5 Best Mechanical Gaming Keyboards

Expert Reviews: Top 5 Mechanical Keyboards for Gaming in 2025

Kimber Borek

Kimber is a keyboard enthusiast who has been engaged in professional testing for many years and has been collecting mechanical key switches for many years. He is very passionate about gaming and focusing on testing keyboard performance.

The best mechanical keyboard is selected based on factors such as design, key feel, ease of use and appearance

After keyboard enthusiasts tested more than a hundred mechanical keyboards, we selected 5 best mechanical keyboards. They are very good choices whether for entry or long-term use.

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You may have heard of mechanical keyboards, or you may be tired of ordinary keyboards and want to try mechanical keyboards. But you don’t know how to choose. You don’t know much about the various axes and key numbers mentioned on the Internet.
Then you may need to understand the following questions online.

What is hot swapping and what is it used for?

Whether it supports hot-swap
This is very important. Hot-swap means that the mechanical axis of the keyboard can be removed quickly and easily. For example, you bought a keyboard with red axis, but after a few days you want to try brown axis.

If this keyboard does not support hot-swap, then you can only buy a new brown axis keyboard. If this keyboard itself supports hot-swap, then it is easy to deal with. You can just buy some brown mechanical switches to replace them yourself, but if you want to buy a new keyboard with the same quality switches, it will definitely be much more expensive.

How to choose the number of keys, 68 keys, 87 keys or 104 keys?

Difference in the number of keys
The number of keys can be divided into three categories. The more keys there are, the larger the area of the keyboard and the heavier the weight.

61 keys/68 keys/71 keys
61 keys/68 keys/71 keys are one category. This type of keyboard is the smallest and lightest. The direction keys and the main key area are combined together. Even the 61-key keyboard does not have a separate direction key, but uses a combination button instead of the direction key, such as “Fn+?” represents the “Down direction key”.

Unless you like and can adapt to this key position design, it is not recommended to buy this type of keyboard.

84 keys/87 keys
84 keys/87 keys are one category, only the three buttons in the upper right corner are missing, and you may never use these three buttons, so from this point of view, 84 keys and 87 keys can be regarded as the same.

This type of keyboard separates the direction keys from the main keys, and is also the most common keyboard layout, which can be easily used.

If you don’t have any special preferences, it is recommended to buy this type of keyboard.

104-key/108-key
104-key/108-key is a type of keyboard that adds a separate numeric area to the 87-key keyboard.

This type of keyboard has the most complete keys. Of course, the keyboard is also large and heavy. However, because it has an independent numeric area, it is more suitable for someone who often deal with numbers, such as financial personnel.

The picture below shows 61 keys, 87 keys, and 104 keys from left to right, which can be used to compare the size differences of the keyboards.

How to choose the axis, which axis is better, what are the differences between them?

You may have heard of various switches, such as red switches, tea switches, and black switches. Why are there so many types of switches? Why is this one called tea switches and that one called red switches? Is it just because the switches are different in color?

The answer is obvious, of course not. At first, it was just a way of naming Cherry switches. The switches that have a sense of segmentation and require greater pressure are made black and named black switches. The switches that are smooth and require more downward pressure are made red and named red.

Later, as the switch manufacturers worked hard, some switches that could compete with Cherry switches or even surpass Cherry switches began to appear. At this time, some other naming methods appeared.

Regardless of the most common black, red, tea, blue switches, or other various names, the characteristics of a switch are judged by the following aspects:

Is it a linear axis or a paragraph axis?
Take Cherry axis as an example. Red axis and black axis are linear axis, while blue axis and brown axis are paragraph axis.

The linear axis gives people the feeling of one key to the end, silky and smooth. It tends to have a smooth feel.

The paragraph axis will have an obvious rhythm change during your pressing. It tends to have a rhythmic feel.

To make an analogy, suppose there is a ring stuck on a tube. If the tube is uniform in thickness from top to bottom, then it is very smooth for you to move the ring from one end of the tube to the other end, which is similar to a linear axis.

And if there is a circle of protrusions near one end of the tube, when you start to move the ring from one end, there will be an obvious rhythm change to the position of the protrusion, which is similar to a paragraph axis.

Of course, most mechanical axes are similar, and it is not easy for ordinary users to find the difference, while some mechanical keyboards have a significantly longer travel.

Sound and personal feel
This is very subjective. Everyone has a different understanding of sound and feel, so which sound and feel hits your spot depends on your own feelings.

How to choose keycaps? Does the material affect the feel?

