
How do I choose a good gaming keyboard?
A high quality gaming keyboard can be one of the essential elements in the gaming experience. In gaming, this is even more important because it can even make the difference between the 2nd and the 1st place. In this article we will show you how to choose one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards to fit your needs.
Let’s be clear, it does not make the difference between a good and a bad player, but comes to the help of any of them and it is way better than the normal keyboard. Linked to those that come with a PC, even if technology and materials have evolved over the past 10 years, they have not changed a lot.
Buying a gaming keyboard, or a gaming mouse, for the first time, resembles the experience of buying a TV.
The dimensions of the best gaming keyboards.
Gaming keys come in many shapes and sizes. The size of a keyboard, not the keys, is more of a personal taste. You can choose a smaller keyboard with the closer distance between keys if you have a small office. We are presenting in this top 10 best gaming keyboards list a wide variety. So you can choose the right one for your needs.
Many of the gaming keyboards are somewhat larger than usual. There are more compact models, possibly without numeric keys, for LAN Party players.
There are also professional, low-key gaming keyboards for those who prefer personal peripherals in competitions. But we’re already talking about another segment of users who know exactly what they want.
You should know that it’s good to keep away from the very cheap $ 30 ones, and also flexible ones. None of them will give you a good experience, and certainly none of them will get into our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
Programmable keys
The main benefit of a dedicated game keyboard is customization. These are usually called “Macros” and most gaming keyboards provide from 5 to 15 dedicated buttons for storing presets. Some even allow programming of the F1-F12 function keys for this purpose. The best gaming keyboards offer macro keys as well as the ability to save and change different command profiles.
Most gaming keyboards are accompanied by special software that allows you to manage macro key profiles using a graphical interface.
However, these keys are set left or right of the normal keypad for easier access. Macros are useful for example in RTS (Real Time Strategy) games – Starcraft has the ability to program almost every key for one of the countless functions in the game.
MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) gamers have the most to gain from these keys. The most devoted can create for each of these keys a series of keystrokes with a calculated time between them to be sure it is faster than its enemies.
Anti-Ghosting
It’s good to know that a normal keyboard cannot hold more than 3 simultaneous key presses, sometimes even fewer. Quickly pressing multiple keys on such a keypad will cause them not to be recorded. In this top 10 best gaming keyboards list, we will show you how each and every keyboard acts. So it will be helpful for you whilst picking one.
Gaming keyboards must be able to record at least 5 keys pressed simultaneously or in the same second. This feature is called anti-ghosting. Okay, some manufacturers can write on the box that their model supports up to 14 simultaneous keystrokes, which is great…if you have 14 fingers.
Pooling Rate
Another unit of measurement is pooling rates. A normal keyboard and a mouse operate at 125 Hz, meaning it reports to the computer 125 times per second. Most gaming keyboards provide pooling rates from 500 Hz upwards. 1000 Hz means a good response time.
To keep this response time, it’s a good idea to connect the keyboard and gaming mouse directly to your PC. Be careful not to connect it through a USB hub. Current gaming handhelds have a standard response time of 1000 Hz, so you do not have to worry about less.
Mechanical switches
Mechanical keyboards are designed to record pressing the key before the key goes down. So, if you use less force to press a key, you can perform a quick keystroke sequence without fearing that one of them may not be recorded. Of course, mechanical keyboards are good for writing, with a superior touch response.
Keyboard Illumination
Gamers usually play in total darkness. A simple reason is that there are no reflections on the screen, or any other source of light to disturb them. Keyboard illumination is functional and recommended. I prefer keyboards with illumination, ideally those with multiple levels of illumination.
It’s a good idea to have the ability to adjust the brightness of a keypad, and it’s also good to be able to change its color. It is recommended that you choose a keyboard whose illumination is made directly by the letter of the key and not on its edge, so that the look is not distracted by it.
Connectors
The USB auxiliary connectors are again very useful for a gaming keyboard. Here you can connect USB sticks, a mouse, or other peripherals. A gaming keyboard should also have a headphone and microphone connector, but I strongly recommend connecting the headphones directly to your PC or laptop.
Software
A very important element is the software that comes with a gaming keyboard. With it, you can set up dedicated programmable keys, keyboard illumination, pooling rate and many other features. Almost all gaming keyboards come with such software.
Categories of switches
The right choice depends on the type of switch used by the keypad and the force required to press the keys, and there are four categories of switches:
1. Cherry MX Black – Medium Pressing, less noise – Recommended for games because the keys are pressed to a maximum and no sound feedback is required. Movement is linear;
2. CherryMX Blue – short pressing range and noisy – recommended for writing because the keystroke is short and provides a sound feedback;
3. Cherry MX Brown – short and silent press – recommended for those who play games, but who also need a good keyboard for writing. Basically, it is a compromise between the first two types of switches, but without excelling in any of the two chapters;
4. Cherry MX Red – short press range & no-noise – Recommended for games, and for users who prefer a short key press.
This top was designed to answer the question “what kind of gaming keyboard do I get?” We’ve received this question for so many times, and we will respond with this review of the top 10 best gaming keyboards.
