The 5 Best Keyboards For Programming - Winter 2023 Reviews

The best keyboard for programming that we've tested is the Keychron Q2. This keyboard is a programmer's dream, featuring an extraordinary build quality and design that looks, feels, and sounds great right out of the box. The real standout feature of Keychron's Q-series of keyboards is the high level of customization. You can swap out the switches for pretty much any switch out there, replace the keycaps, and even open the board up using the included toolkit to change any of its internal components.

While we recommend the compact Q2 size here, you can't go wrong with any of Keychron's Q-lineup, which features even smaller boards like the Keychron Q4 to full-size boards like the Keychron Q6. Regardless of what size or feature set you want, with a Q-series board, you're guaranteed a highly customizable, comfortable, and premium keyboard that's compatible with VIA and QMK, meaning you can make those software and firmware-level adjustments as well.

Coming in at a solid price point of not too expensive and not too cheap, the NuPhy Air75 is one of the best mechanical keyboards for programming you can get. It offers an incredible typing experience right out of the box and excellent build quality, all wrapped up in one very portable unit. Additionally, it's fully compatible with any operating system, including Linux. It connects wirelessly with Bluetooth and has an included USB receiver if you want to use it that way as well. You can also plug it in directly and use it in a wired mode, which is great as you can use it while it charges.

Thanks to the low-profile mechanical switches and chiclet-style keycaps, you can rest your wrists directly on the surface you're working on and reach the keys without straining upwards, keeping you comfy during use. Plus, the keycaps are made of durable PBT with a slightly rough texture that feels great on the fingertips. As this keyboard is designed for portability, you can purchase a separate carrying pouch to ensure it doesn't get damaged. Additionally, you won't have to worry about charging it super frequently as it has a nice 48-hour battery life when used with the RGB backlighting off.

At a budget price point, you'll have a hard time finding a keyboard that offers you everything that the flagship unit of Keychron's V Series, the Keychron V1 does. Essentially, it's a budget version of our top pick, the Keychron Q2. But, to lower the cost, instead of a solid aluminum frame and a gasket-mounted design, you get a plastic frame that can either be solid black or a Y2K-esque frosted black and a tray-mounted style. That said, there are still the same bubbly PBT keycaps, screw-in stabilizers, and layers of sound-dampening foam inside the board to help reduce the ping and rattle while you type. Like the Q-series boards, everything, from the internal hardware components to the firmware is customizable, making a V Series board a great budget-friendly base to start with if you're interested in a truly bespoke unit for programming.

These boards are fairly easy to deconstruct and reconstruct thanks to the included toolkit, and all said, it takes about an hour to change out the stock components. There's a bit of a compromise, though, since the V Series boards are wired only. So, if you're looking for a wireless recommendation around the same price range, we recommend the Obinslab Anne Pro 2. It isn't nearly as customizable as the V Series keyboards, but it comes in a wide range of switch options from a variety of manufacturers. It connects wirelessly with up to four devices at once using Bluetooth, so it's great for multi-device setups. Unfortunately, the battery life is pretty poor, maxing out at eight hours, so you'll have to charge it daily.

If you need a good cheap keyboard for coding, we recommend the ROYAL KLUDGE RK61. Despite its cheap price point, this compact keyboard has a hot-swappable printed circuit board, meaning you can easily replace the stock switches with your preferred switch. It's an extremely versatile unit, connecting with multiple devices over Bluetooth, or you can get a variant that includes a USB receiver if you're planning on using it in a noisier Bluetooth environment, like an office.

Unfortunately, the battery life on the RK61 is on the lower side, maxing out at around 10 hours when used wirelessly. Fortunately, it also includes a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and you can use the keyboard while it charges. It's important to note that there are a few different variants of this keyboard available; some, like the unit we tested, only have Bluetooth connectivity and single-color backlighting, while other variants include a USB receiver and RGB backlighting.

While all the above picks are compact units, you may be one of those programmers who require a Numpad. In that case, we recommend the Razer Pro Type Ultra, a full-size wireless unit with great ergonomic features and a nice, sleek aesthetic that looks great in any setup. It includes a nicely padded wrist rest, and linear Razer Yellow switches that are incredibly light to press, so you don't have to worry about finger fatigue.

It also has an outstanding battery life, clocking in at over 200 hours, depending on your usage. You can use its included USB receiver, which also pairs with select Razer productivity mice, like the Razer Pro Click, or you can connect it with up to three devices using Bluetooth, which is great if you're in a multi-device setup.