Keyboards, keyboards, keyboards – there were already a lot of different keyboards to choose from but, with hybrid working taking off in recent years, more manufacturers have gotten in on the action and the incumbents have more options than ever. Thankfully, we’re here to help you pick the best keyboard for you.
Whether you work in an office, have your own desk setup at home or like to head out and work at a coffee shop, there is a keyboard for you. Though, there is so much to consider, from many brands to a wide range of choices available within those brands. Then, you’ve got big decisions to make in terms of whether you want a wireless or wired model, a mechanical set of keys, a keyboard made for gaming, a smaller tenkeyless version and many other finer details to decide on.
Never fear though, the team here at Trusted Reviews has tested a whole bunch of keyboards across all of these key categories to decipher which is best for what type of person – as well as uncovering the duff ones that you don’t want to buy. We’ve tested all the big brands, from Asus, Logitech and Razer to lesser-known manufacturers, like Keychron, NuPhy and many more.
With each keyboard, we take an in-depth and expert look at its range of specifications, key features and compatibility. It’s then time to put it to the test, using it in our everyday lives so we can determine just how it will perform when it gets in your hands. Whether that’s discovering a subtle quirk that is only discoverable through actually using the product to working out how long it might take until finger fatigue sets in when you’re typing away.
For this list, we’ve honed in on the best-of-the-best keyboards but if you want a closer look at some key categories, you should consider our Best Gaming Keyboard, Best Mechanical Keyboard and Best Wireless Keyboard guides.
Best mechanical keyboards at a glance
- Best overall keyboard: Logitech MX Keys S – check price
- Best mechanical keyboard: Logitech MX Mechanical – check price
- Best customisable keyboard: Keychron Q1 – check price
- Best gaming keyboard: Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless – check price
- Best mini keyboard: Logitech MX Mechanical Mini – check price
- Best kids keyboard: Logitech Pop Keys – check price
How we test
We use every keyboard we test for at least a week. During that time, we’ll check it for ease of use and put it through its paces by playing a variety of different genres, including FPS, strategy and MOBAs.
We also check each keyboard’s software to see how easy it is to customise and set up.
- Modern, sleek looks
- Comfortable tactile typing experience
- Extensive software functionality
- Expensive for a membrane keyboard
- May not be enough of an upgrade for some
- Great build quality
- Responsive, tactile switches
- Excellent battery life
- Expensive
- Lack of software-based customisation may not please some
- Incredible build quality
- Responsive MX Clear switches
- Powerful software
- Expensive (in some configurations)
- RGB lighting won’t always shine through
- Incredibly sturdy
- Tactile Quiet switches are super-comfortable to use
- Great battery life
- Expensive for a smaller layout keyboard
- Software functionality is a little limited
- Bright, fun design
- Customisable keys
- Seamless switching between three devices
- Long battery life
- Typing accurately can be a struggle
- Keycap options are limited
- Good looks
- Pre-lubed switches feel excellent
- Vibrant RGB lighting
- Fiddly and slow software
Logitech MX Keys S
Best overall keyboard
Pros
- Modern, sleek looks
- Comfortable tactile typing experience
- Extensive software functionality
Cons
- Expensive for a membrane keyboard
- May not be enough of an upgrade for some
Keyboards can be complex beasts but the Logitech MX Keys S is a champion of simplicity – ideal for office workers and productivity users alike.
This isn’t a mechanical keyboard, so stick around to further down this list if that’s a requirement of yours, but this sleek and lightweight set of keys brings its own range of benefits. Despite its trim design, the scissor-acuated keypress is extremely comfortable while managing to bring a satisfying tactility to the party too. These add up to one of the best typing experiences around.
Your joyous typing sessions won’t be cut short either, with 10 days on a single charge. Connectivity issues won’t stop you in your tracks either. You’ll find support for Bluetooth and Logitech’s speedy Logi Bolt receiver to get you connected – and there’s easy switching between three devices as well.