In addition to the shaft, the most important thing is the keycap. The shaft mainly affects the feel and sound, while the keycap mainly determines the appearance of the keyboard. Of course, the material of the keycap will also affect the feel to a certain extent. The keycap mainly includes two aspects: material and character craftsmanship.

Keycap material
The mainstream materials for keycaps are ABS and PBT.

ABS material
It is a general-purpose thermoplastic polymer with good plasticity, but not resistant to high temperatures. And it is easy to get oily after long-term use. What is oily? It means that after a long time of use, the surface of the keycap will become very smooth, mainly because of the sweat and grease on the hands. Over time, it becomes very bad.

PBT material
It belongs to the polyester series. Its wear resistance is much higher than that of ABS keycaps, and its anti-oiling ability is significantly higher than that of ABS keycaps, but it is not absolutely oil-free. Its hardness and high temperature resistance are stronger than those of ABS keycaps. The processing of this material is more complicated, so the cost is much higher than that of ABS keycaps.

What is the difference between keyboard lights and why do some keyboards flash so much?

First of all, many keyboards do not have lighting effects, only the uppercase and lowercase indicators or some special key positions have lights. The keyboard light is just a decorative function, which affects the appearance of the keyboard. Some people like the dazzling lights of floating green and flowing red, some people like simple and elegant pure color lights, and some people don’t need lights at all.

Lights are divided into three types: monochromatic light, mixed light and RGB.

Monochromatic light means that the keys of the entire keyboard are all a single color, generally white light and yellow light.

Mixed light means that different keys of the entire keyboard use different colors of lights, and each key is monochromatic.

RGB means that each key has RGB LED colored lights, which is the kind of very gorgeous and constantly changing lighting effect. Some keyboards also support color customization.

What are the ways to connect a keyboard to a computer? What is dual-mode and what is triple-mode?

There are generally three ways to connect:

Wired connection
This is the most primitive and simplest, with a wire connecting the keyboard to the computer.

Some keyboards have separate wires, and the wire can be unplugged from the keyboard, which is more convenient when moving. Some wires are sealed on the keyboard and cannot be removed.

Some connectors are USB, and some are Type-C. Just look carefully when buying.

Bluetooth connection
The keyboard has a Bluetooth module, which can be connected to a computer, tablet, or mobile phone via Bluetooth to achieve wireless connection.

2.4G
2.4G is also a type of wireless connection, but it requires a 2.4G signal receiver, like the one below, a small USB port widget that needs to be plugged into the computer’s USB port.

When we look at keyboards, some say dual-mode, and some say triple-mode, which refers to the connection method. For example, triple-mode supports wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4G, and dual-mode supports two of them.

What are the power supply methods? Are there any battery-powered keyboards?

There are three power supply methods as follows

Wired direct power supply
If it is connected to the computer via a wire, then it must be powered by the computer.

Rechargeable battery
Some Bluetooth or 2.4G keyboards support charging, but generally speaking, the battery capacity is not very large, and a charge may not last for a few days. It mainly depends on the battery capacity, and this type of keyboard generally does not support keyboard lights, or only supports simple lighting effects. Otherwise, the battery will run out of power after a few flashes.

Dry battery
Some keyboards use dry batteries, such as 2 No. 5 batteries. I feel that this is better than rechargeable batteries. Two batteries may be used for 2 or 3 months. And it is very likely that it does not support very gorgeous lighting effects.

How to choose a keyboard and what should you pay attention to?

After knowing these basic knowledge of keyboards, how do we choose a keyboard that satisfies us?

That is, we choose from the above aspects. In order to find a more cost-effective mechanical keyboard, we did this test.

In addition to the price, I think the order of choosing a keyboard is the axis, keycaps, whether it is hot-swappable, connection method, power supply method, and lighting. Of course, some people think that lighting is very important, and the others are not so important. It doesn’t matter. Anyway, there are only these aspects. When choosing, just focus on which one you care about.

Every keystroke of a well-built keyboard is a pleasure. If you spend most of your time typing, coding, or playing games, a mechanical keyboard is a comfortable and customizable upgrade to replace the shallow, dull keyboard that comes with your computer.

An important aspect of buying any gaming keyboard is whether or not to go for a mechanical one. Generally speaking, we think it’s always worth considering mechanical switches over membrane switches. They feel better when typing and gaming, and are generally faster. These days, we’re seeing more and more specialty switches like Hall effect, optical, and even inductive, which are becoming a great choice for competitive gamers due to features like fast actuation.

After hundreds of hours of testing and typing, we’ve found gaming keyboards at different price points that offer the best combination of comfort, accuracy, and customizability

Here’s our list of the top five best wireless gaming keyboard for 2025, with full reviews of our top picks at the bottom of the page.

