The best gaming and typing keyboard you can buy right now?

Group keyboard test: Logitech G610, Logitech G810, Corsair K70, Corsair K70 Luxe, and Corsair K65, Roccat Suora

It is somewhat like rating art that different people prefer different keyboards. Even grouping them for a test is very useful since what specs suggest can be very different from what happens.

Generally, these keyboards have different switches beneath the keys - most made by a German company, Cherry - with different characteristics. However, the switch doesn't tell the whole story. There are several types of switches on the Cherry platform, denoted by different colors (see a helpful video here). Red requires a relatively light press while Black requires a bit more pressure ( Red tends to get preferred by gamers). Then there's Blue, which offers a slight bump when depressed (which typists prefer since it makes every keypress feel more definitive) and makes a loud clicky noise so you can hear yourself pressing it (and usually anyone around you as well). Green is similar to Blue but requires more pressure. Brown also has a slight, tactile bump (like Blue), but there's no click.

The K70 Rapid-fire comes with a new Cherry switch that is currently exclusive to Corsair (for the next few months). Cherry MX Speed switches are like a modified Cherry MX Red switch only they require less pressure and the keys only travel 1.2mm instead of 2mm to activate.

Additionally, we can see Cherry switch clones from companies such as TTC and Logitech's Romer-G switches, which require 1.5mm of travel to actuate. The cheap and less-precise keyboard technologies like "membrane" are quieter, squishier, but feel a bit bland - although some people prefer them.

Note: Test your keyboarding speed with one of The 7 BEST TYPING TEST TOOLS ONLINE that will give you a score based on how fast you type.

Best Gaming and typing keyboards

1) A Logitech G810 Orion Spectrum

The G810 from Logitech is a solid black beast with RGB backlighting. The switches used are Logitech's Romer-G switches (you can read more about them here) and we approve: they're not near as rattly as Cherry's MX switches, they feel more solid, and they're very smooth to depress. It was very comfortable and accurate for typing, yet responsive enough for great gaming.

Logitech's keyboards are enclosed, unlike Corsair's. Any crud that falls into the keyboard will be very difficult to remove. It also means less noise and resonance when typing. Additionally, the RGB LED lights only show up through the letters and not across the whole base. Although the effect is less colorful, it is less messy and more precise.

You can program the keyboard using Logitech's software. When gaming, you can disable keys (like the Windows Key). It is available in a wide range of lighting modes, including a uniform soft-blue backlight for general typing, WASD color accents for gaming, and other color modes featuring rainbow waves, star effects, and lighting up when you press a key. For some reason, Logitech also provides a heatmap so that you can see which keys you press most often. You can program macros and download or program profiles for various games.

There is only one connector, which will either please or annoy some people depending on whether they want a USB pass-through.

The board also has media keys (similar to the Corsair boards) and a button that turns on and off the backlight, as well as a button that disables some keys when gaming. The G810 is also the only keyboard that places the letters in the middle of each key. Most others (including the G610) place their letters at the top, but we prefer to have them in the middle.

The keyboard was preferred by all those who tried it: it's quieter, more solid, and arguably the most comfortable to use out of everything we tested, whether you're gaming or typing. It's not cheap, but it's one of the cheapest on our list, and we feel it's the best. 

Rating 5 out of 5

Price: $189 on Amazon

2) Corsair K70 Lux RGB 

Besides the keys, there isn't much difference between the Rapid-fire K70 and K70 Lux. Cherry MX Red switches are used instead of the MX Speed switches, and the keycaps are matte instead of shiny (the Lux keys feel classier). Although it's not the quietest keyboard, it's noticeably less noisy and rattly than the Rapid-fire K70.

We preferred the Lux for both typing (not just the noise) because the keys feel more solid and accurate. Red switches have less hair-trigger actuation, so there were fewer typos, but they are still good for gaming.

Ultimately, though, we preferred Logitech's G810 for gaming and typing, but some may find its styling to be too subtle. 

Rating 4out of 5

Price: $210 on Amazon

3) Corsair Rapidfire K70 RGB 

Rapidfire K70 is Corsair's flagship keyboard and is mechanically different from other K70 models. It uses Cherry MX Speed switches, which are like Red but have a very short 1.2mm actuation distance (instead of 2mm). The keyboard has media buttons and a number pad. Like other Corsair keyboards, it has two USB connectors, one of which is a pass-through port that supports USB 3. A switch on the back of the keyboard controls the polling speed of the keyboard via different BIOSes. We were unable to find an application that would show any difference, but some professional FPS players somewhere might notice something... Perhaps. A student of electronics may also benefit from the ability to switch between UEFI settings. The backlight can also be turned on and off and the Windows key (and some other game-breaking combinations) can be disabled.

Cherry MX Speed switches make a lot of noise; this noise is amplified by the solid, unenclosed, aluminum backing, which makes the sound reverberate more. Unlike other keyboards, the keys sit on top of the base (they aren't enclosed), which makes it easier to clean than traditional keyboards (like Logitechs) where crud gets stuck behind the keys.

