Best Mechanical Keyboard 2023: Our highest rated picks

Most mechanical keyboards you’ll find are designed for gaming, but the Logitech MX Mechanical is built for general office work instead. There are no flashy RGB lights and the design is simple yet elegant, and so won’t draw unwelcome attention from colleagues.

You’re given the option of three types of switches: Clicky, Linear or Tactile Quiet. We tested the latter of the trio, and were impressed with the low-profile form, short key travel and the soft tactile bump. It’s a great all-rounder switch that makes typing more comfortable, while also being decent enough for light gaming.

The MX Mechanical offers dual wireless connections via Bluetooth and the bundled Logi Bolt USB receiver. Once paired, you can swap between up to three devices by a press of a button. We found this to prove useful when using multiple PCs during your workflow, whether it’s a Windows system, Mac or Chromebook.

We also found the battery life to be excellent, with Logitech suggesting it can keep on chugging along for 15 days with the backlight turned up to maximum brightness, or up to 10 months with it deactivated. And while the keyboard is expensive compared to other office-optimised keyboards, you do have the option of purchasing the slightly more affordable Logitech MX Mechanical Mini which ditches the number pad to achieve a more streamlined design.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard review

The Roccat Pyro may be a gaming keyboard, but it’s still a great value mechanical keyboard for any use case, especially considering its price undercuts the Logitech MX Mechanical.

Underneath, it’s got some TTC Red switches, which we think are some of the best Cherry MX Red clones out there. During testing, we found them to have a light and snappy keypress thanks to a 45cN force which made rounds of CS:GO a joy, as well as general working an absolute delight. Alongside this comes creature comforts such as anti-ghosting and full NKRO which helped to make keypresses as accurate and precise as possible.

The general construction of the Pyro is also something to behold, with it having practically no deck flex or bend in the chassis whatsoever, even under harsh pressure. We found it to be rather durable, with a metal top plate also helping it to look rather sleek too. There’s also some vibrant RGB lighting here.

Connectivity here is nice and easy, with a single USB-A-ended wired cable. The additional software on offer, the Roccat Swarm, is one of the best out there. We found it to offer a functional user experience with plenty of easy customisation, ranging from mapping keys to programming macros and fiddling around with RGB lighting. The Logitech G Pro Keyboard is another affordable mechanical keyboard option worth considering, but we still think the Roccat Pyro still has the edge in terms of value.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Roccat Pyro review

The Asus ROG Azoth is an incredible gaming keyboard and our top pick for participating in esports. 

The ROG Azoth has a 75% layout that offers all the benefits of a TKL keyboard in a more compact form, giving you more desk space. The build quality is excellent with its weighty frame and the metal top housing and plastic case ensures there’s no deck flex. The textured PBT keycaps are also of higher quality than common ABS ones and are resistant to shine after extended use. 

There’s even a snappy multi-function OLED display in the top-right corner comparable to that on the SteelSeries Apex Pro. The screen illuminates key data like battery percentage, media playback settings and controls for the vibrant RGB lighting. 

When it comes to connectivity, the ROG Azoth has a USB-C port for wired connections and charging, along with support for Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz receiver. 

The keyboard comes with Asus’ own NX Red switches, which we found to be light and smooth with a 45cN actuation force. The switches are pre-lubed and there’s a small vial of switch lubricant in the box, along with an entire kit that allows you to lubricate the switches yourself. 

The ROG Azoth is also a hot-swappable keyboard, meaning you can swap the switches out for others if you prefer. 

We found typing on this keyboard to be responsive, comfortable and a little bouncy by design. The NX Reds work well for gaming due to their light keypress, and moving between multiple devices is easy with a physical switch on the topside of the keyboard. 

The keyboard has a great battery life and is capable of lasting weeks or even months between charges, though you’ll find it lasts the longest with the RGB and OLED display turned off. 

The ROG Armoury Crate software can be fiddly and slow to load, plus the ROG Azoth itself is expensive, but it’s nevertheless one of the most impressive gaming keyboards we’ve tested and our favourite choice for esports. 

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: Asus ROG Azoth

The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is a particular favourite of ours, so much so it won a Trusted Reviews Award in 2021, and is one of our top entries on the best gaming keyboard list, too.

