TOP 5 low-cost gaming keyboards

Genius KB G235

The first in our TOP 5 model from the company Genius without frills and big ambitions. This model has the price of an office keyboard. However, the colour highlighting of the WASD keys and cursor controls indicate that it belongs to gaming devices. If they don't fit into the interior or you just don't like them, they can be replaced. The kit includes spare keys and a special plastic tweezers that will help make a replacement.

The Genius KB G235 keyboard is made using membrane technology, which affects such a loyal cost. The case is made of plastic with a characteristic rough coating. It is quite narrow, but the lack of an ergonomic handstand is almost imperceptible due to the small height of the device itself. And the rubberized legs on the back side will ensure a stable position of the keyboard on any horizontal surface.

You will get 112 keys, of which 104 are basic (including the digital block), and 8 are multimedia. The Enter key is two-story, Shift is large and convenient, and there is no functional Fn. The keys are high, have an elastic stroke with a quiet sound. The designations are applied with a laser, providing better wear resistance. The white font is very clear for both Latin and Cyrillic characters.

Genius KB G235 is water resistant. Of course, we do not recommend washing it, but if you accidentally spill tea or coffee on it, nothing is guaranteed to happen, and the liquid will simply flow out through special holes. The keyboard is very user-friendly and compatible with the Windows operating system. The keyboard recognizes commands from key combinations up to 6 simultaneously pressed. According to reviews, during operation, the keys do not loosen, maintaining the clarity of the stroke throughout the entire service period.

A4Tech X7 G300 Price from 629 up to 999 ₴ →

In second place is the A4 Tech X7-G300 keyboard. It is a popular brand among people who value loyalty and accessibility. Almost all keyboards from this manufacturer are of high quality and at the same time do not go beyond the low-cost segment. The X7-G300 model is designed for players, and in this it is given, like its predecessor, eight keys of rich red colour. It is also waterproof, and, according to the reviews of experimentalists, it can be safely washed under the shower, since all components are treated with waterproof glue.

The keyboard is made of plastic and is quite narrow in width. There is no brush stand, but as compensation, the developers made the device itself low, and also equipped the keys with a low stroke. According to many users, it is the low stroke that contributes to a more comfortable and fast typing.

The layout of the keyboard panel consists of 104 classic keys made using membrane technology. Their pressing is audible to the player and others. The font is white for both Latin and Cyrillic, very clear and of high quality. The Fn key is missing, the Shift and Backspace buttons are large and convenient, and Enter is two-story. Eight interchangeable colour buttons have a rubberized surface, which ensures maximum enjoyment of the game and the absence of fatigue during long gaming sessions.

In the most intense moments of the game, the keyboard will not slide on the table. The weight of the X7-G300 is specially increased for greater stability compared to similar models. And the response time, on the contrary, is reduced compared to the same analogues, and this is also beneficial – you get maximum responsiveness to commands. It turns out that this model is a high-quality gaming keyboard of the low-cost segment.

Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105

The Logitech keyboard is better and more expensive than the Genius and A4 Tech models. Its price is justified by its greater functionality than that of more affordable devices. Designers have worked hard on the appearance of the Logitech Gaming Keyboard G105 and made it non-trivial and original. The design immediately speaks for itself – this keyboard is designed for gamers! High-quality matte plastic has a light soft-touch coating, which creates a pleasant tactile sensation, and at the same time does not collect fingerprints. Cursor and WASD cursor keys are highlighted in grey. And the lower part of the model is made in red. There are two legs for tilt adjustment, as well as recesses along the body in order to hide and direct the cable.

The keyboard has everything that most players need: a numeric keypad, function keys (combined with multimedia control keys), a key to switch to game mode (disabling the Windows key), six programmable keys, a macro recording button, three profile keys and a backlight control key. To work with macros, you will need to install Logitech Gaming Software. You can also record macros on the fly using the MR key. It is possible to record commands for 6 keys for each profile, and since there are three profiles, you get a total of 18 macros.

