What exactly is the best wireless keyboard for you depends mostly on how and where you plan to use it and what you plan to do with it. Are you a couch gamer or a coder who craves a neat and tidy work space? Are you after a clacker that can switch between multiple PCs, smartphones and tablets on the fly? Or is the best wireless keyboard for you something that’s travel-friendly and compact, so you can bang out a few emails and documents at a coffee shop before sliding it into your carry-on bag? For many people, looks will matter as well.
You’ll find our best wireless keyboard picks, and some alternatives, for all those use cases below. But first, here are some important things to consider while figuring out what’s the best wireless keyboard for you.
Mechanical or not? If you’re a gamer and/or will also be doing a lot of writing, a mechanical clacker will be the best wireless keyboard for you. Keyboards with mechanical switches are also usually more durable — although membrane models often hold up better to spilled liquids.
Backlighting / RGB: The cheapest wireless keyboards won’t have backlighting, which is OK if you always use your keyboard in a well-lit space. But if you work or game late into the night and don’t want to (or can’t) switch on overhead lights, a keyboard with backlit keys is what you want. A single light color will get the job done, but RGB backlighting lets you change things up.
Pick your switch: Not all of the best wireless keyboards will use mechanical switches. But of those that do, you’ll have plenty of switch options, depending on the model you choose. Many gamers prefer linear switches (often labeled as red or brown) because they make it easier to mash the same buttons repeatedly in quick succession. However, this kind of switch can lead to more mistakes (often repeated letters) when typing.
Those who type for a living usually prefer “clicky” switches with a tactile bump (often labeled as blue, white or green) that you can feel when the switch actuates. But clicky switches are often noisy, which can bother other people nearby (or even the person typing or gaming).
There are dozens of other switch types, including optical-mechanical and membrane. The latter tend to have a mushier feel but are much better at surviving things like spilled drinks. The type of switch that’s best for you depends on personal preferences and your use cases and needs. So whenever possible, get an inexpensive switch tester (opens in new tab) to try out different options, or try to find a keyboard you’re considering in a store to get a feel for it before buying.
Full-size, tenkeyless or smaller? Tenkeyless keyboards nix the numberpad, while 65% models often eliminate navigation keys, and 60% boards also usually cut the arrow keys. While some will want every possible key, others prefer a smaller keyboard that gives them more space on their desk or a smaller size to travel with.
Bluetooth or RF dongle: If you want a wireless keyboard that you can use with smartphones and tablets, opt for a Bluetooth keyboard. Most laptops and many desktops these days also support Bluetooth, so these are good if you want to use your best wireless keyboard with multiple devices as well.
But if you’re only going to use your keyboard with a PC or Mac, a keyboard that uses some form of radio frequency (RF) dongle is worth considering. You’ll need a spare USB port to plug in the RF transceiver, but pairing is a lot simpler with a keyboard that uses RF. In most cases, you just need to plug in the dongle, turn on the keyboard, and you’re ready to start typing in seconds.
It’s also handy to have a keyboard that works when plugged in via USB, even if you plan to be wireless most of the time. If you can plug the keyboard in and use it while you’re charging, you don’t have to worry about any downtime.
The Best Wireless Keyboards You Can Buy Today
The Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro is our favorite wireless keyboard for gaming because it offers you a full-size, full-height mechanical switch experience, plus all the features you’d expect in a premium gaming clacker. That includes high-end doubleshot ABS plastic keycaps that felt good during testing and looked good too, resisting smudges notably better than rivals and the keyboard’s aluminum top plate. You also get a cozy, plush leatherette magnetic wrist rest and four onboard memory profiles. Unfortunately, you’ll need the software to use any RGB besides the 7 effects stored in the keyboard’s memory. And there are no macro keys, like the Logitech G915 Lightspeed on this page, its top rival, offers.
