Best Keyboards 2018 - Lab Tested Reviews by

The Best Keyboards of 2018.

Corsair K95 RGB Platinum. Bottom Line: The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum is a pricey gaming keyboard with an ideal blend of aesthetics and functionality that leaves little room for improvement. Das Keyboard 4 Professional. Bottom Line: A superb typing experience and excellent new features characterize the mechanical Das Keyboard 4, but those benefits don't come cheap. Logitech G413 Carbon. Bottom Line: The Logitech G413 Carbon is an entry-level gaming keyboard that eschews the usual bells and whistles, focusing instead on quick-reacting, comfortable key action via durable mechanical switch. Unicomp Ultra Classic. Bottom Line: For the hardest of hard-core typists, the Unicomp Ultra Classic pegs the quintessential PC typing experience like no other keyboard on the market. Logitech K480 Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard. Bottom Line: Logitech's K480 Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard lets you connect a computer, your phone, and tablet, all of which could be using different platforms, to a single keyboard—with solid res. Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard. Bottom Line: The wireless Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard lets you easily stream music and other content from a home-theater or living-room PC from the comfort of the sofa. Nixeus Moda Pro. Bottom Line: The Nixeus Moda Pro is a wired mechanical keyboard that works well with both macOS and Windows PCs. It's sturdily built, comfortable to type on, and has an attractive price. SteelSeries Apex M750. Bottom Line: The SteelSeries Apex M750 is excellent for seasoned gamers who care less about bells and whistles and more about fast actuation and fine control of backlighting and key assignments. Das Keyboard Prime 13. Bottom Line: A strong performer with a no-frills design, the Das Keyboard Prime 13 is a fine example of a modern mechanical keyboard-though you'll have to pay quite a bit for what you get. G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB. Bottom Line: Although not as feature-packed as more expensive gaming keyboards, the G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB offers Cherry switches, per-key RGB lighting, and an understated design at a palatable price. Finding the Right Fit. Maybe your old keyboard has typed its last letter. Perhaps your gaming ambitions have left you dissatisfied with the mediocre model that came with your desktop PC. Or maybe the one you have still works fine for what it is, but isn't as comfortable and sturdy as you'd prefer. Whatever the reason, anyone can benefit from a better keyboard. After all, is there any part of your computer more hands-on than your keyboard? For these reasons, and more, it pays to know what makes a one a good fit. Keyboards come in a variety of types, from those optimized for efficiency to sculpted ergonomic designs that cradle your hands and relieve stress on the joints. When shopping for a keyboard, here are a few specific features to look for. Connectivity Options. The simplest way to connect a keyboard to your PC is via a standard USB port. Keyboards are usually plug-and-play devices, with no additional software to install (with the exception of driver packages for some gaming models), meaning that plugging in the keyboard is all the setup you'll need. Unlike wireless keyboards, a wired model will draw its power over USB, so there are no batteries to worry about. Wired connections are also preferred for gaming use, as they are free from the lag and interference issues that wireless alternatives are prone to. Some motherboards still come with an older-style PS/2 port for plugging in a keyboard without needing USB; if you go this route, which many gamers prefer for performance reasons, you'll probably need a USB-to-PS/2 adapter. (Some gaming keyboards come with these.) If you want more freedom and less cable clutter on your desk, however, it's hard to beat a wireless keyboard. Instead of a wired connection, wireless keyboards transmit data to your PC through one of two primary means: an RF connection to a USB receiver, or Bluetooth. Both have their pros and cons, but if you want to reduce the number of cables on your desk and gain the flexibility to use your keyboard at a distance—whether it on your lap at your desk, or from across the room—wireless is the way to go. Most wireless keyboards connect to a PC via the same 2.4GHz wireless frequencies used for cordless phones and Wi-Fi Internet. A dime-size USB dongle—small enough to plug in and forget about—provides the link to your PC. Companies use proprietary connections like these because they allow for optimal battery life. These USB dongles also provide connectivity to more than one device, meaning you can use the single adapter for your wireless keyboard—or keyboards, if you have one at work and one at home—as well as one or more computer mice, assuming that all are the same brand. Bluetooth options are regaining popularity of late, largely because they don't