By Robin Owens 3 days ago, Keyboards
High-quality mechanical keyboards under 100 dollars.
Mechanical keyboards have become significantly less expensive, so it might be a good time to think about upgrading your peripherals. If you spend long hours in front of your PC during COVID-19, you might need to use a more comfortable keyboard. I have reviewed the best mechanical keyboards under $100 to make your choice easier.
Most desktop computers come with rubber-dome keyboards. With them a user needs to push a key all way down for a click to register. The most significant shortcoming of this type is that the rubber membrane has inconsistent tactile feedback and sometimes a user needs to apply too much force. Most laptops come with scissor switches that make typing easier. While they have worse tactile feedback, they are more enjoyable to use.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Weight: 1.80 lbs | Color: Black
⊕ Easy-to-detach USB cord
⊕ Backlight
⊕ Powerful performance
⊕ Inexpensive
⊖ Comes without a wrist rest
The HyperX Alloy FPS Pro is a TKL mechanical gaming keyboard that comes with reliable Cherry MX key switches and delivers impressive performance. It features Red LED backlighting and has only 87 keys which makes it quite compact. It’s designed for gaming enthusiasts who are looking for a durable and reliable model offering high accuracy. It’s extremely portable and features a steel frame that can easily withstand intensive use.
Its Cherry MX switches boast high responsiveness and deliver great precision. Thanks to them, the keys are quite durable and provide a nice response. With this option, you won’t experience wrist strain, which will give you a cutting edge over your opponents. LED effects are perfectly customizable. The keyboard comes with a detachable braided cable.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Weight: 3.10 lbs | Color: Black
⊕ Stunning design
⊕ Spring keys
⊕ Durable metal frame, solid build
⊖ Not suitable for typing
The SteelSeries Apex M750 is one of the best mechanical keyboards under 100 for esports fans, as it comes with extremely fast QX2 mechanical switches and has a durable frame made of aerospace aluminum. RGB effects create a dynamic lighting experience, you can customize them to your liking. Thanks to the Prism Sync feature, you can synchronize lighting across your gaming gear. Another advantage is that GameSense lighting effects change, depending on in-game events. For instance, if you are low on health and money, you will be notified about it thanks to the lighting effects. With the help of SteelSeries Engine software, you can program keys, use macros and save profiles. It’s also possible to save lighting presets on-board for further use.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Weight: 3.11 lbs | Color: Black
⊕ Affordable
⊕ Backlit keys
⊕ Beautiful design
⊕ Dedicated media keys
⊖ Comes without volume dial
The Corsair K68 RGB is an extremely durable keyboard with individually backlit keys. It’s up to IP32 waterproof and dust-resistant. Cherry MX key switches are quite responsive. For an immersive in-game experience, you can use dynamic lighting effects and various macros that are easy to customize thanks to CUE software.
If you don’t want to be distracted from gameplay, try using dedicated volume and multimedia controls. Unlike other best mechanical keyboards under $100, it registers simultaneous keystrokes perfectly, so you won’t notice any signs of ghosting. For uninterrupted gaming sessions, activate the Windows Key Lock mode. A detachable wrist rest is comfortable to use.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: yes | Weight: 3.11 lbs | Color: Black
⊕ Touchpad-like experience
⊕ Decent performance
⊕ Affordable
⊖ None
This gaming keyboard is designed to deliver unprecedented gaming experience. You can customize control keys to suit your needs and use complex software to adjust settings. This model has mechanical switches and AlienFX with 13 RGB zones. You can program functions of 15 macro keys and use on-board memory to store your settings. This Alienware keyboard has an edgy design and is suitable for intensive gaming.
Whether you are a novice or an advanced user, you will benefit from using Alienware mechanical keyboards under 100. Mechanical switches can withstand intensive gameplay. They give great tactile feedback with low actuation and nice click noise. Thanks to dedicated multimedia keys, you can create time-saving shortcuts, such as a dedicated audio roller.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: yes | Weight: 3.69 pounds | Color: Black
⊕ Durable build
⊕ Detachable wrist rest
⊕ Razer Green Switches give a great tactile feel
⊖ Doesn’t support USB 3.0
The Razer BlackWidow Elite is a gaming keyboard equipped with Razer mechanical switches that offer fast actuation and can withstand 80 million keystrokes. This model comes with media controls, the USB 2.0 and audio pass-through. A wrist rest has an ergonomic design, which makes it more comfortable to use. A user can adjust lighting effects and customize macros.