The switches all have RGB LED bases and software makes it easy to create various lighting effects. The effect is certainly popular and very pleasing, but the lack of containment around the keys makes it look rather messy - everything glows, not just the lettering. Despite the high degree of customization, the software is not very intuitive despite the ability to create many different profiles and macros.

As a result of the low-pressure requirement and the low actuation distance, the pressure required to type is extremely light - to the point where all but the most accurate typists will be making mistakes by grazing the wrong key with their fingers.

Although this might sound good for gamers who need the highest speeds, the difference is hard to relate to in the real world - it's like replacing your racing bike bolts with titanium ones so you can save weight and go faster. It's making a difference in theory, but are the results measurable? Psychological boosts are sometimes more real than physical ones.

Corsair also provides replacement contoured gaming keys that can be placed on the WASD area so your hand knows where it is at all times. After you've tried them, it's hard to live without them.

Corsair also tends to label its keys non-centrally - the letter labels are on the upper portion of the key and appear squashed. It seems to be a style thing, but labeling clarity loses.

This is the most expensive keyboard in our expensive keyboard test, costing $200. The K70 Lux is the same but with different switches and keycaps - it's still good for gaming but more accurate for typing and costs about $20 less. Additionally, the keys look and feel more solid and are quieter. However, this is a matter of preference. Most potential buyers of this keyboard will already have decided to get the Rapidfire because of the Cherry MX Speed switches. Check out the Logitech G810 if you haven't already. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Price: $233 on Amazon

4) Logitech G610 Orion Brown

Logitech's G610 looks like the G810 at a glance, but there are a few key differences. Cherry MX Brown switches are used in the keyboard, and the backlit keyboard is white only.

Because of this, you can't change the color of the lighting effects (but you can adjust the brightness), but the main difference comes from typing.

Cherry MX Brown switches are better suited for typing than gaming. It feels more accurate for typing than the other Corsair and Logitech keyboards we tested - we didn't make as many mistakes by grazing the wrong keys. Nevertheless, this also means that it's not the best for gaming - your fingers will have a more purposeful way of pressing the keys, which is likely to cause reaction problems in prolonged gaming sessions. However, there's not much in it.

It is not as loud as the K70 or K70 Lux, however, it is noticeably louder than the G810.

Overall, it's a very solid keyboard, and those who don't mind noise will enjoy it. At $149, it is still not cheap, but it offers something genuinely unique compared to its competitors. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Price: $166 on Amazon

5) Corsair K65 Rapid fire Gaming Keyboard

The K65 is much narrower than the Rapid fire K70 since it lacks a number pad and media keys. A great choice for gamer who don't like slamming their mouse into the side of the keyboard (obviously one of the most frustrating things ever) and who want those 'fast' Cherry MX Speed switches. Furthermore, it is much easier to transport.

Overall, the keyboard feels solid, but the keys still feel a bit rattly and wobbly. They do feel like they could snap off if dropped, and any pressure or jolt could be damaging. Perhaps a travel bag would have been a good addition (especially at this price). 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Price: $186 on Amazon

6) Rocat Suora RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Although we thought the Cherry MX Speed switches on the K70 were loud, the Suora could be heard from the other side of our office. This keyboard uses switches from a company called TTC (more on that here), which are a cheaper knock-off of Cherry Switches.

Corsair's keyboard is similar to this one in that the keys aren't enclosed by a base. Despite the keypad and media keys, there is no frame, so it doesn't take up much space on the desk.

Typing feels quite similar to the Cherry Brown switches of the Logitech G610, but the loud switches, the resonance from the keys (the noise echoes off the base), and the lack

 of containment mean that it is very noisy.

The backlit lights are blue only and can be customized with different patterns.

With its Swarm software, Roccat offers some unique features, allowing you to configure the keyboard from your phone (so you don't have to leave the game). Currently, only Android is supported, but iOS is coming soon. We were unable to test the desktop version - after downloading it from the site and installing it as an administrator, it demanded to download an update and update itself, which we were unable to do in administrator mode.

The software lets you adjust lighting patterns and Game Mode functions (there is a dedicated key for this).

The price is the main issue with this keyboard (apart from the noise). The $150 price is only slightly cheaper than what's being offered elsewhere. Despite the lack of media keys, the small K65 is also worth considering (even though it is frameless). 

Rating: 2 out of 5

Price $152 on Amazon

In conclusion

Therefore, from this article, you learn how to choose the best gaming and typing keyboards suitable for your needs. Choosing the best keyboards will make a big difference while you type. No matter how much time you spend typing up documents and sending emails at work, or how much time you spend playing the best PC games afterward, I'll be there for you. Typing and button-mashing on an ordinary keyboard might be fine, but the best ones deliver a truly immersive experience.