By Robin Owens 24 days ago, Keyboards
Top-rated gaming keyboards just under 30 dollars.
Today a gaming keyboard under 30 dollars will not mean compromising, in many cases, this is an efficient and long-lasting device. Sure, you can spend several thousand dollars on a fancy setup but that will not be a necessity. If you only take the hardware without all the bells and whistles, the prices will turn quite reasonable.
There is such an excess of keyboards on the market these days that finding a model that would offer the highest quality for the lowest price is immensely time-consuming. You can rely on this selection because it features seven inexpensive devices that boast some premium features.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Enough spacing between keys
⊕ Pleasant key feedback
⊕ LED power button
⊕ Nearly noiseless
⊖ Takes a while to establish a connection
If you’re searching for the absolute best gaming keyboard under 30 that would both have looks and performance, here it is. It takes after the more luxurious brands, especially with the backlighting, so you won’t feel out of place among other gamers when using it.
The keystroke is very responsive and the keys themselves offer pleasant girth. Being wireless, it knows how to save battery, going into the sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity. Reawakening happens immediately at any keystroke. This device is a bright illustration of the fact that things don’t need to be expensive to have good quality.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Pleasant and quick keystrokes
⊕ Decent illumination
⊕ Handy volume switch
⊖ No angle adjustment
⊖ Illumination underneath the keys
This mechanical keyboard under 30 dollars is often selected by gamers. In fact, there is a multitude of reviews that praise the general feel and the particular convenience of the volume buttons. Some claim there is something strange in the positioning of the keys, others find them somewhat loud.
However, in this price segment and with the generally high level of performance, the option is still great. The keys are incredibly responsive, and while the tilt is fixed, it is optimal for any use and feels convenient.
Having the lighting, especially multi-colored, is somewhat of a luxury for an affordable device. Even though the light comes from underneath the keys, it is still great.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Clear uniform illumination
⊕ Resistance to water
⊕ Quieter than many models
⊕ Great for use in the dark
⊖ Not the key color you’d expect to get
This interesting wired model imitates the superior feel of mechanical switches while giving you the noiselessness they don’t have. You get to use the handy 11 multimedia keys for more efficiency.
The double-colored keycaps are pleasant to touch and ensure that the lighting is uniform and the letters never rub off. If you ever spilled some water in the heat of the moment, you will know how important resistance to moisture is.
So is the ability to adjust the level of light brightness because in a dark room the full-blast illumination can be quite painful to look at. Here, not only the brightness but also the speed of the breathing effect can be changed.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ No squeaky clicking
⊕ Helpful tactile feedback
⊕ A thought-through ergonomic build
⊕ Has a convenient carrying handle
⊖ No kickstand
⊖ No color customization
Everything in this 30 dollar gaming keyboard is about the comfort of use. You get a robust all-metal panel and special coverage that eliminates the shifting around even if you’re having a vigorous play. The keycaps are designed with long hours of use in mind so your fingers won’t get tired.
The moisture-resistant keyboard even has drains to ensure that spilling a beverage over causes the least amount of inconvenience. You can easily remove all the keycaps for regular or emergency cleaning and keep the device in great shape with no effort. As a nice touch, it has some simplified backlighting.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Effortless key striking
⊕ Appropriate spacing
⊕ Stylish look
⊕ Absence of noise
⊖ Minor vibration of the springs
Another model with an aluminum alloy panel is incredibly durable and stylish. The keys themselves, however, are soft and pleasant, functioning with great precision.
You can remove the caps easily to do the regular maintenance and prolong the device’s life. The 25-key anti-ghosting is a great addition making a gamer’s life easier.
It also has the rainbow backlight with a soft glow appropriate for late-night use. You can either turn it off or alter the intensity of light and the speed of the breathing effect. The designers were thoughtful enough to give the device resistance to water.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Plug-n-play
⊕ Special keys functioning on macOS
⊕ Pleasant sensation of the return click
⊖ Return key is set at a greater distance
If you are looking for slim mechanical keyboards under $30, here is a great representative of the kind. While it has reduced dimensions, the full layout makes it convenient for carrying around and regular use. The device received laser-etched keycaps that have been grip-coated for extra convenience and durability.
The illumination can be adjusted to make sure your eyes don’t hurt. If you’re an active user of the shortcut keys, you will be satisfied with the efficient F1-F12 controllers. The model comes with a long cable, requires no drivers and is supported by both the newest and much-outdated Windows and Mac systems.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes
⊕ Very soft stroke
⊕ Incredibly precise input
⊕ Conveniently placed media keys
⊕ Music buttons on the side
⊖ Not a braided wire
Among the affordable devices, this is a high-quality model. You will find the super-convenient media keys for music on the side and the keys for other uses on the top. The keys have a very precise reaction but are soft to the touch.
They have an interesting response click that feels like mechanical. Even though the switches are not mechanical, they have high efficiency. Since the size implies portability, the manufacturers used a more durable aluminum panel to make sure it doesn’t get damaged in your backpack.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Rii RK100+
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
VicTsing Gaming
Gaming |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
Kolmax Gaming
Budget |
CHECK PRICE → |
If it’s not an illumination-free keyboard, you can either have one set color or a full RGB scheme. The latter, however, could easily double the price of an affordable device.
If you don’t want to cut back on style, try to find a keyboard that is lit in the same color as the rest of the devices. The extra expense should only take place if that’s impossible.
Since ghosting can be quite a nuisance, check for the 6-Key Rollover as the gaming minimum. The majority of workers and gamers never experience issues with such coverage.
However, higher-level gamers, especially those participating in competitions, require N-Key Rollover (NKRO) that keeps track of every single key at any time.
To transmit the signal from your finger to the computer, a keyboard uses a special switch. There are several major types that also have variations within. The most common ones, not only among the keyboards under $30, are membrane and mechanical.
The latter are the most widespread and have superb durability, but they also have a higher price and create more noise. If quiet typing is important to you, go membrane or look for a particular mechanical switch that wouldn’t be as loud.
The tension of a fast-paced game results in more fervent keyboard use. This means that a flimsy device won’t survive for long.
For that reason, gaming keyboards are typically robust and can have various enforcements hidden within. This can be a metal plate to prevent the device from bending or even cracking in your bag or the special kind of plastic that resists the grease from your fingers.
Rii RK100+
Rii RK100+ and VicTsing Gaming
Real professionals play with expensive gear and that includes the keyboard. Those who prefer saving money go for something like that Rii RK100+ I’ve mentioned already.
The one thing it can’t do is increase your personal capabilities. A gaming keyboard and a mouse under 30 dollars are often a matter of style, size and durability. As for the technical side, sometimes the particular switches it operates on or the display for important stats can be the reason for an upgrade. Otherwise, if you’re satisfied with your regular device, there is no need for a change.
