By Robin Owens 11 days ago, Keyboards
Just add digital magic to your gaming and work using backlit keyboards.
Looking for the best backlit keyboard that will offer you terrific precision and excellent ergonomics, so that you can enjoy maximum comfort during the long hours you spend working or gaming?
Even though a lot of users think that the main point of backlit keyboards is to “look cool”, they can also be incredibly handy for ensuring an uninterrupted workflow regardless of the lighting conditions in your workspace, as the keys remain perfectly visible at all times.
When picking the best backlit keyboard, you have to take into account a lot of factors including brand, color and design. The post below goes over all the best options that the market currently has to offer. By the end of this review, you’ll have a clear idea of which keyboard is the optimal choice for your needs.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Switches feel terrific
⊕ Extremely responsive
⊕ Great bang for your buck
⊕ RGB lights look fantastic
⊖ Wrist rest can’t be detached
⊖ Somewhat bulky
The G213 wireless backlit keyboard comes with an extensive array of features. At its top-right, you can find several media keys, a volume changer, a Game Mode button and a key that turns the lights on and off. This product is also spill-resistant and comes with a wrist rest.
This Logitech model provides top-tier gaming performance and is up to 4-times quicker than regular keyboards, reacting instantly to every single key you press. The Brilliant Color Spectrum Illumination lets you conveniently customize up to five lighting areas so that the keyboard perfectly matches your other gaming accessories.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Mesmerizing disco lights
⊕ Useful media and shortcut keys
⊕ Stylish aluminum design
⊕ Inelegant software
⊖ Rubberized palm rest tends to get grungy
The K95 is probably the best backlit keyboard available right now. It offers responsive controls due to the short pre-travel, meaning you don’t have to smash the keys for the PC to register your input. The build quality is also nothing short of impressive, as it features macro buttons, RGB lighting, with each key being individually backlit, and it even has an underglow strip on the frame. The brightness can be adjusted straight on the keyboard.
The K95 has an incline setting and the stands open sideways, meaning you don’t risk accidentally folding them when applying pressure on the keyboard. This product is also supplied with an attachable wrist rest that has a reversible texture.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Classy and lightweight design
⊕ Keys are almost completely silent
⊕ RGB lights come in 7 colors
⊕ Integrated wrist rest
⊖ Several keys feel sticky
⊖ Backlight isn’t uniform
This backlit computer keyboard comes with 104 low-profile keys and RGB lights and offers terrific sturdiness and responsiveness. The K502 also has a full numerical pad and a gold-coated corrosion-resistant USB output that provides a smooth, uninterrupted connection. The keyboard includes anti-slip rear feet and an extra big wrist rest that is designed to make typing as comfortable as possible.
The backlit system offers 7 colors, 4 brightness settings, customizable berating speed and a cool pulse mode. You can also turn the lights off, which is a function that is missing in a lot of keyboards out there.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Separate media keys
⊕ Customizable lights
⊕ Convenient crater design
⊕ Passed the 10,000,000 keystroke test
⊕ Compatible with Win and Mac
⊖ Large frame
When it comes to performance, durability and cost-efficiency, this is probably the best backlit keyboard on the list. The 24 anti-ghosting buttons are completely spill-proof and offer smooth edges that will ensure you never get distracted when gaming.
Pictek comes with five backlit settings and you can switch between single and seven color modes. Thanks to the combination of durability, responsiveness and crater build, this membrane model can endure 10mln key presses, and regardless of how much you’ll use this keyboard, the engraved letters will remain perfectly visible for years.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Reliable, sturdy build
⊕ Offers a nice feel
⊕ Extremely smooth typing experience
⊖ Action feel seems excessive
This durable white LED keyboard offers 3 backlit colors, which are essential if you often work in poorly-lit rooms, and soft membrane keys that are very pleasant to the touch. Switching between the different modes can be done with the separate Backlit button, and you can press Fn+Backlit keys to enable interchangeable light cycles.
The Periboard also offers dustproof and water-resistant properties, customizable feet, fast typing and a nearly 2m cable that gives you more freedom when setting up your workspace. This product is fully compliant with the IP65 standard and includes 12 fully functional keys that were separately programmed for Windows and its task controls.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Beautiful RGB rainbow backlighting
⊕ Small, minimalist design
⊕ Pleasant tactile feeling when typing
⊕ Turn off backlight with 1 press
⊕ 3 brightness settings
⊖ Only rainbow colors
⊖ Lacks macro or customizable keys
This slim backlit keyboard is pleasantly compact, meaning it won’t take up much space on your desk and can be easily taken with you anywhere. The laser-etched keycaps are grip coated to make this device sturdier and provide a more pleasant tactile feel.
The included backlit makes typing in a dark room a breeze, while the lights aren’t so bright that they’d irritate your eyes. Moreover, this keyboard allows you to pick between several brightness and light modes to your liking. You can also turn off the light when it’s not needed by pressing the appropriate key.
