The real star of the show is the set of five macro keys on the left side of the board. Along with the Logitech G Hub software, these keys can be programmed with automated actions and custom shortcuts, or even execute scripts.
We're big fans of using gaming hardware for productivity , and these bonus keys are perfect for the job. There are enough to give you more options, without turning your daily driver into a tank that overwhelms your entire desk.
You can also save even more space if you lop off the numpad with the G TKL , but you'll lose the macro keys as well. Photograph: Ariel Zambelich. No matter who makes them, switches typically come in one of three varieties: Clicky switches typically have very little resistance mid-stroke, followed by a sharp click as you press the key all the way down. Tactile switches behave similarly but have a less pronounced click after that mid-stroke resistance.
Linear switches feel smooth, quick, and sensitive—like hair triggers on a game controller. Photograph: Logitech. Photograph: Razer. Photograph: Steelseries. Photograph: SteelSeries. Photograph: Filco. Photograph: Roccat. Photograph: Das Keyboard. Logitech G Wireless Mechanical Keyboard. Jess Grey is a product reviewer at WIRED, covering all those devices that make your life easier—and sometimes much more difficult.
Read more. Writer and Reviewer Twitter. Product Writer and Reviewer Twitter. The compact dimensions and aluminium frame contribute to a very sturdy feel too. Beyond the form factor, Fnatic have done well to nail the details here as well. The stabilisers on larger keys are pre-lubed for silent and easy operation, the USB-C port is offset to the left to ensure the cable doesn't interfere with your mouse and the legends on each keycap are inscribed with a legible font that feels more grown-up than those on most gaming keyboards.
The switch housings are even transparent and two extra LEDs are embedded beneath the space bar to ensure that the customisable RGB lighting is evenly distributed throughout the board. I particularly liked the inclusion of a 'competition mode', which sets to the lighting to dim orange and locks the Windows key. The only downsides I've discovered while testing the Streak 65 have concerned the 'Fnatic OP' software, which is still in active development.
The app crashed a few times while changing lighting modes, didn't permit a single colour to be set and didn't offer an option to change the four numbered macro keys to act as their listed secondary functions Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down.
There's a Function lock key combo, but this also changes the arrow keys to control the music - not ideal for text editing. None of these are dealbreakers, but considered together they represent the only minor forthcomings I have about recommending this narrow keyboard to a wide audience.
Altogether, this new tiny Streak is every bit as easy to love as its bigger brothers and certainly among the best gaming keyboards on the market. The 60 percent size is a favourite of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, but one that saw remarkably little attention from major gaming brands before Now, we've found enough great examples to dedicate a whole article to the best 60 percent keyboards , but for now let's focus on one: the Razer Huntsman Mini. Like other 60 percent boards, there's no f-key row, no num-pad, no nav cluster and no arrow keys.
That results in a beautifully clean keyboard that takes up minimal desk space, while still allowing access to the excised functions via a Function layer. As 60 percent is an aesthetic as much as a practical choice, it's nice to see Razer offer both black and white colour options for the keyboard's chassis and keycaps - and a completely standard layout that allows for custom keycap sets to be installed.
Similarly, it's great to see a removable USB-C cable, allowing fans to install custom-made cables to further customise their board. Of course, the Huntsman Mini doesn't get a spot on our list just for looking nice.
It also feels great to use, with Razer's individually-stabilised optical switches delivering consistent feedback with minimal key wobble. We tested a unit with soft linear red switches with a 1mm actuation distance and 40g actuation force, but clicky purple switches with a 1.
The keycaps themselves are also unusually high quality, made from PBT with shine-through legends, so they feel great and won't succumb to the shiny patches that can afflict lower-quality ABS keycaps. As well as these unique switches, the Huntsman Mini also sets itself apart with its Synapse software, which allows you to set intricate custom lighting modes - something impossible on keyboards that can only switch between a few preset effects.
You can also synchronise your lighting with other RGB-encrusted Razer peripherals or supported Razer Chroma games, which is a nice bonus. The G TKL is the fusion of two growing trends from the very companies that promulgated them: dependable, low-latency wireless connectivity from Logitech and low-profile, laptop-like mechanical switches from Kailh.
The combination is an impressive one, allowing the construction of an ultra-thin keyboard for gaming and typing that feels great to use and looks super clean on your desk - especially in this new compact form factor. There are three low profile switch types offered here right off the bat - clicky, tactile and linear - so you can opt for the amount of tactile and audible feedback that makes sense to you.
The Lightspeed wireless connection worked perfectly in our testing, providing the same wired feel as Logitech's G Pro Wireless gaming mouse. Battery life was also strong, at around 40 hours with backlighting at max brightness - ten more hours than the full-size G If you turn down the backlight, the G TKL manages over a thousand hours! Bluetooth is also available, which adds more latency but allows the keyboard to work with devices like phones and tablets; it's possible to switch between Bluetooth and Lightspeed connections with a press of a button which makes it a convenient companion for a smartphone, iPad or laptop without a full-size USB port.
Elsewhere, Logitech has paid an impressive amount of attention to detail. The aluminium alloy body of the G TKL feels incredibly robust despite its thin design, with softly rounded corners and a comfortable "zero friction" volume roller in the upper right corner. The tenkeyless design means that there's no dedicated macro keys or number pad, as we saw on the full-size G, but there are still media controls beneath the volume roller and various profile settings along the top.
RGB backlighting is included beneath each key, which of course can be set to a single colour, turned down or disabled entirely if you prefer. If you prefer the feel of full-height mechanical switches, the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is your best bet. It sports a gorgeous full-size layout, a wrist rest, a convenient volume wheel and media keys, a long-lasting battery and your choice of 2.