The BlackWidow V3 Pro can connect with a wireless dongle, via its included charging cable or through Bluetooth, which lets it pair with up to 3 additional PCs. Battery life varies based on backlight brightness and effect but can range from 5-25 hours with lighting and reach 192 hours without. And at 3% battery life, the BlackWidow V2 Pro can get wonky, with delays in registering keypresses and issues with the software finding it.
But ultimately, the BlackWidow V3 Pro delivers everything you’d expect from an expensive, top-of-the-line gaming keyboard, except a mandatory cable. There’s also a newer BlackWidow V3 Mini model, although it doesn’t bring as much to the table for its price as its larger sibling.
For more gaming recommendations, with or without cables, see our Best Gaming Keyboards page.
More: Razer BlackWidow V3 Pro review
Redragon (opens in new tab)isn’t exactly a well-known gaming brand in the U.S., but it’s hard to argue with the $70 price of the K596 Vishnu. This 2.4 GHz wireless gaming keyboard packs RGB, dedicated macro and media keys, a metal volume rocker, linear switches and even a wrist rest (albeit a hard plastic one) all into a tenkeyless package. And that’s at well less than half the price of the more well-known competition.
The K596 Vishnu also feels solid and was comfortable to use while gaming and typing; although, the plastic used for the shell does look a bit cheap. There’s also some funkiness going on with the design, like the fact that F1-F8 are labeled as secondary media controls, despite there also being a bank of dedicated media buttons directly to their right.
The second bank of programmable G keys are also oddly narrow and jammed up. And there are light bars on either side of the keyboard that, while look cool, are only going to drain your battery faster while you’re gaming without the USB-C cable plugged in. You can turn these off by hitting Fn and the Pause button repeatedly, but that’s a pain. The extra lights should default to only turning on when the keyboard is plugged in via a cable. The Vishnu is also heavier than competing wireless keyboards.
Still, despite its oddities and minor flaws, this is one heck of a keyboard for $70, when you consider Logitech’s G915 TKL costs more than three times as much and doesn’t include a wrist rest. If you’re after a compact, colorful wireless gaming keyboard on a budget, the K596 Vishnu easily earns a top spot in the pantheon.
The Logitech G915 Lightspeed delivers a fantastic combo of error-free typing, speed and comfort. It looks smart and mature in a way that very few gaming peripherals are able to put off, and — short of a wrist rest — it’s replete with anything you could ask of a keyboard.
Razer and Corsair offer slightly cheaper high-end boards by comparison, but for those who secretly miss the stability of the old membrane days, this low-profile keyboard is a dream come true. And for those looking for something similar but smaller, there’s the also excellent Logitech G915 TKL.
Read: Logitech G915 Lightspeed review
Razer’s DeathStalker V2 Pro is a totally different animal from its predecessor, and that’s a good thing. It’s an attractive low-profile keyboard that has basically all the features you need — connectivity, customization and pretty lights, plus a surprisingly decent typing experience and an excellent gaming experience. It’s not exactly, as Razer claims, “built like a tank,” but it’s pretty durable for how small, slim and lightweight it is.
Read: Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro
A typist’s dream, the Akko 3098B combines the company’s comfy, ASA keycaps with a compact, 96-percent layout and the ability to hot-swap in your favorite switches if you don’t like the defaults. The curved surface of the keycaps made it easier to feel our way around while touch typing and the default CS Jelly White switches are the best linear switches we’ve ever used.
The keyboard also has a classic, retro terminal look that made us feel like we were hacking into the Pentagon mainframe from Matthew Broderick’s house. Once we upgraded to our favorite clicky switches, it felt more like we were finishing a story on deadline in the newsroom of the Daily Planet. If you want a touch of modern flair, you can turn on the vibrant RGB lighting that lies beneath the keys.
All nostalgia aside, the Akko 3098B comes loaded with features, including the ability to connect via 2.4-GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 / 3.0 or USB-C. Switching between entry methods takes a single keystroke and less than a second so you can easily use this keyboard with your desktop, a laptop, a Raspberry Pi, your tablet and your phone at the same time.
