Nov
What Difference Makes Gaming Keyboards?
You don’t have to completely empty your wallet to have fun with gaming.
However, if you want to play like a professional…
…then you need to put more effort and money into some parts of your gaming rig.
You should consider upgrading your keyboard as one of the first pieces…
…of equipment you should upgrade.
If you have the best gaming keyboard, you can wipe out your opponent…
…from the map completely.
Keep reading to learn more about these gaming keyboards.
Gaming keyboards do make a huge difference.
Such keyboards are lighter, more responsive…
…and more in tune with the needs of gamers.
Easy to customize, they come with features…
…such as responsive lighting, macro support, and comfort options.
There are companies that manufacture keyboards…
…for players with disabilities so they can play games as well.
A few words from Ronald…
Playing games on a membrane keyboard was an important part of my childhood.
About a year ago, I switched to a mechanical keyboard.
However, I found myself missing the feel of membrane keys…
…even though I enjoyed using the mechanical keys.
Ultimately, I decided to give this keyboard a try and fell in love with it.
This switch has a soft feel, and it is very quiet compared to mechanical switches.
Moreover, it has a 1000hz polling rate, which makes it very responsive.
After using it for a while now, it has become my daily driver.
Let’s get started…
Most Important Features of A Gaming Keyboard
There are plenty of features to consider when choosing a gaming keyboard.
Comfort, backlighting, macros, custom control pads, and more are some important features.
To learn more about these features and how they can help you…
…in your gaming journey, continue reading below.
Comfort
The best gaming sessions often involve long hours of uninterrupted play…
…even though gaming has become more casual-friendly in recent years.
MMORPGs require around 20 to 30 minutes of your time…
…even if they are casual and friendly.
In some cases, they can even go up to a couple of hours…
…especially if you are dealing with end-game content with several different groups.
Because of this, it’s important to have a keyboard that doesn’t cause your fingers or wrists pain.
Gaming keyboards usually have well-spaced, full-sized, and mechanical keys…
…making them ideal for gaming for long periods of time.
Additionally, the shape of the keyboard is designed to be comfortable for gamers’ hands…
…so they can use it for long periods of time without their wrists and hands hurting.
The ergonomic design of keyboards ensures…
…that you can use them without experiencing any hand fatigue.
Typing Is Faster with Mechanical Keys
The second consideration you should make is the guts of the keyboard.
As a result, you should check how the keys register when pressed…
…and how they feel and sound once they are pressed.
Mechanical keyboards and membrane keyboards are the two types of keyboards used today.
Membrane keyboards are very affordable since they have an incredibly thin design.
This is due to the silicone and rubber layer, which serves as the spring and the electrical contact.
While these keyboards are very versatile, there is no distinct “click” sound or feel…
…which makes it hard to tell if you have pressed the key or not.
Its spongy and squishy feel, along with the small spaces…
…between the keys, are not ideal for gamers…
…who need confirmation that they have pressed the button…
…that will cause their character to do the desired action.
On the other hand, mechanical keyboards have an old-fashioned design…
…making them a throwback to the past.
A mechanical switch is located under each keyboard key…
…which is taller than a membrane key.
The switches have their own stems, springs, and housing…
…and the click they make is very audible and tactile.
With this tactile feature, you can feel exactly…
…when the mechanism connects to the electrical contact.
Mechanical keyboards have three types of key switches…
…so you can pick a model based on how many clicks you need…
…and the amount of spring resistance you prefer.
Those who play very serious video games will need a mechanical keyboard.
The keys on this keyboard are more precise and accurate…
…and they are also tougher than standard keys.
Mechanical keyboards are also aware of the importance of even a millisecond…
…and so they guarantee both speed and efficiency at the same time.
Macros
A gaming keyboard’s macros are one of the biggest advantages…
…and they give you an edge over personal preferences and speed.
Most keyboards have a dedicated set of keys on the left side.
The keys can be programmed to carry out in-game macros (pre-defined combinations of actions).
In complex games like World of Warcraft, you usually have to type…
…in a command or use your mouse to select an icon on the screen to start the macro.
By assigning a macro to the keyboard macro key, you only need to click a single key.
