keyboard could make all of the distinction to your work setup. In the event you primarily work on a laptop computer, switching from the built-in keyboard to a wired or wi-fi keyboard will be extra comfy and ergonomic whereas including performance like further keys and shortcuts into the combination. In case your every day driver is a desktop, a keyboard will likely be a necessary accent that may elevate your rig whether or not you are utilizing it to work a 9-to-5 with it or play AAA video games in your free time.
However the world of keyboards is huge, and we at Engadget have tried out dozens through the years together with gaming keyboards, ergonomic keyboards, mechanical keyboards and extra. In the event you’re simply beginning to consider one of the best keyboard for you, otherwise you’re able to improve from an getting older peripheral, we gathered all of our high picks for one of the best keyboards you may get proper right here.
Greatest keyboards for 2025
Logitech is aware of how one can make a stable keyboard, and the Grasp sequence has been a wonderful 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 smooth 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 to date to say they completely prevented me from placing any typos on this information, the form undoubtedly helps greater than different, flatter keycaps I’ve used.
It is a backlit keyboard with “sensible 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 a good quantity of pure gentle in my dwelling workplace throughout common working hours, so I opted to show the backlight off — in case you 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 sensible 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 largest 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 gadget pairing buttons so you’ll be able to join it to as much as three gadgets directly 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 sensible actions (one-key shortcuts you program to your liking) and extra.
The Grasp Sequence 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 if 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? In fact. However Logitech’s experience on this area actually shines within the Grasp sequence, and with the MX Keys S specifically because it stands out as a high-quality wi-fi keyboard with a bunch of additional options at a good worth. — Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor
- Good construct high quality
- Comfy typing expertise
- Logi Choices+ offers a ton of customization choices
- Works throughout all main OSes
- Not the most cost effective keyboard on the market
- Not a giant worth distinction between the full-sized model and the mini mannequin with out the quantity pad
Logitech’s Pop Icon Keys takes quite a lot 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 correct facet that features 4 buttons which you can 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 can 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 cushty and quiet one general. Whereas this isn’t billed as a journey keyboard, it’s sufficiently small to suit into a regular work bag or backpack, so you may take it with you with out a lot trouble.
You’ll be able to join the Pop Icon keys to as much as three gadgets directly and change between them simply, and the keyboard helps macOS, Home windows, Linux, Chrome, iPadOS, iOS and Android gadgets. Apart from there being no possibility for a quantity pad configuration, arguably the largest draw back to this keyboard is the truth that it runs on two AAA batteries. Logitech estimates it can last as long as three years earlier than you’ll want to change them, so possibly that’s a professional for some quite 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 an amazing worth for a stable wi-fi keyboard. Logitech itself makes even cheaper ones, however the Pop Icon Keys strikes a great steadiness between design and capabilities at this worth level. The largest query, in case you select this keyboard, is which colorway you fancy essentially the most out of the 5 choices. — V.P.
- Low-cost!
- Compact design with a low profile
- Comfy typing expertise
- Programmable keys with Logi Choices+
- Works throughout all main OSes
- Key journey may very well be higher
- No quantity pad
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 commonplace board. The Alice cut up shifts your elbows aside whereas conserving your forearms and wrists lined up. The tenting raises the keys upward within the center, rotating your palms subtly towards each other. The optionally available destructive tilt slopes the underside edge above the highest edge to maintain the backs of your fingers straighter. And there’s a palm relaxation in-built, which some discover extra comfy throughout lengthy typing classes.
In contrast to different extra aggressively ergonomic boards, there’s no studying curve right here. Typing on the Ergo K860 feels so much like typing on a regular 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’ll be able to program the keys with Logitech’s software program, however this can seemingly attraction most to those that simply desire a plug-and-play board for a Mac or PC setup. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter
- Rotated, tented keys make typing comfy
- An ergonomic board with no studying curve
- Wirelessly connects rapidly to 3 gadgets
- Hotkeys work with MacOS and Home windows
- Wrist relaxation isn’t detachable
- Takes up quite a lot of area
Learn our full information to the best ergonomic keyboards
In the event you’re able to make a critical dedication to rising your ergonomics, I like to recommend the ZSA Voyager. I exploit it day by day and, though it’s not tremendous moveable, I introduced it with me once I labored away from my dwelling workplace for every week. However at first, it took me no less than three weeks earlier than I used to be comfy typing on it. Not solely will you’ll want to reprogram the keys (and keep in mind what they do), you’ll want to make use of your fingers another way than you’re used to. For one, your thumbs will do excess of 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 important. The absolutely cut up board lets me open up my arms and chest. On days once I’m feeling notably 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 a lot extra performance than a regular keyboard.