The Akko 3098B’s 96-percent layout makes it nearly the same width as a tenkeyless model, but with almost all the keys of a full-size keyboard, including the numpad and arrow keys. Two sets of flip-out feet let you adjust the height to your liking.
Akko also sells an identical looking keyboard for $20 more under the model name 3098N. The 3098N just uses a different controller card inside, different client software and has a different selection of switches, but is otherwise the same.
Read: Akko 3098B / N Wireless Keyboard review
If you’re switching back and forth among different computers, Logitech’s MX Mechanical is the best wireless keyboard for getting work done. The business-friendly clacker can connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth LE or one of Logitech’s Logi Bolt dongles and it has dedicated keys for changing to each (no cryptic key combos needed).
The Logitech MX Mechanical really shines when you pair it with one of the company’s MX Master mice (ex: the MX Master 3S) and use the Logi Flow feature, which changes the connection when you move the pointer off of the desktop of one machine and onto another. It even maintains a shared clipboard so you can copy some text on one computer and paste it into an app on another.
This full-size, 110-key keyboard uses low-profile keys and switches in your choice of Kailh Choc V2 Blue, Red or Brown varieties. We found the shorter travel a boon for typing on both the Blues and Browns we tested. But, as with all low-profile keyboards, the height of the keyboard is too short to use with standard wrist rests (low-profile wrist rests exist though they are fewer and likely less padded). For those who like a smaller keyboard, Logitech makes the MX Mechanical Mini which has 84 keys (no numpad) but is otherwise identical.
Read: Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard Review
The iQunix A80 Explorer is a retro-inspired 80% keyboard that combines vintage design with modern features. It delivers unique and desirable features, such as high-quality, colorful PBT keycaps and quiet stabilizers in a compact form factor, with the option to use a 2.4 GHz wireless dongle or Bluetooth connection.
The iQunix A80 is an exceptionally good keyboard. There’s a remarkable attention to detail here, from the bold, retro design and matching cable, to the use of damping foam and outstanding stabilizers. The result is a keyboard that’s truly unique and offers a typing experience that competes with a custom-built mechanical keyboard.
Still, that bold design and relatively expensive price isn’t for everybody. If you like the form factor but can’t afford the A80, the Keychron K2 (opens in new tab), while less premium in build, starts at $80 for the version with RGB.
Read: iQunix A80 Explorer Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Review
Corsair’s K63 Keyboard/Lapboard combo may have a more cumbersome name than Razer’s competing Turret One, but in many ways, it’s a simpler, roomier device that delivers an excellent couch gaming experience at a lower price ($159.99 MSRP, though at this writing it was selling for about $10 more) than the $250 Razer setup. You can also buy the Lapboard without the keyboard for $60.
Part of that lower price comes from the fact that Corsair doesn’t include a mouse, unlike Razer. But as the K63 Lapboard includes a standard size mouse pad, you can use any mouse you want. I used the laboard with Corsair’s own Katar Pro, as well as a few non-gaming Logitech mice without any issue. And thanks to generous padding on the bottom of the laboard, I was able to game for hours in comfort. My couch’s lack of support for my back was an issue long before the K63 Lapboard was.
One of the Lapboard’s downsides is that the K63 keyboard (which either comes with the keyboard/laptop bundle or can be bought separately if you buy the lapboard separately) only has blue backlighting, and you can only get it with Cherry MX Red switches. So if you feel the need for RGB or clicky switches, you should check out the Razer Turret One. Battery life for the K63 Lapboard is listed at 15 hours at full backlight brightness (I generally got a little less), or up to 75 hours with the lighting off.