In addition to providing gamers with a quick reaction time, this is a very convenient feature.
Furthermore, these macros allow you to set different profiles for different games.
The best part is that all keys work differently in the games you play…
…so once you set one to a setting, the other games’ settings won’t ruin that setting.
Using macros, you can automate the most important and even the most tedious tasks.
By completing these tasks you gain an edge over your opponents and ensure your victory!
Custom Control Pads
Despite the fact that this does not apply to every gaming keyboard…
…there are still many keyboards on the market with their own custom pads.
On the left side of the keyboard, these controls mimic the WASD keys…
…while the keys surrounding them act as a custom control pad.
The custom keys make it very easy for gamers to control the characters in the game.
These improved controls result in a faster response time while playing.
You are then able to act quickly, whether you are playing…
..against another player or simply against computer AI.
In addition, most keyboard manufacturers include a variety of customization options…
…including the ability to disable certain keys or change the lighting.
On some keyboards, mechanical switches can even be swapped out for LEDs.
By removing the keycap, you can easily swap out the switches…
…if you want a softer spring under the WASD and a firmer click under the enter key.
The keycaps can also be swapped out for a custom print…
…or a different texture print of the top for your convenience.
Backlights
It may surprise you to find out that these backlights are more than just a pretty sight.
If you’ve ever seen a gaming keyboard glow in different colors…
…you might think, “Wow, that looks great.”
Keyboard backlights present on gaming keyboards provide you…
…with multicolor lights that you can customize on your own.
Your entire gaming experience will be incredibly enjoyable and simple with them.
If you divide your keyboard into the most used areas by lighting those areas with colors…
…you will have quicker access to visual help during the game.
Due to the backlights, you do not have to figure out…
…where your fingers need to go, allowing you to play faster.
An extreme example of backlighting is the ability to select a different light for every key…
…but the zone approach is much more effective.
Even so, if there is a key that is used most often…
…you can always give it a bright color, such as red…
….which is ideal when playing games at night.
Additionally, a red backlight allows you to view the key in full detail thanks to its illumination.
Dark colors allow you to enjoy the keyboard without having to squint or adjust to bright lighting sources.
“Despite its aesthetic appeal, backlighting on keyboards has another function for gamers. Customizable backlighting allows you to highlight the keys you use the most, so you can access them more easily. Many gamers enjoy playing in the dark, but this isn’t easy if you don’t know where the keys are. ”
Nikhil Singh – Author at entertainmentden.com/
Anti Ghosting and Key Rollover
Typing is rarely accompanied by multiple key presses at the same time by keyboard users.
Usually, this is a mistake, so it doesn’t matter which key registers with the PC and which doesn’t.
When playing a game, the situation is different.
Most of the time, multiple keys are pressed simultaneously, and each key is important!
A gaming keyboard is designed specifically…
…to handle multiple simultaneous presses, and this feature is called “n-key rollover.”
“N” simply refers to the number of keys you can press simultaneously.
Despite the fact that you don’t need a keyboard that supports every key simultaneously…
…the higher the “n” number, the better and more flexible the game will be.
A good n-key rollover is essential if you use your keyboard…
…for playback software, music composition, or for games with two players.
There is also a phenomenon known as key ghosting that affects non-gaming keyboards.
A keyboard does not register all pressed keys…
…when certain keys are pressed simultaneously or quickly after each other.
When you are typing, ghosting is not a big deal, but when you are gaming, it can be costly.
The best keyboard for gamers will have anti-ghosting capabilities.
Special wiring patterns are used for this feature in order to prevent mixed signals associated with ghosting.
Other gaming keyboards tend to isolate popular keys and zones, such as WASD, to prevent ghosting.
The same time, some manufacturers isolate every key by keeping wide spaces.
3 Top Picks on Work Rift
Redragon K530 Draconic
K530 (also known as the “Draconic”) is, well, cheap.
This applies both to its price and more or less everything else about it.
Nevertheless, “cheap” isn’t synonymous with bad, and Redragon pulls off a lot here.
Nearly everything on the keyboard is made of ABS plastic and has a 60% layout.
This includes the case and the “plate,” the bit between the keycaps and the circuit board.