Concerned such a slim keyboard can’t take a licking and keep on ticking? Pay no heed, as the MX Keys shows no signs of flexibility and dons a supremely sturdy frame. Unlike many gaming-focused keyboards, the design isn’t made for catching eyeballs, with a refined and sensible look that won’t look out of place in any office setting.
Admittedly, the MX Keys S has barely changed since the original Logitech MX Keys. However, the main change is the introduction of Options+. Options+ is Logitech’s software that invites you to invest in its Smart Actions, which allow you to create macros to easily get your regular activities done fast. Think opening your frequently used webpages in Chrome or swiftly getting your favoured Spotify playlist going.
Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Logitech MX Keys S review
Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless
Best gaming keyboard
Pros
- Good looks
- Pre-lubed switches feel excellent
- Vibrant RGB lighting
Cons
- Fiddly and slow software
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless managed to score a near faultless 5-star review from us, alongside a Trusted Reviews Highly Recommended badge, so you know you’re in for something good. While the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless doesn’t offer a lot of software customisation, it does come with a lot of choices when it comes to hardware.
This model came kitted out with its own pre-lubricated NX Snow switches. Thanks to the lubrication, typing felt supremely smooth, with no form of scratchiness. This keyboard is also hot-swappable so you can use any switches you like, provided that they conform to the MX standard of a three or five-pin mounting.
The Strix Scope II 96 Wireless provides a solid frame with a plastic chassis and metal top plate, with absolutely no deck flex to speak of. There is no miniature display but there are convenient measures elsewhere, including keycaps with dedicated sub-legends for controlling functions on the Windows Game Bar as well as a multi-function button for controlling media playback and lighting, which is a fantastic addition.
In terms of endurance, the Strix Scope II 96 Wireless is also very impressive; Asus gives this keyboard a quoted battery life of up to 1500-hours when using the 2.4GHz receiver, so long that the RGB lighting is disabled. We didn’t need to charge this keyboard up a second time during our review period, so there is no fear of it suddenly disconnecting during an intensive gaming session.
Download the ROG Armoury Crate software and you’re also welcome to customise the RGB lighting of the keyboard. It can be a little slow to use at times but overall, it offers the opportunity to customise the keyboard however you see fit, even going so far as to remap the keys.
If you’re looking for a truly premium experience then the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless is very easy to recommend. It does come with a high price tag but all the customisation elements and sleek looks combine to make a very versatile keyboard that will work wonders for any gamer.
Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless
Logitech MX Mechanical
Best mechanical keyboard
Pros
- Great build quality
- Responsive, tactile switches
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Expensive
- Lack of software-based customisation may not please some
The Logitech MX Mechanical may not be the best of the best keyboard from the popular lifestyle brand but it’s our top recommendation for a mechanical keyboard available right now.
If you’re after a mechanical keyboard then its likely the keypress that you’ve come here to hear about. You’ll be glad to discover that it’s simply excellent. The Tactile Quiet switches are glorious, and represent Logitech’s take on a low-profile form of Brown switches. The result is a short key travel that’s accompanied by a soft textile piece of feedback as you strike the key down. This may not suit the most competitive of gamers but it’s it true all-rounder with its ability to do the job for productivity users and many a casual gamer.
The great typing is backed up by impressive battery life, strong connectivity capabilities and pleasing key backlighting. First off, Logitech claims a stunning 10 months of charge on this mechanical keyboard if you knock the backlighting on the head. Obviously, we didn’t have the testing time to put this claim to the test but, with the backlight, 15 days is Logitech’s aim and we found that to be pretty accurate. There is also Logitech’s Bolt receiver and Bluetooth Low Energy for a swift and reliable connection.
Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Logitech MX Mechanical review
Keychron Q1 V2
Best customisable keyboard
Pros
- Incredible build quality
- Responsive MX Clear switches
- Powerful software
Cons
- Expensive (in some configurations)
- RGB lighting won’t always shine through
If you’ve dabbled in the world of mechanical and gaming keyboards, you may fancy trying out a dose of customisability. The Keychron Q1 V2 is the best option around.
Before we get into the nooks and crannies of the excellent customisation capabilities of this keyboard, the incredible design needs highlighting. The Q1 V2 is a keyboard that is as sturdy as it is intelligently crafted. It comes in an aluminium case to strictly hold everything together and dons a retro look to its keys that oozes style. With a 75% layout, it isn’t going to take up a ton of your desk either.
The keypress itself is, initially, brought to you through MX Clear keycaps. These heavier takes on the MX Brown switches give you a heavy dose of refreshing tactility. These particular switches may be a tad too slow for gaming but, fear not, we’re here for customisability – so whacking in some lighter switches could see this keyboard to the job for gamers too.
Thankfully, and as you expect with a keyboard made to be customised, you can switch out the keys in a jiffy. It’s got a hot-swappable PCB and there’s no soldering required. You can simply add any MX-style keys as long as they have 3 or 5 pins on the bottom.
Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Keychron Q1 V2 review
Logitech MX Mechanical Mini
Best mini keyboard
Pros
- Incredibly sturdy
- Tactile Quiet switches are super-comfortable to use
- Great battery life
Cons
- Expensive for a smaller layout keyboard
- Software functionality is a little limited
The Logitech MX Mechanical Mini packs in what makes the MX Mechanical great but into a less desk-hogging package – all adding up to a compact package that’s ideal for long typing sessions.
The small form factor is comprised of an extremely convenient layout and a sturdy build quality, comfortably standing up to the odd knock or nick. The trusty build means there is no flex to be found.
The Tactile Quiet switches on the MX Mechanical Mini offers that pleasing travel and crunchy feedback that fans of mechanical keyboards are after, without keeping the neighbours awake. There’s a handy backlight too for that extra visibility when working late.
Like its larger sibling, this keyboard is touted as having 10 months battery life when that backlight is switched off and we found it’d last around two weeks with it on.
Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Logitech MX Mechanical Mini review
Logitech POP Keys
Best kids keyboard
Pros
- Bright, fun design
- Customisable keys
- Seamless switching between three devices
- Long battery life
Cons
- Typing accurately can be a struggle
- Keycap options are limited
Keyboards are boring, right? Wrong. There are plenty of interesting picks on this list to dismiss such a notion already but the Logitech POP Keys is here to convince you if you’re still not sold.
We’ve chosen the POP Keys as our choice for a great kids keyboard and that’s because if a keyboard this eye-catching isn’t enough to get them excited about creating their own desk setup then what will – also, kids love emojis.
The design is the key selling point here, offering a range of pastel colour options that offer a further vibrant mix of colours within a single keyboard. It’s a stunning combination of modern and retro design, breathing life into a typewriter-esque style. It’s a great keyboard to introduce your child into the world of customisable keys too, with a set of five emoji keycaps attached to the device but four extra in the box to be swapped out at their leisure.
The Logitech POP Keys isn’t just for kids, with the ability to fit nicely into any colourful desk setup no matter your age. But, its typing experience is made to be particularly fun so it may not suit those looking for a serious, high-performance keyboard. The keypress is joyfully silly, with a comical amount of travel to these mechanical switches – inviting a very loud clacking sound that, again, harkens back to typewriter vibes. Despite the sound, the typing is comfortable overall and it really is fun to use.
Reviewer: Hannah Davies
Full Review: Logitech POP Keys review
We also considered…
FAQs
Our favourite keyboard the Logitech MX Keys S, is great for working. It offers a long battery life and a comfortable typing experience while looking professional too.
If you’re considering not picking a full-size keyboard then you must be conscious of space. So, a 60% keyboard could suit you far better, and a smaller keyboard doesn’t typically mean reduced performance. They are a great space-saving option.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