You can also save up to 5 configurations of settings thanks to a hybrid on-board memory and cloud storage. Mechanical switches have 50 G of actuation force. Whether you use this keyboard for typing or gaming, you will enjoy the clicky sound and high accuracy. Thanks to Razer Hypershift, you can assign complex commands to different combinations of the keys.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: yes | Weight: 2.77 pounds | Color: Black
⊕ Amazing design
⊕ Great for gaming
⊖ Subpar synthetic performance
The ROG Strix is a mechanical keyboard under 100 dollars that comes with advanced customization options and features Cherry MX Brown RGB switches. Thanks to Asus Aura Sync, you can adjust lighting effects and synchronize them with the rest of your gaming gear. You can assign any commands to the various combinations of keys with the help of a macros recording feature. The keyboard has USB pass-through and convenient media controls.
It’s possible to create a custom logo with the black acrylic badge. When you insert it into the keyboard, it will instantly light up. If you enjoy listening to your favorite tracks while working on your PC, you can use media keys and the volume wheel to control audio. A wrist rest adds to your comfort, while USB pass-through accounts for better connectivity.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: yes | Weight: 3.3 pounds | Color: Black
⊕ Easy-to-customize lighting
⊕ Comfortable typing experience
⊕ Clicky feedback
⊖ Plastic feel
The Orion Spectrum boasts the ultra-fast speed, comes with RGB lighting and Romer-G mechanical switches that deliver up to 25% faster actuation. Each key can be backlit with one of 16 million colors. You can program 9 G-keys to quickly access handy macros and various commands. Thanks to Arx Control integration, you can download in-game updates on your iOS and Android devices. There are also useful media control keys. If you spend long hours in front of your PC, you will appreciate a palm rest and comfortable layout that makes your typing more precise. Being one of the most advanced options on the market, this model has convenient media controls that allow you to play songs and videos. With them, you can also quickly adjust the volume or fast-forward a video.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: yes | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Color: Black
⊕ Individually backlit keys, a great price
⊕ Gateron Red switches are just as good as Cherry ones
⊖ Cord attachment seems unreliable
The Cooler Master will give you a boost of confidence when you play your favorite games. You can customize RGB lighting and select any of the available lighting modes. The manufacturers claim that the keys are built to withstand 50 million presses. Using its on-the-fly controls, you can change lighting effects or macro keys. Being one of the best mechanical keyboards under 100, it features a seamless design with a curved top plate, elevated keycaps and convenient controls. You won’t need to install additional software to adjust settings in real-time. The lighting effects are easy to customize, you can choose any of 16.7 million keys, set up different lighting modes and macros.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: no | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Color: White
⊕ Inexpensive
⊕ Perfect for gamers
⊕ Suitable for typing and coding
⊖ None
The keyboard described above is undoubtedly one of the best mechanical keyboards under $50 available on the market. Its guaranteed long-lasting performance, perfect resistance, satisfying click sound, and tactile feedback make it an excellent choice for both typing and gaming experiences. It comes with high-quality switches designed to withstand up to 50 million keystrokes. This keyboard is a smart option to consider both for office and home use. It doesn’t take up much space on your desk and has laser-etched keycaps with the letters that don’t scratch off easily. The only disadvantage is that it comes without backlighting.
It has an ergonomic design, with a metal frame and durable details made of ABS plastic. Its plate-mounted keys deliver stable performance even during the most intense gaming sessions.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: yes | Weight: 2.00 lbs | Color: Black
⊕ A nice design
⊕ Designed for gaming
⊕ Slim profile, doesn’t weigh much
⊖ None
One of the key highlights of this keyboard is its durable construction. The robust build quality and plate-mounted keys ensure stability and reliability, even during intense gaming sessions or heavy typing workloads.
