The keyboard is one of the most important peripherals for your PC since it's one of two accessories you'll use the most — the other being the trusty mouse. Keyboards come in all shapes and sizes with different switches, form factors, and capabilities. Here, we're looking at the best mechanical keyboards.

What is the best mechanical keyboard?

So, what is a mechanical keyboard and why should you buy one? That's a very good question! Keyboards can either use a more affordable rubber dome or membrane platform where a key pushes onto a silicone material to connect to a circuit and register a keystroke. These often provide mushy feedback due to the soft materials used and can require some degree of force to actuate keystrokes.

Mechanical keyboards take things up a notch by utilizing individual physical switches. Each key has its own spring-based mechanism or optical light induction underneath called a switch. These switches can be customized by the manufacturer to offer different types. Some may offer softer feedback and quicker response while others may be clicker and require a little more force to actuate.

A great benefit of using mechanical or optical switches is the lifespan of the device. Each switch would be rated for upwards of 100 million keystrokes, which is a lot of gaming and/or typing. Some keyboards are preassembled and only require some maintenance, whilst other keyboards can be purchased as kits or support the hot-swapping of switches, allowing you to effectively mod your mechanical keyboard.

That all said, we're going to round up some of the best mechanical keyboards out there, including optical and mod-friendly options!

Best mechanical keyboard: Keychron Q5

The Keychron Q5 is an excellent mechanical keyboard. You can purchase this 96% typing machine as a preassembled accessory that's ready to go or as a standalone base kit where you can add your own keycaps, switches, and other components. The best part is the ability to customize the keyboard to your heart's content, even if purchased as a preassembled kit.

It's also available in two variants, one with a control wheel knob in the top-right corner of the keyboard and the other without. Regardless of which version and kit you choose, you'll receive a premium keyboard with some high-end features, including a double gasket design to help reduce sound from the force of key stroke actuation.

Keychron went all-out with its open-source too with the inclusion of full QMK and VIA support. The open-source firmware essentially allows for endless possibilities for keyboard layouts, shortcuts, backlight effects, the control knob, and more. There's also backlighting, PCB stabilizers, aluminum and steel build, 1000Hz polling rate, and much more, making the rather high asking price well worth it.

Best tenkeyless (TKL) mechanical keyboard: Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series

Corsair is another brand that makes some excellent keyboards and the Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion Series is quite the tenkeyless (TKL) option. As well as the attractive aesthetic, the K70 RGB TKL Champion Series offers a tournament mode switch so you know you're looking at a gaming machine.

A detachable USB-C cable is a nice addition that allows you to use your own cable and replace it down the road should it become damaged. Being a Champion Series product, this keyboard was designed for and tested by esports gamers. There's a premium 8,000Hz polling rate, which is far faster than what other mechanical keyboards offer.

Based on a durable aluminum frame, you'll be able to carry this K70 with you to LAN gaming events without issue. The RGB-illuminated keys also create one killer light show for when you're ready to start your session. Other highlights include precision-molded PBT double-shot keycaps, making this one of the better TKL options.

Best 65% mechanical keyboard: Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

There's not really much to dislike with the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed. It's an incredible piece of kit and is a close contender for our best mechanical keyboard spot. Razer has been making keyboards for a good few years now and the company knows a thing or two about making great ones. The BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed is a super-compact 65% keyboard.

Razer offers either its in-house Green or Yellow switches for the BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, depending on whether you're after silent typing or gaming with some tactile feedback. Since this is a HyperSpeed keyboard, you can make full use of it without wires, chasing the internal battery using the USB-C port, which doubles up as a tether for using the keyboard without wireless capabilities.

And since this is a Razer keyboard, there's plenty of RGB lighting. The company's software package, Razer Synapse, can be used to customize the BlackWidow V3 Mini HYperSpeed, including macros, key mapping, and profiles.

Best 60% mechanical keyboard: HyperX Alloy Origins 60

When you're wanting to save surface space or fancy something a little different, a 60% mechanical keyboard may be what you require. We view the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 as one of the best 60% mechanical keyboards available. A 60% keyboard essentially removes the Numpad, navigational cluster, and a function row to create a more compact keyboard.

The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is an amazing gaming keyboard for the price. When switching from a full-size keyboard, it may take some time to grow accustomed to the smaller size. The Alloy Origins 60 also doesn't have all the high-end premium features we've seen in other keyboards in this connection.

Still, it makes good use of an aluminum body and has all the flashy RGB lighting options you'll ever need. Should you be on the hunt for a keyboard that strikes a good balance between performance, value, and aesthetic, you could do much worse than the HyperX Alloy Origins 60.

Best gaming mechanical keyboard: SteelSeries Apex Pro

For the best gaming mechanical keyboard, there are countless choices since this is the sub-category of keyboards that current mechanical switches were originally marketed for. The Steelseries Apex Pro was among the first keyboards that allowed you to alter the actuation point — where the keystroke is registered by the keyboard.

