Best gaming keyboard under $100 for 2023

If you’re more comfortable doing your office work on a membrane keyboard, the Cynosa might be the gaming keyboard for you. It’s a membrane keyboard, not mechanical, so the keys are quiet and certainly feel softer than the others here and some might find them soft. Still, if you’re looking to use a keyboard for work and play, this is a good compromise for its $60 list price.

Many features of the original Cynosa are retained, including per-key RGB lighting – a rarity at this end of the market – and a durable spill-resistant design. New is a set of media keys added to the top right corner. Razer has also added cable routing under the keyboard so you can keep your desk a bit tidier.

It’s also one of the most programmable keyboards around. There are many preset lighting effects to choose from and you can also create your own using Synapse 3.0 software. There’s also Razer’s Hypershift feature which lets you configure a secondary set of functions for your accessible keys with a “shift” key that you choose. You can also rebind keys and set macros with the software.

Even on Logitech’s low-end models such as the G413 Backlit Gaming Keyboard, the company doesn’t skimp on build quality and components. It uses the same Romer-G tactile switches found in its more feature-rich models and has the same thin, simple and durable keyboard design with a brushed aluminum-magnesium alloy top case. It features a braided USB cable with a USB passthrough port on the right rear and channels underneath for mouse and headset cable management.

The tactile key switch is relatively quiet, with no click when actuated, just a subtle bump and a short actuation. If you like to hear And feel your keys, it’s probably not the best switch for you. There’s only one color for the backlight – red – but the backlight is bright and the key font on this full-size keyboard is easy to read. Logitech includes 12 faceted keys, which is nice, but we didn’t feel much of a difference.

The G413 is programmable with Logitech’s G Hub software, letting you set up custom macros and functions on the F1-F12 buttons and there’s a game mode that disables the Windows key. Overall, it’s a more polished mechanical gaming keyboard than the others here, but it’s also more expensive.

Finding a good wireless gaming keyboard can be tricky. These babies are rare because the last thing you want to do is potentially introduce a lag in your performance. The G613’s Lightspeed wireless performs just as well as wired, and it has an outstanding battery life of up to 18 months on two AA batteries. That said, the keyboard doesn’t have any backlights, which while understandable for power savings, no keyboard backlight really kills the gaming experience in the dark. You get six programmable buttons on the left side, so that’s something.

The G613 uses the same Romer-G Tactile mechanical switches as the G413, so everything I said about that applies here. I happen to like the feel of this switch for gaming and typing, although I was in the minority for our testing. This wireless keyboard is definitely one you should try before you buy if you can.

The $50 G14 is one of the most affordable mechanical gaming keyboards available, and Aukey has stepped up its game with build quality and software without raising the price. This TKL keyboard is chunky but saves desk space as it has no numeric keypad; check out Aukey’s G12 if you want this feature.

Although the case is made entirely of plastic, it has the weight of a metal frame. Combined with the non-slip pads at the bottom, this keyboard won’t slip while you play. Plus, there are two sets of flip-up feet on the back giving you three typing angles to choose from, something you don’t always find on more expensive keyboards. And while its USB cable is attached to the body, Aukey has added routing at the bottom so you can route the cable left, right, or center.

The company’s blue clicky switches are good for typing and gaming with a tactile bump you can feel And hear. These switches have a loud click, something to keep in mind if you’re sharing a workspace). Plus, there’s no ping from the switch springs, unlike the slimmer full-size G12 keyboard, so all you really hear is their click. There are some key wobbles, but it’s relatively minor and overall a solid typing experience.

The key legends are difficult to read with the backlight off. However, with 18 pre-programmed lighting options to choose from and four brightness settings, there’s no reason to turn the lights off completely while you’re working. You can also always replace keys and Aukey includes a puller. The keyboard software can be used to create your own per-key RGB lighting, configure key macros or change key assignments and save multiple profiles. The G14 is a great starting point if you’re getting into mechanical keyboards for work or play.