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If you want to see more about how specific mechanical switches perform, we've recently launched reviews of keyboard switches!

The 7 Best Mechanical Keyboards - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Mechanical Keyboards

Mechanical keyboards have exploded in popularity. Many different kinds of switches are available, each offering its own typing sensations and sounds. When it comes to picking switches and if you're looking for a helping hand, see our guide for how to choose mechanical switches. Alternatively, check out a lineup of our recommendations for the best mechanical switches.

We've tested over 215 keyboards, and below are our recommendations for the best models with mechanical switches to buy. If you're interested in a mechanical keyboard for a specific use, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best keyboards for typing, or the best keyboards for programming.


  1. Best Mechanical Keyboard

    The best all-around mechanical keyboard we've tested is the Keychron Q6. This keyboard delivers high-quality construction and top-of-the-line typing quality right out of the box. It has a gasket-mounted design, which means the interior components are all held between shock-absorbing rubber pieces. This design provides a softer, slightly cushioned typing experience without the abrupt sensation of bottoming out your keypresses. A pair of sound-dampening foam layers are sandwiched inside, which soften the ping and rattle from the switches and stabilizers, making for a surprisingly smooth and pleasant-sounding typing experience.

    We've also named the Keychron Q6 the best full-size mechanical keyboard we've tested. Still, this keyboard is part of a wider Q Series lineup with various sizes and layouts available. Each entry in the series offers virtually the same experience, so it boils down to the most comfortable and appealing size. If you're a programmer or typist, check out the more compact Keychron Q3. Or, if you're interested in an ergonomic-forward design, you may like the split-key layout of the Keychron Q8. You can see a full list of Keychron's Q-series boards on their website here.

    Each keyboard in this premium lineup is also designed to be fully customizable and includes a small toolkit and impressively thorough instruction materials to walk you through its setup and functionality. You can fully deconstruct your keyboard and replace switches, sound-dampening material, stabilizers, or keycaps if you crave a more personalized keyboard experience.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Mechanical Keyboard

    For a less expensive option at an upper mid-range price point, we recommend the Razer Pro Type Ultra. This keyboard has a straightforward but refined design that blends well into an office or home environment. While it doesn't offer the same degree of customizability or high-end, cushioned gasket mount design as our top pick, the Razer provides some features the Keychron doesn't. For starters, this is a wireless model, and you can pair it with up to three devices via Bluetooth, which is great news if you rely on a multi-device setup at work or in your home office. It also features two incline angles and a plush wrist rest that can greatly affect how your wrists and hands feel at the end of the day.

    This keyboard's conservative design also hides a surprising gaming performance, making it a great choice for your home setup to get some well-deserved gaming time when you're off the clock. Keep in mind that this keyboard is only available with linear switches. While these switches are quiet and smooth to type on, they don't have that tactile bump some people prefer. If that's important to you, check out the Logitech G715, which is typically a bit more expensive but has a similar look and a wider selection of switches. It also has a cloud-shaped wrist rest that adds a playful touch to any setup.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Mechanical Keyboard

    The NuPhy Air75 V2 is an incredible keyboard at a solid mid-range price point. It isn't currently available from most online retailers, but you can find it on Nuphy's website here. This compact mechanical unit features excellent build quality and a slim, surprisingly ergonomic, and comfortable design, even without a wrist rest. Its low-profile keycaps are also very thin but feel very stable and pleasant to type on, and their low profile ensures you don't have to strain your hands upwards to reach them.

    This compact keyboard makes a great choice if you're looking for an on-the-go unit or if you find yourself moving workstations throughout the day. With its excellent wireless connectivity options, you don't have to worry about bringing a cable around. You can pair the keyboard with up to three devices using Bluetooth or use it with its included USB receiver. Its battery capacity isn't one of its strong suits, so you can expect to charge it somewhere between every couple of days and once a week, depending on your usage. Nuphy also offers this keyboard in several different sizes, including the smaller NuPhy Air60 V2 and the larger NuPhy Air96 V2.

    Alternatively, if you like what this keyboard offers but prefer a high-profile option, check out the NuPhy Halo75, part of Nuphy's very similar Halo lineup of keyboards. The Halo75 offers better overall acoustics and a slightly better typing experience thanks to additional silicone-dampening material. However, it isn't as portable as the Air75 V2 and isn't as comfortable to use without a wrist rest.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard

    Other keyboards struggle to match the Keychron K10 for performance at a budget price point. Note that this keyboard is available in a few different configurations. We bought and tested one with full RGB lighting and an aluminum case, but configurations with white-only lighting and a plastic case are less expensive. No matter your configuration, this keyboard comes with your choice of Gateron G Pro switches, which come pre-lubricated from the factory for a smoother keypress.

    The standout features of this keyboard are the system compatibility and the wireless connectivity. There's a toggle on the top of the board to switch between Windows and macOS systems, and the keyboard comes with system-specific keycaps for the modifier keys. You can connect it with up to three devices at once using Bluetooth or wired, and the battery life is incredible, allowing you to clock over 200 hours of use on a single charge with the backlighting off.

    If you don't need a numpad or prefer a more compact option that doesn't take up as much space on your desk, we recommend checking out some of the other keyboards in Keychron's K Series. They're different sizes and can be less expensive depending on their configuration, like the TenKeyLess (80%) Keychron K8 or the compact (65%) Keychron K6.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Mechanical Keyboard

    For an even cheaper option, we recommend the ROYAL KLUDGE RK61. This lightweight keyboard has a tiny footprint, making it a great companion for smaller workspaces or use on the go. It's a wireless unit that supports multi-device pairing with up to three devices using Bluetooth, so you don't have to worry about cables except when charging. Speaking of charging, this keyboard's major weak point is its battery life—although it can last up to 10 hours before recharging. While this keyboard doesn't offer the same premium-feeling build quality as some of the options above, it does have a hot-swappable PCB, which means you can pull out the stock switches and replace them with switches you prefer to control how your keyboard feels and sounds.