Charging the keyboard is as easy as plugging in to its Micro USB port. But you may want to pop the two tabs at the back of the Lapboard and take the keyboard out first, as the laptop as a whole is rather large and clunky, at over 26 inches long and 10.5 inches wide. Razer’s Turret One is a bit smaller and easier to stow when you aren’t using it, thanks to a slide-out mouse pad. But that also results in a slightly more cramped feel and a smaller mousing area. The Corsair K63 Keyboard/Lapboard combo, however, offers up as roomy and comfortable a couch gaming experience we’ve seen yet. Just remember to bring along your own wireless mouse. And be ready to wipe the unit down regularly, as the rubber wrist area and cloth mousepad attract dirt, and crumbs and other tiny things easily get lodged in the seams around those parts of the Lapboard.
The Razer Turret for Xbox One is an inspired couch keyboard and mouse setup. It’s built solid, the extendable mouse mat is excellent for easy storage, it’s comfortable to use on your lap and it offers the true feeling of using a mechanical keyboard and mouse — because you are.
Though it’s designed for the Xbox One, the Turret is still a strong option for a PC gamer who plays from the couch. In fact, it works with more games on PC, so it’s really a better deal for those on PC. If you don’t want to slip existing PC mice and keyboards into something like a Corsair Lapdog (opens in new tab), this Turret is a great fit.
Read: Razer Turret One review
You’ll have to spend extra on Keychron’s $25 travel pouch (or find something else to protect the keys), but the Keychron K3 offers a lot to like for typists on the go. With its appealing looks, attractive backlighting, a svelte frame and swappable low-profile switches, there’s a lot to like about the Keychrom K3. It’s easily the best portable low-profile mechanical/optical keyboard I’ve used in terms of comfort, looks and versatility. The fact that Keychron was able to keep things this thin while retaining the ability to swap switches is impressive.
That said, battery life, as well as overall frame rigidity are compromises you’ll have to make in favor of the slim package. If there’s room in your back for something taller, the Keycrhon K2 gets better battery life, feels like it’s built tougher and gets better battery life. So carefully consider exactly how much portability you need before buying.
Read: Keychron K3 review
The Asus ROG Falchion NX packs just about every feature you could need from a gaming keyboard into as small a space as possible. Thanks to its arrow keys, navigation keys, innovative side touch panel and wireless macro recording capabilities, you don’t have to worry about losing functionality with this board, despite its 65% frame.
This board also boasts Asus’ in-house NX switches, which we thought felt noticeably smoother than Cherry MX switches in our review. They also proved a touch louder during our testing, but they should still be a suitable alternative for anyone exhausted with Cherry’s (and its clones’) dominance over the switch market. Red (linear), brown (tactile) and blue (clicky) options are all available here.
This board does have per-key RGB lighting, although customizing it means navigating Asus’ clunky Aura Creator software. Making up for that, though, are other premium features like double shot PBT keycaps and the ability to connect over both a USB-C to USB-A cable and 2.4 GHz wireless.
Add in the side touch panel’s ability to hold up to five gesture based actions, and that makes this an extremely viable board for all sorts of use cases, which isn’t something you can always say about 65% keyboards.
More: Asus ROG Falchion NX review
Lenovo’s ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II looks and feels like it was ripped straight from one of the company’s business laptops. The keyboard has the same smile-shaped, springy keys as a ThinkPad laptop, along with the little red TrackPoint pointing stick. The typing and navigation experience is as good as you’ll find without a mechanical keyboard and mouse.
The TrackPoint Keyboard II has both Bluetooth and 2.4-GHz wireless connectivity options, with a physical switch to toggle from one to another. So, if you want to use more than one device at a time, it’s easy to switch between, for example, your Windows PC and your Raspberry Pi.
Read: Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II review
Finding Discounts on the Best Wireless Keyboards
Whether you’re shopping for one of the best wireless keyboards or a model that didn’t quite make the cut, you may find some savings by checking out our lists of the latest Newegg promo codes, Best Buy promo codes, Razer promo codes or Corsair coupon codes. You can also check out our Best Tech and PC Hardware Deals page for daily updates on discounted peripherals and other hardware.