The most effective keyboards for 2025

The precise pc keyboard could make a giant distinction to how you’re employed or play. Whether or not you’re typing experiences, programming with advanced macros or spending hours on a mechanical gaming keyboard, the proper mannequin can increase each consolation and effectivity. Some individuals favor a compact structure for portability, whereas others need a full-size QWERTY board with a Numpad for information entry and spreadsheets.

From wi-fi choices that maintain your desk tidy to wired fashions constructed for low latency, there’s a variety of designs, switches and options to select from. On this information, we’ve examined and rounded up the perfect keyboards for various wants so you could find the one that most closely fits your setup.

Desk of contents

What to search for in a keyboard

Finest keyboards for 2025

Logitech

Connectivity: Bluetooth and Logi Bolt USB receiver | Measurement: Full-size structure | Materials: Plastic chassis with low-profile scissor switches | Switches: Scissor switches | Scorching-swappable: No | Backlight: Sure, good illumination with ambient gentle sensors | Software program: Logi Choices+

Logitech is aware of how one can make a strong keyboard, and the Grasp sequence has been a superb one over the previous few years. The MX Keys S is the newest full-sized version and it combines a low-profile design with comfy keys and useful customization instruments. It seems fairly modern in black, white or graphite, measuring just below 17 inches in width and solely 0.8 inches excessive off your desk. Its spherically-dished keys cradle your fingertips each time you press, and whereas I wouldn’t go up to now to say they completely prevented me from placing any typos on this information, the form positively helps greater than different, flatter keycaps I’ve used.

It is a backlit keyboard with “good illumination,” which simply means the backlight will kick on when your fingers strategy the board and regulate relying on the lighting in your atmosphere. I’ve an honest quantity of pure gentle in my house workplace throughout common working hours, so I opted to show the backlight off — for those who do the identical, you’ll be able to stand up to 5 months of battery life out of the MX Keys S (Logitech estimates 10 days with good illumination on). The keyboard has a built-in USB-C port for charging as effectively.

Along with the low-profile design that also features a quantity pad, the most important kickers for the MX Keys S are its large compatibility and customizable options with Logi Choices+. This peripheral works with Home windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux and iPadOS, and it has three machine pairing buttons so you’ll be able to join it to as much as three units without delay and change between them as mandatory. Logi Choices+ is free software program that many Logitech equipment use, and for the MX Keys S, it permits you to customise brightness ranges and period, set good actions (one-key shortcuts you program to your liking) and extra.

The Grasp Collection additionally features a “mini” version of this keyboard that nixes the quantity pad and $10 from the value tag. I’ve used that and revel in it as effectively, however while you’re solely saving $10, the full-sized model seems like a greater worth. Can you discover cheaper wi-fi keyboards than both of those? After all. However Logitech’s experience on this house actually shines within the Grasp sequence, and with the MX Keys S particularly because it stands out as a high-quality wi-fi keyboard with a bunch of additional options at an honest value. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor

Professionals

Good construct high quality
Snug typing expertise
Logi Choices+ offers a ton of customization choices
Works throughout all main OSes

Cons

Not the most affordable keyboard on the market
Not a giant value distinction between the full-sized model and the mini mannequin with out the quantity pad

$119 at Amazon

Logitech

Logitech’s Pop Icon Keys takes loads of notes from the Grasp sequence and interprets them right into a extra enjoyable (and cheaper) bundle. The $50 keyboard doesn’t embody a quantity pad, however as a substitute has a row on the proper facet that features 4 buttons that you may customise utilizing Logi Choices+. I’ve mine programmed to activate macOS’ mission management, open the emoji keyboard and to maneuver web page up and down, respectively. However these aren’t the one buttons you’ll be able to customise — 11 of the highest perform keys may also be programmed to your liking as effectively.

The Pop Icon keycaps have a slight indentation to them, although not as dramatic as these on the Grasp sequence keys, and the typing expertise is a snug and quiet one total. Whereas this isn’t billed as a journey keyboard, it’s sufficiently small to suit into a typical work bag or backpack, so you possibly can take it with you with out a lot trouble.