This can be achieved per key and set between 0.4-3.6mm. For instance, if you're an FPS player and want quick movement action, you could set WASD keys to 0.4mm and all other keys to 3.6mm. There's also an OLED display that can be used to load a GIF or other image, as well as manage all the keyboard settings without using SteelSeries software.

The SteelSeries Apex Pro looks the part, performs well in games and when typing up text and has some highlight features not found on other mechanical keyboards.

Best wireless mechanical keyboard: Logitech G915

The Logitech G915 is our favorite wireless mechanical keyboard. It's full-sized, including the Numpad, all function key rows, and is packed with features. You've got macro keys, multi-device pairing for easy switching, RGB lighting, and LIGHTSPEED wireless capabilities. Because of the low-profile key switches, you'll be able to use this keyboard without a wrist rest, if preferred.

Because of the low latency wireless connection, the Logitech G915 is also great for gaming. Three Logitech low-profile switches are available when purchasing the keyboard: GL Tactile, GL Linear, or GL Clicky. The internal battery pack can last for up to 30 hours and only takes a few minutes to charge to full.

Best ergonomic mechanical keyboard: Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB

This is a special keyboard as you can see from the product image. The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB is a mechanical keyboard with a split design, joined together through a single cable. Thanks to this design, you can position the two halves of the keyboard to create a more comfortable typing or gaming experience.

It's not all about ergonomics, however. This split design would also allow a streamer to position the microphone in the middle for better acoustics and to limit noise from keystrokes. A choice of Cherry MX switches are available, depending on personal preferences for feedback and switch mechanics. And yes, there's RGB lighting!

Interestingly, the Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB has game keys, quick remap support, a 1ms response time, NKRO, a game mode, and profile support.

Best mod-friendly mechanical keyboard: DROP CTRL

When searching around for a custom mechanical keyboard to create your own, you'll notice just how many kits are available. We'd recommend going for the DROP CTRL if your budget can stretch it. It's available as a barebones kit or with preinstalled switches. You will only be able to install three-pin switches with the DROP CTRL and not five-pin, but this is a minor complaint if you're starting from scratch.

It's a well-designed mechanical keyboard with an all-aluminum chassis. The choice of switches that can be shipped alongside the keyboard includes Halo Clear, Halo True, Kaihua Box White, Cherry MX Blue RGB, and Cherry MX Brown RGB. Measuring 368mm by 140mm and 44mm thick, you can opt for a version of the DROP CTRL with a cover to help mitigate the RGB lighting.

There are better custom mechanical keyboards out there, but they're also considerably more expensive. If you want to simply get up and running to test the waters of modding your own keyboard, the DROP CTRL is a solid place to start.

Best mechanical keyboard for work: Razer Pro Type Ultra

Razer is famous for its gaming accessories, but did you know the company also made a mechanical keyboard for work? Enter the Razer Pro Type Ultra. So, what differentiates this keyboard from the rest of Razer's catalog? It's all the little touches. Let's start with the design. Just look at it.

Then there are foldable feet, a wireless dongle storage bay, a wrist rest, soft-touch keycaps, and Razer's own impressive Yellow switches. These are silent, but offer a brilliant typing experience with enough feedback to keep you smoking your average words-per-minute score.

It's an interesting take on Razer's gaming keyboard architecture, but it simply works. If you're a big fan of the brand, but want something a little less gamer-centric, the Razer Pro Type Ultra is your go-to keyboard. (It's still great for gaming!)

Best budget mechanical keyboard: ROYAL KLUDGE RK61

It's possible to enjoy decent typing and gaming experiences with a budget-friendly mechanical keyboard, so long as you know which ones to avoid — there are a few terrible mechanical keyboards out there. The ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 offers excellent value. It's a 60% mechanical keyboard that can be purchased with a few different switches preinstalled.

And yes, I said preinstalled. This keyboard may be affordable, but you can hot-swap the switches for aftermarket options. You've got all the RGB lighting you'll ever need and there's even a wireless option if you'd rather not be tethered to your PC. Interestingly, this keyboard supports five-pin switches, something that even more expensive mod-friendly keyboards fail to have.

Best Mechanical Keyboards to buy in 2022: Final Thoughts

There's no shortage of mechanical keyboards on the market, but these are the ones we think are worth considering. From a barebones kit like the DROP CTRL to a full-sized gaming monster like the SteelSeries Apex Pro, we've added plenty of options to the list. The Keychron Q5 is a great option to consider mainly because it's an absolute joy to use and can be modded. Those leaning towards a small keyboard can check out the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, which we think is one of the best 60% keyboards out there.

The good thing about a lot of these keyboards is that you can customize them — either while purchasing before checkout or manually by yourself after you get them. You can truly fine-tune your experience by adding different types of switches and styles of keycaps. We recommend checking out our beginner's guide to mechanical keyboards to learn more. Alternatively, you can also join our XDA Computing Forums to discuss anything and everything related to computing including mechanical keyboards.