There are good gaming keyboards and then there are great gaming keyboards (and of course a few bad ones now and then), but what sets the two apart can sometimes be a fine line. Many share a lot of the same DNA, from their RGB lighting and mechanical switches to their macro buttons and wrist rests.At the high-end, you can see keyboard makers showing off their best work, not just throwing in good components but also building around those components with a trove of features that make your computing experience better. Many high-end gaming keyboards will include dedicated controls for your media, giving you an easy way to skip songs or change volume without needing to reach away from the keyboard. Some may use a higher-quality material for the key caps, helping you get more value by extending the lifespan of the keyboard. Then there are advanced features, like more exotic key switch mechanisms, enhanced RGB lighting, and zero-latency wireless. If you’re looking for a keyboard that can wow you, you’ll find it here.TL;DR These are the Best High-End Gaming Keyboard:
1. Corsair K95 Platinum XT
Best High-End Gaming Keyboard
Interface: Wired Key switch options: Cherry MX Speed, Cherry MX Brown, MX Blue Features: Media controls, Elgato Stream Deck integration, LightEdge bar, per-key RGB lighting, 8MB profile storage, USB passthrough, cushioned leatherette palm rest Size: 18.3″ x 6.7″ x 1.4″
Corsair already held our top spot on this list, and the company clearly knew better than to mess with a great thing when it released the Corsair K95 Platinum XT (read our review). It makes few changes over its predecessor, which we held in top regards, but all of those changes see the best keyboard get even better.The new model still features solid media controls, per-key RGB lighting on Cherry MX Speed or MX Brown switches (and now even Blue), USB passthrough, and a solid build. But, now it uses double-shot PBT keycaps that will resist growing shiny after substantial use and can hold up for years, plus they give the keys a weightier feel. The wrist rest is an upgrade over the prior, rubber wrist rest. It’s now a softer, foam-filled leatherette wrist rest. For streamers, Corsair has something extra special in store, as the six macro keys along the left edge now natively support Elgato Stream Deck integration, letting users control various streaming tools with easily accessible keys.
2. HyperX Alloy Elite 2
Best High-End Gaming Keyboard On a Budget
Interface: Wired Key switch options: HyperX Red Features: Media controls, Volume wheel, RGB light bar, per-key RGB lighting, Onboard profile storage, USB passthrough Size: 17.48″ x 6.85″ x 1.47″
Want all the high-end features for less? Check out the HyperX Alloy Elite 2. This keyboard has the RGB lighting effects you’d want, with per-key customization and a light bar above the keys. HyperX ensures they shine with style with its new Pudding Keycaps, which have a translucent bottom to let more light through.Beyond the lighting, you’re getting a solidly constructed keyboard with a steel frame, dedicated media controls, room for three on-board profiles, USB passthrough, and even compatibility with PS4 and Xbox One. The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 also features HyperX’s own mechanical switches. That’s a compelling package for just $130.
3. Logitech G915 Lightspeed Wireless
Best High-End Wireless Gaming Keyboard
Interface: USB Wireless, Bluetooth Key switch options: Low-profile GL Clicky, Low-profile GL Linear, Low-profile GL Tactile Features: Per-key RGB lighting, media controls, rechargeable battery, three onboard profiles Battery Life: 30 hours – 135 days Size: 22.5″ x 7.9″ x 1.8″
Logitech’s flagship G915 Lightspeed Wireless (read our review) flies in the face of every gaming keyboard convention and pulls it off with aplomb. While you might think this wireless peripheral that utilizes low-profile keys is doomed to fail, it’s actually one of our most favorite gaming keyboards of all time.The shorter throw on the keys makes you a faster typist and there’s no perceivable lag from switching to a wireless connection. Add in the fact you get 30 hours of regular usage with full RGB lighting and up to 135 days of non-stop gaming with illumination turned off, and this wireless gaming keyboard really doesn’t have any faults.