You possibly can join the Pop Icon keys to as much as three units without delay and change between them simply, and the keyboard helps macOS, Home windows, Linux, Chrome, iPadOS, iOS and Android units. In addition to there being no choice for a quantity pad configuration, arguably the most important draw back to this keyboard is the truth that it runs on two AAA batteries. Logitech estimates it should last as long as three years earlier than it’s good to change them, so perhaps that’s a professional for some reasonably than a con. I additionally respect that, when linked to a Mac pc over Bluetooth, you’ll be able to nonetheless monitor the Pop Icon Keys’ battery life from the Bluetooth menu.

That is additionally a fantastic value for a strong wi-fi keyboard. Logitech itself makes even cheaper ones, however the Pop Icon Keys strikes an excellent stability between design and capabilities at this value level. The most important query, for those who select this keyboard, is which colorway you fancy essentially the most out of the 5 choices. — V.P.

Professionals

Low-cost!
Compact design with a low profile
Snug typing expertise
Programmable keys with Logi Choices+
Works throughout all main OSes

Cons

Key journey might be higher
No quantity pad

$50 at Amazon

Logitech

Learn our full information to the best ergonomic keyboards

The Ergo K860 from Logitech combines 4 useful ergonomic options in a keyboard that operates very similar to any normal board. The Alice cut up shifts your elbows aside whereas preserving your forearms and wrists lined up. The tenting raises the keys upward within the center, rotating your palms subtly towards each other. The non-obligatory unfavorable tilt slopes the underside edge above the highest edge to maintain the backs of your fingers straighter. And there’s a palm relaxation inbuilt, which some discover extra comfy throughout lengthy typing periods.

In contrast to different extra aggressively ergonomic boards, there’s no studying curve right here. Typing on the Ergo K860 feels loads like typing on a typical set of keys. The low profile, scissor-switch keys are springy and straightforward to hit. You even get a ten-key quantity pad, navigation keys and arrow buttons, all of which make it a full-featured and acquainted accent. You possibly can program the keys with Logitech’s software program, however this may probably enchantment most to those that simply need a plug-and-play board for a Mac or PC setup. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter

Professionals

Rotated, tented keys make typing comfy
An ergonomic board with no studying curve
Wirelessly connects rapidly to 3 units
Hotkeys work with MacOS and Home windows

Cons

Wrist relaxation shouldn’t be detachable
Takes up loads of house

$150 at Amazon

Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Learn our full information to the best ergonomic keyboards

For those who’re able to make a severe dedication to growing your ergonomics, I like to recommend the ZSA Voyager. I take advantage of it daily and, although it’s not tremendous moveable, I introduced it with me once I labored away from my house workplace for every week. However at first, it took me a minimum of three weeks earlier than I used to be comfy typing on it. Not solely will it’s good to reprogram the keys (and bear in mind what they do), you’ll want to make use of your fingers otherwise than you’re used to. For one, your thumbs will do way over simply hit the spacebar. They’ll function the return, shift, management and even layer buttons, relying on the way you program the board.

However the ergonomic advantages are equally vital. The totally cut up board lets me open up my arms and chest. On days once I’m feeling significantly tight, I’ll put the 2 halves a full foot aside. Relocating the return, command and forward-delete key to the thumbclusters saves me from shifting my fingers across the board and the layers perform permits for much extra performance than a typical keyboard.

That mentioned, it additionally provides to the safety of my pc, making all of it however unattainable for different individuals to kind with the Voyager. It comes with magnetic knobs for the middle tenting characteristic, however I want it got here with the choice to carry the center just a little greater. I created further carry by including rubber bumpers to the board, however for the value, it’d be good to not need to MacGuyver it. Nonetheless, at any time when I’m pressured to make use of a daily keyboard, I really feel like I am toiling within the typing pool at Sterling Cooper. — A.S.