Top 10 Best Gaming Keyboards 2018
| LOGITECH G810 ORION SPECTRUM | Check Price | |||
| CORSAIR STRAFE RGB MX SILENT | Check Price | |||
| LOGITECH G910 ORION SPARK | Check Price | |||
| ROCCAT RYOS MK PRO | Check Price | |||
| LOGITECH G710 + | Check Price | |||
| FNATIC GEAR RUSH G1 | Check Price | |||
| RAZER DEATHSTALKER CHROMA | Check Price | |||
| CM STORM MECH | Check Price | |||
| LOGITECH G410 | Check Price | |||
| GIGABYTE AORUS K7 | Check Price |
1. LOGITECH G810 ORION SPECTRUM – the best mechanical gaming keyboard on the market

The LOGITECH G810 is by far the hottest gaming keyboard, and our top pick in the top 10 best gaming keyboards. It allows the individual illumination of the keys as well as their separate coloring, and besides, it also offers macros for those who need it.
Logitech gave up the macros dedicated keys. We like it most because we do not need to lock our fingers in those keys.
The software is as easy to use as ever, and the Romer-G switches are impeccable, as we already know from the G910.
The G810 is the leading position because it incorporates some features that we really like, such as the volume wheel and the dedicated mute key. Needless to say, Logitech is well known in making high class products, and this is why it was featured with such a good hype in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The Logitech G810 is the G910’s brother from the switch point of view. Otherwise, it shares very few features with the latter. It’s not the first Logitech keyboard without side keys, but it’s the first full size without the keys for many that are useless. The macro keys also have their utility, but just for some few users. In fact, they are useful for MMO.
Software
The keyboard configuration application is the classic Logitech Gaming Software ( download from here ) and with it you can change the illumination and the role of the F1-F12 keys. In fact, these keys are the only ones that can be used as macros and that’s really good.
In the end, we have not even ignored the users who need them. Software-wise, this keyboard has all the characteristics for being in this top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
How does it behave in usage
The G810 is a little bit noisy and this is due to the construction. Although it seems more “full,” the sounds of the keys are louder. But this was just a remark for users who have problems with keystrokes. This specific feature will be present in many of the top 10 best gaming keyboards in this list.
On the gaming side it is exactly what you want from a keyboard, and specifically from one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market. Do not wring your fingers, do not press on other keys because there is enough space between them and most important, all the pressings are the same.
You will not see any differences between the first press of the A key and the next. This aspect is especially important in games where the time between keystrokes is crucial, and if you want to be the best in your game, well, you have to chose the best, and we strongly recommend this keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
- Switches Romer-G
- Good illumination
- No dedicated macro keys
- Rounded Keycaps
- Solid construction
- A little bit pricy
- Quite noisy
The Logitec G810 is an old school mechanical keypad in terms of layout, but ultra modern in terms of features. It has Omron top notch switches, Logitech-style RGB illumination and is compatible with ARX Control application.
G810 got rid of all the side keys and put some normal keycaps, and we can say without any second thoughts that the G810 is the best mechanical keyboard of the moment, and our top pick in the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
2. CORSAIR STRAFE RGB MX SILENT – Fantastic Switches

A great pick for our top 10 best gaming keyboards is the Corsair Strafe RGB MX Silent, a keyboard that has excellent switches. The keyboard illumination is also nice if you turn it down a little bit, and in terms of layout it’s just like a normal keyboard, but don’t be fooled by this, because it is still one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
I really liked that there are no macro dedicated keys that prevent you from getting used to the keyboard, but it does allow programming for any button on the keyboard. That’s right, in case you need macros – something a keyboard from the top 10 best gaming keyboards must have.
Corsair Strafe RGB is a new mechanical gaming keyboard that brings the famous and demanding lighting as well as completely new switches.
As for the multimedia keys, the RGB Corsair Strafe keyboard is ok; allows semi-fast access to basic multimedia functions like mute, stop, forward, etc.
The only additional keyboard buttons are for Win key lock and for lighting intensity adjustment. Both are programmable and can perform other functions than default ones.
What I really liked at this amazing pick from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list, were the extra keys in the package. When you open the keyboard you will find that you have a set for WASD games and one for QWER + DF.
The point is that these keys are not only colored differently but also have different angles. The keys on the periphery of each of these two groups have a tilt that will delimit your push button “range” in a tactile manner.
Software
I would find software so hard to use in a keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list. I’m not saying that it’s stupid, absolutely not!
