Best Mechanical Keyboards In 2024

Input Devices

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 the most direct impact from constant 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 onto the market.

Source: Keychron

Keychron Q1 Pro

Editor’s Choice
Source: Corsair

Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series

Best tenkeyless (TKL)
Source: Royal Kludge

ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

Best budget
Source: Razer

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

Best 65% keyboard
Source: HyperX

HyperX Alloy Origins 60

Best 60% keyboard

Our favorite mechanical keyboards in 2024

Editor’s Choice

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.

Pros

Mod-friendly
Has a rotary encoder
Wired and wireless connectivity

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 pre-assembled, ready-to-go keyboard with a wide choice of switches, or as a bare-bone 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.

Keychron Q1 Pro keyboard on a wooden floor

It’s also wireless, with Bluetooth 5.1 for pairing with up to three devices, plus 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. Those who are looking for something slightly cheaper than the Q1 Pro should also consider Keychron’s V1 Max keyboard that we recently reviewed.

Best tenkeyless (TKL)

Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series

If you don’t want a numpad

$110 $150 Save $40

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.

Pros

Durable aluminum frame
Detachable cable for longevity
Corsair iCUE RGB control

Cons

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 once you’re ready to start your session. Other highlights include precision-molded PBT double-shot keycaps, making this one of the better TKL options.

Best budget

ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

All the frills, none of the cost

$50 $65 Save $15

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.

Pros

Hot-swappable sockets for modding
Three connectivity options
Incredible value

Cons

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 though. It’s a 60% mechanical keyboard that can be purchased with a few different switches pre-installed.

A woman's hands typing on the Logitech Wave Keys

Best budget wireless keyboards in 2024

You don’t have to spend big to land a quality wireless keyboard

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.

Best 65% keyboard

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

For that sweet Chroma glow

$158 $200 Save $42

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.

Pros

Choice of Razer switches
Lag-free wireless connectivity
Customizable Chroma RGB

Cons

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 many years now, so the company knows a thing or two about it.

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, charging 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.

Best 60% keyboard

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.

Pros

Full aluminum body
Removable USB-C cable for longevity
Decent customization software

Cons

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 esthetics, you could do much worse than the HyperX Alloy Origins 60.

Best for gaming

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

For when you need all the keys and then some

$224 $230 Save $6

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.

Pros

Razer Command Dial is great
Magnetic wrist rest
Eight dedicated macro keys

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.

Razer BlackWidow v4 Pro review: One of the most feature-rich keyboards you can buy

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is another great gaming keyboard, but did you know it’s great for work, too?

Our reviewer loved how customizable it was, with the Command Dial powering through gaming actions, while also 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.

Best wireless option

Logitech G915

Low-profile keys for a laptop feel

$186 $250 Save $64

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.

Pros

Wireless connectivity with low-lag
Full-sized keyboard
Low-profile switches

Cons

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 LIGHTSPEED wireless capabilities. Because of the low-profile key switches, you’ll be able to use t his 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.

Best ergonomic

Kinesis Freestyle Pro

Split for your comfort

$169 $180 Save $11

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.

Pros

Ergonomic, split keyboard guards against RSI
Can use one half when gaming for more mouse space
Handy macro row for common shortcuts

Cons

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 pre-programmed common keyboard shortcuts like copy, cut, and paste.

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Most mod-friendly

ASUS ROG Azoth Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

A great keyboard for enthusiasts.

$200 $250 Save $50

The ROG Azoth is one of the best mechanical keyboards you can buy right now. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but it gets all the essentials right in addition to some novelty features. It’s also one of the best mod-friendly keyboards out there, and it comes with some tools in the box as well.

Pros

Pre-lubed switches and stabilizers
Hotswappable switch sockets
Per-key RGB lighting

The Asus ROG Azoth is a stellar mechanical keyboard that’s very easy to recommend to both casual gamers and enthusiasts. One of the highlights of this particular keyboard is that it comes with a complete DIY kit, which includes a keycap/switch puller, a lubing station, brush, Krytox GPL-205-GD0 lube, stabilizer mat, and more. All the in-box accessories truly make a great option for those who want to experiment and try something new with their keyboard.

An image showing the ASUS ROG Azoth keyboard resting on a desk.

ASUS ROG Azoth review: Making this keyboard nerd happy

It’s great for both gaming and typing, but it’s not without its flaws

The overall fit and finish of the keyboard is quite nice, and it also comes with a good set of features. Another highlight of this board, as you can tell, is the inclusion of the display on the top. It’s a thin monochrome OLED that sits next to a spring-loaded control dial that’s coupled with a button. The typing experience on the ROG Azoth is pretty great out of the box, but you can easily swap out things like the switches and keycaps on it, or even mod it pretty easily to try different configurations.

Best for work

Logitech MX Mechanical

It’s a productivity beast

$134 $170 Save $36

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.

Pros

Low-profile design for comfort
Three switch options
Long battery life

Cons

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 if you already like the typing experience on your laptop. It comes in 104-key full-size or 75% mini size (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.

The Logitech Mechanical Keyboard on a desk.

Logitech MX Mechanical Wireless review: It’s a good mainstream keyboard, but enthusiasts will want more

The Logitech MX Mechanical Wireless doesn’t feature new enthusiast keyboard trends, but it’s a simple and reliable option for the mainstream market.

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 easily 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 switch 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 to banish unsightly cables. It also has hot-swap sockets, so you can choose your favorite switches.

Editor’s Choice