Best Gaming Keyboards 2016

Gaming laptops are well above the standard when it comes to built-in keyboards. The larger frames allow for better key travel, they’re often shipped with corresponding software, and the activation is far quicker and more responsive. That being said, the majority of them are far from perfect. Key spacing can be awkward, with certain keys moved or resized to fit the laptop's design, and even the best membrane keyboards pale in comparison to high-end mechanical keyboards.

Spending the extra money on a gaming keyboard or a gaming mouse may seem crazy, but gaming peripherals are essential if you want to get the most out of your hardware. Your computer can be lighting fast, but if you’re playing on a cheap mouse and with a lackluster built-in membrane keyboard, you’re still going to get a sub-optimal experience.

Here is a collection of five gaming keyboards that span various price ranges and design, aimed at offering you the best gaming experience possible.

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I've been around the block and back when it comes to mechanical keyboards and have used most of the entries on the list, or at least variants of them.

The Corsair looks and feels nice, especially the K70 boards that use Cherry MX silent switches, but the software is garbage. In terms of usability and stability, it's by far the worst of the triumvirate of companies that produce all-in-one drivers for peripherals. Razer Synapse is nearly as robust as Corsair's but is much easier to use, though a lot of people don't like the cloud syncing aspect of it. Logitech's is easier still but is the least feature-rich of the bunch. I'm using a Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum right now and really like the feel of the Romer-G switches. The main problem with them is that you can't replace the keycaps unless you order a new set of identical ones from Logitech. I don't like the software as much as Razer's, but that's probably more a personal preference, but I can't complain too loudly since I only paid $89 for the board brand new. I'm not a fan of the G410 because you can't remove the built-in wrist rest at all. While it's lightweight, that has the simultaneous problem of making it feel cheap despite it not being an inexpensive product. Even the $105 or so that you can get it for online now is too much, IMO. For a mechanical keyboard to stick in a backpack, I'd sooner get something like this for $60.

On the subject of Das Keyboards, their quality has gone down in recent years. They're no longer the gold standard they once were. While you lose out on the built-in USB ports, WASD Keyboards makes top-notch mechanical keyboards that have built-in support for Mac OS, Dvorak, and Colemak layouts. They're available with every common Cherry MX switch type, and even the slightly less common Clear and Green ones. You can even order one as a barebones kit and supply your own keycaps yourself.

The Aula keyboard is an interesting choice. I actually reviewed one of their non-backlit blue switch boards that cost less than $40 on my Youtube channel. The build quality belied its price, and the board used Gateron-brand switches, whose feel I actually prefer over genuine Cherry MX. The only real downside is the non-standard layout of the enter key and some of the keys around it. The setup mimics that of European ISO, rather than North American ANSI, which takes quite a bit of acclimation if you're not used to it. I also wouldn't consider the board you chose as true "RGB" since it doesn't do per-key backlighting, but that's a nitpick. In the realm of cheap backlit mechanical keyboards from Chinese manufacturers, I'd take something like this over the Aula for no other reason than it has a standard layout.

The Razer Turret is an interesting choice, but the lack of a backlight and high pricetag are turnoffs. Unless you plan to take it on the road with you, the Roccat Sova, which costs just $50 more than the Turret, is a more solid choice because it includes a mechanical keyboard and full-size mouse.