It allows you to program each key individually and to illuminate it as you want when performing a certain action, but, though, it’s hard to use, and I want to think that I have a little experience in this field.
Designed to be completely user friendly, but anything I thought would work in a certain way did not work. If you have extra patience, you will manage to do whatever you want with it. Having so many options it’s a good or bad thing, because it can easily reject users with less patience.
How does it behave in usage
The first thing that caught my attention at this keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards chart, is the artistic way in which the keyboard is illuminated. It has nothing to do with the way you use it, but it’s a cool feeling not to esthetically displace the peripherals you use.
So yes, I got used to the Corsair Strafe RGB keyboard quickly because it looks extremely good, and it’s indeed a notable mention in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
I set my color theme that has white lightning, because I was so used to it and started writing and playing. Having linear switches, writing was the most difficult chore I did because I make many typos with this kind of switches, and it bugs me out sometimes.
Anyway, what I’ve noticed all the time I have tested it was the unbelievable silence the key pressings had. What surprised me, in fact, was the lack of damping rings, and even without them it was still silent. Now that is a feature you want in a keyboard from the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
As far as gaming is concerned, there is not much to say because we have not encountered any problems. This keyboard worked perfectly, and once again, proved the privileged place in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list. What’s more, I got used to the lack of the macro keys in no time.
The extra keycaps are interesting and I tried to use them. They seemed to be useless for a guy who knows his keyboard. If you have difficulties using the keyboard, meaning you still look at it when you play because you do not find some buttons, the keycaps are useful.
- The switches are absolutely fantastic
- Ligthning looks good
- Cool layout
- USB Pass-through
- Very complicated software
( download from here )
So from the point of view of a gamer who no longer wants to use anything other than mechanical keyboards, RGB Strafe is the real deal.
It features something that none of the keyboards on the market will feature too soon: silent line switches – and that is a feature that we proudly recommend in this pick from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list. Actually, that’s the only reason I recommend it. Lights and macros are for children, not for serious gamers.
3. LOGITECH G910 ORION SPARK – The spark app

Another top pick in our top 10 best gaming keyboards is the LOGITECH G910 that has drawn attention from the beginning on switches. Logitech, like the rest of the peripheral manufacturing companies, has reoriented because Cherry wasn’t meeting the demand. Of all, Logitech was the only producer to know who to turn to for something successful.
Logitech’s plans have gone out as they have hoped for, and they have put on the market a keyboard that looks good, which is also acting tremendously in games and is quite decent for writing.
In addition to this, they have advanced a bit in the phone integration side, translating it into a screen similar to that of the G19. And if you ask us, this is a feature we were looking for in a keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
Lately, Logitech has begun to surprise everyone through the design of the new G Series products (and it surprised us enough to be featured in the top 10 best gaming keyboards list), first with the G502, then with the G402, and now with the G910 Orion Spark.
Why is the G910 impressive? Well, it’s simple, it has got a lot of everything you need; I haven’t found any drawback to it, and I probably will not find it too soon. If the G710 + was considered a good keyboard overall, the G910 Orion Spark is even better; a true top pick for our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The community
Logitech took notes on what the community asked for (and this was a step forward in becoming one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards) from a peripheral manufacturing company. For example, many people have complained about the G1 key on the left of the ESC key. So the G910 comes with a special free space there, so the gamer won’t push it to activate his bind during the game.
It has RGB illumination for each key and it can be personalized individually. The selection is made from a palette of only (!!!!) 16.8 million colors (yes, we were as blown away as you are right now, and that’s why we’ve feature it in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list), and you can do whatever you want in the enlightenment chapter.
Effects like Color Wave, Breathing, Star Effect, and many others are available in great responsive software and once you click OK on change, it changes to your keyboard.
Exclusive Romer-G switches have components that cannot be found at any other mechanical keypad, with a 1.5mm drive. The Romer-G switches records faster key pressures up to 25% over other mechanical switches on the market. Their durability is enhanced to 70 million keystrokes.
And the last feature, but not the latter – the Arx Control. Cool enough for a keyboard in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
Software
I do not know if you had, or tested Logitech products so far, but I can tell you that their Software is 10/10, a true exquisite pick for whoever wants one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
Very easy to use, very fancy and especially remarkably responsive; this time I spent around 4 hours in software just playing with the color palette to make my most colorful and futuristic gaming keyboard.
So, on the first tab you can set your macros and profiles (you add games, profiles that will later be used for ARX Control), nothing new here. But the following tab is the one that ate much of my time yesterday, with the complex illumination settings and all.
You have 4 options, the first being Freestlye – you can customize your keys any way you want, with absolutely any color. The second option being in areas, you just choose from ESC to F12 to be pink and from Backspace on green, and so on.
And so we do not waste too much time here, Logitech also thought of choosing a keypad selection (Thanks Logitech!) so it will not take 10 minutes to color each space; now you can do it easier – you just have to select it with your mouse, and you do not know how happy I was about this.