monopolize a USB port and because Bluetooth connections are stable, easy to manage, and offer compatibility with more mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets. In regular use, a Bluetooth connection gives you roughly 30 feet of wireless range, but may not match the battery life offered by devices with a USB dongle. New innovations, including hand-proximity sensors tied to power and connection management, improve the battery life over older Bluetooth devices, which maintained an always-on link, draining battery quickly. Layout and Ergonomics. Not all keyboards are created equal. In fact, not all keyboards are even laid out the same beyond the standard QWERTY keys. Roughly half of the keyboards available offer a 10-key numeric pad, even though it's an ideal tool for anyone who frequently needs to tally numbers or enter data into a spreadsheet. Smaller distinctions include placement of the arrow, Page Up and Down, and Home and End keys. Additionally, most current keyboards have basic media features such as playback controls and volume up and down. In order to help users stave off carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress injury, many keyboards are available with designs that put your hands into a neutral position as you type. The result is not only greater comfort, but reduced stress to the joints and tendons, ultimately helping you to avoid painful inflammation and expensive surgery. Ergonomic features can range from the simple—like padded wrist rests—to the elaborate, with keyboards that curve and slope. Keys and Switches. One aspect of keyboard design that you'll see mentioned in reviews—but that most people don't give a second thought—is the type of switches used for individual keys. You may not care about the specific mechanisms that reside beneath the keys, but you will certainly feel the difference. The three primary types of switches are silicone dome switches, scissor switches, and mechanical switches. Budget keyboards, such as those that come bundled with new desktop PCs, generally use silicone-dome switches, which use two dimpled layers of silicone membrane that form a grid of rubber bubbles or domes as the switch for each key. The springiness of the silicone rubber makes for a soft, mushy feel as you press each key. The switch type also requires you to "bottom out" with each keystroke, pressing the key to the bottom of the key well to type a letter.

And because repeated flexing of the rubber membrane causes it to break down, silicone dome switches lose their springiness and responsiveness over time. Some newer keyboards mimic the low-profile, chiclet-style keyboards found on full-size laptops and ultraportables. While a few of these use plain silicone dome switches, many use a scissor switch, which adds a mechanical stabilizer to each key for a uniform feel, and an attached plunger under each keycap allows for shorter key travel. As a result, scissor-switch keyboards have a shallow typing feel, but are generally more durable than rubber dome switches alone. Mechanical Keyboards. Most keyboard enthusiasts, however, won't have much to say for either style—instead, they'll be singing the praises of mechanical keyboards. The switches used in these are a bit more intricate, with a spring-loaded sliding keypost under every key. There are several variations available, each tweaked to provide a slightly different feel or sound, but generally, mechanical switches provide better tactile feedback and have more of the "clickety-clack" sound that many associate with typing. The sturdy switch mechanisms and springs are significantly longer lasting, and can be more easily repaired. These switches also register each keystroke with a much shorter amount of travel, making them ideal for touch typists. The downside to mechanical switches is that they usually require a lot more space than silicone dome switches, which means that you won't often find them on shallower keyboards. That could change now that venerable switch maker Cherry has introduced a new low-profile mechanical switch. Gaming Keyboards. While all keyboards offer the necessary keys for typing, sometimes typing isn't your main concern. Gaming keyboards are designed for competitive use, equipped for maximum specialization and control, optimized for specific styles of gameplay, and built to exacting standards of responsiveness and durability. They also appeal to the gamer aesthetic, with designs that impress and intimidate with pulsing backlighting and dramatic color schemes. Premium gaming models almost exclusively use high-grade mechanical key switches and sculpted keycaps, and offer numerous customizable features, like programmable macro keys, textured WASD keys, and swappable keycaps. There are others that let you tweak the color and intensity of the backlighting to make finding certain keys faster and to personalize the look of your keyboard. Anti-ghosting is an essential feature, allowing multiple keystrokes to be registered simultaneously—something standard keyboards can't do. Other extras include pass-through USB ports or audio