There’s an especially good reason why we rate this keyboard so highly: analog switches. The Huntsman V2 Analog brings the powers of controller-like accuracy to a full size keyboard, enabling you to trigger different functions to a single keystroke, depending on how hard you push down.

We found this to be very useful with multiple games, be it with FPS titles or even racing games such as Dirt Rally. The analog switches are also good for day-to-day usage, but do note that this is a loud keyboard. If you’re planning on using it for work around other people, then you may want to pick up something with dampened or silent switches for instance.

The Huntsman V2 Analog is also built like an absolute tank. It’s one of the thickest keyboards we’ve tested that also comes with some incredible build quality and no flex in the chassis whatsoever. Razer has gone the extra mile here, bundling textured PBT keycaps with the Huntsman V2 Analog. They not only feel great under finger, but are also immensely durable, and the fact they’re two-shot moulded also means Razer’s sweet RGB backlighting can shine through.

The Chroma lighting here is also fantastic with a sea of colours very well-represented. Razer bundles their Synapse 3 software package with the Huntsman V2 Analog, with endless possibilities for customisation and tinkering. This extends not only to adjusting the actuation point for every respective switch, but also to the fact you can map each key to a controller input, which is mighty clever. You also have the option of the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog, sporting the same features but in a more compact frame.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Razer Huntsman V2 Analog review

Opto-mechanical switches are slowly but surely becoming a mainstay in the world of mechanical keyboards, and the Corsair K100 is a fine example of how to get it right.

In short, opto-mechanical switches work by interrupting a laser beam to register a keypress, rather than using a switch with a physical mechanism. Compared to more traditional ‘mechanical’ switches, they’re said to offer a quicker input, making the likes of this Corsair K100 ideal for FPS games. In testing, we found the K100 to perform admirably thanks to a snappy and almost instantaneous keypress.

The overall design and construction on offer with the K100 is superb, with us finding it to be wonderfully sturdy. In addition, you also get excellent features such as programmable macro keys, and a clever multi-function wheel in the top-left corner that can be used for everything from controlling volume to scrolling web pages. Finding a keyboard with such a vast swathe of functions is getting increasingly rare, so we found it especially pleasing for Corsair to bundle the functionality with the K100.

The K100 features vibrant RGB lighting that can be controlled via the brand’s accompanying iCue software. It’s one of the most versatile software packages out there for peripherals out there, offering oodles of customisation. This can range from creating dozens of lighting effects, as well as recording complex macros and using the K100’s on-board memory and processor to full effect by creating game profiles.

Reviewer: Mike Jennings
Full review: Corsair K100 review

If you’re after a smaller form factor keyboard that packs in an awful lot of features, then the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini is an outstanding option.

It has a 65% layout ‘board, meaning you get access to the standard run of letters and numbers, alongside function keys and arrow keys which you’d miss out on if you went for a 60% keyboard such as the Razer Huntsman Mini.

Inside, it features Razer’s Yellow switches, which are comparable to light and linear switches such as MX Speed Silvers, especially given the Yellows also have a higher actuation point of 1.2mm. This means that you won’t have to push the key as far down as usual for it to register an input. In testing, we found the Yellows to be a real delight to use, for both gaming, and for more general use.

Its wireless connectivity is taken care of via Razer’s HyperSpeed dongle, which offers a practically zero-latency connection. You can also use it to connect other supported Razer peripherals such as the equally tiny Orochi V2 mouse. There is also Bluetooth connectivity on offer with the BlackWidow V3 Mini, which we found worked fine at short distances, although moving further away introduced some latency and delay into the equation.

The BlackWidow V3 Mini makes use of Razer’s Chroma lighting, which looks vibrant and crisp, although did act as a serious drain on the keyboard’s battery life. In testing, we managed to get a runtime of 18-20 hours with the backlighting on, which will give you a couple of days’ usage before you need to charge it back up again.

If you like the idea of a small gaming keyboard, it’s also worth checking out the HyperX Alloy Origins 65. And if you want a small mechanical keyboard that’s designed for office productivity instead of gaming, then check out the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini instead.

Reviewer: Alastair Stevenson
Full Review: Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini review

The Asus ROG Claymore II is a clever mechanical keyboard with an intriguing design-based party piece: it’s a modular keyboard.