The result is a lightweight build…
…which is perfect for a wireless board that requires a battery and a few extra parts.
Rather than being particularly flashy or ugly…
…the keycaps allow the RGB lighting to show through while also displaying secondary functions.
You should be familiar with this design if you have looked…
…at the mechanical keyboard space in the past few years.
At this price, this board stands out because of its wireless capabilitie…
…similar to the Anne Pro series, and its modular circuit board…
…similar to the much more expensive Massdrop ALT.
As for the former: The keyboard worked flawlessly with multiple devices…
…and the battery lasted for an incredibly long time, even with the lights on.
To thank for this, it has a 3000mah battery, which is twice as large as those found in similar devices.
On the side, there’s a power slider and a manual switch for three different Bluetooth devices.
All nice features–a bottom-mounted power switch means I often forget…
…to turn the keyboard off and drain the battery all night.
There is also a USB-C port on the side, which is much more convenient…
…than the top-mounted ports on other 60% boards.
Meanwhile, you should also note that it is a USB-C port…
…and that the cable in the box is a USB-C cable.
That’s what it should be, but in a budget keyboard, it deserves praise.
Plugging the keyboard in gives you access…
…to the programming tool and a direct hyper-fast connection.
Software and programming on the K530 are a mess…
…so much so that I was glad to be done with it for not letting me use my favorite layout.
That’s a criticism that’s pretty specific to me, however.
Redragon’s ultra-cheap mechanical keyboard has a combination of Bluetooth…
…RGB lighting, and hot-swappable mechanical keys, all at an almost-shocking price.
For beginners looking to dip their toes into the world of mech boards…
…or for those simply looking for a cheap way to type wirelessly while on the go…
…Redragon has delivered a decent bargain.
Ajazz AK33
Featuring an elegant aluminum backplate that well reflects the RGB backlighting…
…and provides extra rigidity, the Ajazz AK33 is a nice looking mechanical keyboard.
It feels well-built, which is surprising given its budget price tag.
The device is also compact, measuring 310x120x37mm.
Getting a keyboard down to this size requires some compromises.
Dropping the numeric keypad has allowed the company to shave off a few inches.
Additionally, the key layout has been modified to have only 82 keys.
Sadly, some keys have shrunk to fit (like the right shift key) and other keys…
…like Home and End, are not where you expected them to be.
Even though this won’t be a major issue for gamers (the AK33’s target market)…
…it did make typing more difficult than a standard keyboard layout.
Several of these keys are also non-standard sizes,…
…so it may be difficult to find compatible aftermarket keycaps if you decide to replace the included set.
It also includes multimedia controls, app shortcuts, and keyboard settings…
…which can be accessed by holding down the function key and F1-F8.
By pressing Fn+W, you can even switch between WASD and arrow keys.
Keycaps themselves are ABS with transparent letters that let the RGB lighting shine through.
The font is clear and easy to read, a nice change…
…from the “gamer”-style fonts found on some mechanical keyboards.
The keycaps are surrounded by black mechanical switches branded with the Ajazz logo.
It’s obvious that the company has tried to replicate the Cherry Black feel, with a linear, non-clicky actuation.
There are also variants with red and blue switches, depending on your preference.
Glossy black plastic covering the back of the keyboard attracts fingerprints like crazy.
A matte finish would have been much better.
Rubber feet and risers allow you to angle the keyboard for more comfort.
There’s a mini USB port on the top of the keyboard that’s used to connect the keyboard…
…to your PC using the included mini USB cable, which is a little on the short side.
Though I believe micro USB or USB Type-C would have been better choices…
…I like the fact that you can replace the cable if necessary.
The per-key RGB lighting looks great. Ajazz has packed in an impressive range of RGB lighting effects…
…including spirals, waves, and more.
Many of them can be customized via key shortcuts, changing colors and speeds.
There’s even some reactive lighting that lights up as you type.
The shockwave that moves across the keyboard as you type was my favorite.
You can even set up a custom profile and save it to the keyboard.
For example, you can light up WASD and other shortcut keys.
If you are a gamer, it’s a great feature to have.
You can also customize lighting, polling rate, macros, and more with Ajazz software.
