Best gaming keyboard 2023: Full size, TKL or mini?

What is the best gaming keyboard? Arming your gaming PC setup with the best keyboard for gaming will make a difference, whether you’re into first-person shooters or epic RPG adventures. Sure, you can technically get by using WASD keys on any old keyboard, but your fingers will thank you if you arm them with high-quality mechanical switches and gorgeous keycaps.

PCGamesN’s peripherals experts have tested a wide range of wireless keyboards, mechanical keyboards, wired keyboards, and optical-mechanical keyboards to bring you a list of the very best. No matter what your budget or preference is, you will find the right gaming keyboard to meet your needs.

Great gaming keyboards will pair well with the best gaming mouse, and will ultimately help bolster your desktop experience. If you’re specifically looking for the best wireless mechanical keyboard, rather than wireless or membrane ones, then check out that guide for a full range of options.

These are the best gaming keyboards in 2023:

1. Razer Huntsman V2 – best optical gaming keyboard overall
2. Mountain Everest Max – best modular keyboard
3. Corsair K70 Max – best customizable keyboard
4. Drop CSTM80 – best modding keyboard
5. Corsair K70 TKL – best tenkeyless keyboard
6. Mountain Everest 60 – best small keyboard
7. Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini– best cordless mini keyboard
8. Razer Deathstalker V2 – best low-profile looks, high-profile features keyboard
9. Razer Blackwidow V4 75% – best keyboard for modding and gaming 

1. Razer Huntsman V2

The best gaming keyboard overall is the Razer Huntsman V2.

Razer Huntsman V2 specs:

Pros

• Razer optical switches
• Doubleshot PBT Keycaps
• Extremely comfortable wrist rest

Cons

• Expensive
• No USB passthrough
• Fixed USB cable

Razer knows a thing or two about keyboards, and the Huntsman V2 is a terrific testament to that fact. Armed with optical switches, delectable doubleshot PBT keycaps, and subtle good looks, this board is a perfect ten in our eyes. It even goes above and beyond by wielding built-in dampening foam, which helps ditch rattling and clattering while preserving pleasing ASMR clicks.

The Razer Huntsman V2 is more expensive than most, and it’s arguably designed with keyboard enthusiasts in mind. Nevertheless, it will still provide any gaming PC setup with accurate and speedy input, thanks to its 8,000Hz polling rate.

That’s going to matter if you’re looking to enhance your skills in the best FPS games, as you’ll be able to swiftly dip, dive and dodge your way to safety during standoffs without worrying about latency. You can even swap out its keycaps to give it an aesthetic edge – a feature that’ll inject a bit of personality into your PC gaming space. It’s one of the best quiet gaming keyboards, and if you can afford it, is well worth the money.

Read the Razer Huntsman V2 review.

2. Mountain Everest Max

The best modular gaming keyboard is the Mountain Everest Max.

Mountain Everest Max specs:

Pros

• Modular
• Hot-swappable switches
• LCD macro buttons

Cons

• Wrist rest is a bit thin
• Collectively pricey, but you can buy part-by-part

We’re a big fan of modularity, and the Moutain Everest Max fully embraces the idea of hot-swappable addons. While many other gaming keyboards out there feature removable switches, the Everest Max supports an additional numpad and media bar, both of which elevate its functionality beyond what you’d expect from standard PC peripherals.

If you’re a streamer, you’re going to dig the optional Mountain Everest Max Displaypad, as it essentially functions like a Stream Deck replacement. Equipped with LCD keys, we reckon the addon’s macro abilities could give Elgato a run for its money, all while taking up less precious surface space by being effectively part of the keyboard’s footprint.

A complete setup will set you back a hefty amount, but the core keyboard comes in at $150. Not unreasonable considering it packs Cherry MX switches and great build quality to boot, and it certainly makes more of a statement than most of its premium rivals on the market.

Read our Mountain Everest Max review.

3. Corsair K70 Max

The most customizable gaming keyboard is the Corsair K70 Max.

Corsair K70 Max specs:

Pros

• Every key can be customized individually
• Stylish, premium design

Cons

• A pricier option
• Comes with kind of useless Dual-point actuation

If you want to go all out and grab a keyboard that you can tailor to your specific needs, you won’t do much better than the Corsair K70 Max. This is a fantastic bit of hardware that lets you customize every single key, allowing you to change their RGB effects, their macros, and even their actuation point.

