The best budget gaming keyboard of 2024

A pristine, slick and practical keyboard from SteelSeries, the Apex 9 TKL mechanical gaming keyboard is a second-to-none deal on what is a phenomenal peripheral.

A conveniently sized TKL mechanical keyboard, the SteelSeries Apex 9 is perfect for slightly busier desks or for those who would like a little more mouse space. Lacking the numeric keypad is a bit of a blow to gamers who might want to bind keys, but this isn't a massive blow thanks to the Apex 9's overall convenience and speed.

Equipped with optical switches, the Apex 9 TKL is perhaps one of the most precise and fast mechanical keyboards on the market, making it a must for gamers who find themselves in the heat of combat, making split-second decisions.

Floating at around the £100 price mark, this might seem like a lot of cash for a keyboard, but it's a peripheral that'll last a lifetime, and will provide exceptional performance for the foreseeable future.

RK's ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 mechanical keyboard is half the price of its competition and offers excellent quality all the same. Built for gamers, this RGB-fuelled 60 per cent keyboard rocks the market with its sheer performance, fantastic design and rock-solid build quality that is truly tough to top.

The RK61 is admittedly smaller than both a full-sized keyboard and a TKL keyboard, giving gamers who enjoy hours of MOBAs a little less room for key bindings, but at the cost of some button shortcuts, you've got a particularly brilliant mechanical keyboard for half the price of a regular gaming keyboard.

A colourful, tough 60 per cent keyboard with silent, linear red switches, the RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK61 is absolutely solid, so don't hesitate to grab one for yourself.

A fantastic deal on a reliable budget gaming keyboard, the Razer Cynosa Lite is an excellent choice for gamers on a particularly tight budget, who still want a high-performance keyboard.

Whilst not a mechanical keyboard, the Razer Cynosa Lite certainly doesn't disappoint when it comes to performance. This full-sized keyboard has a plethora of programmable keys and lights that give the Cynosa Lite the aesthetic of a true mechanical keyboard, but without the complete feel of one.

As for the overall feel of the Cynosa Lite, there's certainly a rubbery sensation to keystrokes which you simply don't get with a mechanical keyboard, but for the money, you can hardly complain. The sheer convenience of programmable keys, fully programmable RGB lighting and more for less than £30 is an incredible offer, making it one of the best cheap keyboards of the year so far.

For the very best in gaming for a bargain price, the Corsair K70 keyboard cannot be beaten for performance. This full-fledged beast of a keyboard has an array of gorgeous RGB lighting, a solid aluminium body and a host of optical switches for insanely good accuracy.

A little pricier than the other keyboards on the list to be sure, but this sensational budget mechanical keyboard is undeniably excellent price, giving other Corsair keyboards on the market a real run for their money.

Silent, powerful and comfortable thanks to the K70's sizeable wrist rest, gamers can comfortably enjoy hours of gameplay without batting an eye or rubbing their wrist, it's just that good.

Though it is getting into the mid-range prices, if you want a premium keyboard at a not-so-premium price tag, the Galaxy70 is here to help. For under £100, you get many premium features usually kept for the high-end boards, such as an aluminium construction, wireless connectivity, 5-pin hotswap capabilities, pre-lubed linear switches, RGB lighting and a configurable rotary knob. The value for money from this keyboard goes on and on.

Olivia Sheed reviewed the Epomaker product and had this to say: "When I first saw the Galaxy 70, for the price it was advertised as, at first I was admittedly very sceptical. I'd heard of the keyboards before, but never used one, and it all seemed a little too good to be true. As someone who knows far more about the workings of keyboards than any normal person, I have never been so happy to be proven wrong.

"The Galaxy70 may be on the bigger end, of weight and budget, but if your wallet and desk can support it, you'll find no better value keyboard for all your gaming needs."

Read the full review here.

Regularly priced around the £40 mark, this entry from Logitech shows why they are one of the biggest gaming brands, for offering function at a fraction of the cost. With mechanical-feel tactile key presses, included media controls, a full 100% layout and brilliantly bright RGB, there is no better deal on a keyboard like this. It comes equipped with a free wrist rest to help maintain good ergonomics while gaming into the night.

The construction makes this one of the toughest keyboards on this list, spill resistant and easy to clean, means no matter what happens in your next 10 hour raid, your keyboard won't stop you from getting to the end.

Some said the keys are loud when using the keyboard, so you may need to take that into account if you share an office or desk with other people. But with the keyboard you're getting, it's worth the few extra decibels.

A true bargain that's perfect for office workers as well as gamers, the Perixx Periboard ergonomic split keyboard is comfortable, large and perfect for long hours with glazed eyes in front of the monitor screen.

Designed to contour to the hand, the Perixx 535BL Periboard minimises the chances of carpal tunnel and hand strain through its curved design, boosting speed and endurance for intrepid gamers who plan on playing till the early hours of the morning.

Even for all its ergonomic glory, it maintains mechanical switches, with the option of clicky, linear or tactile. This gives you the authentic "gamer" feel while still doing wonders for your wrists.

All in all, if you're a gamer, or you're looking for the best ergonomic keyboard, the Perixx Periboard is a brilliant choice for you.

A characterful keyboard from the terrific budget keyboard manufacturer, Epomaker, the RT100 is an ultra-responsive, beautifully designed retro keyboard that is truly packed with features to customise and explore. RGB lighting, a mini LED TV and with speedy actuation, the Epomaker RT100 is a delightful blend of retro and futiristic, and is sure to satiate cravings for a satisfying mechanical keyboard.

Tech writer and reviewer, Ryan Houghton, tested the Epomaker RT100 first-hand, where his excitement for this budget mechanical keyboard is apparent:

"A stunningly brilliant mechanical keyboard worth every penny of its low price tag, the Epomaker RT100 astounds with its high degree of versatility across any operating system, connection mode, or functionality."