It’s hard to beat the tactility, durability, or good looks of a mechanical keyboard, but if you’re looking for one, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are our top picks, including both wired and wireless models ranging from compact keyboards with laptop-style layouts to full-size keyboards complete with numpads — from budget to… not so budget.A brief introduction to key keyboard termsSwitches — the component that registers each keypress. Available in many different varieties, which roughly break down into three categories:Clicky switches — these make a big audible “click” sound when you press them. The most famous example is the Cherry MX Blue switch, so these are sometimes referred to as Blue switches. Often recommended as the best switch for typists but have the disadvantage of being the loudest switch type.Tactile switches — also known as Brown switches after Cherry MX Brown, these switches have a small bump you can feel as you press them. A nice halfway house.Linear switches — aka Red switches, Linear switches have no bump or click. They just feel completely smooth. Generally recommended as a gaming switch.Hot-swappable switches — switches that can be removed with a simple pulling tool without desoldering. Ideal if you want to change a keyboard’s feel without replacing the whole thing.QMK — an open-source keyboard firmware that’s powerful and customizable but a little unintuitive for beginners.VIA — a slickly designed app to configure keyboards running QMK firmware.Keycap profile — describes the shape of a set of keycaps. Cherry is a popular option that looks very traditional. Other options include MT3, DCX, and MDA. Here’s a handy site that compares the popular designs.North-facing switches — when a keyboard’s switches are oriented with the LED cutout toward the back, which better illuminates shine-through legends.South-facing switches — when a keyboard’s switches have the LED cutout at the front to avoid interference with Cherry-profile keycaps. While there’s nothing wrong with more typical membrane keyboards like Apple’s popular Magic-branded devices, many prefer mechanical keyboards for their more tactile typing feel and superior durability. There’s also a sizable enthusiast community of people who like to modify and customize them to get their look and feel just right, which means they can be a fun hobby as well as a simple PC accessory.For this list, we limited our recommendations to readily available, fully-assembled keyboards. That rules out any that you need to assemble yourself or which are only available in group buys or limited-edition runs. With one exception, we prioritized keyboards that offer hot-swappable switches so you can easily replace them if they break or you just fancy a change. We tested each keyboard’s typing feel and sound (obviously), the quality of its chassis, keycaps, and stabilizers, how customizable the keymapping and lighting were, and the ability to use it across Mac and Windows computers (such as by offering keycap legends for either OS or being able to easily swap layouts with a switch or shortcut). We also noted whether switches are north- or south-facing since this impacts backlighting and keycap compatibility. Most of the keyboards below use a 75 percent layout, which is a compact form factor that maintains a function row and arrow key cluster, like most laptop keyboards. It’s the best place to start unless you really want an attached number pad or know you prefer a different layout. Nearly all of our recommendations also come in other layouts, which we’ve linked where possible. Finally, while any keyboard can be used for gaming, this guide focuses on the best keyboards for typing and general office work, so input latency and responsiveness weren’t major deciding factors. If you’re after a keyboard specifically for gaming, then stay tuned for our upcoming dedicated guide. The Keychron V1 is the best mechanical keyboard for most people. This is the volume knob-equipped model. Image: Jon Porter / The VergeThe best wired keyboard for most peopleKeychron V1The Keychron V1 is the best entry-level wired keyboard. Starting at just $84 for a fully assembled model, it’s one of the more affordable options on this list, but it feels almost as nice to type on as keyboards that cost twice as much, and its build quality is lovely and sturdy. It also sounds amazing, with no discernible stabilizer rattle, and its 75 percent layout offers a nice mix of compactness without sacrificing too many important keys. $94The Keychron V1 has many of the features of the more expensive Q-series at a much cheaper price.For such a low price, the V1 is packed with features usually found on enthusiast keyboards. It offers hot-swappable switches with south-facing RGB backlighting, and its switches and stabilizers feel nice and smooth. It’s fully programmable: you can remap every key using the intuitive and powerful VIA software on top of QMK — which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and lets you do everything from moving keys around to programming macros directly into the keyboard itself. The V1 comes with durable double-shot PBT keycaps, with both Mac and Windows legends, and a switch on the back of the keyboard lets you toggle between layouts instantly. You can get it with a volume knob for an extra $10 (pictured) or save $20 and buy a bare-bones version without keycaps or switches. Our sample came with Keychron’s own tactile K Pro Brown switches, but there are also clicky and linear options.If you like the design of the V1 but don’t like its layout, Keychron has over half a dozen other models in the V-series range. There’s the more compact V2 (which has a 65 percent layout that omits the dedicated function row), the even more compact V4 (with a 60 percent design that omits the arrow keys entirely), and larger keyboards like the tenkeyless V3, full-size V6, or Alice-layout V10. Keychron’s Q1 Pro (pictured) is a wireless version of the already-excellent Q1. Image: Jon Porter / The VergeThe best premium Bluetooth keyboardKeychron Q1 ProThe Keychron Q1 Pro is an excellent pick for anyone who’s prepared to spend more for wireless connectivity and a more premium typing feel. Like the non-Pro Keychron Q1, it has a sturdy aluminum construction, built-in volume dial, excellent typing feel, and is fully customizable. But it also includes Bluetooth to connect it to your laptop, phone, or tablet.$199The Keychron Q1 Pro is a great premium keyboard, with a full aluminum chassis, gasket-mounted plate, and the flexibility of Bluetooth in addition to the hotswap switches and VIA compatibility of the more affordable V-series.That not only makes it a great step up from Keychron’s V-series keyboards but also we think the Q1 Pro is worth picking over the wired Keychron Q1. That’s because it offers everything the wired Q1 has plus the flexibility of Bluetooth for a relatively small $20 price premium. But if you don’t need wireless and you’re happy with a “good” rather than “great” typing feel, then many of the Q1 Pro’s most compelling features, like VIA programming, hot-swappability, and per-key south-facing RGB backlighting, are also available on V-series boards. Use the keyboard wirelessly, with its RGB lighting disabled, and the Q1 Pro can happily go for over a month without needing to be recharged. But turn on its backlighting, and that battery life drops to around a week. The reliability of the Bluetooth connection was flawless in my testing — I didn’t experience any dropouts during a month of use.The Q1 Pro’s full aluminum case and gasket-mounted design make it feel much more substantial than the plastic keyboards I’ve tested. By effectively suspending its polycarbonate switch plate and PCB between gaskets, the keyboard has a substantial amount of flex to it. That might not sound like much, but it gives the Q1 Pro a much more satisfying typing sound compared to what are known as tray-mounted keyboards like the Keychron V-series. Replacement switch plates are also available in different materials if you want to further customi
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