Best gaming backlit keyboard

If you know you will make extensive use of your backlit keyboard, you should really purchase one with an ergonomic design.

Nowadays, many keyboard manufacturers modify the size of certain keys or separate the corresponding keys for the left and right hands. Many backlit keyboards will allow you to choose from a range of different colors. Note that the most basic models will offer a smaller number of colors, with some even having a single-color lighting system. High-end backlit keyboards, on the other hand, can cover the entire color spectrum. Nowadays, the very best keyboards on the market let you personalize each key individually.

This system is called dynamic multicolor per-key backlighting. Using a specific software, it provides virtually unlimited possibilities for control and customization of color and effects. They are especially recommended for those of us who play video games.

In such a competitive environment, where performing an action a microsecond earlier can make the difference between victory and defeat, finding the right key is vital. Besides, gamers often play more relaxed with a backlit keyboard.

You will also find these devices helpful if your workspace often has low light conditions or if you work at night. Everyone will benefit from you having one of these keyboards if you share a room with others and need to use your computer at night. They are actually two different types of devices. However, the reality is that an overwhelming majority of gaming keyboards integrate this functionality, whose competitive edge is essential for video game players.

If you are familiar with e-sports, you will have noticed that competitions take place in low-light conditions. This allows players to focus on what is happening on the screen and, therefore, on the game. However, a keyboard must include a few more features than simply backlighting to be considered a gaming model.

The product recommendations in this article are made solely by the sponsor and are not recommendations made by VentureBeat. The management system for our test and comparison methods is certified as per ISO Home Tech Gaming backlit keyboard. Tested Products 7. Hours Spent Evaluated Studies Considered Reviews What is a Backlit Keyboard and how does it work? Will it deliver just like other keyboards? Check out our individual reviews to find out the best backlit keyboard. Our first backlit keyboard comes from none other than Logitech.

After all, Logitech is a brand that knows how to balance price and performance — basically becoming the go-to brand for affordable yet quality PC products. The Logitech Illuminated Thin Keyboard K is a sleek black keyboard built to withstand regular typing. Thanks to its slender build, it readily complements a room or workplace with a minimalist and modern design.

Specifically, the bulkiest part of this keyboard is merely 9. Not to mention, this keyboard is a full-sized keyboard despite its thin appearance — complete with full-size arrow keys and numpad. Ideally, the illuminated keys should keep your typing procedures accurate and quick — even when the only light sources are the display screen and this keyboard.

Moreover, you have the option to manually adjust the brightness of the K keyboard. A brightness key is conveniently placed at the top right area of the product. This enables you to pick among three degrees of illumination. If you do not need the backlit feature, especially in the day, you can disable it. Just like in other keyboards, there are dedicated keys for adjusting and disabling the sound.

Looking closely at the keyboard, we noticed that the K used orange to easily display the FN functions. We also saw that the Delete key is relatively bigger than usual, which is useful for many of us. The Insert key of the K backlit keyboard is placed at the top section, which ideally prevents accidentally pressing it.

This should be good news for office workers and gamer alike. Keeping in tune with the slender build of the Logitech K backlit keyboard, the company included its PerfectStroke key system to keep each press as smooth and quiet as possible.

This technological feature is meant to lower the clacking sounds that might distract other people in the office or in the room. That section is a built-in palm rest. With this soft, rubber-coated palm rest, your hands will be adequately elevated while your wrists get to stay relaxed.

Lastly, the Logitech K backlit keyboard has a three-year warranty. Now, with all of the pretty amazing features of the Logitech Illuminated Thin Keyboard K, we had to test their durability and actual performance. The keyboard layout felt good to the touch as soon as we laid our hands on them. As for the illumination, we can readily say that the letters of the keys glow adequately.

Whether we were directly facing our screens or just laid back a bit, we could see the backlit keys we needed to press. Even when sunlight hits the keyboard, we could still see the illumination as long as the brightness level is at its peak. Several of us prefer to just look at the screen while typing phrases and full-on paragraphs, so the illumination can be used by our peripheral vision to hit the right keys even without directly looking at them. In other words, this is a stellar backlit keyboard for people used to touch typing.

Each press is as fluid and quiet as possible. Speaking of typing, the palm rest really does work wonders. It somehow reduced the stress we felt while constantly typing, and it improved our performance because of our hand and wrist placement. On another note, hardcore gamers might not find this as the best gaming computer keyboard or even as a Logitech gaming keyboard due to the more or less standard key layout. Then again, the inclusion of hotkeys should make this useful enough for light and non-competitive gaming.

While not every function works with Linux, this is definitely an unexpectedly good backlit keyboard for enthusiasts of this system. Now, you might find it odd that the special key functions are backlit in orange instead of the function keys, but Logitech had a solution to let users spot the right function keys. Apart from its lightweight and elegant design that makes it easy to store in a standard backpack, the K manages to be a full-sized keyboard with remarkably good and adjustable key illumination.

The laser-etched keys look beautiful, and the construction feels both superior and practical. The next backlit keyboard comes from Arteck. The HBB is the only ergonomic wireless keyboard in the list, but it can readily compete with the other wired entries. It essentially has an ultra-slim design for increased portability. The front panel of the Arteck HBB has a brushed finish using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ABS while the back shell is constructed with high-grade Zinc alloy for durability and resistance to corrosion.

Along with the Arteck Bluetooth keyboard, the package will also include a USB cable, a guide, and a two-year warranty. The clacking of a keyboard can be disruptive in an office setting, dorm room, or other shared personal space. Some keyboards have noise reduction technology that dampens the sound each key makes.

Some backlit keyboards come with fun light and color settings. Some models have only one color option, though you might be able to buy the keyboard in one of several different colors. Other keyboards allow you to pick any color on the RGB spectrum. Some models allow you to change the color in certain keyboard sectors, which can be helpful when gaming. Others have lighting effects that intensify based on your typing speed, adding to the excitement of a game.

If you'll be using the keyboard for gaming, it's definitely something you want to think about. Keyboards with NKRO recognize the press of each key no matter how many of them are pressed simultaneously.

Keyboards without this ability might only recognize a certain number of key combinations. Without this feature, key combinations needed for gaming or use with programs like Photoshop might not be recognized by the keyboard.

NKRO isn't that important for general use, but if you'll be using specific key commands and functions, you should probably look for a model with NKRO.

Choose a keyboard with auto shutoff. Clean your keyboard regularly. For the keyboard to function properly, it needs to be maintained and cleaned regularly. All it takes is compressed air to blow dust and grime from between the keys and a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to wipe off the keys.

We limited our recommended products list to the top five, but here are a couple of models that still might be a good choice for you. It has five colors and just as many lighting modes. We like that you can also customize the light settings. The Velocifire VM01 Mechanical Keyboard is designed for professionals and has the brown switches that are perfect for quiet typing in a workplace or dorm room.

The heavy, durable keyboard makes this one feel far more expensive than it is. Are there keyboards that will let me light certain sections in different colors? Backlit keyboards designed for gaming might give you the option of lighting certain sections in a particular color. This feature is designed to speed gaming responses. Other models might not allow you to change the color of a certain section but give you the option of lighting one section over another with the purpose of enhancing your gaming experience.

Do keyboards use a Bluetooth dongle to connect wirelessly? Some keyboards require the use of a dongle, which plugs into one of your USB ports.

However, some keyboards have an internal Bluetooth connection, eliminating the need for a dongle. Are there backlit keyboards that resist spills?

A spill-resistant keyboard might be hard to pass by, but you should know exactly what that term means. However, no keyboard is completely waterproof, so hang on to your drinks. Best Backlit Keyboards Updated August BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.