    A hot-swappable PCB also allows you to easily replace broken or malfunctioning switches without soldering anything, which can increase the life span of your keyboard. You can also buy a few different variants of this keyboard with various wireless connectivity options and backlighting colors. These options can help you save money if you don't need RGB lighting or a USB receiver.

    See our review

  6. Best Mechanical Keyboard For Gaming

    If you're a mechanical keyboard lover looking for the best pick for gaming, look no further than the SteelSeries Apex Pro. This keyboard's switches use magnets to register keypresses rather than a fixed physical mechanism. This technology lets you precisely adjust every key's actuation and reset points, effectively adjusting how sensitive each keypress is. In practice, if you want a super sensitive WASD cluster for movements while gaming, you can set the actuation point down to 1 mm. Or, you can create a profile with deeper actuation points on all keys for typing.

    While the actuation point is one of the—no pun intended—key features of this keyboard, there's a whole host of other features, like incredibly low latency, USB passthrough to plug in a headset or mouse dongle, a nice wrist rest, a volume wheel, and even an OLED screen in the top right corner to display gifs and system or keyboard settings.

    If you're looking for a more compact alternative and don't mind ditching some of the extra hardware features on the SteelSeries, like the OLED screen and the wrist rest, the Wooting 60HE is worth a look. Its switches also allow you to dial in precise actuation and reset points. However, the Wooting performs a bit better overall, and it offers some more advanced software options, including the ability to bind multiple inputs to the same key and a separate 'Analog Mode,' where your switches can measure gradual input, allowing them to act as substitutes for gamepad controls or joysticks. The latter feature is great if you're a fan of flight or racing games or any other game that requires an extra level of precision.

    See our review

  7. Best Modular Mechanical Keyboard

    The sturdy GLORIOUS GMMK PRO has been a favorite among gamers and keyboard modification hobbyists since it first launched due to its customization options available at purchase. Like our top pick, the Keychron Q6, you can buy this keyboard fully assembled or as a barebones kit. A configurator tool on the GLORIOUS website lets you choose between different plate materials, stock switches, and a range of PBT keycaps, coiled aviator cables, and top plates, all in a range of colors to suit your setup.

    And the customization doesn't need to end once it's on your desk. This keyboard is designed to be taken apart, tweaked, and modified at any level. You can lube your switches and stabilizers or easily mod the sound-dampening materials inside the case if you're hunting for a certain sound profile. Unfortunately, the variety of customization options can quickly add up in price at checkout, and unlike our top pick, the Keychron Q6, this keyboard doesn't include a set of tools. Still, the GLORIOUS is a highly versatile option for anyone interested in custom mechanical keyboards.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Ducky One 3: The Ducky One 3 comes in a wide variety of colorways and sizes, and it has a hot-swappable printed circuit board, meaning you can put in your favorite switches. However, it can be tricky to find online as you'll need to find a third-party seller, and its out-of-the-box typing experience isn't quite as good as that of the Keychron Q6. See our review
  • Logitech MX Mechanical: The Logitech MX Mechanical is Logitech's flagship mechanical productivity board and a mechanical take on their enduringly popular Logitech MX Keys. It's a great choice if you're already in a Logitech peripheral system, but you can find cheaper keyboards that feel more satisfying to type on, like the Keychron K10. See our review
  • Mountain Everest Max: The Mountain Everest Max is a mechanical keyboard with a modular numpad, media dock, and wrist rest that you can place on or around the keyboard to your liking. This keyboard is customizable, like the Keychron Q6 and the GLORIOUS GMMK PRO. However, its companion software is only available on Windows, and you can only create a limited number of profiles. See our review
  • Epomaker TH80 Pro: The Epomaker TH80 Pro is a standout alternative to the ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 if you need a larger form factor with dedicated arrow keys and a function row and are willing to give up some portability. The Epomaker also offers better overall gaming performance and a better typing experience thanks to its higher-quality PBT keycaps. The downside is that it's typically quite a bit more expensive, and its PBT keycaps don't have shine-through legends. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 29, 2024: We've reviewed our picks for relevance, price, and availability and confirmed they remain the best choices for their categories.

  2. Feb 08, 2024: We've reviewed and confirmed our picks for their relevance, price, and availability. We aren't making any changes to our lineup with this update.

  3. Jan 11, 2024: We've checked all our picks to confirm current pricing and availability but haven't changed our recommendations with this update.

  4. Dec 12, 2023: We've replaced the NuPhy Air75, which was our previous pick for the 'Best Mid-Range Mechanical Keyboard,' with its successor, the NuPhy Air75 V2. It's a bit more expensive but offers considerably better raw performance and improved typing quality.

  5. Oct 24, 2023: We've audited all picks for price, relevance, and stock availability. We haven't modified our current lineup, as all picks continue to represent the best options available for their respective categories.

All Reviews

Whether you're looking for the best compact mechanical keyboard, the best full size mechanical keyboard, or the best TKL mechanical keyboard, the above recommendations are what we think are currently the best options available. We factor in the price (a cheaper product wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no keyboard that is difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our mechanical keyboard reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no product is perfect for every use, most keyboards are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them. Be sure to know your key switch preferences before choosing.