Cheap gaming keyboards 2012

Unfortunately, it doesn't have any backlighting, so it will be hard to see the keys if you need to use them in a dark environment.

While you can remap some function keys through the Logitech Options software, it's only available on Windows and macOS, so you can't do that with mobile software. Regardless, it's still the best cheap keyboard for mobile devices. Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best cheap keyboards for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.

If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our keyboard reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no keyboard is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them. Get insider access. Best Keyboards. Keyboard Recommendations. View all keyboard recommendations. All Keyboard Reviews Logitech.

MX Keys. G Special Edition. G Prodigy. G PRO Keyboard. POP Keys. BlackWidow V3. Huntsman Mini. Cynosa V2. Huntsman V2. Huntsman Elite. Cynosa Chroma. Ornata Chroma. Huntsman Tournament Edition. Ornata V2. K RGB. Apex Pro. Apex 7 TKL. Apex 3. Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Apex 3 TKL. Magic Keyboard Magic Keyboard for iPad Alloy Origins. Alloy Core RGB. Alloy Origins Alloy Elite 2. Alloy FPS Pro. One 2 Mini V1. One 2. One 2 SF. Cheaper keyboards usually come with membrane switches.

If a super cheap keyboard includes mechanical switches, they're probably knock-off Cherry switches. That doesn't mean they're guaranteed to fail, but they wont be backed by the same level of acclaim that top keyboard switch manufacturers are. Cheaper keyboards will have an overall different feel than your standard Razer and SteelSeries keyboards.

But don't worry, these great-value gaming keyboards will still feel good under your fingertips, and your wallet will thank you for it.

If you want to know more about switches, you can read our detailed explanation of mechanical key switches. Actuation Point The height to which a key needs to be pressed before it actuates and sends an input signal to a device.

Clicky A switch that delivers an audible click every time it's pressed, generally right around the point of actuation. Debounce A technique to ensure that only one input registers every time a key is pressed.

Hysteresis The result of the actuation point and reset point in a switch being misaligned. This generally means a key needs to be lifted off of further than normal before it can be actuated again. Linear A switch that moves directly up and down, generally delivering smooth keystrokes without noise or tactile feedback.

Mechanical Keyboard A keyboard built around individual switches for each key rather than a membrane sheath mounted on a PCB.

Membrane Keyboard A keyboard on which all the keycaps are mounted on a membrane sheath; when a key is pressed, a rubber dome depresses and pushes against the sheath and PCB beneath, actuating the key. Stem The component of a switch on which the keycaps are mounted on a mechanical keyboard. Switch The physical component of a mechanical keyboard beneath the keycaps on a mechanical keyboard. The switch determines how a key is actuated, whether or not it provides audible or tactile feedback with each press, and more.

He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. Now he's back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.

Included in this guide: 1. Skill KM Size: TenKeyLess. Backlights: White. Passthroughs: None. Media Controls: Integrated. Wristrest: None. Reasons to avoid - No numpad. Specifications Switch: Proprietary Blue.

Magic Keyboard for iPad Alloy Origins. Alloy Core RGB. Alloy Origins Alloy Elite 2. Alloy FPS Pro. One 2 Mini V1. One 2. One 2 SF. Mecha Mini V2. Shine 7. MIYA Pro. One 2 Mini V2. Vulcan Pro. Vulcan AIMO. Vulcan TKL. View all keyboard reviews. Latest Keyboard Activity. View all keyboard activity. How We Test We purchase our own keyboards and put them under the same test bench, so that you can compare the results easily. Guide Mechanical Switches. View all keyboard articles.

Keyboard Tools Compare keyboards. Having trouble deciding between two keyboards? This tool will clearly show you the differences. Table tool. Vote for the next keyboard we buy. Want to see us review a specific keyboard?

Here you can vote for our next review. Graph tool. Compare graphs from our keyboard test results in order to make a clearer and more informed decision. Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available. Home Keyboard Best Budget Mechanical. Connectivity Wired. Connectivity Wireless. See our review Keychron K6: The Keychron K6 is a compact keyboard similar to the Obinslab Anne Pro 2, but it doesn't have onboard memory, and it doesn't come with companion software, so you can't set macros.

See our review Logitech K The Logitech K is a basic mechanical keyboard that doesn't cost much, but it doesn't have programmable keys like the Logitech G See our review Keychron C1: The Keychron C1 is designed primarily for office work and productivity, so it doesn't have macro-programmable keys like the Logitech G Unfortunately, it has higher latency and isn't nearly as versatile.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have hot-swappable switches like the Z, and it only has red backlighting. All Reviews Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best cheap mechanical keyboards for most people.