Best Gaming Keyboard Under $100 in 2021
If you’re in the market for a gaming keyboard and you aren’t sure where to look, read our article for our picks of the best gaming keyboards!
- Last Updated May 21, 2021
Gaming is a great way to spend your free time. Do you know what’s not so great, though? Playing a PC game on a terrible keyboard that isn’t designed for gaming. A poor quality gaming keyboard can truly ruin your overall experience.
With that in mind, you’re on the hunt for a new gaming keyboard. You’ve encountered a problem, however. Gaming keyboards can cost a lot of money. Fortunately though, it’s entirely possible to find a good quality gaming keyboard, even if you’re on a budget.
In this article, we’re going to delve into some of the best gaming keyboards under $100 that the marketplace has to offer. We’ve also written a nifty buyer’s guide and a summary on how we’ve chosen the products on this list!
Products at a Glance
How We Picked
Sure, you’re on a budget, but that doesn’t mean you need to settle for a basic keyboard with minimal functionality. In writing this list, we’ve considered a few different things that are important in a gaming keyboard. The first is the price. If you’re on a budget, you don’t really want to be spending more than around $100. We’ve also thought about the type of gaming keyboard, and other cool features such as whether the keyboard is backlit and how many gaming specific keys it has. Naturally, we’ve considered the functionality and durability too.
Best Gaming Keyboard Under $100 in 2021
It can often be difficult to find a truly spectacular keyboard when you’re on a budget. With that being said, you are sure to be very impressed with the Steel Series Apex 5. This keyboard is one of the best gaming keyboards in the market, and it’s certainly worth considering if you want to take your gaming experience to the next level.
The Steel Series Apex 5 will give you an unrivalled gaming performance. With this keyboard, you will be able to play your games flawlessly, without having to worry about your keyboard being too slow. It is incredibly affordable too, which is perfect for a gamer on a budget. You will even get an OLED display. If you are gaming in the night or in low lighting conditions, this really is a must have.
If that wasn’t enough, you will also enjoy the minimalist design. The keyboard looks simple and sleek in design, but the backlighting makes it look really striking in the dark. Perhaps the only real issue with this keyboard is that the keys are incredibly quiet, though this may not be a huge problem for everyone.
The Anne Pro 2 is a keyboard that you may not have heard of before. Even so, it’s a fantastic option that will serve you well for your gaming needs. With a premium feel at a budget price tag, you can’t go wrong with the Anne Pro 2.
There are a lot of things to love about this gaming keyboard. First, this is a 60% keyboard. This means that it’s perfect for when you don’t have a lot of space on your desk but you still need a high quality gaming keyboard. It means you will have additional space to move your mouse too. It’s a mechanical keyboard, resulting in the optimal performance for gaming. It has full RGB backlit key mapping too.
In addition to this, you will also get dual function keys on this keyboard, and it even has Bluetooth and Cable support. It is worth noting, however, that the Bluetooth connectivity can be a little slow. This can sometimes be inconvenient, so you should keep this in mind before you buy it.
If you’re looking for a fantastic wireless keyboard for your gaming setup, you are in luck. The Corsair K63 is a fantastic portable wireless option that’s ideal for when you want to play video games on the move. It has fantastic connectivity too, despite being a wireless option.
The biggest selling point is the strength of the wireless connection. You won’t need to worry about this keyboard suddenly disconnecting when you’re in the middle of a pivotal gaming moment. It comes with a wide range of features too, so you won’t need to worry about losing functionality thanks to the wireless connection.
The keyboard comes with stunning backlighting that’s very helpful for when you’re playing in dim lighting. It’s very comfortable to use too! It is somewhat expensive, but it’s still under the $100 mark so it’s great if you’re on a budget and you have a little extra cash to splurge.
Membrane or mechanical – what is the better choice of keyboard for you? Well, you don’t have to choose when you buy the Razer Ornata V2, because you will get the best of both styles of keyboard!
The first thing to note is how comfortable it is to use this keyboard. It has soft touch keys that are rather enjoyable to use, especially while gaming. The keyboard makes satisfying noises when you tap the keys, though they can take a little while to adjust to. The low actuation is very handy for when you are gaming, too.
The ergonomics on this keyboard are pretty great, and this is partially down to the pleather wrist wrest. This is incredibly comfortable for your wrists while you are typing for long periods of time. It is worth noting however, that the enter key is rather small so you should be aware of that when you are gaming. Also, the keycaps can get a little greasy, so try not to play your video games after eating a McDonalds!
Redragon is a fairly new name on the gaming market. Nevertheless, you can expect a fantastic level of performance from this keyboard. It’s ideal for the budget conscious gamer, since it’s so affordable and yet it’s also reliable.
The keyboard is made out of metal but with a durable plastic covering. It’s comfortable to use, and it’s super durable. You could probably throw the keyboard at a wall and you still won’t get any issues, though this is not recommended if you want your keyboard to last for a long time. It is splash resistant too, so if you spill your drinks you don’t need to worry. The keyboard consists of 87 keys but it doesn’t have a NUMPAD. It’s very portable thanks to the small size, which is ideal if you like to game in different locations. It comes with 12 multimedia control keys too.
One especially great thing about this keyboard is the Red LED backlighting. This looks great, especially in the dark. The travel between the keys is ideal if you are going to be typing for many hours of the day. The keyboard is perfect for left handed gamers too, and the WASD and arrow keys are even interchangeable. The one thing that could be seen as a negative is that the keyboard doesn’t come with macro keys.
Things To Consider
Our Verdict
The best gaming keyboard for your existing rig will depend on what you’re looking to upgrade from, and what you’re hoping to get out of a new keyboard. Are you looking for something with better functionality to improve your performance, or something more for the aesthetics?
The Steel Series Apex 5 offers the best of both worlds, and at a reasonable price, too. If you can handle the slightly slower performance offered by Bluetooth connection, the wireless Anne Pro 2 gaming keyboard is worth your attention.
With the Razer Ornata V2 you can enjoy soft touch keys and comfortable control, whereas the Redragon K552 is the better choice in terms of portability and durability, but ultimately, any of the above options would be a great addition to your gaming set up.