PRODUCT

RATING

PROS

CONS

#1 Best hot swappable keyboard

9.9

“Outstanding”

User Ratings

(7,254+)

Newinone 75

Price :￡99

2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and Type-C wired connectivity
7 Layers of Sound Dampening Material
Hot-swappable design
Win/Mac dual system
Ergonomics: stepped key layout
Game program chip
Metal rotary button
LCD screen, power display
Macaron axis, five-foot linear axis. Steady is nourishing, quick triggering
Two-color injection molding, PBT keycaps
20 RGB lighting options
80 keys 75% layout keyboard
Tri-Mode Connectivity with 4000mAh Battery

9.8

“Excellent”

Newinone 95

Price : ￡119

2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and Type-C wired connectivity
7 Layers of Sound Dampening Material
Hot-swappable design
Win/Mac dual system
Ergonomics: stepped key layout
Game program chip
Metal rotary button
Large screen, supports DIY animation
Macaron axis, five-foot linear axis. Steady is nourishing, quick triggering
Two-color injection molding, PBT keycaps
20 RGB lighting options
95 keys 98% layout keyboard
Tri-Mode Connectivity with 8000mAh Battery

9.5

“Great”

Hot Swappable 3

Price : ￡547.15

9.3

“Good”

ROG Azoth Extreme 75%

Price :￡479.99

9.0

“Good”

K100

Price : ￡404.45

The best mechanical keyboard for gaming in 2025

#1 Best hot swappable keyboard

9.9

“Outstanding”

User Ratings

(7,254+)

Newinone 75

Price :￡99

2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and Type-C wired connectivity
7 Layers of Sound Dampening Material
Hot-swappable design
Win/Mac dual system
Ergonomics: stepped key layout
Game program chip
Metal rotary button
LCD screen, power display
Macaron axis, five-foot linear axis. Steady is nourishing, quick triggering
Two-color injection molding, PBT keycaps
20 RGB lighting options
80 keys 75% layout
Tri-Mode Connectivity with 4000mAh Battery

Gaming-grade chips

Game program chip, fast and accurate response

BEST VALUE FOR PRICE

This mechanical keyboard offers amazing feel, performance and looks for just £99

Tri-mode connection

Wired/2.4G/Bluetooth

SHOULD I BUY Newinone?

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If you belong to the following groups, we recommend you use a mechanical keyboard

You are a game lover
For gaming, a mechanical keyboard is the best choice

You are a programmer
If you are a programmer or someone who needs to type frequently, a mechanical keyboard will bring you a pleasant experience during the boring typing process.

You are a user who has high requirements for typing experience
For users who have high requirements for typing experience, mechanical keyboard is your best choice

You like cool lights or keyboards with big changes
If you want to frequently change different “keyboards” but don’t want to spend too much, then a hot-swappable mechanical keyboard is for you.

You like to hear the crisp sound of keyboard tapping
If you just like to hear the crisp sound of keyboard typing, then it is correct, it is also a mechanical keyboard, but it cannot be a silent model.

Choose 75 or 95?

If you have limited desktop space and want to take your keyboard with you often
The Newinone 75 has 80 keys with a 75% layout, which is very suitable for people with limited desktop space and those who often need to carry around.

If you have a large desktop space and need to deal with numbers frequently
The Newinone 95 is a 95-key 98% layout, which is very suitable for people who need to deal with numbers frequently or like large layout keys.

We've bought and tested the most popular mechanical keyboards, which is why the Newinone is our top pick

Summary:Buying an affordable mechanical keyboard no longer means being limited to wired and no hot-swap capabilities. During testing, we found the Newinone to match or even exceed the performance of more expensive “big-brand” mechanical keyboards.

The Newinone is currently on sale at for a limited time on their website.

Over the years, I have been passionate about both games and mechanical keyboards. I have been committed to testing and recommending mechanical keyboards. Through long-term typing or game operations, I compare the feel, operation smoothness, usage, cool lighting, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness of various mechanical keyboards to select the most suitable mechanical keyboard for beginners.

My First Impressions

After opening the package, I picked up the Newinone 75 and was immediately amazed by its appearance and feel. The black and gray gradient tones look low-key and textured at first glance, revealing the atmosphere of a professional player, making people want to try it out.

We’ve all experienced the difference between a cheap or fragile product and a high-quality product, whether it’s a camera, a robot vacuum, or a mobile phone. The mechanical keyboard is no different and this product feels and looks amazing.

Design

The first impression of the side-engraved black-gray gradient mechanical keyboard is low-key and advanced. The overall feeling it gives us is:

1. Calm and restrained design: The black-gray gradient creates a professional and simple atmosphere without exaggerated colors, giving people a stable and mysterious feeling.

