The best mechanical keyboards of 2022

Mechanical keyboards, in which each key uses an individual physical switch to send information to your computer, rather than activating a contact on a membrane like on a modern laptop keyboard, have been growing in popularity as gamers, developers, writers and a growing number of enthusiasts have pushed back on the thinner-is-better aesthetic of modern computer design, looking to the past for a bigger, stronger, easier-on-the-fingers typing experience.

We found plenty of great models, so regardless of your typing style, we've picked the best mechanical keyboard for you.

Best Mechanical Keyboard Overall: Keychron Q1 (Knob Version)

From $189 to $179 on Keychron

Q keyboard

Keychrons Q-series keyboards are so comfortable and quiet to type on, so easy to configure to your liking, and so solidly built that unless you're an enthusiast looking for something specific from a custom build, we really don't see any reason to. make you spend more on a mechanical keyboard.

In fact, after testing more than 50 keyboards over a six-month period, the Q1 at 75% layout was the one we used again;

it was simply the most pleasant to use in all respects.

The Q1 (along with its siblings, the 65% Q2 and TKL Q3, which are just as good if you prefer larger or smaller designs) is quite different from the rest of the Keychron line.

A weighty anodized aluminum case, along with a gasket-mounted switch plate (neoprene pads isolate the plate from the case) and smooth, quiet screw-in stabilizers mean Q Series keyboards don't just feel luxurious. and keep them in place.

The Q series comes with a redesigned set of very comfortable PBT keycaps and Gateron G-Pro switches, which we found to work very well;

the combo made for an effortless typing sensation during our tests.

We spent many hours with the original Q1 setup, but since these are meant to compete with custom keyboards (you can buy a basic case to build as you see fit).

The heavy construction and mounted plate really isolate the switches, so if you like to experiment or are just really picky about switches, you can really feel the difference here.

More practically, Keychron's Q-series keyboards are the only models we found that are quiet enough to use with clicky switches around other people who aren't mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

Keychron keyboards share an easy-to-access physical switch for cross-platform compatibility and use the modern USB-C connector for wired connections.

While this wasn't a major factor in our review, if you want to remap keys, assign macros, or adjust the backlight, you can do so using the open source QMK configuration software.

The Q-series doesn't ship with illuminated keys that shine through, so the RGB lighting (which is "facing south", to allow for the widest compatibility with custom keys) is there more as an ambient effect than as an aid to seeing legends in the dark.

And the case doesn't have adjustable feet, though we have no complaints about the slight angle over several months of use.

Best Wireless Mechanical Keyboard: Keychron K8 Pro

From $89 on Keychron

If you want a sleek, quiet mechanical keyboard and don't mind wireless, the Q1 is better than anything else in its price range, but if you don't want to spend that much, the K8 Pro is the best option for under $100 and it has bluetooth.

While not as luxurious as the Q-series, Keychron's K-series keyboards offer the best balance of typing comfort, useful productivity, and convenient features, affordability, and wireless connectivity of any mechanical keyboard we've tested.

It's also easy to find directly or at major online retailers, making it the most accessible way for the curious to access mechanical keyboards.

We tested several other K-series models, from the basic (white backlight, plastic casing) to the full (RGB lighting, aluminum outer casing), and found them all to be a joy to type on.

Battery life agrees with Keychron's claims of up to 240 hours.

With the backlight off, we got a week of regular use out of the K8 without any drop in functionality, and we got through a long day of work with the backlight on full power.

The K8 charges via USB-C and you can use it wired while charging.

Keychron keyboards default to an auto-sleep mode that occasionally caused slow Bluetooth reconnections;

disabling it gave us better results and didn't noticeably affect battery life.

Best Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard: Keychron K3 v2

From $74 on Keychron and $79.99 on Amazon

This small, low-profile model is another great all-around keyboard from Keychron.

As usual with Keychron keyboards, you get pretty much everything you can imagine in everyday usability: simple, switchable cross-platform support, your choice of hot-swappable soft switches, multi-host Bluetooth, backlighting (in your choice of white or RGB) and very legible and comfortable transparent keys, all at a very affordable price.

The slightly rounded chiclet keys (used on all of Keychron's low-profile models) have a flat profile, but are more comfortable than the flatter models used by Epomaker on the low-profile NT68 or Hexgears on the X-1, and more quieter than the low-profile PBT keycaps used on Nuphy's low-profile models.

Since a low-profile keyboard like this is much more portable than a traditional mechanical keyboard, it's more likely to be used around other people, so we looked for quieter models.

You may want to consider a fairly heavy switch if you plan on using a low-profile keyboard like this.

We felt the linear red switches were too light, and tried a range of low-profile optical switches on our low-profile test units, starting with the more traditional brown and blue switches, but settling on Banana and Mint.

Most luxurious low-profile mechanical keyboard: Nuphy Air 75

$109.95 at Nuphy and $129.99 at Amazon

The Nuphy Air 75 is a sleek and feature-packed device, with USB-C, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz dongle-based connectivity, PBT keycaps, and a case that doubles as a mobile device holder for use on the go.

It's an attractive package that looks and feels better than the low-profile Keychron keyboards.

If you are looking for something to carry with an iPad and want a Smart Cover type case/stand with it, the Epomaker NT68 will serve you best.

The NT68 also performed better on a laptop keyboard in our experience.

