Every setup has two very important tools: a great keyboard and a great mouse, just ask the pros. In this case, the right keyboard could make the difference between making the right movement at the right time to get that shot, or avoid the incoming shot. It's the difference between life and death.
In competitive FPS games, every millisecond matters. The right keyboard not only looks nice with RGB backlighting, but features near instantaneous response time through its switches and, as far as the keyboards on this list are concerned, they don’t take up a lot of space on the desk which allows for maximum mouse movement. The top gaming keyboards are almost all mechanical, allowing for better performance. However, it also raises the cost of these keyboards compared to the cheaper membrane keyboards which work fine, but aren’t as precise nor as fast as mechanical keyboards.
While a mechanical keyboard may require a high cost of entry, we promise that it's completely worth the investment when it is all said and done and will last you for years to come. These keyboards are some of the best of the best out there, especially for first-person shooters, and all of which are used by some of the best esports pros in the business, ranging from CS:GO to Valorant, and Rainbow Six to Apex.
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HyperX Alloy FPS
The HyperX Alloy line of keyboards are some of the best and most consistent in the industry, mainly due to their build. The Alloy FPS features a solid steel frame and a detachable USB cable allowing for easy travel. The newer FPS RGB models feature a more modern multi-color theme for its backlighting, while the FPS Pro keeps it at a simple red backlighting within the keys. The Alloy FPS come with the seemingly industry standard Cherry MX linear switches, allowing for smooth keypresses with low volume.
If you want a keyboard that’s a bit flashier, you may want to look elsewhere than either the Alloy FPS Pro or FPS RGB. However, if it’s performance that you’re looking for, the HyperX Alloy FPS is still one of the best TKL keyboards out there now.
Logitech G Pro
The Logitech G Pro and the customizable G Pro X are gaming keyboards for the pros, designed by the pros. This is one of the best gaming keyboards out there that, like the previously mentioned HyperX Alloy FPS, believe in the theme that “less is more.”
This TKL keyboard takes a bigger footprint than the Alloy FPS, especially at the top of the keyboard that hosts Logitech’s G logo along with the Game Mode button and the lighting button. The Game Mode button turns off the Windows key and whichever else you set it to mute through the Logitech G Hub app. The original line of the G Pro keyboard came with Logitech’s Romer-G switches, but the newer line comes with their standard, clicky, GX Blue switches. The G Pro X can be customized with either the GX Clicky Blue, Tactile Brown or Linear Red switches through their site. The G Pro also comes with a detachable cable and features a plastic frame that is as sturdy as you would need it to be for traveling purposes. Most importantly, the keyboard is as responsive as you need it to be, regardless of whichever switches you decide to use.
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Corsair K70 Mk. 2
As one of the original gaming peripheral brands, Corsair’s products sometimes tend to fly under the radar, especially when compared to the likes of Logitech, Razer and HyperX. However, as of late they’ve started to stake their claim as one of the top gaming brands out there (let alone peripheral brands) and the K70 Mk. 2 is no exception.
The K70 Mk. 2 is one of the best all-purpose keyboards in the market. It’s base model comes as a full-sized keyboard, but it also comes in a TKL size for those who don’t want such a big footprint. The base model comes with Cherry MX Speed switches that have a 1.2 millimeter actuation distance and the TKL Champion Series features Corsair’s AXON hyper-processing technology that transmits your inputs up to eight-times faster than the average gaming keyboard, allowing for instantaneous reactions. Toss in dedicated media keys at the top, available on both the full-sized and the TKL version, and the K70 Mk. 2 feels like a complete package.
Razer Blackwidow Chroma
The newer versions of Razer’s keyboards feature Razer’s newer optical switches which make the Razer keyboards probably the fastest responding keyboard in the market compared to their mechanical rivals. The Blackwidow Chroma TE V2 features mechanical switches, but Razer claims their Instant Trigger Technology sends immediate signals to your PC, negating any debounce delay to give you the advantage when it comes to response time. It also comes with a wrist rest to provide a more comfortable, ergonomic feeling.
Razer continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and it’s no surprise to see a Razer keyboard on this list or any keyboard list for that matter. Just know that you’re in good hands with a Razer keyboard, and your Razer keyboard (or even mouse) is probably the fastest peripheral on your desk.
Ducky One 2 Mini
The One 2 Mini has very minimal bezels and a detachable cable, allowing for super easy travel and is great for taking up as little desk space as possible. It comes with whichever Cherry MX switch you want to order it with. However, this keyboard, or 60 percent keyboards in general, may not be for everyone, especially for those looking for something that they can use for office or productivity purposes as well. You need to press another button in order to use something as routine as your arrow keys or even your function keys. Sixty-percent keyboards are almost as strictly made for gaming.
The Ducky One 2 Mini is one of the best 60 percent keyboards out there and laid down the foundation for bigger companies like HyperX and Razer to come out with their own 60 percent boards as well in their own right. However, although both of those are good keyboards as well, nothing can beat the original 60.
Honorable Mentions
Razer Huntsman Mini - Another 60 percent board and one that rivals the Ducky One 2 Mini, the Razer Huntsman Mini's advantage is with its optical switches, allowing for near instantaneous response time when a key is pressed. Toss in its small form factor and you get a big-time performer in a small package.
SteelSeries Apex Pro - The Apex Pro features sharp design with strong performance spotlighted by beautiful RGB backlighting. It also features a status screen in the corner to customize the use of the keyboard.
Logitech G915 - The lone wireless keyboard to reach this list and probably the most expensive coming in at over $200. However, for the price you get one of the most premium quality boards out in the market that's good for both gaming and productivity.
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