American layout, only some companies and only sometimes give a Slovak localization. I think Logitech has more such keyboards. Plus, check if the keyboard has media keys and, for example, a rotary wheel for volume control, which is also a very convenient addition to keyboards.
Optical
Razer HUNTSMAN V3 PRO Analog Optical for 281 euros
One of the most expensive keyboards, but it offers everything you could want. It has optical switches, a pleasant pad under the wrists, full RGB backlighting, a rotary wheel for sound and media keys. Plus full programmability, that’s standard for these keyboards. A TKL version is also available for 259 euros.
Razer has here too Deathstalker V2, which also has optical switches, although it comes without a wrist rest, but with low-profile keys if you want those. It is the same in V2 Pro TKL version for 229 euros. She is also pretty Razer Black Widow V4 Pro for 269 euros or older Huntsman V2 now on sale for 191 euros
Corsair K100 RGB OPX – US for 228 euros
Corsair also has optical switches in its K100 keyboard, which is very nicely designed, although wider than normal keyboards for the six programmable keys on the left side. If it bothers you, Corsair also has a slightly lower version v Corsair K70 PRO RGB Optical for 170 euros, without additional programmable keys and also has replaceable switches.
SteelSeries Apex Pro US for 233 euros
In this realm, Stellseries has its Apex Pro keyboard that uses them SteelSeries OmniPoint switches with a hall effect and the possibility of switching on.
TKL and wiresss version is also available – SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL WL for 284 euros a SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini for 212 eur a SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless for 259 euros.
Standard full and TKL
ASUS ROG STRIX FLARE II for 148 euros
Asus has a very nice ROG Strix Flare II keyboard in the middle class, which has a very good design, a high-quality and soft pad for the wrists, a good backlight, even though surprisingly the volume control is on the left side, plus another adjustable control. It is quiet enough. In the medium version, it has the RGB ROG logo on the right, but if you want a higher version FLARE II ANIMATE – 196 euros there on the anime screen on the right, where you can add animations.
Asus also has a wireless version v ROG Strix Scope for 137 euros, but without separate media keys and volume. Or a new one Strix Scope II now for 123 on sale, which is standard cable, but already with media keys.
Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED for 219 euros
If you want a thin low-profile keyboard and also wireless, Logitech has a very nice offer in the G915 version. It looks very good and also adds additional programmable keys. It is so thin that you don’t even need a wrist pad. V also has a keyboard TKL version for 184 euros
Alienware AW420K for 137 euros.
Dell has nice keyboards under Alienware, where they now have a clean design AW420 version, although if you want a bigger one there is still a very good low profile Alienware AW510K for 122 euros and recently we also reviewed their new Alienware 920K version.
Logitech G PRO for 119
Of the smaller TKL gaming keyboards, you can look at the Logitech G Pro, which is a nice compromise between functionality and size. Although it is already an older keyboard, Logitech recently introduced a nice wireless one G515 TKL.
SteelSeries Apex 7 for 187 euros
Stellseries has a nice mid-range keyboard in the Apex 7 version, which also offers a small display and a wrist rest, albeit a hard item. Keyboard also in TKL version for 127 euros.
Razer BLACKWIDOW V4 for 199 euros
Razer has a mid-range Blackwidow keyboard with standard switches and a quality wrist rest. Older Razer BlackWidow V3 version is already only 133 euros, and TKL V3 Tenkeyless for 108 euros.
75% and 60% keyboard
ASUS ROG FALCHION RX Low profile for 134 euros
There is also a low-profile mini-keyboard from Asus on offer, it is 75% finished and also has arrows, page up, down and del and insert, it is an interesting compromise, even if it does not have the F keys, which are used in some games. They also have ASUS ROG AZOTH version and also ASUS ROG FALCHION. All similar but with a different design.
HyperX Alloy Origins 60 for 99 euros
If you want something super mini, then HyperX has a 60% keyboard, which really leaves no room to spare. However, arrows and F keys may be missing.
Logitech G Pro X 60 lightspeed for 199 euros
Logitech also has a supermini 60% keyboard, which shrinks the G Pro version. The keyboard is wireless.
Similarly, they also have mini offers Razer Huntsman Mini (Purple Switch), me too White Shark SHINOBI White RED – US – 40 euros, or Endorfy Thock Compact Wireless Red, US layout – 59 euros. And if you want something super cheap, so be it Rapture Cadet K-498 black is only for 7.45 euros
Stylish keyboards
Keychron Q1 – Champagne Gold for 193 euros
If you want something different from regular keyboards, look for Keychron keyboards, they offer different colors, replaceable mechanical switches and also different sizes. They have both TKL and full versions in Keychron K10 series. Here is the whole offer.
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard for 98 euros
If you’re looking for downright retro 8BitDo offers as a keyboard v Nintendo colorsso C64 and so on Fami edition. As an addition, they add two buttons and, for some versions, a joystick.
Logitech G715 TKL for 158 euros
If you want a pleasant, white version with a cloud pad, then G715 TKL will be a good choice. Logitech also has in this area Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED TKL Carbonor pink and white is also Logitech G PRO X TKL
Razer Pro Type Ultra – US Layout for 199 euros
Likewise, Razer has a nice white-aluminum keyboard with bluetooth connection. It is mainly focused on writing.
Cheap mechanical gaming keyboards
If you want cheap keyboards, look at for example Endorfy Thock TKL for 52 euros, Rapture X-RAY Outemu Red black – CZ/SK for 33 euros, Logitech has in the lower category Logitech G413 TKL for 57 euros, or HyperX has a classic HyperX Alloy Origins for 90 euros. Now it’s on a nice discount Rapture DELTA Cherry MX Blue black for 50 euros.
Source: www.sector.sk
