These keyboards are the comfortable and offer a satisfying typing (or gaming) experience. Plus, several customization options make them easy to tweak as per your needs and preferences. So yeah, here we are with our recommendations for the best mechanical keyboards under $200. But before that,
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1. Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless
More importantly, staying true to its gaming genes, the Logitech G915 TKL comes with customized lighting options. The keys are super convenient to use. For the record, the G915 TKL uses GL mechanical switches, and you can pick between three key types—Tactile, Clicky, or Linear. These are low-profile switches, and as mentioned earlier, are smooth and comfortable to use. It’s a compact wireless keyboard and gives you the option to switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity. The connectivity is seamless and works without any signal drop or latency, and several users have backed this claim. It has its share of cons. For one, it doesn’t have dedicated macro keys. On the upside, you get a long battery life of 40 hours which is a big plus.
2. SteelSeries Apex Pro
You can pick the keys’ pre-travel distance is a charm in itself as you get to pick your comfort level. For the record, the Apex Pro bundles linear OmniPoint switches. It also sports an OLED screen on the keyboard apart from a dedicated volume wheel and media controls. The SteelSeries Apex Pro is a premium mechanical keyboard, and it plays its part well. It has an excellent performance, packs a customizable lighting unit, and an excellent build. And you can opt for a wrist rest as well. Sadly, it also doesn’t come with dedicated Macro keys, which can be a bummer for MMO players.
3. Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Other than that, the K95 addresses one of the shortcomings of the above two mechanical keyboards—Macro keys. This one sports six macro keys which are placed in an easy-to-reach location on the left. And that’s not all. You get your hands on plenty of frills such as volume wheel and media controls and dedicated toggles for the lighting toggles. So, if you have to change a setting at a split of a second while gaming, this one lets you do so. The best part is that the macro settings are stored onboard the keyboard (8MB), which means you will be able to fire them up even when you change your PC. This mechanical keyboard bundles Cherry MX Speed. If we talk numbers these have an actuation distance of 1.2mm. The latter ensures that a light touch is all it takes to trigger them. They are responsive and adds to your gaming experience, though the same can’t be said of typing. But at the end of the day, all these fancy features mean that the K95 RGB Platinum keyboard has a high price tag. On the upside, you get the best, and the odds are that it will last you a long time. Do note that the iCue software needs plenty of time to get accustomed to.
4. Razer BlackWidow Elite
The BlackWidow Elite is well-built. The baseplate is solid and doesn’t yield even when you type away furiously. Being one of the premium (and popular) keyboards, you can expect some of the frills such as a magnetic wrist rest, dedicated media keys, and of course, cool RGB LED lighting. It uses Razer switches, and you can take your pick of the switches. The Razer Yellow and Razer Green are generally considered good for typing, though. This mechanical keyboard lets you customize the lighting. You can record macros and assign them to your choice keys, thanks to the Synapse 3 software.
5. Razer Pro Type
The Razer Pro Type is a wireless keyboard and lets you connect up to three devices. Plus, you can easily switch between them. Or, if you are looking for a more trusty connection, you can switch to the 2.4GHz connection. At its heart, the Razer Pro comes from a gaming background, and hence, it comes with its share of backlight lighting. Thankfully, the lighting is subdued, thereby making it apt for office use. Or, if you want, you can even switch it off if you find it distracting. However, if your home has serious wireless signal interference, you might have an issue with this keyboard since it tends to lose connection from time to time.
6. Das Keyboard 4C TKL
As suggestive of its name, the Das Keyboard 4C TKL is a compact keyboard and lets go of the Numpad, and this compact design easy to accommodate for tight desk settings. Moreover, this mechanical keyboard packs a removable foot-bar at its bottom instead of regular keyboard legs. The red color gives this keyboard a unique look. Speaking of looks, the 4C TKL bundles a sharp look, thanks to the combination of black and grey. Plus, the bulge for the USB-passthrough gives it a unique if not an attractive look. However, if you do not have the habit of touch-typing, typing on the dark keypads can be challenging in a low-lit environment. This one comes with Cherry MX Brown mechanical key switches, and they yield a comfortable and satisfying experience. That again depends on how comfortable you are with Brown switches. Naturally, you will miss some of the features, such as dedicated media controls and macro keys usually associated with gaming keyboards.
7. Fnatic Streak65
The crux of this keyboard is its low-profile switches which makes it immensely comfortable to type. If we talk numbers, the Fnatic SPEED switches have an actuation speed of just 1mm, paving the way for faster and quick typing. Even though the Streak65 is one of the most compact keyboards, you will find significant distances or gaps between the keys. And it’s these gaps that ensure that you do not hit the wrong key while typing. And hey, this mechanical keyboard is lightweight and weighs just around 420 grams. Furthermore, it is beautiful to look at, and the subtle LED lighting adds to the look. The build is solid, and for the price, this one brings the best of both worlds. You can use it for your gaming sessions, and when you are not gaming, you can swap it out for your regular work keyboard.
8. HyperX Alloy Origins
The Alloy Origins keyboard marks the company’s foray into its mechanical switches. In comparison, the HyperX Red switches are like the CheryyMX Red switches with near-about actuation distances. Aside from that, this one lets you customize the lighting through the in-house software. The good thing is that you can manage some of the controls right from the keyboard itself. Being one of the affordable keyboards, this means you will have to give up on some features such as dedicated media keys or macro keys. There’s no option for USB pass-through as well. On the upside, the USB-C cable is detachable, which adds to the portability factor.
9. Hexgears Impulse
The Hexgears Impulse keyboard sports Kailh’s Box White switches, and if you must know, these switches are known for their less travel distance and great feedback. As you may have expected, it’s a charm to type on the Hexagears Impulse keyboard. The keys are soft to press, but they bounce back with great feedback. It’s worth noting that the space bar has Blue switches. Being a non-gaming keyboard, there is no loud lighting in this one. Instead of being placed under the keys, the lights are placed around the keyboard, thereby lending a distinctive look. There is no hassle of software management and everything is done right from the keyboard itself.
Clickety Click
Here were some of the best mechanical keyboards that you can get for less than $200. If you are looking for keyboards just for typing, there are plenty of serious contenders. And if you are new to the world of mechanical keyboards, the Hexgears Impulse makes for a good bargain for the price. The same holds for the Razer Type Pro as well. So, which of these will you buy?
