The Best Mechanical Keyboards for Gaming

In November of last year, we shared a list with the best gaming mice for both local and online play. But mice are only half of the equation, and the truth is that every enthusiast needs a keyboard that lives up to the task. Mechanical keyboards are no longer 'oddballs' among peripherals, and today you can get them at very reasonable prices, with a wide variety of designs and switches. If you're thinking about adding one to your setup, you should definitely check out our suggestions.

In August next year, my IBM Model M keyboard will turn 26 years old. It has no faults, and the only thing it needs is occasional cleaning. Its reputation as a desk machine gun and improvised weapon in case of zombie invasion is well documented, but it's not what you'd call a gaming keyboard. Many games have set the bar very high (especially when we talk about e-sports), and if you plan to be competitive, I'm afraid a Model M won't serve you. The solution is to look for mechanical gaming keyboards that offer excellent response, secondary details like backlighting, and feedback that you can't go back from once you experience it.

Mechanical keyboards for gaming, with prices

Manufacturers didn't take long to discover the potential of mechanical gaming keyboards. Even some names that had never explored the peripherals market decided to make very high-level bets, and the fall of several patents related to switches allowed the creation of clones with much better performance than expected. The rest depends on your budget. You can enter this particular world for less than 40 euros, or comfortably cross the three-digit barrier. Let's see:

VicTsing Gaming RGB

In previous years, talking about generic mechanical keyboards made little sense, but everything changed once Cherry switch clones took the market by storm. Several brands managed to position themselves quickly, and one of them is VicTsing, which thanks to its Gaming RGB keyboard gives us a solid price-performance ratio. The keyboard is full-size, brings basic RGB backlighting, predefined shortcuts, drainage grooves on the bottom, and 60-gram Outemu Blue switches. If you want to save, this is your option.

HP Omen 1100

I bet you didn't expect this, did you? Hewlett-Packard making mechanical keyboards? The answer is yes, and it belongs to its Omen line of 'high performance'. The keyboard has a fairly sober appearance, with well-balanced red details. The backlighting is the same color except for the WASD which is white, and if my memory serves, the switches are Greetech Blues with transparent housings. The HP Omen 1100 usually averages around 80 euros, but if you decide to try Amazon Prime you can get one at a discount.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Beyond the opinion some purists have about Razer and its business practices, the BlackWidow series of mechanical keyboards has been with us for several years, and is extremely popular. Today I'm going to recommend a classic, the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate with green switches (clicky/tactile) and backlighting of the same color. Razer's software is not its strong point, but if you can set that aside, the BlackWidow Ultimate works very well, and fits almost any desk style.

Corsair K70 LUX

If you decide to explore Corsair's catalog, it's very likely they have a mechanical keyboard for you. Their models are among the most complete, and although they carry a certain premium, in general it's worth paying. That's the case of the Corsair K70 LUX, based on official Cherry MX Red switches known for being light, linear, and with short travel. If your gaming strategy requires hundreds of actions per minute or if you just prefer a quieter keyboard, the Corsair K70 LUX easily meets both conditions.

These are just four mechanical keyboards, but it's more than enough to get started. The only detail to highlight is the special price of the HP Omen, however, at the end of the day none of these models should disappoint you. As always, comments are open, and if you've already bought a mechanical gaming keyboard, don't hesitate to share the model and price. Good luck!