Top 10 Best Gaming Keyboard under $100

Finding a good keyboard for your perfect gaming setup may be quite challenging. There are numerous offerings on the market that can please you with different features. Mechanical and membrane keyboards, RGB lighting configurations, additional buttons, and extra features – all of this stuff may be overwhelming. Besides, the price tag varies greatly as well. It is hard to pinpoint a device you need without overpaying for it.

We’ve compiled a list from which you can choose the best gaming keyboard under 100. This article includes different devices that may fit any taste and preference. Whether you are a competitive gamer or an enjoyer of the gaming aesthetics – there is a keyboard for you.

List of the best gaming keyboards under 100:

1. SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid
2. HyperX Alloy Origins
3. Logitech G413
4. Redragon K552
5. Logitech G613 LIGHTSPEED
6. Razer BlackWidow Elite
7. Razer Cynosa V2
8. Thermaltake Tt eSports Poseidon Z
9. Aukey KM-G12
10. Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum

SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid

Top 1 of the Best Gaming Keyboard

Technical parameters:

• Dimensions – 5.51 x 17.52 x 1.59 inches
• Weight – 2.04 lbs
• Connectivity – USB
• Polling rate – 1000 Hz
• Key number – 104

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Apex 5 Hybrid is a prime example of a good gaming keyboard for an affordable price. The core of the keyboard is the hybrid switches that imitate mechanical input. They are precise and sturdy. At the same time, the buttons are easy to press, and they do not make much noise. Besides, it has a wrist rest embedded in the design. You won’t be tired after long gaming sessions. If you are not a fan of clicking response, then Apex 5 Hybrid is a device for you.

In terms of extra features, Apex 5 Hybrid has an OLED screen, a scrolling wheel, and individually-lit buttons. The elements are programmable and may enhance your gaming experience or just be a nice, aesthetic addition. The keyboard has the inner memory for programming buttons, setting macros, or customizing the RGB lighting. It is the best rgb keyboard under 100 by SteelSeries. SteelSeries software is compatible with both Windows and macOS.

HyperX Alloy Origins

Best Compact Design

Technical parameters:

• Dimensions – 17.4 x 5.2 x 1.5 inches
• Weight – 2.38 lbs
• Connectivity – USB
• Polling rate – 1000 Hz
• Key number – 104

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HyperX Alloy Origins may look like a keyboard of dreams. Well, in some regards, it is. It has linear switches with a short pre-travel distance. That makes the pressing actuate and light in response. HyperX is a mechanical keyboard that makes each click distinctive and audible. You will have the precise pressing and safety from accidental сlicks. The HyperX’s mechanical switches are sturdy and can withstand more than 80 million keystrokes. This best mechanical keyboard under 100 will serve you long and good.

Besides the significant durability, HyperX Alloy Origins has the other luxuries of a gaming keyboard. It has a full RGB backlight and macro-programming for all of its keys. Concerning the downsides, its software is available only for Windows. The keyboard is wired-only, which may be another inconvenience for someone. Aside from that, HyperX Alloy Origins is a great mechanical keyboard.

Logitech G413

Best Minimal Design Balanced with a Full Set of Features

Technical parameters:

• Dimensions – 1.4 x 17.5 x 5.1 inches
• Weight – 2.43 lbs
• Connectivity – USB
• Polling rate – 1000 Hz
• Key number – 104

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Logitech provides a wide variety of gaming devices. G413 is a compromise variant for gamers who seek great performance above everything else. The keyboard has a minimalistic design and won’t take much space on your desk. At the same time, it gives you all the benefits of a mechanical keyboard. Logitech G413 is sturdy and made of metal alloys. It makes the keyboard serve you longer even after the most intense gaming sessions.

Besides, it has additional keys on top of the regular configuration. Function keys let you control volume, play, and pause, skip track, mute. You may enter game mode and toggle lighting with the function buttons too. However, there is nothing fancy above that. The keyboard has red backlighting. It is compatible with the G-Hub software that provides a small degree of customization for the keyboard.

Still, G413 provides one of the finest typing experiences. It is precise, sturdy, and has a distinctive mechanical feeling that can’t be confused with anything else.

Redragon K552

Best for the Money

Technical parameters:

• Dimensions – 13.94 x 4.86 x 1.46 inches
• Weight – 1.98 lbs
• Connectivity – wired
• Polling rate – 1000 Hz
• Key number – 87

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Redragon K552 is a fine mechanical keyboard that comes with the sturdy frame and elegance of a gaming device. It has a simple but functional design that serves its purpose – being comfortable for gaming. The keyboard is made of a mix of metal and hard plastic. It gives the device a robust feeling with no signs of flex. The keycaps, made of doubleshotABS, feel stable and nice to touch as well. Outemu Blue mechanical switches do not require too much force to actuate. They give good feedback and have a short pre-travel distance. Besides, you will have distinctly audible feedback, characteristic for mechanical devices.

