You probably use your keyboard more than any other component of your computer. Your keyboard should be easy on the hands, entertaining to type on, and, above all else, useful. It might be challenging to decide on a market when so many options are available.
For gamers, even a millisecond is crucial for determining victory or defeat. So having a gaming keyboard that is both quick and responsive might be the difference between winning and losing at the highest levels of competition. Here are the fastest gaming keyboards currently available.
8. SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless
Speed: 2.0 ms
Switch Type: OmniPoint Adjustable Mechanical Switch
Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $239.99
photo source: GadgetMatch
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless is a tiny, wireless variant of the renowned SteelSeries Apex Pro. This keyboard can alter each key’s actuation point exactly as the original did. This version, however, takes this concept one step further by allowing you to assign two inputs to a single keypress: one that activates with a light press of the key and another that activates with a heavier press.
Double shot PBT keycaps, Quantum 2.0 Wireless capability, and SteelSeries Engine software elevate the performance of this keyboard. According to SteelSeries, this keyboard supports Windows, PlayStation, Xbox consoles, and the Mac.
Did You Know:
This keyboard is also compatible with Android, ChromeOS, iOS, and iOS devices.
7. Wooting 60HE
Speed: 1.0 ms Switch Type: Lekker Switch Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $175
photo source: Wooting
Numerous gaming keyboards begin to feel similar after testing. However, this is not the case. The Wooting 60HE is immediately noticeable upon handling it.
The Wooting 60HE detects complete switch motion with an accuracy of 0.1 mm from beginning to end. Each key generates an analog signal that may be used to activate various functions that enhance typing and gaming. There is no room for negotiation regarding what a standard keyboard offers.
Wooting also provides excellent cloud-based software compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems, and the application does not require hard drive space.
As with any 60% keyboard, though, you will likely require a dual keyboard arrangement to satisfy both your gaming and office demands with this tiny design.
Did You Know:
Wooting makes this gaming keyboard in batches, which might result in restricted availability and longer wait periods than when purchasing a keyboard online or at a local electronics store.
6. Steelseries Apex Pro
Speed: 0.54 ms Switch Type: OmniPoint Adjustable Mechanical Switch Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $145.83
photo source: RTings
Aluminum alloy is used in the Apex Pro’s construction for increased durability and sturdiness. In addition, you may choose from various switches for your keyboard, including linear reds, clicky blues, tactile browns, and, most significantly, OmniPoint switches, which let you adjust the actuation point from 0.4 mm to 3.6 mm.
The Apex Pro has five user-defined settings and a 32-bit Arm CPU. In addition, SteelSeries’ OmniPoint switch guarantees the keys for 100 million presses, double the norm for mechanical gaming keyboards.
The Apex Pro is still quite speedy, with a polling rate of 1000 Hz and a latency of 0.7 ms. Given that this keyboard is several years old, it’s remarkable that it’s still so quick in 2023. Again, this will not be a deal-breaker for casual players, but high-level competitive gamers will likely pass due to the availability of speedier keyboards.
Did You Know:
Once, the Steelseries Apex Pro was the fastest available gaming keyboard. However, with the emergence of speedier keyboards in comparable price ranges, there is little to recommend it over the Razer Huntsman or the Pulsar Nova, which are both quicker and cheaper.
5. SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL 2023 Edition
Speed: 0.54 ms Switch Type: OmniPoint Adjustable Mechanical Switch Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $199.99
photo source: TechRadar
The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL 2023 Edition remains one of the most popular gaming keyboards among professional gamers. This is partially due to the 0.54 ms reaction time.
The new OmniPoint 2.0 switches utilize cutting-edge magnetic sensors for immediate, contactless keystroke activation, giving you what you desire: speed. On paper, 0.54 milliseconds is not the lowest latency for the fastest gaming keyboard. But judging the speed of a gaming keyboard is not necessarily a matter of latency.
The actuation point is also significant. The shorter the distance your finger must travel to record a key press, the quicker the performance of the gaming keyboard.
The first thing you will notice about the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is that it does not have a stylish, edgy, or artistic appearance. In contrast, its design errs on the side of being sturdy and useful rather than attractive, which is not always a drawback. However, with its soft-touch magnetic wrist rest, configurable OLED display, and RGB lights, attempts are made to give flare to an otherwise plain appearance.
Did You Know:
The wireless version of this gaming keyboard is available, but if every millisecond counts, the wired version is recommended, saving you money.