Professionals

Ergonomic, totally cut up board
Programmable thumb cluster minimizes hand journey
Low profile, mechanical keys make typing straightforward
Compact measurement and intelligent key mapping maintain your fingers within the house place

Cons

Takes a pair weeks to relearn how one can kind
Middle tenting might be greater

$365 at ZSA

Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Learn our full information to the best mechanical keyboards

The Keychron Q Max series doesn’t come low-cost, nevertheless it has nearly all the pieces we would like out of a high-end mechanical keyboard. Its full aluminum case is exceedingly sturdy, hefty and funky to the contact. Whereas its PBT-coated keycaps are on the taller facet, they’ve a stunning texture and are sculpted in a method that lightly hugs your fingertips. There are a number of change choices accessible, all of that are hot-swappable, whereas a double gasket-mount design contained in the keyboard provides every press a cushioned but springy really feel by default. Mixed with a number of layers of froth, these presses have a delightfully poppy and even sound.

We examined the tenkeyless Q3 Max, however Keychron gives a number of different size and layout options as effectively. Every can join over a wi-fi dongle, Bluetooth or USB-C and consists of further Home windows- and Mac-specific keycaps within the field. There are nonetheless issues to nitpick — there’s a faint little bit of rattle to a few the bigger keys; you’ll be able to’t regulate the keyboard’s top; and Keychron’s one-year warranty is fairly brief — however for those who simply need to purchase a mechanical keyboard that delivers a premium expertise from the soar, this may get you there. – Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter

Professionals

Excellent typing really feel and sound
Premium aluminum case
Crisp PBT keycaps
Scorching-swappable
Dependable wi-fi efficiency
Tons of structure choices
Knob!

Cons

A bit dear
Keycaps aren’t shine-through and could also be too tall for some
Heavy
Slight rattling with some stabilizers

$189+ at Keychron

Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Learn our full information to the best mechanical keyboards

We advocate the Keychron C3 Pro if you wish to spend as little as attainable for a pleasant mechanical keyboard. It’s a stellar worth at just below $50, with factory-lubricated switches, a gasket mount, a number of layers of inside foam and different touches we don’t normally see on this value vary. The stabilizers keep away from any aggressive rattling, and there’s not one of the pinging noise you get from many cheaper circumstances. All of this helps really feel comfy for typing, whereas the tactile Brown switches in our take a look at unit sound pleasantly clacky.

As with every funds keyboard, it’s a must to make some sacrifices. It solely works wired, for one, and the ABS keycaps really feel slicker and cheaper than the perfect PBT caps. Whereas the case doesn’t exhibit any severe flexing, it’s nonetheless manufactured from plastic. You additionally must pay $10 further to get a version with RGB backlighting and hot-swappable switches — the bottom mannequin continues to be a fantastic purchase for these trying to get into the pastime on a budget, nevertheless it saddles you with a red-only backlight and prevents you from simply popping in new switches down the street. – J.D.

Professionals

Cheap
Large typing expertise for the cash
Programmable with software program
Shine-through keycaps

Cons

ABS keycaps are a bit slick
Wired solely
RGB lighting and hot-swappable change value just a little bit further

$45 at Amazon

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Learn our full information to the best gaming keyboards

The Wooting 80HE is our favourite keyboard for players due to its magnetic Hall effect switches, which may reply to various ranges of stress. This allows you to customise the actuation level of every particular person key, so you possibly can make them extra delicate throughout quick-twitch taking pictures video games or extra deliberate while you simply need to kind. One other characteristic known as rapid trigger enables you to repeat inputs sooner, with out having to attend for a given key to return to a hard and fast reset level. That may be an actual boon for, say, strafing backwards and forwards extra exactly throughout a 1v1 shootout in Overwatch. You can even tie a number of instructions to at least one key: In Halo Infinite, for instance, you possibly can make it so calmly urgent W makes you stroll extra stealthily, whereas urgent all of it the best way down makes you run at full pace.

Does everybody want all of this? After all not. Any keyboard generally is a “gaming keyboard,” and nothing right here will magically make you good at video games. However for extra hardcore sorts in search of any further little bit of granular management, they’ll make a tangible distinction.

The 80HE isn’t the one keyboard to supply this set of methods, nevertheless it stands out for getting the remainder of the bundle proper as effectively. Wooting’s Wootility software program is best-in-class, making it significantly straightforward to tweak settings and customise the RGB lighting. It can save you a number of management profiles on to the machine. And whereas the all-plastic case isn’t the highest-quality factor on the market for $200, the inventory {hardware} nonetheless feels and sounds nice, with crisp PBT keycaps, {smooth} pre-lubed switches and a pleasingly thocky tone. – J.D.