That stated, it additionally provides to the safety of my pc, making all of it however unimaginable 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 elevate the center slightly increased. I created further elevate by including rubber bumpers to the board, however for the value, it’d be good to not need to MacGuyver it. Nonetheless, every time 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.
- Ergonomic, absolutely cut up board
- Programmable thumb cluster minimizes hand journey
- Low profile, mechanical keys make typing simple
- Compact dimension and intelligent key mapping preserve your fingers within the dwelling place
- Takes a pair weeks to relearn how one can kind
- Middle tenting may very well be increased
Learn our full information to the best mechanical keyboards
The Keychron Q Max series doesn’t come low-cost, but it surely has nearly the whole lot we wish 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 offers 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 quick — however in case you simply need to purchase a mechanical keyboard that delivers a premium expertise from the leap, this can get you there. – Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter
- Excellent typing really feel and sound
- Premium aluminum case
- Crisp PBT keycaps
- Scorching-swappable
- Dependable wi-fi efficiency
- Tons of format choices
- Knob!
- A bit dear
- Keycaps aren’t shine-through and could also be too tall for some
- Heavy
- Slight rattling with some stabilizers
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 worth vary. The stabilizers keep away from any aggressive rattling, and there’s not one of the pinging noise you get from many cheaper instances. 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, you must make some sacrifices. It solely works wired, for one, and the ABS keycaps really feel slicker and cheaper than one of the best PBT caps. Whereas the case doesn’t exhibit any critical flexing, it’s nonetheless fabricated 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 an amazing purchase for these seeking to get into the interest on a budget, but it surely saddles you with a red-only backlight and prevents you from simply popping in new switches down the street. – J.D.
- Cheap
- Great typing expertise for the cash
- Programmable with software program
- Shine-through keycaps
- ABS keycaps are a bit slick
- Wired solely
- RGB lighting and hot-swappable change price slightly bit further
Learn our full information to the best gaming keyboards
The Wooting 80HE is our favourite keyboard for avid gamers due to its magnetic Hall effect switches, which might reply to various ranges of strain. This allows you to customise the actuation level of every particular person key, so you may make them extra delicate throughout quick-twitch capturing video games or extra deliberate if you simply need to kind. One other characteristic referred to as rapid trigger permits 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 may make it so evenly urgent W makes you stroll extra stealthily, whereas urgent all of it the best way down makes you run at full velocity.
Does everybody want all of this? In fact 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 on the lookout for any further little bit of granular management, they will make a tangible distinction.
The 80HE isn’t the one keyboard to supply this set of methods, but it surely stands out for getting the remainder of the bundle proper as effectively. Wooting’s Wootility software program is best-in-class, making it notably simple to tweak settings and customise the RGB lighting. It can save you a number of management profiles on to the gadget. 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.
- Magnetic switches are deeply versatile for gaming
- Straightforward-to-use software program
- Sturdily constructed
- Comfy for typing and sounds nice
- Wired-only
- A bit costly
- 80 % design is considerably awkward
- Solely available for purchase in batches
Learn our full information to the best gaming keyboards
If you would 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 many of the identical adjustable actuation and speedy set off instruments because the 80HE, plus a “protection mode” that makes it tougher to hit close by keys accidentally and preset profiles for some fashionable 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 are 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 foremost 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 straightforward sufficient to grok over time — particularly in comparison with different gaming fashions we’ve used — and the board as an entire will get far more proper than flawed. – J.D.