What is ARX CONTROL?
I do not know if you are going to use this new feature, (we find it cool for a top pick in our top 10 best gaming keyboards) but I find it absolutely revolutionary, and I will explain below why.
Let’s say you’re going to the kitchen and you’re a little bored with DoTA2 and you would play a little Call of Duty, but you do not have a SSD (why shouldn’t you?) and it will take forever to start, you can program the game automatically, only by using your smartphone.
Then, during the game, you want to set the temperatures without giving Alt-Tab.
The second tab of the Arx Control (download for iOS & Android ) application is called PC Stats, where you can see the GPU temperature, how much the GHz processor works, what use it has and more. Really COOL!!!!! A true top pick for our top 10 best gaming keyboards list!
How does it behave in usage
Interchanging the switches was done for extra performance, and from the tests done on this keypad, we found the differences between them and Cherry MX Brown.
Tests proved that these new switches are working really well, the keys are very comfortable and double taps are sublime. I started playing a DoTA2 game a few weeks ago to see if I still know the invoker combos. I have forgotten the combos, but in the 2nd match I did not miss a combo, and I also got a report for scripts. I’ve never felt more comfortable with a mechanical keyboard in DoTA2; it seemed absolutely sensational!
I also played Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, a multiplayer in which if you cannot make double tap, your movement is practically useless. They have introduced I-don’t-no- know-what jetpack that is activated at the second jump, and then you have to double tap on the W / A / S / D to get a speed boost, and I can tell you, based on this, that this keyboard is “pure evil”, something you want from one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
One thing a bit disturbing is the very small distance between the F’s and the other keys, much smaller than the G710 +, but I’m used to knowing that I have many friends who will disable the F1-F3. But it’s okay to reprogram anytime the G6-G7-G8, as they will work as F1, F2, F3.
The wire is not crimped, but it is rubberized, and looks more durable than usual. It is not very long, which is ok – almost 1.8 meters, and the weight of the keyboard is 1.5kgs, lighter than the G710 +.
- The switches are very good
- Very good and subtle lighting
- High Class Characteristics
- Very useful IOS / Android app
- Macro keys on the left side
Certainly I can say that the Logitech G910 Orion Spark is in the high-end category, on one of the highest places in my preferences, and one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market right now.
The multitude of facilities and functions grant this place for another 2-3 months until the other manufacturers come up with something new, but I strongly think it will still have a special place in the top 10 best gaming keyboards.
The coolest part, besides the switches and illumination is the SDK; I want this from the manufacturers to be able to customize my ARX and illumination exactly as I want. Until recently I could only do it with Roccat Ryos MK Pro, but now I can do it with the G910 also.
It’s simple – you want the best keyboard on the market right now, you get G910; you want a very good keyboard but without RGB illumination and no SDK, take a G710 +.
So if you have the aspiration to become a professional player or a professional gamer, and want to have the fastest and most accurate keyboard that is on the market, then treat yourself with a nice G910, one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market right now!
4. ROCCAT RYOS MK PRO – Cool blue light

In our list of the top 10 best gaming keyboards, we will take a look at the Roccat Ryos MK Pro – the type of keyboard that you will not take out of your desk. It’s so big and heavy that the last thing you’ll want to do is to get it to a LAN Party.
However, being heavy is not a bad thing. It is very stable on your desk, and you can’t even move it when you hit it hard. Is it worth buying? Is it really one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards? Let’s find out!
The lightning is just in one shade of blue, and may seem like a minus for some gamers in 2018. But for those professionals who are only interested in functionality, this aspect is totally irrelevant.
The software is also very smart and you can modify many things with it if you are patient enough… after all, you wanted one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards, and patience is a given.
Until recently, the keyboard range had a single product that went straight to my heart: the Logitech G710+. But today I will introduce you another keyboard that made its way right there in my heart – Roccat Ryos. One of the top 10 best gaming keyboards there are on the market.
Legend says Cherry MX Brown keycaps are good for everything: for gaming, writing and comfort. Any user of Cherry Mx Brown can confirm the words of the legend.
Instead there are many people who do not understand why the gaming keyboard is not good for writing too. First of all, mechanical keyboards were made primarily for gaming.
They have that sound of the typical typewriter, and a large number of users have been thinking of buying a MX Red keyboard for writing purposes. It is really cool to have that vintage feel, and is really cool to have it on one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards.
Software
The software from Roccat Ryos Mk Pro ( download from here ) is one of the most user friendly softwares I have ever seen, and one main reason this product is in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
In addition to lighting in software, you can also change the keys (eg “A” becomes “B” and “B” becomes “A”). Another cool thing is the timer that you can put on absolutely any key you want, by clicking “FN” and that key.