Moreover, the OMEN by HP keyboard features a stylish design with customizable RGB lighting, allowing users to personalize the appearance to match their gaming setup or personal preferences. The keyboard's programmable keys and dedicated media controls offer added convenience, enabling quick access to essential functions and media playback without disrupting your workflow.
This option is perfectly capable of handling simultaneous keystrokes without visible ghosting effects. It has Cherry MX Blue mechanical switches that are known for their 50-million-keystroke lifespan and impressive responsiveness. Besides, it comes with the N-key rollover feature. You can press as many keys as you like, and each keypress will be detected with high accuracy. This model can be found on Amazon or other platforms.
Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: yes | Weight: 1.90 lbs | Color: Black
⊕ Quick key actuation
⊕ Great hybrid switches
⊕ Easy-to-use media controls
⊖ Comes without dedicated macro keys
The Razer Huntsman features optomechanical switches that make the most of Razer’s optical technology and deliver stunning speed. Thanks to a key stabilizer Bar, you can press keys at any speed, without worrying about ghosting. These switches actuate and reset at the same time, which contributes to faster performance. You can save your settings using hybrid on-board memory and cloud storage. The aluminum frame adds to the durability of this keyboard while its matte coating makes it look more classy.
If you need to use complex commands, you can program different key combinations thanks to Razer Hypershift. The switches are built to last up to 100 million clicks. Unlike other best mechanical keyboards under 100, it comes with a 2-year warranty, which is twice more than other options offer.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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HyperX Alloy
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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SteelSeries Apex M750
High Quality |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Corsair K68
Stylish |
CHECK PRICE → |
When you start choosing a keyboard, it’s important to make your mind about what type of layout you want to use. While full-size keyboards are still most popular, some people are looking for the models that take up much less space. Full-size peripherals come with all the necessary keys, so you won’t need to worry about memorizing function layers. They also have a number pad. The most significant shortcoming of this option is its size. You will need to move your hands a lot to reach your mouse as well. This is the main reason I don’t enjoy using full-size keyboards.
There are several keyboard sizes to choose from. If you aren’t sure which option to pick, a full-sized or a more compact one, try thinking about what you need to use it for. A full-size keyboard comes with either 104 (ANSI) or 105 (ISO) keys, these layouts are the most common ones for the U.S. as well as for other countries. Such peripherals typically have 3 sections. Besides the main key cluster, there are also numbers and function keys. Such keyboards feature arrow keys and the number pad that can be used for entering data
Many of these options have great computer connectivity. They can be connected either via a USB cable or Wi-Fi. While wired options are considered to be more reliable, wireless models are great when you need to travel, as they are quite portable. When you are purchasing a budget keyboard, it’s important to check if it has decent connectivity to avoid buying another model in the future.
There are a lot of inexpensive keyboards available, with each of them designed for a specific purpose. Before making your choice, think carefully about how you are going to use it.
Some keyboards are marketed specifically to gamers. If you are serious about e-sports, try purchasing one of them to enhance your gaming experience. Office workers often need to type a lot, so it’s vital for them to use a comfortable keyboard suitable for extended typing sessions.
Those who work with numbers and need to enter a lot of data will benefit from using a mechanical RGB keyboard under 100 with a numeric pad. If you want to buy a keyboard for work-related tasks, think carefully, which specifications you need for your job.
If you are a fan of gaming, you will enjoy using a mechanical keyboard because it’s quite durable, responsive and provides great tactile feedback. However, some people prefer compact membrane keyboards, as they are less expensive and more portable. Those who need to choose a keyboard that offers advantages of both these types, purchase hybrid models.
With such models, there is no need to press a key all the way down, as your click will be registered half-way. Thanks to it, you won’t experience any signs of muscle strain and will type much faster.
Mechanical keyboards are made of durable plastic, so they feel nice when you need to type a lot. Unlike rubber dome keyboards, they come with the keys that are easier to press, so you won’t tire too much during extended typing sessions.
While you might be unpleasantly surprised to find out that mechanical keyboards are 10-20 times more expensive than membrane ones, the difference is easy to explain. Each key of a mechanical keyboard has its own switch, so they consist of more parts and are more difficult to make.