4. Roccat Vulcan 122 Aimo
Best High-End Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Interface: Wired Key switch options: Titan Brown Features: Per-key RGB lighting, media controls Size: 18.2″ x 9.2″ x 1.3″
The Roccat Vulcan 122 AIMO has one of the industry’s most interesting and feeling mechanical switches. Instead of featuring full-on keycaps, you basically get key-lids sitting on top of mechanical switches. The key switches themselves feel like tactile Cherry MX Brown keys, but faster thanks to the way Roccat’s design minimizes key bounce.At only $159, the Roccat Vulcan 122 Aimo is one of the more affordable high-end keyboard options here. But don’t think it sacrifices on quality at all just because it cheaper. This peripheral still features an aluminum top plate, full media controls, and a nifty magnetic palm rest.
5. Razer Huntsman Elite
Best High-End Optical Gaming Keyboard
Interface: Wired Key switch options: Razer Opto-Mechanical switch Features: Per-key RGB lighting, plush wrist rest, media controls Size: 17.6″ x 9.2″ x 1.4″
Razer’s top-of-the-line Huntsman Elite gaming keyboard (read our review) features optical switches over the ho-hum mechanical switches available on most gaming keyboards these days. Aside from the coolness factor of playing games with freaking lasers, Razer’s “opto-mechanical” switches have proven themselves to be faster to respond and longer lasting than your traditional mechanical switch.You also get some novel volume wheel and other dedicated media keys on this premium gaming keyboard. Lastly, the proverbial icing on the cake is Razer’s Chroma lighting that’s not only on the keys but wraps all around the Huntsman Elite’s frame and even the palm rest.
6. Logitech G915 TKL
Best High-End Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Interface: Wireless Key switch options: GL Clicky, GL Linear, GL Tactile Features: Per-key RGB lighting, onboard profiles, dedicated media controls, Bluetooth Size: 15.2″ x 5.9″ x 0.9″
We think the Logitech G915 is pretty great, so if you want a slightly more compact keyboard, you’re in luck. The Logitech G915 TKL takes what was already a winning keyboard, and trims it down to a compact gaming champ. It’s even more sleek thanks to the slim design afforded by its use of low-profile GL switches. It’s truly impressive that even at its reduced size, this keyboard manages to include dedicated media controls and a volume wheel.And did we mention it’s wireless? That’s right, the Logitech G915 TKL also uses the company’s gaming-grade Lightspeed Wireless to offer 1ms response times. So, you can enjoy a top-notch gaming experience without turning your desk space into a jungle of wires. When you need to use the keyboard with other devices, it can even connect over Bluetooth.
7. Das Keyboard 4 Professional
Best High-End Gaming Keyboard for Work
Interface: Wired Key switch options: Cherry MX Brown, Cherry MX Blue Features: USB 3.0 passthrough, media controls Size: 18″ x 6.8″ x 1.3″
The Das Keyboard 4 Professional (read our review) is more for people who work most of the time but also game. If that’s you and you’re fed up with RGB lighting, this is an excellent high-end mechanical keyboard option. It’s an extremely well-made board, featuring Cherry MX Brown switches, premium craftsmanship, and dedicated media controls just above the number pad, including a sweet volume wheel.In addition to its lack of RGB lighting, this keyboard is also missing macro keys, and it costs the same as the RGB keyboards above, so you’re paying for the quality of the understated design more than any specific features.
What to look for in a High-End Gaming Keyboard
Today, the best high-end keyboards for gaming all sport a similar design and feature set that’s dictated by what is currently en vogue in the gaming world. That includes a healthy combination of most of the following: per-key RGB lighting, mechanical switches either from Cherry or made in-house, dedicated media controls and macro keys, USB and headset passthrough ports, and easy to use software to let you assign macros, customize your lighting, and even set up per-game profiles.Finding the right high-end keyboard for you is all about taking a look at how manufacturers combine these features in different ways. You should seek out a high-end gaming keyboard that strikes the right balance between form and function.
Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspamMark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
Home>>Home>>We tested the best high-end gaming keyboards to find out which one reigns supreme. Here is our pick!
Home