Why is this timer so cool? Well, mainly for players of LoL and DoTA2, Quake and UT. I still have not explained why it’s cool…well, because it has VOICE COMMAND.
Whilst playing DoTA2 you can also make a 2-minute runner timer, and at UT and Quake you can use it for armor, for example. I think this feature is also useful for CS GO beginners: because it notifies you when you have 10 seconds to defuse (obviously if you put the timer exactly when the enemy plants the bomb).
How does it behave in usage
The transition from the Logitech G710 + to the Roccat Ryos Mk Pro is incredibly easy, as they have the same Cherry Mx Brown keycaps. The only difference is the rubber damping rings. The touch feedback is better than G710 +, a true legend in our top 10 best gaming keyboards.
I started to do some tests, the first being a standard writing, namely how many words I can write in 60 seconds. For the Logitech G710 + keyboard I managed to write 132 words, and with the Roccat Ryos Mk Pro I wrote 137 words.
The difference is almost imperceptible, but when comparing two giants in the Cherry Mx Brown Keyboard field, every detail counts, and for making a better classification in our top 10 best gaming keyboards, we have to be extremely careful.
In FPS games, the most important thing is to be mobile and very precise. Mobility is given by the keyboard in large part, and the precision is given by the mouse. Roccat Ryos Mk Pro offers you the mobility you need, and I can tell you that I had no problem in making my perfect straps in Call of Duty 4 or CS:GO.
- Solid construction
- Lighting effects
- Comfort
- Software (including SDK)
- Lighting in blue only
Roccat Ryos MK Pro is the ideal choice for those who want the greatest amount of changes that can be made to their gaming equipment.
I highly recommend this gaming keyboard for the following features: more powerful “feedback” in the audio and touch fields, lighting, timer. Roccat Ryos Mk Pro, thanks to the software (and SDK) of the processors and lighting is a keyboard that deserves to be among the top 10 best gaming keyboards.
5. LOGITECH G710 + – A keyboard for any preference, a gem in our top 10 best gaming keyboards

Although the Logitech G710 + Gaming Keyboard is quite old, and you will find it hard on the market because it is EOL, it is still one of the most versatile keyboards built in the past 5 years, and by far a top pick in our top 10 best gaming keyboards.
It’s true that it does not have RGB illumination, but the white light of the keys is meant to help.
Unfortunately, although it is very cool, it suffers from the “macro keys disease” on the left side. If you are a MMO player you will probably say you need one billion keys.
The construction of the G710 + Gaming Keyboard is also solid and able to withstand some punches (in case they are necessary). The software is okay but totally useless if you do not use the macro keys.
Somehow it’s OK because a keyboard needs to be good and when you use it only plug’n’play with the basic functions, the G710 + fits perfectly. As we’ve said, a true gem in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
And the cherry on the sundae are the rings that absorb the noise, a cool feature for this top 10 best gaming keyboards.
Designed for gamers
Logitech G710 + is a mechanical keyboard specially designed for gamers. That means all its features have been designed for this audience. Unlike Logitech’s other high-end gaming keyboards, the G710 + does not come with a screen and you’ll see that it actually has many of the so-called minuses.
The simpler a keyboard is, the more useful it is for a gamer who does not want to get involved with various buttons or audio outputs or even a screen.
The 110 keys are anti-ghosting. That means you can press the combinations of all the keys and the keypad will not lock. That is something users look for when buying one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
We can use any area of the keyboard without being bound by a border or a number of keys, as we have seen in many modern keyboards. Logitech is accustomed to the keys that can be switched between game mode and desktop mode. When enabled, the Windows keys on the keyboard will no longer work.
The keys can only be illuminated in white; the G710 + allows selective illumination, and so the WASD keys can be lit together with the arrows when the rest of the keys are off.
How does it behave in usage
In intensive writing sessions, with this pick from our top 10 best gaming keyboards, I needed about 5 minutes to re-position my keyboard’s right-hand-side position to the left.
Although there were small inconveniences when writing a longer text, it compensated for the long-term comfort, and therefore I did not consider it a real minus the positioning of the keys.
The buttons inside are MX Cherry Brown, really silent ones with long strokes. The G710 + has also received some modifications in the layout of the keys chapter.
The Logitech G710 + with MX Brown, addresses those who need a much quieter keyboard and are not so desperate after a quicker turn on of the commands.
The G710 + comes close to a classic keyboard. Keeping the feel of the mechanical buttons, and keeping the well deserved place in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
- The switches are very good
- Noise dumpers
- The volume wheel is awesome
- Quiet in usage
- Pass-through USB 2.0
- Macro keys on the left side
Perhaps the G710 + looks a little expensive, but the functionality and the convenience you benefit from it when you use it, will pay off.