It is almost a case of giving you more than you need though. While being able to adjust the actuation point is something they spent time on and which contributed to the high price, we don’t think it’s going to be that useful to most gamers. Sure, if you want/need that level of customization, it’ll be amazing, but if you do, you’re in the minority.

Of course, it bodes well for the Corsair K70 Max that one of the only things we can say against it is that it does too much. If you can afford it, this is a fantastic keyboard and one that proves that both inner and outer beauty are not mutually exclusive.

Read our Corsair K70 Max review.

4. Drop CSTM80

The best modding keyboard is the Drop CSTM80.

Drop CSTM80 specs:

Pros

• Gateron switch choices at point of purchase
• Highly customizable without costing over the odds
• Incredible typing feel

Cons

• Gaming performance is nothing spectacular

As keyboard modding becomes more popular, Drop is leading the charge along with a few other brands like Ducky, in creating products that a re simple to customize and make unique. First and foremost, we called the Drop CSTM80 one of the prettiest keyboards we’d ever seen, and praised it’s feel while typing.

The gasket mounting provides a light feel, but there is still plenty of feedback in the mechanical switches to ensure you don’t suffer from any missclicks. It’s also very responsive, but beyond that, the gaming benefits are light, as it’s built for a different purpose and we respect that.

We also highlighted the driverless approach from Drop, meaning you can plug the CSTM80 in without needing to download any additional software. Should you wish to customize the inputs, you can download software, but it is not required under any circumstances.

Read our Drop CSTM80 review for more.

5. Corsair K70 TKL

The best TKL gaming keyboard is the Corsair K70 TKL.

Corsair K70 TKL specs:

Pros

• Compact TKL design
• Fully-featured
• Well-built

Cons

• No wrist rest
• Expensive when not on sale

Not everyone needs a numpad, and the Corsair K70 TKL ditches its right-hand keys while retaining everything that makes the original model so great. It wears the same aluminum shell as its full-sized sibling, wields Cherry MX switches, and offers an 8,000Hz polling rate – a combo that helps the tenkeyless K70 trade blows with keyboard rivals big and small.

The K70 TKL avoids cluttering its surface with fancy bells and whistles, but it does offer a nice set of media keys and a nifty volume roller. That’s not to say it completely forgoes flamboyancy, as its impressive RGB backlighting adds a stunning splash of color, and it’ll sync up with your Corsair PC case and other peripherals using iCue. However, showboating isn’t this board’s priority, with most of its features (quite rightly) catering to esports performance and functionality.

Read our Corsair K70 TKL review.

6. Mountain Everest 60

The best compact gaming keyboard is the Mountain Everest 60.

Mountain Everest 60 specs:

Pros

• The smallest keyboard with arrow keys
• Quiet but satisfying typing experience
• Mountain mechanical switches are satisfying

Cons

• No USB passthrough

Mountain saves the day yet again with its modular design, as the Everest 60 is a 60% gaming keyboard with an optional numpad. Naturally, that means if you ever regret investing in a board without number keys, you can remedy the issue by picking up a nifty attachment, rather than having to pick up a replacement.

The Everest 60 follows in the premium footsteps of the Max, with fantastic build quality helping to justify its price tag. We think your fingers will agree, as its proprietary switches and silicone layer provide each key with a satisfying sound and feel. Just keep in mind that the modular numpad will set you back an additional $50, and it’s not compatible with Max model modules.

Read the Mountain Everest 60 review.

7. Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed

The best wireless gaming keyboard is the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed.

Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed specs:

Pros

• Choice of 2.4GHz Razer Hyperspeed or Bluetooth wireless
• High-quality Doubleshot keycaps
• One of the most comfortable wrists rests

Cons

• Not the cheapest option

The Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed is a mouthful to say, but this dinky keyboard is one of our wireless favorites. Armed with 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, the board embodies the company’s dedication to quality and aesthetics, all while taking up less room on your desk.

That last point is more important than you think, especially when it comes to the best wireless options. After all, part of the appeal is being able to easily pick up your board and yet it away without dealing with cords, something that makes it easier to use elsewhere.

Whether you’re looking for a board that’ll also pair with the best Steam Deck dock in your living room, or a cordless companion to stick in your backpack, the BlackWidow V3 Mini understands the assignment. With a flick of a switch, you’ll be able to pair up with Bluetooth devices or embrace the benefits of ‘Hypersense’ low latency while using a conventional PC. If you’re in a pinch, you can even add a USB C wire back into the mix, but its 200-hour battery life may prevent that scenario entirely.