I didn’t bother installing the software since all the customization I needed could be done directly on the keyboard.
Gaming was easy with the black mechanical switches…
…thanks to their light actuation force and smooth travel.
Compared to my current mechanical keyboard’s blue switches…
…this made playing faster paced games a pleasure.
The typing experience was fine, though I definitely prefer blue mechanical switches…
…for typing as the black switches lack the tactile bump and audible click I’ve grown to love.
In addition, the black switches are far quieter…
…than the blue switches I’m used to – something my partner definitely appreciated.
I also sometimes hit the wrong keys while typing…
…because of that non-standard layout until I adjusted to it.
HyperX Alloy Origins Core
Originally released at the end of 2019, HyperX’s Alloy Origins Core TKL gaming keyboard…
…featured custom HyperX Red linear mechanical switches.
Later, they released a version with HyperX Aqua switches…
…which was essentially their take on the Cherry MX Brown/tactile bump style of key switch.
There is now a new edition featuring HyperX Blue switches…
…and it’s one of the best gaming keyboards I’ve ever used.
The keyboard offers a sturdy build, sleek design..
…and excellent performance at a lower price than the market average.
In exchange for the competitive price, you’re not really sacrificing anything.
The box contains the keyboard itself, a braided USB-C to USB-A cable, and some documentation.
The Alloy Origins Core stands out for its excellent build quality.
Both the top and bottom of the body are built from aircraft-grade aluminum.
It’s built better than I expected for the price…
…and much better than many more expensive keyboards I’ve used in the past.
It has a sturdy, premium-feeling metal body and a very small bezel edge…
…so it won’t take up much space on your desk.
In addition to its smooth and rounded edges, the casing is solid…
…which enhances the auditory and physical feedback of the clicky switches.
These new HyperX Blue switches are a joy to use, whether you’re typing or gaming.
Their actuation point lines up nicely with their satisfying click, and they have a fast and precise feel.
As a result of the solid case, these switches have a great sound without too much ping…
…so if you’re looking for maximum feedback when you press a key this is a great option.
As well as the switches and keycaps, the build quality is excellent.
The stabilizers on the board work well, and the keys wobble minimally across the board.
The font on the keycaps is very clean.
The design gives the keyboard a luxurious professional look…
…with only the HyperX logo above the arrow keys…
…and HyperX insignia on the space bar indicating that the keyboard is a gaming product.
The secondary functions of each key are lit by the RGB function thanks to smart placement…
…and although some keys are more cramped visually than on other gaming models…
…having everything lit up makes it worth it.
With HyperX’s Ngenuity software, you can easily customize RGB lights.
YA user can save three different light and key assignment profiles to three…
…different hardware-stored slots under the F1, F2, and F3 keys.
If you have written these profiles to the board…
…you can instantly toggle between your custom settings with a key press..
…which is great for users who don’t want to run extra software all the time.
The lighting is bright, clean, and even across the entire keyboard…
…and quite eye-catching despite the black backplate.
Even during aggressive typing or gaming sessions, the keyboard remains stable.
There are large rubber feet on the corners and adjustable feet…
…of two different heights so you can tilt the angle to your liking.
The adjustable feet swing in and out with a prominent heft…
…and click that matches the rest of the keyboard’s build.
After just one hour of adjustment, the standard spacing and ergonomic profile…
…of the key caps helped me get up to full typing speed.
Sum Up!
With a good gaming keyboard, you have a strong advantage over your opponents.
You will have a much more enjoyable gaming experience.
Gaming keyboards are your best friend if you want to improve your gaming performance…
…while playing the latest games.
Choosing the right gaming keyboard…
…can make a huge difference in your success rate…
…especially when playing competitive games.
So look for the keyboard that best suits your needs based on the features mentioned above.
Conclusion
There are a few important things to consider…
…when choosing a great gaming keyboard, but choosing a great gaming mouse is probably easier.
Consider a mechanical model, make sure it has the right number of keys…
…(the right number might even be “zero”), and determine…
…whether you really need to spend a lot extra on colorful illumination.
Mechanical keyboards aren’t just great gaming tools; they’re excellent additions to any productivity setup as well.
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