Professionals

Magnetic switches are deeply versatile for gaming
Simple-to-use software program
Sturdily constructed
Snug for typing and sounds nice

Cons

Wired-only
A bit costly
80 p.c design is considerably awkward
Solely available for purchase in batches

$200 at Wooting

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Connectivity: 2.4 GHz wi-fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired | Measurement: Tenkeyless (TKL) structure | Materials: Aluminum high plate with plastic base | Switches: OmniPoint 2.0 adjustable mechanical switches | Scorching-swappable: No | Backlight: Per-key RGB | Software program: SteelSeries GG

Learn our full information to the best gaming keyboards

If you’d like the Wooting 80HE’s gaming-friendly options in a wi-fi keyboard, we just like the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless (Gen 3). It gives a lot of the identical adjustable actuation and speedy set off instruments because the 80HE, plus a “protection mode” that makes it more durable to hit close by keys by chance and preset profiles for some in style video games. The typing expertise is a plus as effectively, with crisp and easy-to-reach PBT keycaps, a sturdy aluminum high plate and smooth-feeling switches which might be sufficiently muffled. There’s a magnetic wrist relaxation within the field, and the entire thing can join over a wi-fi dongle, Bluetooth or USB-C.

Our major points with the Apex Professional contain SteelSeries’ GG app. A lot of the expertise with these analog-style keyboards comes right down to software program, and GG is a bit much less refined than Wootility throughout the board. At $270, the Apex Professional is certainly on the upper finish of the value spectrum, too. Nonetheless, the app is simple sufficient to grok over time — particularly in comparison with different gaming fashions we’ve used — and the board as a complete will get way more proper than unsuitable. – J.D.

Professionals

Quick and deeply versatile magnetic switches
Helpful OLED show
Nice typing expertise
A number of connection modes

Cons

Expensive
Software program is not all the time intuitive
Battery life might be higher

$280 at Amazon

What to search for in a keyboard

Design

Measurement

The very first thing you’ll need to take into account on the subject of your subsequent pc keyboard’s design is measurement. There are a variety of various keyboard layouts to select from, however the most typical are full-sized, tenkeyless and people smaller than tenkeyless.

Full-sized keyboards, or 100%, embody a perform row on the high and a whole numpad with arrow keys on the proper facet, together with all the remainder of the alphanumeric keys you’d anticipate on a typical QWERTY structure. Tenkeyless, or 80 p.c, removes the quantity pad however retains the arrow keys and the perform row, decreasing the general width measurement of the board by an honest quantity. Compact keyboards maintain issues extremely easy by together with solely the alphanumeric keys and modifiers like Alt, Shift, Ctrl and others and so they come in several sizes like 60 p.c, 65 p.c and extra. These are the preferred sizes on the market, however you could find loads of different designs that embody completely different mixes of keys together with the usual letters and numbers all ought to have.

Other than measurement, there are two different huge classes that you possibly can use to outline a keyboard: ergonomic and mechanical. Ergonomic keyboards are designed with, you guessed it, higher ergonomics in thoughts, taking into consideration the place you need to place your fingers, fingers and forearms to take care of correct posture. Individually, mechanical keyboards use mechanical switches (of which there are lots of sorts) that differ enormously from the membrane or scissor-switch keyboards you’ll discover dominating most wired and wi-fi choices extensively accessible at the moment. We’ve guides to the perfect ergonomic keyboards and greatest mechanical keyboards, however we’ll summarize what it’s good to learn about each right here.

Ergonomic keyboards

For those who cope with discomfort from working at a pc all day, ergonomic keyboards can assist. These specifically designed boards re-orient the keys, permitting you to carry your elbows farther aside and keep a straighter line out of your forearms to fingers. Some individuals discover this refined change extra comfy.