It’s true that there are mechanical keyboards at lower prices, but we’re making a comparison between simple keyboards and extra-keyboards, and this one simply deserves its place in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The models that can be compared in this segment of the G710 + are, the CM Storm Trigger, Ultimate / Stealth, GIGABYTE Osmium and Corsair K90. The only reason the G710 + can be chosen at the expense of other cheaper models is the reputation that this company has built because of the durability of its products.
6. FNATIC GEAR RUSH G1 – Simplicity & Quality

The keyboard it’s not developed by them, but by Func, long before being acquired by Fnatic.
It does not matter what logo is on this keyboard, if it’s Func or Fnatic, the most important thing is that the feeling it leaves after usage is very nice. The software on the other hand, well that is a discussion we will have later on. But even though, still a great pick for our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The materials from which it is built are excellent, being a top pick in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list. The good part is that you find it in several types, with any switch you like. Of course, the available options are the classical ones: red, blue and brown.
As I said, at first glance it looks like a red, normal, and not at all fancy gaming keyboard. This is not a bad thing. After all, the gaming keyboard has to help you play better and clearly the additional and dedicated buttons will not help you in any way on the competitive stage.
This is actually the Fnatic ideology. If you started looking at their website, you probably remember that text saying functionality is more important than the colored LEDs. And by this motto we’ve picked this keyboard in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The keyboard is provided with 5 profiles that can be exchanged using FN + F7-F11 combinations. In this activity I liked the most that you are warned on the screen what profile was activated.
It would have been nice to have different illumination on the corresponding key to that selected profile, but no one looks at the keyboard whilst playing.
Software
It’s by far the saddest chapter regarding this keyboard. Okay, the software works, but it offers 3 options. The only options are to turn the normal keys into keys with different functions, including the macro ones. Not a total turn-off, though, for this top pick from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
On the macro side, however, they prove to be totally useless. There is a macro recorder, but it does not record the delay between key-touch and the specific duration of a press. It executes everything at 1ms.
And if it’s something I’ve learned over time, no game will run the macros with too little time between actions.
How does it behave in usage
It’s the most enjoyable sensation of all the mainstream keyboards we’ve tested. And the most interesting part is that although it’s smooth like a flower, the noise it produces resembles a tiny sledgehammer.
In other words, it produces that pure Cherry MX sound. You may call me crazy, but it was music for my ears, and extra points for this pick in the top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The keys are firm, and you won’t see them falling apart; as for the noise produced by the keys, it is pretty noisy. It’s bigger than any Cherry MX Brown keyboard we’ve tested over time. And I realized this because it was impossible for me to write this text at night on it.
There are multimedia keys, but they are only enabled using the FN combiner. Well, I’ve actually come to not use them anymore. Maybe it’s me, but I find it too complicated to combine two keys to stop the sound.
Just as unnecessary are the 5 profiles. If you do not use macros, then you really will not have any reason to change them. And if you do not use macros, you will not even need to install the software.
From my point of view, this keyboard is a simple, plug’n’play kind of keyboard. It’s not a bad thing at all. It is something we strongly recommend from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
- Very good switches
- High Quality materials
- No macro keys
- Two USB 2.0 ports
- Nice palmrest
- Quite noisy
It has an exceptional quality and unique feeling, and for what it offers, the price is great. A great find for anyone interested in one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards.
Sure, it’s a good way to get closer to your favorite team, and if you like gaming keyboards without breeze-breezes, Rush G1 is exactly what you are looking for.
Keep in mind that the Fnatic Rush G1 stands out through simplicity and quality of construction.
In terms of keyboard simplicity, it also allows quick access to multimedia functions, but only by using the FN key.
7. RAZER DEATHSTALKER CHROMA – The odd one out

Razer DeathStalker Chroma is the only totally different top gaming keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards. Although the other keyboards are mostly mechanical, DeathStalker stands out precisely because it is not mechanical.
There are some users who really need such a keyboard. If you play all day on your laptop, you’ll find it hard to get used to a mechanical gaming keyboard that has a much longer stroke, and this pick from our top 10 best gaming keyboards may come in handy.
As far as internal lightning is concerned, it is multicolored and looks great. The light does not get away from the keys and that gives it a special look.
It’s a large keyboard with a lot of free space on it and you’ll get used to it very easily. Its big advantage is that it does not produce much noise. For what it offers, it is an expensive keyboard, and the only difference between this keyboard, and a no name one, is the look.
Software
After purchasing it, take the Razer Synapse software to customize it at will. It has 5 lighting modes: Custom, Breathing, Spectrum Cycling, Static and Wave. Pretty cool for a keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The colors in it are great and the brightness can be adjusted. By day is quite clear, and by night all the way a bit too bright, but as I said, it can be adjusted.
You can set macros, it has a gaming mode, each key can be assigned a specific function, and a very cool thing is that the software identifies all the games in the computer, and recounts every keystroke and the distance of how much it has been pressed.