Razer's software is more advanced than Logitech's, so this might be a better choice if you want to set intricate or game-specific RGB lighting effects. The HyperX Alloy Origins is the best-built and most cleanly designed mechanical keyboard for gaming we've tested. Despite offering a full layout, the Alloy Origins has a minimal footprint, with no extra keys for macros, media controls and the like; these functions are handled by a Fn layer.
The aluminium used on the top and bottom makes the keyboard extremely resistant to deck flex; it feels as well-built as an old IBM Model M but in a much more compact form factor. Both switches have a relatively low actuation force of 45 grams, so it all comes down to whether you prefer the extra tactile feedback of the Aqua switch or the smooth linear action of the Red.
For my money, the Aqua is a more well-rounded choice that accommodates both typing and gaming, but it all comes down to personal preference and both switches feel great under the finger. All things considered, this is a great gaming keyboard with a nice clean aesthetic, so if you like the look this is a strong choice for the money.
If you prefer a more compact layout without the number pad, check out the Alloy Origins Core. We like its high quality Kailh Red plate-mounted switches for fast-paced FPS games like Counter-Strike and Valorant, which provide a soft and linear feel ideal for quick taps or double-taps. They're quite comfortable for typing too, with a good amount of feedback despite not having a tactile bump or click like Brown or Blue switches.
The bright RGB backlighting looks great too, especially as you can control all of the effects on the keyboard with no software required. As well as backlighting controls, you can also adjust the volume, access media controls or launch common programs using the Function Fn layer. Xtrfy's attention to detail is also impressive. For example, rather than using expensive but trendy PBT keycaps that would raise the price, the Swedish company has found a middle ground with thicker-than-normal ABS keycaps that provide more durability and a nicer feel than standard ABS caps.
Even against the next most boring keyboard on this list, the Filco Majestouch 2 seems lifeless in comparison. It doesn't have any fancy features to boast of, nor does it have a unique trick.
What you see here is what you get. This simplicity, however, also explains its popularity. As it turns out, some people love no-frills keyboards.
With that said, the Majestouch 2's monotony may be a bit too mundane for even the strictest of typists, and its lack of backlighting can work against it in a dimly lit room. Some users have also complained that the key legends fade too quickly.
Productivity doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Those who want a bit more style and a few more features from an otherwise down-to-earth keyboard can opt for the Das Keyboard 4 Professional. Das Keyboard devices have been floating around the best mechanical keyboard lists for ages, and for good reason. Stylistically speaking, the Das Keyboard 4 Professional strikes a delicate balance between professional and flashy.
Its weighty metal front plate helps with both function and form, planting the keyboard firmly on your desk while keeping it looking sharp. Where other keyboards use small volume rollers, the Das includes a large tactile volume knob decorated with eye-catching red chrome accents. But aesthetics aren't what put Das on the list. Performance did. Cherry MX Brown is especially favored as a superb all-around switch for typing and gaming, thanks to its silent actuation and tactile bump.
The elevator feet are especially irritating since they don't grip as well as they should—otherwise, the Das Keyboard 4 blends essential features and excellent typing performance into a stylish package. Fujitsu is one of the few manufacturers with a catalog of Topre keyboards. Revered by ardent keyboard fans as the ultimate typing switch, the Topre switch pronounced toe-prey, as it stands for Tokyo Press rarely appears in gaming keyboards due to its high cost.
Fujitsu even reserved a key to cycle through them on the fly. Moreover, you can individually set the actuation distance for every key through the optional driver software. The keycaps are paired with Cherry MX stems instead of Topre stems, a vital feature for keycap swapping. Unfortunately, Topre's prestige and novelty have a matching price tag. For die-hard fans, that's a fair price to pay for their favorite switch.
Everyone else should try it in person before swiping their credit card. Primarily in the market for a keyboard to fulfil your WASD needs? Look no further than our best gaming keyboard guide.
Virtually nothing has changed here, with a small exception, that you can now swap key switches. Ergonomic keyboards can come in any of the above sizes but are split down the middle so you can hold your hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders at a more natural angle than you would on traditional flat keyboards. Ergonomic keyboards are either partially split and fully split.
Fully split keyboards are the most flexible and adjustable, so you can angle each half however you prefer. Most of our recommended keyboards have standard layouts , which means none of the keys are unusual sizes or in unusual locations. This makes buying replacement keycaps easier if the included ones wear out or if you fall down the rabbit hole of custom keycaps.
Some gaming keyboards have nonstandard bottom rows, and many ergonomic keyboards have unique layouts with unusual key sizes and locations. Mechanical keyboards have individual switches beneath each key, which makes this style of keyboard more durable, easier to repair, and more customizable than membrane, scissor, or butterfly keyboards—as well as more comfortable in many cases.
Mechanical switches come in three main varieties: linear, tactile, and clicky. From these three main switch types come many variations, defined by their actuation force how much effort it takes to activate each key and by their actuation point how far down you have to press to activate each key. Many companies now make mechanical switches, but the most common are Cherry MX switches.
Many people like linear switches like Cherry MX Reds for games, because the relatively light actuation force and continuous travel make them easier and theoretically faster to activate, but they can be difficult to type on for the same reasons. How noisy any keyboard is depends on a lot of factors, including not only switch type but also case material and design, keycap shape and material, room acoustics and noise levels, and how heavily you type.
These switches tend to mimic Cherry MX switches in feeling and color-naming scheme, though quality can vary. We recommend Cherry, followed by their equivalents from Gateron or Kailh. Keyboard companies like Logitech, Razer, and HyperX have also begun making their own mechanical switches, either independently or in partnership with companies that clone Cherry switches.
And there are yet other, completely different types of switches, such as Topre, buckling spring, and Alps clones.
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