Read Razer Blackwidow V3 Mini review.

8. Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro

The best low-profile gaming keyboard is the Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro.

Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro specs:

Pros

• Low-profile
• Great RGB
• Wireless

Cons

• Very expensive
• Keys may feel slightly rattly

Gaming keyboards are usually fairly chunky, but the Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro packs tons of features into a pleasantly flat package. While the original model uses membranes, its successor is kitted out with optical switches and ABS keycaps that somehow manage to avoid standing too tall. The result? A gorgeous low-profile keyboard that avoids the usual compromises.

The Deathstalker V2 Pro is admittedly pricey, but that doesn’t keep it from being one of the best low-profile gaming keyboards we’ve used. Dwelling within its 19.9cm aluminum shell there are familiar features like Hypersense wireless connectivity and the aforementioned optical switches, meaning it shares DNA with the likes of the Huntsman and Deathstalker series. It also looks stunning, as it makes room for dazzling Chroma RGB backlighting under its short caps.

The Deathstalker V2 Pro might be a gaming keyboard, but it pulls a low-profile aesthetic that’ll blend in anywhere. We’re not necessarily saying you should take this expensive peripheral to work, but if you did, it won’t stick out like a sore thumb. The same goes for if you have a desk in your living room, and its nifty volume wheel serves a practical purpose for those with a PC media center providing their TV with entertainment.

Read our Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro review.

9. Razer Blackwidow V4 75%

The best keyboard for modding and gaming is the Razer Blackwidow V4 75%.

Razer Blackwidow V4 75%:

Pros

• Designed for gaming and modding with little compromise
• Easy to customize and reassemble
• Responsive gaming performance
• Light typing feel

Cons

• Could get expensive when adding switches and keycaps

Modding a keyboard is great, not only can it refresh the design, but you can isolate issues that arise and potentially fix them without having to worry about replacing a whole keyboard. The Razer Blackwidow V4 is a great example of trying to appeal to two markets and leaving no features on the cutting room floor.

We enjoyed our time with the Blackwidow V4 75% massively, praising how simple it was to play around with and disassemble while still managing to offer responsive gaming performance. There was always the risk that appealing to two hobbies could create a Frankenstein monster of a mess, but no such outcome is present here.

If you want to give modding a go but retain the core gaming performance, there may be no better option. We would have liked to have more pre-purchase customization options, to prevent the need to purchase new switches and keycaps after the fact, but it’s a small price to pay in the long term.

Read our Razer Blackwidow V4 75% review for more.

How we chose the best gaming keyboards

This list wasn’t put together arbitrarily. There are many criteria that we consider carefully before deciding to include a keyboard in this list, for example:

• Pricing: High-end gaming keyboards can be extremely expensive. We wanted to ensure that we have options to accommodate all budgets.
• Media keys: Some gamers will prefer to have buttons for media control that are dedicated and unchanging, while others will prefer having the option to toggle keys that are already there. We included both types because each has its strengths and weaknesses.
• Sizing: Every game space is different, and though a bigger keyboard might have certain benefits for some, it also might not fit. We’ve included a range of sizes that should cover most gaming spaces.
• RGB lighting: Is it an essential addition, or simply a flashy extravagance? We can certainly understand wanting to have RGB lights on your keyboard, but we can also understand not wanting the extra expense.

To find out more about how we put these lists together, read our how we test page. If you’re still left with questions, we’ve answered a few keyboard-related FAQs below:

Do I need a gaming keyboard?

Unlike conventional peripherals, gaming keyboards offer a variety of features that will help improve your performance in-game. From mechanical switches that improve responsiveness to programmable macro buttons, keyboards designed for gaming can give you the edge in a variety of PC genres, like MMOs and competitive shooters.

What are mechanical switches?

PCGamesN has a comprehensive guide on mechanical keyboard switches, which will quickly make you an expert on all things clicky, linear, and tactile.

In a nutshell, there are two main types of keyboard switches: mechanical and membrane. The latter has some value in typing if you like the squishy rubber dome feel, but you’ll want the faster response times of mechanical switches when trying to get one up on your enemies in-game.

If you want more help in building the perfect gaming set-up, read our article on the best gaming PC. Even an amazing keyboard won’t make a difference if you’re using it on a potato that hasn’t even been baked.