The Gaming Mode when enabled is disabling the following key combinations: Alt + Tab, Alt + F4 and the Windows key.
- Really quiet
- RGB lighting
- No macro keys
- The Synapse app
- The Razer logo is not illuminated
- The keys are shiny and retain visible fingerprints
- The cable is not wrapped in fabric
A very well-built gaming keyboard, and a fantastic choice from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list; the keys are firm but not rigid. You always know how much you pressed and how much you needed in different applications, especially in gaming.
The illumination is sufficient and has a color variation suitable for anyone in three separate areas (individual keys cannot be colored, only on specified areas).
The Macro will work on any key through the application this keyboard will install as soon as you plug it into your computer. The wire is long enough and looks resistant, as the cables used for laptop chargers.
One thing we noticed is that it’s getting warm somewhere on the back, but not a deal breaker for one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
In conclusion, something good and made to withstand; it is probably the best choice in this price range.
8. CM STORM MECH – The “strongest” keyboard

This gaming keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list. Can be literally considered a weapon by some people and a weapon in MOBA / RTS by other people.
I seriously do not think anyone will ever be able to break this keyboard with their fists without seriously injuring themselves. Probably the most durable keyboard in terms of construction from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
However, its appearance is the most important asset. Functionality is as a normal keyboard. So it has a position in this top just for the way it looks.
CM Storm Mech is a mechanical gaming keyboard that features Cherry Mx Brown, Blue and Red switches. I’ve had the pleasure of testing Cherry Mx Blue and even though these switches are not “optimized” for gaming but rather for writing, I’ve also chosen to make this review from a gamers’ point of view.
You probably expect Mech keyboards to be sensational, but those at CM Storm have not invested too much in this chapter, but rather something basic, something to please everyone – still a great find for our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
3 modes of illumination
You have 3 modes of illumination. The first is the standard, that is, the entire illuminated keyboard.
The second is special for gamers, that is, only WASD, Arrow Keys and M1-> M5 (Macro buttons) and the last one is, at least for me, a little stressful and disturbing to my eyes, a “breathing” effect a little bit fast, , moving from one effect to another in about 2 seconds.
Unfortunately, for the fans of the rainbow colors I have bad news. The keypad benefits from a single color for lighting, the white one. If you let this aside, you will see that is still a great pick from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
Another interesting feature, especially for those who attend LAN Parties, is the presence of the C-Media audio chip. This eliminates the need to carry a USB audio card and additionally provides audio jacks right in the keyboard area where headphones can connect without too much effort and without many cables hanging under.
CM Storm Mech features 109 keys that obviously benefit from anti-ghosting. I’ve managed to press 34 keys at the same time, so if you ever need to get 35 keys at the same time, I’m sure it does not work – a worth mentioning feature, and some extra points in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
Software
The software from CM Storm Mech is quite basic: set the macros, save, press X and get ready. Of course, this at a first glance; if you’re going to finish it, actually find that you can set 10 macros on any of the available keys, not just those dedicated on the left side.
This is especially useful for those who play games other than MMORPG. In shooters, for example, it’s almost impossible to use the side keys. So this feature is welcomed for this pick in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
I like this because the result is a keyboard that can be both QWERTY and AZERTY, all depending on the user preferences.
How does it behave in usage
In FPS I had some problems, because in CoD4 I am very fond of the A + D when I’m in the air to catch the extra speed when I’m doing jumps, and sadly with Mech I have not really managed to reach my peak maximum jump.
With both connected keyboards, I immediately put Mech aside and passed the G710 + to see if I either forgot my movement or I cannot jump with Mech.
Unfortunately, the answer was “Cherry MX Blue does not work with FPS”, as I mentioned in the beginning of the article, CM Storm Mech is available with 3 types of Cherry MXs, including Brown, so do not be scared if you are FPS players, you can always go with Brown for a better experience.
In CS: GO movement is much easier and easier to achieve, very important is the double tap to reload the gun 1 second faster, I can say that in 50 hours of CS: GO I have never had a problem with the Cherry MX Blue switches.
On the keyboard there is a USB hub that has 2 USB 3.0 and 2 jacks for the microphone and one for the headphones. The jacks are pass-through so it does not influence the quality of the audio card you own. These are some features we found to be important in this top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
- Heavy duty materials
- Good switches
- Handle for transport
- Audio chip
- USB 3.0
- Microphone Input + Headphones
- Large dimensions
I can say that I am in love with the design of this keypad, and if I was not previously determined what to take between Roccat Ryos Mk Pro and Logitech G710 + I am now, and the clear answer is the CM Storm Mech.