4. EVGA Z20
Speed: 0.25 ms Switch Type: Optical Mechanical Switch Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $69.99
photo source: ThinkComputers
The EVGA Z20 mechanical gaming keyboard is exceptional. It includes a solid construction, excellent ergonomics, and a removable wrist rest. Additionally, it boasts unusually low latency and a stated polling rate of 4000 Hz; however, we have not yet tested these features. Finally, linear or clicky Light Strike LK Optical switches are offered.
Its extra features include full RGB illumination, a 3.5mm audio connector, a USB passthrough, a volume dial, and a time-of-flight sensor that can be programmed to do actions based on your proximity to the keyboard. Unfortunately, its strong gamer aesthetic and extensive branding may bother certain individuals.
The EVGA is one of the few keyboards in 2023, with a polling rate greater than the old norm of 1000 Hz. However, the EVGA’s 4000Hz polling rate is slower than the industry-leading 8000Hz polling rate offered by Razer and Corsair. Nevertheless, with a reaction time of 0.25 milliseconds, comparable to the Corsair K100, you will receive immediate results, allowing you to remain at the forefront of competitive performance.
Did You Know:
Like the Corsair K100, this keyboard features five programmable macro buttons along the left side and a set of media keys.
3. Corsair K100 RGB
Speed: 0.25 ms Switch Type: CORSAIR OPX Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $229
photo source: Corsair
The Corsair K100 RGB comes with a removable cushioned wrist rest and is very well-made and pleasant to use. It’s compatible with Corsair’s iCUE software, allowing you to configure the RGB illumination and assign macros to each key. In addition, it includes several additional features, including dedicated media buttons, a volume control wheel, an iCUE wheel with multiple functions, and six dedicated macro keys.
In addition, Corsair has added five programmable macro keys to the left side of the keyboard. This makes the keyboard bigger and might take some getting used to, but once configured, and it opens many additional capabilities.
Cherry MX Speed switches are featured in the new Corsair OPX linear switches, which may offer a different typing experience than the switches on our model. It also boasts a maximum polling rate of 8000 Hz, providing a snappy gaming experience with reduced latency.
Did You Know:
The Corsair was the first to market with a polling rate greater than 1KHz, and the 4000Hz (8000Hz after the update) polling offered on the K100 will provide an extremely responsive gaming experience.
2. ROCCAT Vulcan Pro
Speed: 0.2 ms Switch Type: ROCCAT Titan Switch Optical Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $199.99
photo source: ROCCAT
The ROCCAT Vulcan Pro features the necessities for a fast gaming keyboard, including a response time of 0.2 milliseconds and a low actuation point of 1.5 millimeters. This keyboard is reinforced with a layer of aircraft-grade aluminum, making it incredibly sturdy and durable. It can withstand an astounding 100 million keystrokes, double the industry norm. Key stabilizer technology eliminates oscillation to guarantee that the keys are stable and responsive.
The low-profile design allows you to keep your hands flat to prevent strain, even after extended periods of use, while the mixer-style audio controls keep the fundamentals close at hand. The AIMO lighting engine from ROCCAT generates a vibrant illumination style without any setup.
The ROCCAT Vulcan Pro employs a dial instead of a bar or keys for volume control. As a result, it is easier to use and more entertaining than the alternatives, although it slightly alters the low-profile appearance of this keyboard.
Did You Know:
You can access an extra set of macros by long-pressing the Caps Lock key. The remaining keys can be programmed to do specific functions but cannot be used to program macros.
1. Razer Huntsman V2
Speed: 0.2 ms Switch Type: Razer™ Analog Optical Switch Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $149.99
photo source: Razer
Combined with a 0.2-millisecond reaction speed, low 1.2 mm actuation, and 8000 Hz polling rate, the Razer Huntsman V2 is the fastest keyboard on the market you can buy. The latest keyboard from Razer, the Huntsman V2, focuses on speed. It is equipped with optical-mechanical switches that theoretically can register keystrokes much more quickly than conventional mechanical switches.
Then, its polling rate of 8,000 Hz enables it to communicate the keystroke to your computer instantly. The keyboard’s reaction speed is lightning-fast, 0.2 milliseconds.
Additionally, the Razer Huntsman V2 provides excellent adaptability. In addition to being available in full-size and TKL sizes, it features linear and clicky switches. The Huntsman V2 arrives with a USB-A converter if you use an older motherboard or if all your USB-C ports are already in use.
Did You Know:
The keycaps are constructed from a thin layer of PBT plastic and have double-shot writing, allowing the backlighting to show through.