The keyboard has anti-ghosting technology that prevents keys from blocking after simultaneous pressing. Besides, Redragon K552 has a conflict-free n-Key Rollover. These features grant precision during even the most intense gaming sessions.

At the top of it, the keyboard has a fully customizable RGB backlight that includes 18 different modes. It is the best keyboard under 100 available of this brand.

Logitech G613 LIGHTSPEED

Best Wireless Keyboard under $100

Technical parameters:

• Dimensions – 18.82 x 8.5 x 1.33 inches
• Weight – 3.10 lbs
• Connectivity – wireless
• Polling rate – 1,000Hz in LIGHTSPEED. 125 Hz in Bluetooth
• Key number – 120

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Logitech G613 LIGHTSPEED is a solution for gamers who prefer comfortable gaming without limitations. G613 is a mechanical keyboard that features LIGHTSPEED wireless technology. It has a decent range of connections and almost absent input lag. The battery life is quite impressive as well. The keyboard may provide up to 18 months of gaming on 2 x AA batteries.

At the same time, the keyboard keeps all the features of a mechanical device: clicking sounds, short pre-travel distance, and precise feedback.

The keyboard has a few extra buttons besides the regular key scheme. You may create up to 6 macro commands and align them with the G-keys.

Logitech G613 is a keyboard for outdoor tournaments. If you travel a lot and play in different places, G613 will be in handy due to its long battery life, mechanical feedback, and wireless connectivity.

Razer BlackWidow Elite

The Top 1 Best-Selling

Technical Parameters:

• dimensions – 6.5 x 17.65 x 1.67 inches
• weight – 3.73 lbs
• connectivity – USB
• polling rate – 1000 Hz
• key number – 104

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Razer Blackwidow Elite is a device that has an affordable price and provides all the distinct features of the Razer’s brand. It has an ergonomic design that will not only fit in your setup but will be handy in using. The keyboard has a magnetic wrist rest to ease the strain in your hands during the long sessions with your PC and two incline settings for the most fitting position on your desk.

The buttons have mechanical switches with a low operating force and short pre-travel time. In the end, you receive light and responsive gaming experience. It is the best mechanical gaming keyboard under 100 by Razer in this list.

The selling point of Razer BlackWidow Elite is its customization. The original keyboard switches are orange, but you can replace them with green or yellow to suit your preferences. The keyboard is compatible with the Razer Synapse 3 software. You may program as many macros as you like and keep them in different profiles. Individual buttons are programmable as well. The RGB lighting for each button is customizable as well. It supports up to 16.8 million colors; so, you may create any color scheme that you can imagine.

Razer Cynosa V2

Best Spill-Resistant Design

Technical Parameters:

• dimensions – 18.25 x 6.6 x 1.19 inches
• weight – 1.87 lbs
• connectivity – wired
• polling rate – 1000 Hz
• key number – 110

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Razer Cynosa V2 is a perfect entry point for having a gaming keyboard. It does not feel “cheap” despite its price tag. At the same time, it provides quality beyond the regular “office” keyboard experience. Razer Cynosa V2 is a membrane keyboard. Its keys are quiet and feel softer than the rest in the list. Still, it handles both gaming and working tasks with ease.

The keyboard inherits most of the Razer’s features: per-key RGB lighting and a durable design. One of the most prominent things is that the keyboard is spill-proof. If you have an accident with your favorite cup, this keyboard will survive it. In terms of new features, Cynosa V2 has a set of programmable media keys. You may control your media player with ease or program macros to them. An additional layer of flexibility is available to you. It is the best rgb mechanical keyboard under 100 by Razer.

Other keys are programmable as well. You may set a secondary set of functions for the keys that are accessed with a “shift” key you choose. Macros are available as well. The customization does not end with keys and macros. You may set the RGB lighting as well. You have access to 16.8 million customizable color options.

Thermaltake Tt eSports Poseidon Z

Fully Back-lit Keyboard

Technical parameters:

• Dimensions – 19.5 x 1.4 x 9.5 inches
• Weight – 3.00 lbs
• Connectivity – wired
• Polling rate – 1000 Hz
• Key number – 104

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Poseidon Z is the most flexible keyboard on the list. The keyboard uses the mechanical technology Kalih Blue that grants precise and quick feedback for the buttons pressing. The mechanical switches are sturdy. According to the manufacturer, they can serve up to five years of consistent usage without any problems. The keyboard supports N-key rollover technology. It means that you can press 6 to 8 buttons simultaneously without any errors.

The keyboard has a special gaming mode that blocks the “window” button and any accidental presses on it.