Note that in stark contrast to the keyboard's sleek, adult style, the box and other packaging materials feature a garter-clad, manga-style female mascot depicted in bold colors, so you may not want to make that have the box delivered to your office.

Best Full-Size Mechanical Keyboard: Akko 3098 B/W

Starting at $99.99 at Epomaker

The Akko 3098 is not 

 a "full size" keyboard.

But its 96% layout gives you almost all the functionality of a larger board without taking up as much valuable desk space (it's about the same size as a keyless keyboard) and allows you to keep your mouse hand closer. of your body, which is more comfortable during a long day at work.

It's a design that we think most people who need a number pad will really appreciate.

Akko's slightly enlarged layout separates the navigation arrows and number pad with just a strip of open space that makes a big difference in locating those keys to touch.

It's a marked improvement over the 96% layout used in other models distributed by Epomaker and the Keychron K4 (which we otherwise really liked).

The supplied keys are excellent, and the board is hot-swappable if you want to experiment with different switches in the future, although the house-brand touches are very smooth and pleasant to use.

Best Full-Size Keyboard: Cooler Master SK653

$149.99 at Amazon

Surprisingly, there aren't many 100% low-profile keyboards out there that give you a better typing experience than you'd get with an Apple Magic Keyboard or Logitech MX, but the Cooler Master SK653 manages to hit all the right spots.

we're looking for: USB-C connection, cross-platform compatibility, support for multiple Bluetooth hosts, and enough programmability to keep most users happy, in a slim package that doesn't take up too much space on your desk.

In our tests, it was pleasant to type on, quick to connect and switch wireless hosts, and easy to set up just the way we wanted.

You get the full programmability of a gaming keyboard in a unit that's stylish enough for any office and supports modern wireless/USB-C desktop setups.

It's a little more expensive than other low-profile mechanics, but it's better built and feels better than the competition.

It's also much more compact than most 100% keyboards (it's not much larger than an Apple Magic Keyboard), leaving you with more room on your desk.

Our only hesitation in recommending the SK653 stems from a design decision we find annoying: the charging indicator LED is located 

the caps lock key, while the caps lock indicator light is located in the usual spot for desktop keyboards. full size.

This confuses from time to time.

Best Portable Mechanical Keyboard: Epomaker NT 68

$105 at Epomaker

Available in high-profile and low-profile versions, this fully-featured, solidly constructed 65% aluminum-frame keyboard is unusual in that it's designed to be portable.

While we were hesitant at first, we found that it actually works quite well and is a good travel companion if you really demand a mechanical keyboard feel wherever you are.

The NT68 is a serious productivity device that you can take anywhere.

If you're looking to pair it with a mobile device, the NT68's Smart-Cover wrap-around case doubles as a tablet stand, which actually comes in handy.

There are two versions available, and we preferred the high-profile model, which was supplied with Epomaker's own Cherry MX-compatible Chocolate Brown switches.

Combined with the heavy DSA profile keys, they felt a little stiffer than most Cherry or Gateron Brown keyboards we've seen, making for a very pleasant typing experience.

We didn't like the flat keys on the low-profile version as much (it doesn't feel that different from a laptop keyboard), and it's actually not that much slimmer than the high-profile model.

Best Ergonomic Split Mechanical Keyboard: ZSA Moonlander

$365 in ZSA

The ZSA Moonlander is very different from anything we've tried, even other ergonomic split keyboards.

Taking some design cues from ZSA's previous ergo keyboards and custom and group-buy devices, it's expensive, completely customizable, and can be physically modified to fit virtually any hand position.

The Moonlander is a beautiful piece of industrial design, and the easily adjustable legs and self-positioning wrist supports allow us to quickly experiment to find a comfortable position.

There's nothing to add, screw or click to get it on and take it off to get it in shape - it's all there, though four threaded ports at the bottom of each half allow for unusual mounting possibilities, such as chair armrests, and supports a range of user created 3D printed support accessories.

It's also much less bulky than conventional ergonomic keyboards from the competition: it's small enough to fold up and store in a case to take with you to the office or on the go.

So if you need an ergonomic keyboard, are really interested in optimizing your setup, and like to play games, it's hard to think of anything that allows more flexibility.

Why buy a mechanical keyboard?

Mechanical keyboards (retro, chunky, and clicky from the days of computing) have long been popular with gamers (who appreciate their durability, responsiveness, and configurability) and those who learned to type on a typewriter. write (those who like their familiarity).

In recent years, a host of smaller manufacturers have introduced models that are more versatile, fashionable, quieter, and just plain friendlier, making it possible for more people who are tired of thinner and thinner membrane keyboards to enjoy the comfortable feel of writing.

How to choose a mechanical keyboard

designs

While most people turn to mechanical keyboards because they care about the feel or like the vintage sound, mechanical keyboards are also available in a much wider range of layouts than you can get from membrane keyboards.

Whether you want an ultra-minimal design that leaves anything but the absolute necessities, or a full-size workhorse with a number pad and plenty of function keys, there's likely to be a manufacturer that does what you like.

While we can't see all of the available layouts (there are too many to list, from 40% models without even a row of numbers to 7-row behemoths with dozens of assignable function keys), here are some of the most popular.

Common layouts are popularly known by the percentage of a full-size keyboard layout (full-size or "100%", which means a keyboard with a full QWERTY typewriter layout, function keys, a navigation group, and a numeric keypad) that cover.