The keyboard is one of the most important tools in the arsenal of any gamer. However, many people don’t give it enough consideration and choose subpar options that can seriously impact their performance. To set things straight, this article will give you shopping tips for gaming keyboard and everything you need to know when shopping for a gaming keyboard that will satisfy all of your needs and allow you to take your gaming performance to the next level.
Types of Keyboard
Primary shopping tips for a gaming keyboard is that you should take into consideration when looking to buy keyboard is the way in which it connects to your computer. Essentially there are two types of keyboards, wired and wireless.
The wired options tend to have a smaller time delay when using them which can be one of the main factors that can impact your gaming performance. They also tend to be more durable and you won’t have to think about switching batteries or having them run out of power while you are gaming. The wire itself also won’t impact your ability to efficiently use the keyboard unlike with the mouse, the keyboard is stationary, and the cable won’t restrict its movement. Most wired keyboards use a USB cable to connect with the computer which is great as most modern computers have an abundance of USB ports you can use.
On the other hand, wireless keyboards use two different methods to connect to the computer, RF and Bluetooth. RF keyboards come with a USB receiver which goes into your computer and connects the keyboard via radio signals, with most RF devices using a frequency of 2.4 GHz. The upside of this is that if you are also using an RF mouse you can use the same receiver to connect both devices thus saving an extra USB slot. The Bluetooth option is quite similar, as you will get a tiny USB that will connect into your computer and serve as a Bluetooth control to switch the keyboard will connect. However, some keyboards won’t have a Bluetooth controller installed so make sure to check for that as you want to be able to use it unless it has a built-in controller. Another cool type of keyboard is a laser keyboard.
Having said that, if you are a serious gamer, it’s always recommended to go for the wired option when buying a high-quality gaming keyboard because of the upsides we mentioned. However, if you are just gaming casually a wireless keyboard will get the job done just as well.
Material and build
There are many different materials that can be used to make keyboards but most of the time they are made out of light materials such as plastic or aluminium. Keyboards are also differentiated based on the way they operate.
First off, there are mechanical keyboards which are the most popular, the most durable and the most precise. They function on a system of springs within each button that returns it back into its original position after being pressed. These springs make a very satisfying sound when pressing the keyboard but also allow the fastest transfer of information and quicker reaction times. On top of this, they are very easy to clean and maintain.
There are also so called membrane keyboards which have large rubber surfaces beneath the keys that connect them all together which are generally cheaper to manufacture and have a lower price. However, it’s always recommended to go with a mechanical gaming keyboard as it will enhance your performance and the higher price point is worth it.
Shape
Another shopping tips for gaming keyboard is, you should also take the size and the shape of the keyboard into consideration which can make it easier and more comfortable to use. You should also make sure it can be adjusted for height as the wrong setting can make keyboards extremely unpleasant to use for longer durations of time. There are also many different additions such as hand rest extensions and many different.
Backlight
A backlight is a very unique addition that is pretty much mandatory on a gaming keyboard as all gamers truly enjoy the option of gaming with dimmed lights. Backlight modes on gaming keyboards vary. Either the surrounding of each individual key are lit or the letters themselves are. People tend to prefer when the letters themselves are backlit as the letters are easier to see which minimizes the chance of error; however, preferences vary from person to person.
Price
The price of a gaming keyboard is something that’s most likely a very important for every gamer however if you wish to have all of the elements listed here you will have to set aside a somewhat larger sum of money.
Finally, here are the top 5 gaming keyboards in 2019 you should definitely check out.
1. Patriot Viper V765
# Connection: Wired
# Type: Mechanical
# Backlight: Red/Green/Blue
# Accessories: None
2. SteelSeries Apex Pro
# Connection: Wired
# Type: Mechanical
# Backlight: per-key Red/Green/Blue
# Accessories: Aluminium build
3. Corsair K70 MK.2
# Connection: Wired
# Type: Mechanical
# Backlight: Red/Green/Blue
# Accessories: Aluminium build
4. Hexgears Impulse
# Connection: Wired
# Type: Mechanical
# Backlight: Red/Green/Blue
# Accessories: IP 65 water resistance
5. Hexgears Venture
# Connection: Wireless
# Type: Mechanical
# Backlight: Red/Green/Blue
# Accessories: Removable cable and rechargeable batteries