The twelve included shortcut buttons (F1-F12) can boost your workflow and make using various software more convenient. Additionally, they offer a pleasant return click feel.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ High-end, portable design
⊕ Convenient software for controlling lighting and macros
⊕ GL Linear keys offer both smoothness and responsiveness
⊕ Wired-only
⊖ High price
The G815 is a high-end mechanical lighted keyboard designed primarily for gamers. It has useful RGB lights that can be personalized using the G-HUB software. It’s also possible to adjust the brightness right on the keyboard. The lights are powerful enough to be seen in daylight and are satisfyingly bright in poor lighting.
This model also provides solid ergonomics due to the two incline settings. The G815 comes with some handy additional features. You receive special media keys and a volume wheel. There are also special macro buttons, which you can customize and save in up to 3 user profiles.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Keys don’t feel stiff
⊕ Keys are quickly released
⊕ Great for playing video games
⊖ Isn’t mechanical
⊖ Makes more noise than other options on this list
This might be the best backlit wired keyboard if you don’t mind the rainbow colors and are looking for the ultimate gaming experience. It offers 4 LED-backlit modes (off, moderate brightness, high brightness, breathing) and includes 3 separate LED indicators that make using this device even more convenient.
The MA12100US comes with a comfortable wrist rest, which reduces fatigue even if you sit in front of the computer for hours at a time. Additionally, the responsive tactile feeling provided by the keys, allows you to feel comfortable even in intense gaming situations.
The implemented anti-ghosting allows using multiple keys at the same time with zero lag, which is exactly what you need for a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
Interface: Wireless | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Cherry MX red switches
⊕ LED controller / CUE
⊕ Special media keys
⊕ Small body
⊖ No color customization
⊖ USB cable can’t be detached
The K63 is a top-notch backlit wireless keyboard that is perfectly suited for gamers. You can connect it either via the wireless USB receiver or Bluetooth.
It’s possible to pair the keyboard with 2 devices simultaneously, which is great if you do a lot of multitasking. This product offers a mix of durability and comfort for all sorts of lighting conditions. Thanks to the reliable backlit, insufficient room lighting will never be a problem.
This option has 10 fewer keys than some other models, but that sacrifice allowed the manufacturer to make this product smaller and more portable. If you’ve been looking for the best wireless illuminated keyboard, then this is the one for you.
Image | Name | Features | |
---|---|---|---|
Logitech G213
Our Choice |
CHECK PRICE → | ||
Corsair K95
For Gaming |
CHECK PRICE → | ||
Redragon K502
Cheap |
CHECK PRICE → |
Some illuminated keyboards allow a user to personalize the RGB lights by changing the colors, brightness level, style and reassigning some of the keys.
Plenty of models include macro keys that can be customized using the software provided with the keyboard, which can prove to be a very handy feature for a gamer. By assigning a macro key, you can make it perform the function of an entire hotkey combination, which is especially relevant for MOBA players.
Media keys can be employed as shortcuts for all sorts of purposes. Such functionality is very useful, particularly in situations when you’re busy doing something and want to instantly switch between different playlists or change the volume without meddling with your work.
The design of lighted keyboards is defined by the key shape, light placement, frame build and button functionality. All of those aspects combined determine how convenient the keyboard will feel during usage and how easily you can perform all the actions you need.
The quality of the lights can vary greatly depending on the product. It’s generally recommended to pick a model that has customizable lights, as you’ll then have more freedom to adjust the keyboard to your workspace setup.
When picking between keyboard with backlit keys, durability is one of the first characteristics you should be checking for. You need to buy a model that will easily withstand everyday use. Keyboards with aluminum frames are a valid consideration when it comes to sturdiness.
Since comfort and convenience should always be your priority, give preference to keyboards with keys that are nice to the touch. Plenty of models come with Keycaps and PerfectStroke to ensure the keys stay silent and feel soft.
You can live perfectly fine without a backlit model, but it does offer certain advantages compared to a standard keyboard. The LED lights improve visibility and help establish a more cheerful working or gaming atmosphere. Some models with customizable keys can also give you a competitive advantage when gaming.
Some products allow you to customize backlights to certain keys so that they glow specific colors. This can help you identify controls quicker, which can be a lifesaver for a user who isn’t accustomed to a specific control scheme. This is also relevant for people involved in the image or video editing, 3D modeling and other graphic design-related industries that tend to use hotkeys a lot.
The fastest way to find out if your system has a light up keyboard is to examine the F10, F6 and right arrow buttons. If none of them has an illumination icon, then your keyboard isn’t backlit.
A chiclet keyboard is a model that comes with elevated keys that have more space between them, which allows the buttons to blend into the surrounding area. Such keyboards were named after “Chiclets,” which is a brand of rectangular chewing gum.