- Quick and deeply versatile magnetic switches
- Helpful OLED show
- Nice typing expertise
- A number of connection modes
- Expensive
- Software program is not at all times intuitive
- Battery life may very well be higher
What to search for in a keyboard
Design
Measurement
The very first thing you’ll need to think about relating to your subsequent keyboard’s design is dimension. There are a variety of various keyboard layouts to select from, however the commonest are full-sized, tenkeyless and people smaller than tenkeyless.
Full-sized keyboards, or 100%, embody a perform row on the high and an entire quantity pad with arrow keys on the correct facet, together with the entire remainder of the alphanumeric keys you’d count on. Tenkeyless, or 80 %, removes the quantity pad however retains the arrow keys and the perform row, decreasing the general width measurement of the board by a good quantity. Compact designs preserve issues extremely easy by together with solely the alphanumeric keys and modifiers like Alt, Shift, Ctrl and others and so they come in numerous sizes like 60 %, 65 % and extra. These are the most well-liked sizes on the market, however you’ll find loads of different designs that embody totally different mixes of keys together with the usual letters and numbers all ought to have.
Apart from dimension, there are two different large classes that you may 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 keep up correct posture. Individually, mechanical keyboards use mechanical switches (of which there are numerous sorts) that differ vastly from the membrane or scissor-switch keyboards you’ll discover dominating most wired and wi-fi choices broadly accessible right now. Now we have guides to one of the best ergonomic keyboards and greatest mechanical keyboards, however we’ll summarize what you’ll want to learn about each right here.
Ergonomic keyboards
In the event you take care of discomfort from working at a pc all day, ergonomic keyboards may also help. These specifically designed boards re-orient the keys, permitting you to carry your elbows farther aside and preserve a straighter line out of your forearms to fingers. Some individuals discover this delicate change extra comfy.
Ergonomic keyboards sometimes fall into two classes: Alice and cut up. The previous is a single unit with an A-shaped hole within the middle 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 destructive 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. Damaging 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 best way the keys are organized on the keyboard might 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 fashion takes slightly 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, which can preserve you from reaching for the mouse fairly so typically, 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 dwelling. It’s simple to see why: In comparison with a conventional membrane keyboard, a great mechanical board is extra sturdy, extra satisfying to press and, most significantly, infinitely extra customizable. The very best of them normally include a worth premium, however even some cheaper fashions allow you to “hot-swap” between keycaps, switches and different supplies, letting you tinker with totally 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 like 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 motive? With the correct mechanical keyboard, it’s all as much as you — the one issues actually holding you again are your creativeness and your pockets.
Now we have a devoted shopping for information that digs deeper into the important thing features to contemplate when shopping for a mechanical keyboard, so we encourage you to take 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 largest impact on how your keyboard feels and sounds as you kind away.
You’ll be able to broadly separate mechanical switches into three buckets: linear, tactile and clicky. Linear switches really feel {smooth} all the best way down; they’re typically fashionable with avid gamers since they are typically gentle and quick to actuate. Tactile switches create a tangible “bump” sensation partway by a press; many individuals who spend all day typing want them as a result of they clearly affirm every press with out (at all times) being all that loud. Clicky switches are functionally just like tactiles however make an audible “click on” sound to match the bump; your coworkers might hate them, however others love the full-throated sense of suggestions they supply. To be clear, simply because two switches fall inside 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, strive some out for your self.
Different keyboards have a mechanical-style really feel however are constructed on totally different mechanisms fully. The new new development 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, provide comparable performance by changing the bodily contact level of a typical mechanical change with a beam of infrared gentle. Extra just lately, we’ve seen a couple keyboards launch with inductive switches, which might 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 kind of tech, we advocate you try our devoted shopping for information to the best gaming keyboards.
Connectivity
You’ve bought two choices right here: wired or wi-fi. Wired keyboards sometimes 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 keyboards hook up with your machine both by way of Bluetooth or a wi-fi receiver dongle. There’s at all times the possibility of some latency with wi-fi keyboards, so preserve that in thoughts in case you’re selecting one up to make use of primarily with a gaming PC. In fact, you’ll solely have to fret about battery life with wi-fi keyboards.