The distinct feature of Tt eSports Poseidon Z is its blacklight. The keyboard manufacturers took it a step further. It provides you with complete control over the 16.8 million colors of the RGB backlight. You may save several profiles of the color schemes for the night gaming sessions or the daylight aesthetics. Whatever your preferences are, Thermaltake Poseidon Z can handle them.

Aukey KM-G12

Budget Friendly Gaming Keyboard

Technical parameters:

• Dimensions – 17.1 x 5 x 1.5 inches
• Weight – 2.2 lbs
• Connectivity – wired
• Polling rate – 1000 Hz
• Key number – 104

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Buying a mechanical keyboard for the first time may be like buying a pig in a poke. There are a lot of words about mechanical keyboard superiority, but in the end, it is a matter of preferences. In that case, Aukey KM-G12 is a perfect choice for a budget mechanical keyboard. It may lack the wild variety of customization, unlike the more costly models. However, it gives the perfect grasp of what a mechanical keyboard is for an affordable price. The keyboard uses Blue Switches. They are characterized by precise, tactile feedback and satisfying travel time. Still, the keyboard may sound too noisy to some extent.

The keyboard is well-built. It includes several built-in RGB patterns and gives a pleasant experience with any game of any genre. Besides, the keyboard comes with 7 colors presets. Despite not having many options in precise customization, the keyboard still goes with different aesthetics for different tastes.

Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum

One of the Fastest Keyboard

Technical parameters

• Dimensions – 19.88 x 8.27 x 1.4 inches
• Weight – 3.31 lbs
• Connectivity – USB
• Polling rate – 1000 Hz
• Key number – 104

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Logitech Orion Spectrum is a fine solution for people who want the maximum from their keyboard and do not overpay for it. Unlike the rest of the mechanical keyboards, Orion Spectrum has a plastic frame instead of the metal one. However, it is the only limitation of the keyboard. It uses Romer-G mechanical switches that provide an ultimate speed of typing. Orion Spectrum is not only the fastest keyboard on the list but another one with great customization options. Its stunning RGB lighting supports the palette of up to 16 million colors.

Besides, there is a precise macro-setup configuration that will meet any gaming or working requirement. There are 9 fully-customizable G-keys in this best mechanical keyboard under 100 that can receive several commands per profile. Overall, Orion Spectrum is a precise, fast, and comfortable experience of mechanical keyboards for an affordable price.

How to Choose Best Gaming Keyboard

Choosing a gaming keyboard may be a bit confusing. For inexperienced gamers, a regular office keyboard does the job pretty well. What’s the fuss with the gaming devices, then? In this short guide, we will give you tips concerning the major features of a good gaming keyboard under 100:

• Brand. There are dozens of brands related to the gaming periphery. Some of them specialize in a single type of device; others provide a variety of products. In our list, we’ve collected the most trusted and qualitative brands. For example, SteelSeries, Logitech, and Razor.
• Layout and size. This feature necessity depends on your preferences. There are classic keyboards with a 104-buttons layout. The next step is Tenkeyless devices, without the Numpad section. They are less functional but have more affordable prices. Finally, there are miniature keyboards for very strict needs.
• Aesthetic. The last but not least component of a gaming keyboard is its aesthetics. Most of the devices come with RGB backlighting that may be customized to some extent.

Mechanical v. Membrane Keyboards

Mechanical and membrane keyboards are the two most popular options for gaming. Each of them serves different purposes and has different aims. Therefore, a mechanical keyboard is not inherently better than a membrane and vice versa. Choose a keyboard that will suit your needs. 

Mechanical keyboards provide high precision of button pressing and audible feedback. The game responds immediately to your actions, and you know that you are in control. Membrane keyboards are mushier and much quieter. 

At the same time, mechanical keyboards may become too noisy. Moreover, they often lack the ergonomics of membrane devices. If you prefer single-player games or old-school MMOs, then you probably don’t need a mechanical keyboard. 

However, if you want to conquer a pro scene, buying mechanical devices is a good way to start.

Comparison of 2 Best Keyboard

If you don’t want to look through all the positions and possibilities, then you should check out this comparison. We’ve picked the two best keyboards from the list.

The raw parameters are almost identical. The true comparison comes with the specifics. HyperX is a sturdier device with distinct mechanical switches. It is made for withstanding a lot of active gaming. Meanwhile, SteelSeries is more about comfortable usage. It has a magnetic wrist rest and several extra buttons in its layout. However, the switches in the SteelSeries are hybrid, which may not exactly be the experience you are looking for.
If you prefer comfort – choose SteelSeries. If you need a sturdy device, pic HyperX.

Final Words

A gaming keyboard is a device that will give you an edge in serious gaming and a comfortable experience from use. At the same time, such a device does not have to cost a fortune, and you can easily find the best gaming keyboard under 100. There are no bad or poorly working devices in the list we’ve compiled. You can’t go wrong with any of the provided options. However, in the end, the only limitation is your budget and the features that you prefer most.