Best Mechanical Keyboard Under $100 in 2021
Pick up the best mechanical keyboard all for under $100
- Last Updated Mar 10, 2021
When it comes to computing, you only ever want the best equipment. You want something that’s fantastic, but what about if you’re on a budget? Is it even possible to buy great equipment when you don’t have lots of money to spend?
If you’re in the market for a great mechanical keyboard, you will be pleased to know that you can get one even if you’re on a tight budget. In fact, you can get one that’s cheaper than $100. Pretty crazy, right? How exactly do you find one, though? Read our article to find out!
Products at a Glance
How We Picked
Buying the right mechanical keyboard for you can be tricky, especially if you’re on a tight budget. There are so many different things to think about. Luckily, we’ve thought about it so that you don’t have to.
For starters, we’ve checked if the keyboard is fit for purpose. Is it good for office work, or is it better for gaming and basic entertainment?
We’ve considered how comfortable it is to use the keyboard. We’ve also considered the type of switches on the keyboard, and how durable it is. Most importantly of all, we’ve thought about how much the mechanical keyboard costs and whether it will give you good value for your money.
Best Mechanical Keyboard Under $100 in 2021
HyperX makes some pretty incredible Alloy keyboards for gamers, and the HyperX Alloy Origins Core keyboard is just one in their great lineup. This is a sturdy keyboard that doesn’t have a whole lot of bells and whistles, yet it is second to none in terms of performance.
The first thing worth noting about this keyboard is the sheer simplicity. Some mechanical keyboards have a million buttons that can take a long time to get used to – that is not the case with this one. It’s nothing fancy in terms of function, but it still works incredibly well. It makes it especially well suited to office work and daily computing tasks.
In addition to this, the keyboard features a sleek design that will fit into any environment. It’s a little bit heavy, but this is to be expected from a product that’s built this well. The keyboard features vivid RGB lighting, which is especially handy for working during the night. For the sake of your comfort, the keyboard has two-step adjustable feet. These allow you to change the board in up to three different angles – as high as 11 degrees. This is plenty of adjustability, making it very suitable for the vast majority of users.
The keyboard features linear red or aqua switches, but if you get the larger version of this keyboard you can get blue switches. They work incredibly well, and the keys make a satisfying sound when you press them. Of course, it does cost a little bit extra to buy this keyboard, but it’s worth splashing a little bit of extra cash for if you have it.
Looking for a truly spectacular keyboard for gaming? Look no further than the Razer BlackWidow Elite. This is a wired keyboard that’s durable and effective, both for gaming and office use. This is an innovative keyboard that has a lot to offer.
Right off the bat, it’s hard not to notice the stunning design. It consists of black plastic which is fairly simple, but it has raised keycaps that make it truly stand out. When you combine this with the high quality RGB backlighting, it’s truly a sight to behold. If you examine the keyboard further, you will notice that there are media controls positioned on the left. With these, you can change your songs or any media that’s playing with just the press of a button. It’s pretty handy if you’re in the middle of playing a video game or you’re working and don’t have the time to manually open your music player.
The keyboard is somewhat large, though it doesn’t take up an excessive amount of space – it measures 17.5 x 6.5 inches. You will also get a standard wrist rest with it too for extra comfort. The keys are highly responsive, and very durable too. The software can sometimes be temperamental though, which is something to keep in mind.
With a great RGB backlit keyboard and a comfortable design, the SteelSeries Apex 5 combines functionality with an attractive price tag. How could you refuse?
The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a hybrid mechanical keyboard that has 104 keys. It measures 1.4 by 17.4 by 5.5 inches, and it features a sleek dark grey appearance that looks great. These keys are especially great for allowing the RGB lighting to look extra good. The keyboard features one solitary media control button, which is better than nothing but it would still be better to have more functionality in this respect. There’s also a volume roller so you can change the volume of your PC with ease. The keyboard also features an OLED display, so you can change your settings and lighting with ease.
The keyboard is a good choice if you want a high quality gaming keyboard, and it’s fantastic for portability – it weighs a mere 2 pounds! The keys are a little bit too quiet in many respects though, which may be unnerving for many people that are used to their keys making more noise.
The Corsair K60 RGB Pro SE mechanical keyboard is everything that you could ever want in a keyboard. It’s durable, simple to use and effective. It also comes at a very affordable price, which is always a bonus.
Of course, this isn’t all that there is to love about this keyboard. It features Cherry’s Viola switches which is already a fantastic selling point, but it is thanks to these budget switches that the keyboard is as affordable as it is. Typing on the keyboard is incredibly comfortable and you will get quick actuation. As a whole though, the keyboard is very basic, and this is not a bad thing! It’s not particularly large which is great since it doesn’t take up a lot of space on the desk either.
The keyboard also allows you to alter the RGB brightness – you can even choose between 11 different premade RGB lighting effects, such as watercolor, rainbow wave and more. This is ideal if you’re a big fan of extra customizability. It doesn’t have any onboard memory that you can use though, which is a bit of a bummer since it means you can’t have customized macros built into the memory of the keyboard.
Looking for a high quality gaming keyboard that’s also wireless? You are sure to love the Logitech G613 Lightspeed mechanical keyboard. This versatile mechanical keyboard functions well in a vast range of situations, and is especially handy if you’re not a fan of having cables covering your entire desk.
The keyboard features Romer-G tactile switches, and these are a great choice for gaming. The travel distance between the keys is short, making it a good choice for typists or writers that want to get their work done quickly. It’s great in terms of ergonomics thanks to the wrist rest and the incline settings available.
In addition to this, the keyboard doesn’t make a lot of noise when you’re typing either, which is handy if you’re in an office environment where people don’t like the sound of noisy keys! It works with a wide variety of devices too, as you can connect it either using a dongle or by using Bluetooth connectivity. The only real issue is that it works on disposable batteries, which can mean that it’s pretty expensive to run.
Things To Consider
Our Verdict
Mechanical keyboards are handy for a wide variety of reasons, from the customizability they offer to how comfortable they are to use. Thankfully, to reap these benefits, you don’t need to break the bank. In fact, all you need is $100 or less to get a fantastic mechanical keyboard to enjoy, no matter what you’re doing on your computer.
In our opinion, if you’re looking for the absolute best mechanical keyboard under $100, you should pick up the HyperX Alloy Origins Core. It not only has great overall aesthetics and RGB lighting, it also boasts fantastic switches for top tier performance in both gaming and typing.