Even though Mech does not have the complex lighting system from Ryos Mk Pro, or Logitech’s record macro on the fly system, for me, this keypad is the personal favorite of these 3, a great pick in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
9. LOGITECH G410 – Spectrum RGB

Our next pick from the top 10 best gaming keyboards list is the Logitech G410, a tenkeyless keyboard, one of the largest tenkeyless keyboards we’ve seen, and also with the same pair of switches as G910 made by Omron, Romer-G.
Even if the price is high nowadays, it will definitely be worth buying it very soon if you need a small size keyboard and no macros on the left; a good buy & a decent price for one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
The G410 is the smaller version of the G910 and offers the same comfort, but occupies a smaller surface. If you are looking for a small size gaming keyboard, the G410 is what you are looking for.
Bigger than most of the tenkeyless keyboards
The Logitech G410 is maybe a bit bigger than most of the tenkeyless keyboards on the market due to its design, but with no doubt, a great pick when it come to the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market.
The keypad has 88 buttons and 2 additional controls for illumination and disabling / enabling the Windows Key. For many people, this is probably a plus, but for others a big turn off. They used those buttons for either macros or binds, or simply for day-to-day activities.
The keyboard does not have any USB ports and the cable is not compressed either, but this isn’t a deal-breaker for one of the top 10 best gaming keyboards on the market. It is rubberized, which is very weak from my point of view.
Unfortunately, we have found that the hottest button on the gaming keyboard is probably missing – the volume adjustment knob.
Software
If we look at it only from the point of view of the software without ARCH Control, it remains one of the easiest to use softwares so far. Razer Synapse seems very slow, with many updates, and you have to wait 15 seconds each time you make an update.
If you want to talk about ARX Control, a really good software if you have a smartphone, we have to mention that it still has some compatibility and connectivity issues and can only be used in a local network.
From my point of view, tenkeyless keyboards have been designed for gamers who have little space on the table or for players participating in offline contests / LANs.
How does it behave in usage
The RGB illumination offered by Logitech is still my favorite.
The first plus would be the removal of the programmable buttons on the left side of the keypad (G1-G2-G3-etc), and now, millions of people around the world will never say bad words about the the G’s.
The second plus (in my opinion) is the removal of the numpad, and the presence of ARX Control. An upgrade that earned this keyboard extra points in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
- Good lighting
- No macro key on the left side
- Romer-G switches
- No volume control switch
For me, the Logitech G410 is the right choice for a user who either does not use the numpad, or participates in many contests and has to carry this keyboard around, or simply wants a smaller keyboard.
It got a special place in our top 10 best gaming keyboards, and we strongly believe in the difference it makes on the market.
Instead, the lack of multimedia buttons and volume wheel and direct ARX Control keypad support should reduce the cost of the keypad a little, but this can be seen as a down side, in my opinion.
10. GIGABYTE AORUS K7 – Superior Cherry MX mechanical gaming key switch

And right here, Gigabyte comes to the market with some mechanical gaming keyboards with RGB illumination.
Going straight in our top 10 best gaming keyboards list, they come with such a mechanical keyboard that goes by the name of Aorus K7.
And do not think there’s a high end one, or some sort of UFO. It’s a mid-range keyboard, but a great pick for our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The Layout
The layout of the keyboard is ANSI and that means it has the long left shift and the single-row entry. The Gigabyte Aorus K7 looks very striking with HyperX Alloy and Logitech G413, but not in the illumination segment.
The Aorus K7 has no exclusive switches and no extra USB port, but it has RGB illumination that can be synchronized with the Aorus M7 video card, the motherboard, or the mouse.
But do not think that’s all, because it has something else, something special – individually adjustable legs. And when I say adjustable I am not referring in two steps as I saw in most keyboards, but in pieces similar to those of washing machines or refrigerators that allow you to sit in the horizontal chair if the surface is uneven. This feature added some extra points to this keyboard from our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
If it seems unnecessary, it means you never played with the keyboard placed a little over the mousepad.
Well, this combination makes your gaming keyboard dangling, especially if you have a thick mousepad.
With the K7 gaming keyboard, you can adjust it to be parallel to the desk, even if a part reaches the mouse pad.
The keyboard base is made of plastic, obviously, and the front side is made of aluminum. Pretty cool, and one of the reasons it reached our top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
The switches are out of sight and have no way to do it otherwise. Almost all the keyboards with Cherry MX RGB work like this.
- Robust construction
- Rotating volume and illumination button
- Good switches
- Adjustable legs
- Unnecessary software
What to do next – it is a very well-built keyboard with a cool feature that differentiates it from the rest and I am referring here to the adjustable legs.
Again, it’s all about preference. If you change your keyboard, it’s generally good to go to the same kind of switches. I will not comment on anything regarding the design, because everything is all about everyone’s taste.
There are certain people who do not like the aluminum plate, and would totally displace the Aorus K7, but there will also be others that will like it. A great pick, and a great price for a keyboard fromour top 10 best gaming keyboards list.