This means you can chop and change the keyboard’s layout to include an additional number pad alongside the standard TKL keyboard, so you can use it in a multitude of configurations. For instance, if you wanted the number pad on the left hand side, then it attaches conveniently by a combination of magnets and plastic grooves. We found the attachment and setup process to be easy.

Alongside its ingenious design comes a choice of Asus’ own RX optical switches. You can either get them in Red or Blue flavours, with the former being a linear switch ideal for gaming, and the latter being a clicky switch that works well for typing. Our sample came with RX Blues, which we found to be great for both typing and gaming, given their mid-range force of 65g, optical setup and satisfying click. Just note, the audible click is loud, meaning this isn’t the best keyboard to use if other people are around. For that, consider something with quieter switches.

The Claymore II’s battery life is also good for a wireless mechanical board with loads of bells and whistles. It’s quoted to last for around 40 hours with the backlighting cranked all the way up, which beats off other premium boards such as the Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro by almost four times. On the point of backlighting, the Claymore II’s is bright and sharp, and we thought it looked fantastic. The accompanying software, ROG Armoury Crate, is also functional, and gives you great customisation options regarding fiddling with the lighting, or programming macros.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: ASUS ROG Claymore II review

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro may wear the clothing of a gaming keyboard, but it’s hiding a plethora of features that are more substantial than that moniker suggests. Our reviewer noted that the standout feature may be the incredible wrist support; a leatherette cushion attaches with a strong magnet on the front and is bespoke to the keyboard – unlike the generic, one-size-fits-all wrist rest that could be paired with the BlackWidow V3.

Another bespoke aspect of this laptop is the Command Dial – a small, circular knob that lives on the top-left side of the keyboard. It’s set up with eight modes that can change the zoom level on a page, adjust the brightness of the keyboard’s RGB lighting, swap between opened apps, and switch tabs in a browser, just to name a few. Despite the keyboard’s branding, this feature is virtually useless when it comes to gaming, but it pushes the BlackWidow V4 Pro well past what most gaming keyboards are capable of.

The keyboard also comes with RGB capabilities. Each key is backlit, with the lighting patterning varying from extreme to subtle. Every key is housed in a transparent keycap for maximum glare and our reviewer noted that the rim light surrounding the entire perimeter of the keyboard, including the wrist rest, was a lovely touch. 

Overall, the BlackWidow V4 Pro looks the part for a Razer gaming keyboard. If you are looking for even more customisation options, we recommend checking out the Asus ROG Azoth or Razer Huntsman V2 Analog. But if you’re after a gaming device that has some fantastic productivity features and oodles of personalisation, then this keyboard is definitely for you. 

Reviewer: Callum Bains
Full Review: Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Review

A full-sized keyboard isn’t for everyone, which is why SteelSeries decided to release a tenkeyless version of the flagship SteelSeries Apex Pro. A tenkeyless keyboard doesn’t come with a number pad and is best suited to small workspace areas, which is how the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL was born. 

The real star of the Apex Pro TKL is the small OLED screen housed in the top right-hand corner. It’s roughly an inch long and is capable of running bespoke 128px x 40px images, text or animations, as well as displaying GPU, CPU and RAM metrics in real time. While it is a tad gimmicky, it adds a fantastic touch of personality and can display in-game stats, such as your lifetime K/D ratio on CS:GO. The OLED screen can also be paired with third-party apps like Discord to show a direct message or who’s speaking in voice chat, with our reviewer finding plenty of uses for the screen during testing. 

Another huge benefit of the Apex Pro TKL is its Omnipoint 2.0 mechanical switches. They’re designed to be adjusted, with a level of customisation that is rarely seen in gaming keyboards. The sensitivity and actuation point of each key can be tuned to your liking, making this a fantastic pick for eSports gamers that want as much personalisation as possible. 

Looking further at the keys themselves, RGB lighting can be adjusted through the accompanying app, Engine. The app is straightforward with a UI that is simple and easy to navigate. The RGB effects range from a sweeping wave, thrumming breath or steady glow presets, allowing you to make it as subtle or as extreme as you like. 

If you’ve been on the lookout for a keyboard with a display, the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is a very easy recommendation. Not only does the OLED screen work with a variety of third-party apps, but it adds a wonderful touch of personalisation that can’t be found on most keyboards. 

Reviewer: Callum Bains
Full Review: SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Review