The 7 Best Mechanical Keyboards You Can Buy on Amazon

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.CorsairProsFull keyboard with number padChoice between thock-y and silent switchesNice-looking copper finishConsTakes up a good amount of desk spaceIf you're fully committed to the PC-workstation lifestyle, there may not be any downsides to the big wired keyboard. You're not planning on taking the keyboard anywhere, and that number pad is getting used daily. The lack of wireless connection probably won't bother you—you likely prefer the reliability of the wire anyway.If that rings true, this keyboard with Cherry's new MX2A switches is a great choice for your everyday needs. For a satisfying thock-y feedback, we've gone ahead and chosen the brown switch variant for you. But the silent red switches are a great option for those who want a little less noise when they're trying to compose emails.ProsCompact but still has everything you need for typing and gamingToggle-able layouts for Mac and PCCan be fully customizedConsKeychron launcher required for the software customizationsFor something a bit more compact, this 75 percent TKL is the best of both worlds. It has smooth, rounded keys, including arrow keys (I can't type without them, hence why there are no smaller keyboards on this list), and a glorious set of tactile Keychron switches beneath them. For the price, it's hard to find a better mechanical keyboard.It's also a great keyboard for those curious about customization. The switches are hot-swappable, but even beyond that you can really take this sucker apart and replace the plate and gasket to get the sound and feel perfect, just like you imagine it in your head. If that's too much physical tinkering, you can also download the Keychron launcher and remap your keys and macro commands.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsGorgeous wood sidingRapid trigger double-rail magnetic switchesConnect via dongle, Bluetooth, or USB cableConsSome wireless connection hiccupsThis is the best-looking keyboard for adult gamers. No obnoxious glowing LEDs screaming beneath your key caps. No screen on your keyboard taking up vital desk space. Just a wood-paneled side and rows of black keys accented by complementary browns.It feels great too. With rapid trigger on the full keyboard, you can set all the actuation points individually using Keychron's software. The wireless modes aren't flawless—especially the Bluetooth, which even on the best keyboards is unreliable and prone to dropping. We recommend using the USB-C dongle or plugging it in directly with a detachable cable for the best results.ProsSimple OLED DisplayTactile clicky keysRGB backlightingIf you want to get nuts, you can get nuts. I’m talking about building your own mechanical keyboard, 3D printing your own key caps, buying custom switches for each key. All for the love of the game. But for most people looking for a starter gaming keyboard, it won’t get much more reasonable than SteelSeries.The Apex 5 is an inexpensive wired keyboard that comes with all the touches that turn a mechanical keyboard into the ultimate game controller. I know a lot of gamers require RGB backlighting. This one has it and you can customize the shit out of it. That’s never been my cup of tea, but if you download the SteelSeries software you can go hog wild. Beyond that an on-board OLED screen allows you to quickly adjust settings like volume, user profiles, and the RGB lighting all without downloading an app. That, I’m a huge fan of.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsBluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless modesAlso has an option for wired inputCushy wrist restConsExpensive if you don't get it on saleWhile the hardcore will turn up their noses at anything wireless, the truth is more casual players hate adding more cables to their lives. And they certainly don’t even want to having a second keyboard for gaming. If you want a wireless keyboard that can double as your gaming keyboard, the ROG Strix Scope II 96 (sorry, I didn’t name it) has everything you’re looking for.Instead of opting for unreliable Bluetooth, you can use the included USB dongle for 2.4GHz wireless mode. For single-player gaming, I swear you won’t notice a difference between that and wired. There’s also an option to connect via USB cable if you really don’t trust me. The whole thing fits 96% of the keys you’d find on a full keyboard (including a numpad) into the space of an 80%, making it compact yet fully functional. And to top it off, it comes with a pretty cushy detachable wrist rest.ProsGood feedback despite its low profileIlluminated keys, but no funny business Comfortable to type onConsNot the feedback everyone is looking forIf you’re used to the light feedback and quick response of your MacBook keyboard, there’s no shame in wanting something to mimic that. The word you’re looking for is low profile, which describes the position of the keys relative to the frame. Shallow switches make these a preferred style of super fast typers, while many high-skill level gamers find them too slippery and prone to mistypes. Truth be told, it’s not my preference, but I can’t deny this one from Logitech has the goods if low profile is what you’re after. Most importantly, it feels comfortable to type on.The MX wireless keyboard has a sleek, professional look with monochromatic backlights. None of this RGB business. You can Bluetooth pair it with up to three devices at a time, or you can use a 2.4 GHz dongle for a lower latency way to connect.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsBuilt-in Stream Deck with dynamic LCDA high quality mechanical gaming keyboardHot-swappable switchesConsNot wireless despite being $350This one is a little extra, but if you’re still sticking around it’s because you’re holding out for something higher end. This keyboard from Corsair has that extra cutting-edge touch you might just be looking for. The big selling point TK. No, not the Valve Steam Deck (love the spirit, but that would be impossible). The Elgato Stream Deck is a video recorder and customizable control pad for your PC or game streaming setting. Even if you’re not into Twitch streaming, you can save yourself a lot of time in the long haul by setting up shortcuts to your most used programs and apps.Beyond this innovation, the Galleon is just a damn good keyboard. The feedback on the keys feels satisfying, there’s a keyboard and number pad, and it’s wired to give you an advantage. If you want to dig deeper with hot-swappable switches, that’s also an option here.What to Look forIn my testing of mechanical keyboards, here is what I've found to be most important when shopping for a new one.Size: It matters. Choose between a full keyboard with a number pad or a TKL (tenkeyless) compact keyboard. Feel: How a key feels makes all the difference. Do you want something that is smooth like butter or click-y and tactile?Sound: The sound goes hand in hand with the feel. Descriptions like clack-y and thock-y are derived as much from the sound the keyboard makes as from the way it feels.Connections: It's nice to have a keyboard with options for wired and wireless connections. If it's wireless, it better have a USB dongle, because typing over Bluetooth is still too unreliable for serious work, let alone for serious gaming.Battery Life: An important consideration when looking for a wireless keyboard. If you have to charge the keyboard every single day when you're using it, what was the point of going wireless in the first place?Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowFAQsWhat makes it a mechanical keyboard?A mechanical keyboard has discrete tactile switches beneath every key. The other main type of keyboard you see is a membrane keyboard, like those that still come in many laptops.What is a keyboard switch?The switch is the part on a keyboard beneath the key cap you type on. It is the part that gets pressed so your keystroke is registered. Different switches have different sounds and feels.What does hot-swappable mean?If a keyboard is hot-swappable, it means you can remove the switches and replace them with other, compatible switches. Typically, a hot-swappable keyboard will include a key cap and switch removing tool. Try it out sometime if you have one; it's very relaxing.What do the different numbers in the TKL keyboard names mean?Any keyboard without a number pad can be considered TKL, but there are various degrees of compact we are talking here. The number generally is what helps you determine what percentage of a full keyboard it is, be that 75 percent, 65 percent, and so on. I don't like recommending them once you get down to 60 percent, because that's when the arrow keys have to get hacked off.