Many players participate in online battles in the evenings. In the dark, it is very difficult to type and follow the keyboard. Logitech took care of the users and made an LED backlight for the Gaming Keyboard G105. It has two modes – 50% and 100%, respectively less bright and brighter. It can be turned off during the daytime. The high-stroke keys work on the basis of membrane technology. They have symbols of English and Russian layouts on them.

The keyboard is able to recognize up to 5 simultaneous taps and it has protection against false positives. This ensures that it will not let you down at an important moment if you accidentally press an extra key. Another important point is the warranty – 36 months for this model. This highlights the reliability of Logitech products.

Razer DeathStalker Essential

Razer initially established itself as a manufacturer of high-quality professional gaming equipment. All mice, keyboards, headsets and other accessories were created under the slogan "For gamers. From gamers", and therefore each model seems to have a soul and is finely tuned to understand its user. The company positions the Razer DeathStalker Essential model as a basic-level gaming keyboard. At the same time, it is equipped with a system for suppressing phantom clicks, as well as another set of all the elements necessary for players.

The keyboard received an interesting futuristic design and chiclet island-type keys with a low stroke (only 2 mm!) and a membrane mechanism. The case is made of matte plastic with a slight roughness, while the keys have a smooth surface. There is a stand for brushes, which prolongs performance.

The keyboard panel has a standard layout with English and Russian letters, a numeric block, service indicators, an Fn button, function keys combined with multimedia and gaming (disabling game mode, recording macros). By the way, in order to work with macros, you need to download the Razer Synapse programme from the company's website and install it on your computer. The application only works when the PC is connected to the Internet, because its settings are stored in the "cloud". In addition to working with macros, Razer Synapse allows you to write almost any command to any layout key (for example, to set the right mouse click on the Backspace key).

DeathStalker Essential processes up to 10 simultaneous clicks, which are guaranteed to be performed without delay. You will be surprised at the speed and accuracy of these commands in the game. It should be noted the peculiarity of drawing symbols. For those who have not previously used Razer keyboards, the font will be unusual, and the lack of backlight will aggravate the matter at night. But if the lighting is good, then the symbols on the keys are viewed perfectly, clearly and look like a whole with the overall design of the device.

SteelSeries Apex RAW

SteelSeries is a Danish company that produces professional–level gaming equipment. In recent years, she has produced numerous mice, headsets, mats and very few keyboards. Therefore, fans of their products expected significant success from an expensive and advanced keyboardSteelSeries Apex and its simplified version SteelSeries Apex RAW. We felt that the last one should complete our TOP 5.

This keyboard has a conceptual design that distinguishes it among others - you can't confuse it with anything. The case made of matte plastic has a stylized teardrop shape and is complemented by a glossy backing and a convenient footrest, so get ready to free up enough space on your desktop for this model. The tilt level is also adjusted not quite traditionally – with the help of two removable rubber feet.

The layout has a low key stroke of the classical type. Against the general background, the high M1-M12 macro buttons and the large Space key stand out especially. In total, there are 17 macro keys and two profiles L1 and L2, which as a result allows you to write 34 macros to the device's memory. The Fn key has been replaced with the proprietary SteelSeries, which performs the same function. There are additional diagonal arrows on the arrow block, and there is a special protruding point on the W button for orientation during the game. The anti-ghosting system allows you to process up to 20 keystrokes simultaneously.

The font is clear and understandable, the symbols are well applied, white was used for the Latin alphabet, cream for the Cyrillic alphabet. There is a backlight, but uneven. In the lower corner of the Cyrillic characters there is a dimming that occurs due to the location of the LED. You can set the brightness yourself by selecting one of the eight intensity levels. There is also a silent keystroke mode. The polling frequency is 1000 Hz, and the response time is 1 ms, which in a network game will give you an advantage over opponents. And in the proprietary SteelSeries Engine programme, you can change the assignments of all keys except L1 and L2, record macros and view button click statistics.