2. The unique feeling of the side-engraved characters: The side-engraved characters on the keycaps are low-key and unobtrusive, adding a hardcore gamer or geek atmosphere, while avoiding the visual interference of the positive-engraved characters, making the keyboard cleaner and neater as a whole.

3. Industrial aesthetics and texture: With frosted PBT keycaps, it brings a delicate touch and wear resistance, and exudes a sense of machinery and technology as a whole, which is suitable for users who like a simple style.

4. Both professionalism and personality: The black-gray gradient will not be too ostentatious, suitable for office environments, and the side-engraved design shows individuality, giving people a sense of “knowledge”, as if it is the choice of senior players or mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

5. The LCD screen allows you to keep an eye on the remaining power of the keyboard at any time.

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It looks great and is a perfect gift. After testing it, I bought a BlackBerry-colored one for my girlfriend, and she liked it very much.

Testing

Finally, it’s time to test. If it doesn’t work, no matter how cheap the instrument is, it is not worth recommending.

We mainly test mechanical keyboards in terms of design, key feel, ease of use, appearance, user feedback, and cost performance.

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Both Newinone 75 and Newinone 95 are three-mode mechanical keyboards, both are the most suitable macaron switches for e-sports, and the keyboard also has a 7-layer silencer structure, and the overall configuration performance is full.
In terms of experience, my testers and I feel that the feel is very good, and the confirmation of paragraph feedback and sound feedback is very strong. It is very smooth and does not jam when playing games. There is no full-key collision, and all 4 keys can be received when pressed at the same time, and it is very pleasant to hear with the steady snow-stepping sound.
The silencer structure refers to the filling layer of the keyboard, which is used to absorb the bottoming sound of the keys, solve the problems of cavity sound and noise, and even change the timbre. The difference in typing sound is related to this structure. There are generally 3-5 layers on the market, and the cavity sound is more obvious, and there will be noise. It is recommended to choose a keyboard with a structure of more than 5 layers.
Newinone 75 and Newinone 95 are equipped with a GASKET leaf spring structure and 7 layers of excellent sound filling to reduce noise and vibration during the case and get better sound effects. Improve the touch of the keyboard, and the keys are softer and smoother. At the same time, prevent dust, moisture and other debris from entering the keyboard.

The hot-swappable design allows you to experience the fun of customization at any time. With the customized shaft seat, you can deeply experience the DIY shaft, which supports most three-pin and five-pin mechanical shafts.

Newinone 75 and Newinone 95 also have very user-friendly settings. With an automatic sleep mode, it will automatically sleep and switch when not operated for a long time, which is very convenient and saves energy. It can also wake up immediately when needed. The experience is very good. With three connection modes, it is compatible with a variety of devices to meet different usage scenarios.

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How are Newinone different from other products?

As an entry-level mechanical keyboard, which one has the best value for money?

Newinone is the first choice of flychoose. It has a high appearance, comfortable axis, quick button command triggering, smooth game operation, and full-key anti-ghosting. It is a cost-effective choice.

After hundreds of hours of testing these mechanical keyboards for typing and gaming and all the features, I can confidently say that you can’t compare them to anything in the same price range. The quality and performance of both mechanical keyboards really are on par with the big brands costing around £300. Here are some reasons why the Newinone is superior:

Professional gaming chip: Game program chip, fast and high performance, accurate key acquisition. Excellent durability and anti-interference ability, long-term stable operation. Strong processing power, fast response.

Hot-swappable design: It can support most three-pin and five-pin mechanical switches, allowing you to deeply experience the fun of customization.

Macaron shaft: Five-pin linear axis, extended axis, steady and nourishing, moderate pressing force, strong confirmation feel, and quick triggering.

GASKET Structure: Newinone has a 7-layer noise reduction structure, dynamic suspension, and soft elastic feel. It reduces shock and noise, and provides a very good user experience. The knocking sound is aggregated without abnormal sound, giving players more operation possibilities.

Smart Knob: Control everything at your fingertips. Twist to quickly adjust volume and lighting mode, multiple functions can be solved with one button.

Tri-mode connection: Whether it is wired, 2.4G or Bluetooth connection, it can be easily adapted to different usage scenarios.

Win/Mac dual system: Supports one-click switching between Window and Mac dual systems.

Full key anti-ghosting, ultra-low latency：Millisecond response, fast and accurate response, helping you play games smoothly.

Side engraved PBT material: The touch is dry and delicate, wear-resistant and anti-aging, not easy to get oily