Ergonomic keyboards usually fall into two classes: Alice and cut up keyboards. The previous is a single unit with an A-shaped hole within the heart of the keys. Break up fashions are available in two separate items which you’ll be able to organize as you want in your desk. Extra ergonomic options like tenting and unfavorable tilt could make typing really feel much more comfy, and are sometimes accessible on each Alice and cut up boards. Tenting raises the center of the keys up so your fingers tackle extra of a “handshake” place. Unfavourable tilting lowers the highest of the keyboard to maintain your wrists angled downward as a substitute of again in the direction of your forearms.

The way in which the keys are organized on the keyboard could make typing simpler as effectively. Historically, keyboards are staggered, with one row of letters barely offset from the row beneath it. Columnar keyboards organize the keys in a grid of rows and columns. This type takes just a little getting used to, however some individuals discover it permits them to kind sooner. You can even make the keys of some keyboards do extra than simply produce letters. Programmable boards allow you to map shortcuts and different features, together with macros, which can maintain you from reaching for the mouse fairly so usually, saving you time and probably pressure as effectively.

Mechanical keyboards

Mechanical keyboards have blown up in recognition as extra individuals have been thrust into creating their very own workspaces at house. It’s straightforward to see why: In comparison with a standard membrane keyboard, an excellent mechanical board is extra sturdy, extra satisfying to press and, most significantly, infinitely extra customizable. The most effective of them normally include a value premium, however even some cheaper fashions allow you to “hot-swap” between keycaps, switches and different supplies, letting you tinker with completely different typing sensations and sound profiles till you discover a mixture that greatest expresses your preferences.

Would you like every press to really feel deep and full or quick and light-weight? Do you want them to sound loud and clacky or nearly totally muffled? Do you favor your keycaps to look subdued {and professional}, filled with RGB lights or written in an Elvish language from The Lord of the Rings for some cause? With the proper new keyboard, it’s all as much as you — the one issues actually holding you again are your creativeness and your pockets.

We’ve a devoted shopping for information that digs deeper into the important thing elements to contemplate when shopping for a mechanical gaming keyboard, so we encourage you to have a look at that for a full rundown. To maintain issues high-level, essentially the most influential a part of your buy is your keyboard’s change kind. These little mechanisms slot beneath the keycaps and usually have the most important impact on how your keyboard feels and sounds as you kind away.

You possibly can broadly separate mechanical switches into three buckets: linear, tactile and clicky. Linear switches really feel {smooth} all the best way down; they’re usually in style with players since they are typically gentle and quick to actuate. Tactile switches create a tangible “bump” sensation partway by way of a press; many individuals who spend all day typing favor them as a result of they clearly verify every press with out (all the time) being all that loud. Clicky switches are functionally much like tactiles however make an audible “click on” sound to match the bump; your coworkers could hate them, however others love the full-throated sense of suggestions they supply. To be clear, simply because two switches fall throughout the identical bucket doesn’t imply they really feel or sound precisely the identical. The one method to determine which change works greatest for you is to do your analysis and, ideally, attempt some out for your self.

Different keyboards have a mechanical-style really feel however are constructed on completely different mechanisms totally. The recent new pattern in gaming-focused keyboards, for instance, is Hall effect switches, which use tiny magnets to register keystrokes and allow you to customise the sensitivity of every press. Optical switches, in the meantime, supply comparable performance by changing the bodily contact level of a typical mechanical change with a beam of infrared gentle. Extra lately, we’ve seen a couple keyboards launch with inductive switches, which may work like magnetic switches but use inductive coils within the keyboard’s printed circuit board (PCB) to cater to all switches collectively and don’t require a sensor for every particular person change. We contact on a few magnetic-switch keyboards in our picks beneath, however for a fuller breakdown of this form of tech, we advocate you take a look at our devoted shopping for information to the best gaming keyboards.

Connectivity

You’ve bought two choices right here: wired or wi-fi. Wired keyboards usually have an hooked up cable that plugs right into a USB-A or USB-C port in your pc (or docking station), though some include cables that may be eliminated. Wi-fi mechanical keyboards hook up with your machine both by way of Bluetooth or a wi-fi receiver dongle. There’s all the time the possibility of some latency with wi-fi keyboards, so maintain that in thoughts for those who’re choosing one up to make use of primarily with a gaming PC. After all, you’ll solely have to fret about battery life with Bluetooth keyboards.

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