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In many ways, the best budget gaming keyboards are like regular office keyboards. The main difference is that these are made just for gaming and have a few other features that set them apart. Most gaming keyboards have multiple switches with specific activation points that are meant to improve the way you play.
For the best budget gaming keyboards, you don’t have to give up the satisfying click-clack of a high-end model. You might lose some functionality, but you won’t have to spend money on a keyboard. We thought it would be best to get rid of the people who wanted to charge that much just for the basics, since the best models can cost well over $200.
The best-budget gaming keyboards are actually cheap. You can make your gaming area more interesting with a variety of brands, designs, and solutions, such as Logitech, Corsair, and Razer. If you want to spend a little more and get something with a few more features, the next step up is written next to each option. However, you tend to lose some useful features as the price goes down.
Best Budget Gaming Keyboards
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
The Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition, one of the best budget gaming keyboards, has Linear Optical switches unique to Razer (TE). These switches are good for typing and gaming because they respond quickly, but some people might find them too sensitive because they often register inputs that weren’t meant to be made.
The keyboard has full RGB backlighting that is easy to change with Razer’s Synapse 3 software and is well made overall. Razer’s optomechanical switch line also has the Huntsman and the Razer Huntsman Elite.
Corsair K55 Pro
One member of the Hardware team used the Corsair keyboard K55 as his favourite keyboard for well over three years. Even though it doesn’t look like much at first, it’s one of the best budget gaming keyboards because it quietly does all the important things. There is bright lighting, quick key action, and a strong build. All of these things give this the edge over similar priced competitors.
The K55 is made in a simple way, but it does everything well and doesn’t give up anything. Remember that it’s a membrane device, which means that rubber is used under the keycaps instead of mechanical switches. So, if you want a keyboard that clicks, this might not be the one for you.
G.Skill KM360
At first glance, you can see that the KM360 only has the basics. The best budget gaming keyboards is doesn’t have a number pad or media controls because it only has ten keys. The KM360 is marketed as an everyday keyboard, but if you use spreadsheets a lot or like to be able to change your audio settings from your keyboard easily, that won’t be true for you.
Cherry MX Red switches are used all over the KM360. These switches are known for having a smooth, linear feel and moving straight down until you touch the bottom. They move a total of 4 mm in a range of 2 mm. The space bar is the only key that doesn’t have this switch. Instead, it has a Cherry MX Black switch.
Cooler Master CK552
The Cooler Master CK552 is the best cheap mechanical keyboard for most people. It is a full-sized best budget gaming keyboards with a 5.9-foot (1.8-meter) USB 2.0 cable, RGB backlighting, and an aluminium top plate. There are Brown (linear), Blue (clicky), and Red (linear) Gateron switches (tactile).
Our review device had Gateron Red switches installed, and they worked so well while gaming that our review sometimes hit keys by accident. This also means it made a few mistakes when typing a lot. You can choose a different type of switch, but it is getting harder to find the other switch options online.
SteelSeries Apex 3
Even though the SteelSeries Apex 3 is one of the best budget gaming keyboards all around, those who want a quiet experience will get the most out of this cheap deck. The “Whisper Quiet” membrane switches from SteelSeries make each tap very quiet and nice to touch.
Even though it’s not as good as Razer’s fully paintable deck, this one has 10 customizable RGB zones, which is more than many other companies in this price range. If you keep your desk clean, you’ll be glad to know that there are places for the cables to go under the desk.
Redragon K596 Vishnu
Our Best Overall pick is the Redragon K596 Vishnu, which is surprisingly strong, feature-rich, and feature-heavy for a low price. The best budget gaming keyboards is the K596 Vishnu, which has TGB lighting, a great battery, and even a plastic wrist rest. It doesn’t have ten keys, so it’s a small device, and the 10 macro buttons make it possible to map custom keys.
Users say that this keyboard is heavy enough to stay put even during a long, intense gaming session, and that the wireless latency was surprisingly low. Many people also say that the KP596 Vishnu is a great choice for the price and that the lighting is great because it can be changed in any way you want.
Logitech G915
The Logitech G915 will be the best budget gaming keyboards in the future, but only time will tell. The G915 shows that keyboards can go wireless without sacrificing style or performance, just like gaming mice and headsets have done over the past few years.
The G915 is a beautiful, ultra-thin gaming keyboard that can be connected to a computer via Bluetooth or a USB dongle. The G915’s low-profile key switches and full RGB lighting make it easy to use and stand out. The high price is the only real problem. But it might be a great buy if you think about how it will keep your desk free of messy wires and last for a long time.
Final Words
When it comes to the best budget gaming keyboards, we’ve found that, in general, the cheaper machines perform just as well as the top-of-the-line, branded flagship models. The best budget gaming keyboards are a good choice for PC gaming if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on accessories, which most of us have done at some point when playing video games.