While some of these affordable gaming keyboards might not have fancy features like customizable lightning zones or macro keys, they do the basic right—giving you a comfortable experience while gaming. So, if you are in the market looking for some affordable gaming keyboards under $100, here’s our recommendation for the best ones out there. Let’s take a look. But first,
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1. Redragon K556 RGB Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Wired: Yes | RGB lighting: YesSwitches: Outemu Brown switches | Macro keys: No
One of the primary advantages of these switches is that they are tactile and have excellent response. And while they are loud, they are not as loud Blue switches. Simultaneously, the keys are comfortable to use and let the RGB lighting shine in all its glory. Aside from that, this gaming keyboard has a solid build despite the low price point. The low price point doesn’t negate the keyboard’s comfort factor, especially during long gaming sessions. There are no dedicated macro keys. On the upside, you can use the companion software to remap the shortcuts as per your preference. Again, the compact design means there’s no wrist rest, but you do get two adjustable feet that let you incline the keyboard. There are two height settings.
2. Logitech G413 Carbon
Wired: Yes | RGB lighting: NoSwitches: Romer G | Macro keys: No
Though this keyboard falls under the affordable section, Logitech has packed it with Romer G switches. Romer G switches are in-house mechanical keys that are mostly silent and do not make noise. More importantly, they are immensely responsive and faster despite the 2.5mm key distance. When it comes to durability, these keys are rated to last around 70 million clicks. There are a few extras as well. For one, you get a cable route at the bottom of the keyboard. Secondly, there a dedicated anchor point should you use a wired gaming mouse. Like the keyboard above, you won’t find any dedicated macro keys. So yeah, the function keys are all you got to map your shortcuts. There’s no RGB lighting in this one. But given the price, key responsiveness, and the immense praise it has received, the Logitech G413 Carbon is worth considering.
3. Razer Cynosa V2 Gaming Keyboard
Wired: Yes | RGB lighting: YesSwitches: Membrane keys | Macro keys: No
Razer Cynosa V2 has a few nifty tricks up its sleeves. For one, it’s a water-resistant keyboard. The build is solid, even though it has a plastic frame. Moreover, it allows you to customize the keyboard’s shortcuts and to light as per your preference. And hey, the RGB backlighting is excellent, despite the low price tag. There are few limitations. There’s no wrist rest or dedicated macro keys (isn’t that becoming a thing at this price point?). On the upside, the Cynosa V2 has excellent ergonomics and lets you prop up the keyboard diagonally.
4. Cooler Master CK552 Gaming Mechanical Keyboard
Wired: Yes | RGB lighting: YesSwitches: Gateron Red | Macro keys: No
The CoolerMaster CK552 gaming keyboard sports Gateron Red keys. These keys offer smooth action, and this comes to the picture during a long gaming session. However, these keys are loud, and if you are someone who enjoys a quiet gaming session minus the clickety sounds of keystrokes, this might not be the one for you. You will find the usual things missing, such as wrist rest and macro keys, being a budget gaming keyboard. You can fill the latter’s absence easily through the function keys at the top. Furthermore, the cable is fixed and doesn’t have any braiding, thereby limiting its portability. The bottom line is if you can bear a loud keyboard that oozes style, this one will certainly add to the decor of your gaming room.
5. Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2
Wired: Yes | RGB lighting: YesSwitches: Razer Green | Macro keys: No
More importantly, the Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2 boasts of Razer’s own Green switches. In theory, they behave much like the classic Cherry MX Blues—they are loud yet are light and highly responsive. However, these keys are quick to respond when gaming. They are not the best for typing. Apart from that, this gaming keyboard comes with its share of cable management at the bottom, using which you can thread and route the connecting cable. The cable is braided, which makes it travel-friendly (see best USB data blockers) and adds to the product’s durability. As noted earlier, there are no macro keys. Luckily, the Synapse III software fills the void with ease. Apart from letting you remap actions, you can also customize actions on every key of the keyboard, thereby letting you create an army of hotkeys. Ingenious, I’d say. But at the end of the day, the highlight of this keyboard is its studio lighting. You can customize the lighting and build and store profiles. And if that’s not enough, you can change the lighting of each key. What more do we need for a sub-$100 keyboard, right?
6. HyperX Alloy Origins Core
Wired: Yes | RGB lighting: YesSwitches: Outemu Brown| Macro keys: No
The HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard bundleHyperX Red switches, though there are options for HyperX Aqua and HyperX Blue switches. The Reds have a lesser actuation distance than some of their counterparts above. If we talk numbers, they have an actuation distance of 1.8mm. In real life, they work a lot like the CherryMX Red switches and are comfortable to use, and are easy to press down. You can customize the lighting. While you can do simple things like controlling the brightness right from the keyboard, doing something complicated means you will have to open up the keyboard software. It’s not perfect. Unless you know your way around the keyboard software, it proves to be a tad difficult to use. Last but not least, this keyboard is also ergonomic. You can prop it up in two heights as per your preference.
Click, Click, Click
A price limit puts several limitations on the product. For example, you do not get macro keys, neither do you get options like palm rest or dedicated number keys. However, if you just want a keyboard and can spend a bit of time customizing the keys, the odds are that you will be sorted.