connections on the keyboard, which simplifies the process of connecting peripherals to a desktop PC that may not be easily accessed. Finally, gaming keyboards are often outfitted with software and extra keys for macro commands, letting you prearrange complex strings of commands and activate them with a single press of a button. The number of macro commands that you can save, and the ease with which they can be created, vary from one model to the next, but it's a valuable tool. These aren't the sorts of bells and whistles everyone will use from day to day, but for players that invest time and money into gaming, these keyboards offer a competitive edge. There are certainly a lot of choices out there, so start your search with our roundup below of the best keyboards available. In the market for a mouse as well? Then check out our top picks, as well as our favorites for gaming. Featured Best Keyboard Reviews: Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Review. Pros: Dedicated media controls. Smooth, responsive keys. Attractive brushed aluminum finish. Easy-to-use customization utility. Cons: Expensive. No audio jack. Bottom Line: The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum is a pricey gaming keyboard with an ideal blend of aesthetics and functionality that leaves little room for improvement. Das Keyboard 4 Professional Review. Pros: Available with Cherry MX Blue, Brown switches. Includes dedicated hardware media, sleep controls. Sturdy construction. Integrated hub now supports USB 3.0. Cons: Expensive. No onboard audio ports. Inconvenient footbar for angling up keyboard. Bottom Line: A superb typing experience and excellent new features characterize the mechanical Das Keyboard 4, but those benefits don't come cheap. Logitech G413 Carbon Review. Pros: Nice price. Mechanical switches. Sturdy construction. USB 2.0 port pass-through. Programmable function keys. Cons: Can't customize keyboard backlighting. No wrist rest. Takes up two USB ports on a PC. Bottom Line: The Logitech G413 Carbon is an entry-level gaming keyboard that eschews the usual bells and whistles, focusing instead on quick-reacting, comfortable key action via durable mechanical switches. Unicomp Ultra Classic Review. Pros: Superb for typing. Extraordinarily configurable. Made in America.

Cons: May require an adjustment period. Extremely loud. No special features. Unsteady plastic construction. Bottom Line: For the hardest of hard-core typists, the Unicomp Ultra Classic pegs the quintessential PC typing experience like no other keyboard on the market. Logitech K480 Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard Review. Pros: Connects with most major platforms. Switches between multiple devices extremely well. Comfortable keyboard. Inexpensive. Cons: Not compatible with Windows Phone OS. Not compact or light enough to be used as a portable tablet keyboard. Doesn't have all the usual keys you find on a full-size keyboard. Bottom Line: Logitech's K480 Bluetooth Multi-Device Keyboard lets you connect a computer, your phone, and tablet, all of which could be using different platforms, to a single keyboard—with solid results. Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard Review. Pros: Inexpensive. Very good wireless range. Built-in touchpad and mouse buttons. Supports gestures, including Windows 8. Good typing and touchpad experience. Cons: Somewhat cramped keyboard. Keys are not backlit. Bottom Line: The wireless Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard lets you easily stream music and other content from a home-theater or living-room PC from the comfort of the sofa. Nixeus Moda Pro Review. Pros: Nice price. Comes with Mac caps. Metal keyboard deck. N-key rollover. MX key cap compatible. No driver software needed. Cons: Not all Mac function keys available. No backlighting. Bottom Line: The Nixeus Moda Pro is a wired mechanical keyboard that works well with both macOS and Windows PCs. It's sturdily built, comfortable to type on, and has an attractive price. SteelSeries Apex M750 Review. Pros: Very fast switches. Unobtrusive, compact design. Excellent backlighting and function customization options. Cons: No dedicated media keys, G-keys or USB pass-through. No adjustable feet. Bottom Line: The SteelSeries Apex M750 is excellent for seasoned gamers who care less about bells and whistles and more about fast actuation and fine control of backlighting and key assignments. Das Keyboard Prime 13 Review. Pros: Strong typing experience. Attractive, minimalist design. Well-implemented basic features. Cons: Expensive. White backlight only. USB hub supports 2.0 standard, not 3.0. No dedicated multimedia controls, headphone, and microphone jacks. Bottom Line: A strong performer with a no-frills design, the Das Keyboard Prime 13 is a fine example of a modern mechanical keyboard-though you'll have to pay quite a bit for what you get. G.Skill Ripjaws KM570 RGB Review. Pros: Compact design. Choice of Cherry switches. N-key rollover. Quick macro recording. Cons: No USB pass-through. Lacks dedicated media controls. Does not lay flat.